New Zealand

If you’re not from NZ you might think our traditions are a bit odd. Effectively we have imported English traditions and implanted them in our summertime Christmas. This can make things a little difficult when trying to create a traditional white Christmas, as we don’t have snow, holly or mistletoe. What we do have however is sun, sand, beaches and our native, beautiful Christmas trees the Pohutukawa. This photo is of a Pohutukawa themed decorated Christmas tree that we did for a business in Wellington.

Some people have a traditional roast dinner, and some prefer a camping trip with a BBQ. At Christmas Creatives we carry a range of both summer and wintertime decorations so when you hire your decorated Christmas tree from us you can choose a northern or southern hemisphere theme (or something completely different). We’ve done a beach theme in Wellington and a traditional theme in Auckland – it’s Christmas your way in New Zealand!

 

Antarctica (yes we know, not actually a country)

Christmas in Antarctica is during the austral summer so for three months they are in continuous daylight. There is no day-off in Antarctica, however, there is a festive meal and usually a big party in the evening. It has been said that Christmas in McMurdo Station is more peaceful than anywhere else due to the complete absence of commercialism, the isolation, and the simple beauty of a truly white Christmas.
Interestingly, the Christmas tree decorators in Antarctica work with some of the only trees on the whole continent!

 

Argentina

Decorated Christmas trees are very popular in Argentina, however, they are not always the traditional fir or pine trees, any tree may be used. Trees are often decorated on the 8^th of December (the feast of the Annunciation). Like in New Zealand it is warm at Christmas time and some people like to decorate their trees with cotton balls to represent snow. On Christmas Eve night paper decorations with lights inside called ‘globos’ are floated into the sky. After midnight, the sky is filled with them.

 

Brazil

Christmas in Brazil has a mix of very traditional and non-traditional. Christmas was introduced to South America in the 17^th Century and to this day families will create a nativity scene to honour the birth of Christ. At the other end of the tradition spectrum, major cities will create enormous decorated “Christmas trees” out of electric lights to stand out against the night’s sky.
Christmas Eve is the centre of the celebration with large feasts, gift giving in the evening and midnight mass.

 

China

The population of mainland China is 1% unofficially Christian and Christmas is not a public holiday. But as each year passes more people are becoming aware of the significance of Christmas and participating in festive celebrations. Large urban centres are becoming increasingly commercially festive in December.
Christmas trees in China are called “trees of light” and Christmas tree decorators use bright paper chains, paper flowers and paper lanterns that symbolise happiness (sounds beautiful). The New Year is a much bigger and more importance celebration in China with gifts exchanged, special feasts, fireworks and performers over multiple days.

Ethiopia 

In Ethiopia Christmas is celebrated on January 7^th. The celebrations are less about gift giving and more about going to Church, eating food and playing games. In the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Christmas is called Ganna, and one of the traditional beliefs is that one of the three wise men that came to visit Jesus was from Ethiopia. On the 19^th of January, the Baptism of Jesus is celebrated, this is known as Timkat and is a 3-day celebration. It is characterised by a procession to Church with music and traditional clothing.

 

Greenland

There is a wonderful community spirit in the villages of Greenland during Christmas. Everyone in the village will receive a gift and the children visit the houses singing songs. There is little sunlight during the winter season so windows are decorated with illuminated stars. Imported from Denmark and decorated with candles and bright ornaments, they have beautiful Christmas trees in Greenland. Sometimes a tree made of driftwood is used and decorated with heather.
Although hotly contested, some say that Father Christmas originated in Greenland.

Mexico

At Christmas time in Mexico, bakeries across the country offer the Rosca de Reyes – an oval sweetbread decorated with candied fruit. Hidden inside the bread is a plastic figurine of the Baby Jesus. Hiding the baby symbolises the need to find a secure place where Jesus could be born, a place where King Herod would not find Him. Each person present cuts a slice of the Rosca, the knife symbolising the danger in which the Baby Jesus was in. The guests do not want to get the slice with the baby figurine in it, as the person who does must then be the host of a celebration on February 2, Candelaria or Candle mass day.

 

Papua New Guinea

Before Christianity made its way to PNG, as a gesture of peace amongst tribes each chief would exchange an infant son known as the Peace child. The adoptive tribe would take care of this child, and if the child died the treaty would end. Canadian missionaries told tribes of how the Christian god sent his only son to earth, likening the nativity story to the peace child. This was the start of Christmas in Papua New Guinea.

 

Poland

Christmas in Poland takes a much more religious rather than commercial approach and is celebrated on the 24th of December.

Like Russia, families in Poland will gather after a day of fasting before a 12-course feast on Christmas Eve. At the beginning of the meal a wafer “Oplatek” with a religious image on it is broken and shared with the guests. The table is often set with an extra seat in case a stranger or the Holy Spirit appears to share in the meal. Following the feast, gifts are exchanged and then midnight mass is attended to celebrate the birth of Christ.

Christmas day is spend visiting friends. Some regions of Poland will celebrate on January 6th instead of December 24th.

 

Russia

Christmas celebrations in Russia were eradicated during the atheist Soviet period but returned in 1935. Christmas is celebrated on 7 January instead of 25 December because the Orthodox Church uses the older Julian calendar for religious celebrations.

Families have a meatless twelve course supper once the first star is seen in the night’s sky on Christmas Eve in honour of the twelve apostles. Many people will fast on Christmas Eve and some will fast up to 39 days.

Regardless of how you celebrate the festive season, Christmas Creatives can help make it happen with one of our beautiful, decorated Christmas trees. Contact us for more information, or book a tree on our website.