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I recently went to a holiday exchange student party where I learned different
customs of different countries. Here they are:
Germany: Presents are opened on the 24th so that you can visit loved ones
on Christmas day, and guess what?!? On December 5th you have to clean your
bottles. "Why," you ask. So Santa can fill them with candy on Dec. 6 or Saint
Nicholas day.
Czech Republic: Here, many people don't celebrate Christmas because the
dates would be split. The reason for the splitting of days is that Catholics and
Roman Orthodox Churches celebrate on either the 25th or on the day the three
Kings arrived at Jerusalem, which is in early January and is the end of
epiphany (the 12 days of Christmas). Also, in Czechoslovakia they have many
New Year's traditions, such as cutting an apple horizontally to see if there is
a star. If there is, they believe will be good health in the new year.
Sweden: Hanukkah is celebrated much the same as in the USA. Christmas is
also that way.
Thailand: Most people don't celebrate Christmas, but they celebrate the
New Year (Chinese) instead. It is a time when families gather and have their
"New Years Trees."
Brazil: With Christmas, New Year's, and Old New Year (yes, that exists!),
this season is full of parties.
Okay, so there's a bit about how other countries celebrate. Hopefully I got the
info right and didn't mix up the countries' information.
Happy Holidays!
-Molabie
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