Christmas Traditions

Ashleey Milton, Reporter|December 4, 2020

Christmas+Traditions

The Christmas holiday is approaching very quickly and we all know what that means: Christmas traditions! Traditions vary from trimming the Christmas tree, baking Holiday cookies, and opening Christmas presents. But what are Christmas traditions around the world?

Calleigh Alleyne states, “If you thought the United States went all out with Christmas decorations, you should see what the Philippines does. Every year, the city of San Fernando holds Ligligan Parul (or Giant Lantern Festival) featuring dazzling parols (lanterns) that symbolize the Star of Bethlehem. Each parols consists of thousands of spinning lights that illuminate the night sky. The festival has made San Fernando the “Christmas Capital of the Philippines,” (Country Living.com).

AP8N8C Well behaved children in Iceland get a treat during the nights from the Yule Lads who start to appear 13 days before Christma (Icelandic photo agency / Alamy Stock Photo)
“Children in Iceland get to experience not one, not two, but thirteen fun-filled nights of Christmas merriment thanks to the Yule Lads. Each year, for the 13 days leading up to Christmas, children in Iceland must place one shoe on the windowsill. If they have been good, that night’s Christmas lad who is sort of like Santa’s cousin will leave them a treat. But, if they have been naughty, he will fill their shoes with rotten potatoes” (Departures.com). According to the National Museum of Iceland, “each of the lads has their own unique name and characteristics including Sheep-Cote Clod, who apparently tries to suckle yews in farmer’s sheep sheds, and Gully Gawk, who steals foam from buckets of cow milk and Spoon Licker,” (Departures.com).

Christmas has never been a big deal in Japan. Aside from a few small, secular traditions such as gift-giving and light displays. Christmas remains a novelty in the country. However, a new, quirky “tradition” has emerged in recent years – a Christmas Day feast of the Colonel’s very own Kentucky Fried Chicken. The festive menu will soon be advertised on the KFC Japan website and, even if people do not understand Japanese, the pictures sure will look delicious with everything from a Christmas-themed standard bucket to a premium roast-bird feast.
People celebrate Christmas differently all around the world. That is what makes the Holiday spirit even more beautiful and fun.