Xmas around the world

Blackmask · 12-23-2007, 05:08 PM

My neighbours have a visitor over from Holland for Xmas this year and talking to him it reminded me of the double celebration we had growing up.

We didn't do the full dutch Xmas thing but on December 5th Black Peter (Zwarte Piet) St Nicholas's assistant would visit and throw lollies into the room we had been strategically told to wait in. The door to the room was closed and would be opened just a crack so the lollies could be thrown in.

Then on Xmas day we'd do the more traditional English type Xmas thing where presents were swapped and the feasting happened.

So I'm wondering what other Xmas type traditions exist around the world?

aloha · 12-23-2007, 05:14 PM

well, in germany we get our gifts on Christmas Eve.

Well, me an my family go to church at 4.30pm for an hour, then we will get back home. then my dad gets the tree ready with the light and stuff, and me and my brother just wait or something.

and then we all get our gifts and stuff. then we eat together and sit around together and stuff like that, checking what we got and stuff.

Samson The Cat · 12-23-2007, 05:30 PM

Quote:

well, in germany we get our gifts on Christmas Eve

Oh yes. At our house we gradually preponed that. Currently it's about 4pm in the afternoon. Around 5:30pm we go to the tiny flat of our grandparents and enjoy a feastful dinner.

Ox · 12-23-2007, 09:53 PM

I go to midnight mass on Christmas Eve. In the days before Christmas, I get together with my friends and my family and we party. For instance, this afternoon I had lunch with this girl and then after that went to meet another group of friends at a local bar and tomorrow I'm meeting another friend for drinks.

Cat · 12-23-2007, 10:15 PM

We decorate our tree and make a gingerbread house on the 23rd. By then we've usually put up other decorations already (nothing grand, just traditional stars in the windows and stuff). They say it's bad luck to decorate your house earlier than the last weekend before Christmas. On Christmas Eve we always watch cartoons on TV and eat dinner with the family. That's when we open our presents (usually between dinner and dessert). Then on the 25th we eat a traditional Christmas breakfast which is a huge meal with a ton of great food; eggs, smoked salmon, bacon, different types of herring, several types of bread, ham, etc. We sometimes eat porridge on the 23rd that has an almond hidden in it. The person who gets the almond gets a gift (usually a marzipan pig).

Other Christmas traditions... Well, we usually light "advent candles" on the four Sundays before Christmas Eve. There are four in total, and we light one more each Sunday. So on the first Sunday one's lit, on the second we light two, etc. They have to be purple. We also get an advent calendar.

We really do have a ton of traditions.

12-23-2007, 11:29 PM

Christmas is celebrated like Christmas.

CLOSED!

Blackmask · 12-24-2007, 12:43 AM

Quote:

We sometimes eat porridge on the 23rd that has an almond hidden in it.

This sounds kind of like the hiding of money in Xmas pudding here. We haven't done that for years but I remember mum had a collection of pre-decimal money she'd hide in it. The pre-decimal was silver so apparently safer to put in food than modern money.

**MSFixR** · 12-24-2007, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackmask

This sounds kind of like the hiding of money in Xmas pudding here. We haven't done that for years but I remember mum had a collection of pre-decimal money she'd hide in it. The pre-decimal was silver so apparently safer to put in food than modern money.

Gives your immune system a boost.

This afternoon we will visit my 101 year old aunt who is in skilled nursing. Then its off to one of my nephews' house where the rest of my family will gather for dinner and to exchange gifts (mainly for the youngest kid). My wife will attend an evening service at her church. Tomorrow we will open gifts at home and have dinner with my wife's family. The day after Christmas we will thank God that this craziness, which has been building since Thanksgiving , has finally come to an end once again.

**Bill5461** · 12-24-2007, 11:41 AM

I usually lie to my friends and say I've got big holiday plans. Then I just go to the garage I work at and all alone, cook a can of baked beans. Eventually Richie comes in and discovers my lie and I'm invited back to the Cunningham house for a joyus christmas celebration with Mr and Mrs C, Richie, and Shortcake. ...OH sorry, I thought I was Fonzie for a moment there.

12-24-2007, 12:23 PM

Hey, Fonz, aren't you Jewish?

Ox · 12-24-2007, 05:29 PM

The day after Christmas we will thank God that this craziness, which has been building since Thanksgiving , has finally come to an end once again.

Yep so true!

**Bill5461** · 12-24-2007, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avis Phlox

Hey, Fonz, aren't you Jewish?

Only in real life

**Jocasta** · 12-24-2007, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill5461

Only in real life

I love you, Bill!

**Plastic Flute** · 12-24-2007, 07:29 PM

Im ready to cry because the wrong Keilbasy was purchsed. OMG Whats wrong with me?

**MSFixR** · 12-24-2007, 11:56 PM

If your Polish and you buy the wrong Kielbasa, isn't that a mortal sin?

12-23-2007, 05:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
Blackmask Protector of Inanity Join Date: May 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 6,158 My Profile	Xmas around the world My neighbours have a visitor over from Holland for Xmas this year and talking to him it reminded me of the double celebration we had growing up. We didn't do the full dutch Xmas thing but on December 5th Black Peter (Zwarte Piet) St Nicholas's assistant would visit and throw lollies into the room we had been strategically told to wait in. The door to the room was closed and would be opened just a crack so the lollies could be thrown in. Then on Xmas day we'd do the more traditional English type Xmas thing where presents were swapped and the feasting happened. So I'm wondering what other Xmas type traditions exist around the world? Last edited by Blackmask : 12-23-2007 at 05:10 PM.

12-23-2007, 10:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
Cat Bloomin' crazy Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Norway Posts: 1,971 My Profile	We decorate our tree and make a gingerbread house on the 23rd. By then we've usually put up other decorations already (nothing grand, just traditional stars in the windows and stuff). They say it's bad luck to decorate your house earlier than the last weekend before Christmas. On Christmas Eve we always watch cartoons on TV and eat dinner with the family. That's when we open our presents (usually between dinner and dessert). Then on the 25th we eat a traditional Christmas breakfast which is a huge meal with a ton of great food; eggs, smoked salmon, bacon, different types of herring, several types of bread, ham, etc. We sometimes eat porridge on the 23rd that has an almond hidden in it. The person who gets the almond gets a gift (usually a marzipan pig). Other Christmas traditions... Well, we usually light "advent candles" on the four Sundays before Christmas Eve. There are four in total, and we light one more each Sunday. So on the first Sunday one's lit, on the second we light two, etc. They have to be purple. We also get an advent calendar. We really do have a ton of traditions. Last edited by Cat : 12-23-2007 at 10:16 PM.

12-23-2007, 05:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
aloha Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 18,383 My Profile	well, in germany we get our gifts on Christmas Eve. Well, me an my family go to church at 4.30pm for an hour, then we will get back home. then my dad gets the tree ready with the light and stuff, and me and my brother just wait or something. and then we all get our gifts and stuff. then we eat together and sit around together and stuff like that, checking what we got and stuff.

12-23-2007, 09:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ox Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Metro/Detroit USA Posts: 2,103 My Profile	I go to midnight mass on Christmas Eve. In the days before Christmas, I get together with my friends and my family and we party. For instance, this afternoon I had lunch with this girl and then after that went to meet another group of friends at a local bar and tomorrow I'm meeting another friend for drinks.

12-23-2007, 11:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
Avis Phlox Posts: n/a	Christmas is celebrated like Christmas. CLOSED!

12-24-2007, 11:41 AM	#9 (permalink)
Bill5461 Scarlett Mod Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 12,361 My Profile	I usually lie to my friends and say I've got big holiday plans. Then I just go to the garage I work at and all alone, cook a can of baked beans. Eventually Richie comes in and discovers my lie and I'm invited back to the Cunningham house for a joyus christmas celebration with Mr and Mrs C, Richie, and Shortcake. ...OH sorry, I thought I was Fonzie for a moment there.

12-24-2007, 12:23 PM	#10 (permalink)
Avis Phlox Posts: n/a	Hey, Fonz, aren't you Jewish?

12-24-2007, 05:29 PM	#11 (permalink)
Ox Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Metro/Detroit USA Posts: 2,103 My Profile	The day after Christmas we will thank God that this craziness, which has been building since Thanksgiving , has finally come to an end once again. Yep so true!

12-24-2007, 07:29 PM	#14 (permalink)
Plastic Flute ICHiBAN HoOT Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 13,378 My Profile	Im ready to cry because the wrong Keilbasy was purchsed. OMG Whats wrong with me?

12-24-2007, 11:56 PM	#15 (permalink)
MSFixR Science Boy Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Dante's Inferno, Circle 4 Posts: 9,076 My Profile	If your Polish and you buy the wrong Kielbasa, isn't that a mortal sin?

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