With over a billion followers around the globe, the Christian tradition of celebrating the birth of Jesus is one of the most anticipated holidays of the year. Even non-Christians will get into the Christmas spirit every December by making donations, giving gifts, or starting fresh.
Here are some of the most interesting and inspiring Christmas traditions practiced in different parts of the world.
Philippines
A big part of any Christmas tradition involves lights, whether it’s lighting candles or decorating your house. In the Philippine city San Fernando, they take things even further. This locale has been named the “Christmas Capital of the Philippines” because of their Ligligan Parul or Giant Lantern Festival. These parols are meant to represent the Star of Bethlehem and have thousands of rotating lights. When they are all lit up together, the view is remarkable.
Japan
With only around 1% of Japanese identifying as Christian, the Christmas holiday isn’t widely celebrated in Japan. However, that doesn’t mean the Japanese couldn’t come up with their own Christmas tradition, and in 1974 they did just that with a marketing campaign called “Kentucky for Christmas!”
What does that mean? That you should eat Kentucky Fried Chicken on Christmas day, of course! The campaign has become so popular over the years that people can place orders months in advance if they don’t want to wait in hours-long lines on Christmas Day!
New Zealand
As is true of many Southern Hemisphere countries, the weather in New Zealand on December 25th is usually sunny and warm since it’s the beginning of summer, not winter. Many New Zealanders will have a barbeque or barbie and grill various meat, seafood, and seasonal vegetables to celebrate accordingly. And, instead of a traditional pine tree, Kiwis prefer a coastal plant called the Pohutukawa that has beautiful red blossoms. Also, don’t be surprised if you hear locals singing Christmas carols in English and Maori.
Norway
Christmas starts early in Norway, with the season officially beginning on December 3rd. At this time, local bars and restaurants will be packed every night of the week as people gather with family and friends to celebrate a successful year.
On December 23rd, families will celebrate what they call Little Christmas, a day when individual traditions and rituals can take place. For some families, that means decorating the Christmas tree together, while others will make gingerbread houses or enjoy some hot rice pudding called risengrynsgrøt.
Traditions and Memories
Regardless of which Christmas traditions are the most interesting, almost everyone can agree that this time of year is one of remembrance and reflection. And what better way to keep someone’s memory alive forever than with an engraved headstone in Washington. Quiring Monuments works with burial sites around the state, including the City of Kirkland Cemetery, to create memorial services and monuments that remember and honor those who have passed.
When deciding on a headstone in Seattle and the surrounding areas, Quiring can assist with customized designs that include symbols, graphics, or photos in various colors. Allow us to preserve your loved one’s memory in a way that represents them. Get in touch for more details.