Holiday Traditions Of Other Countries- Part 4Canada- Boxing Day / Brazil / Australia / GreeceWe are going to explore a few other traditions concerning Boxing Day and how Brazil, Australia, and Greece celebrate the festive season. Many Countries Celebrate Boxing DayBoxing Day is a public holiday observed in many Commonwealth countries on the first day other than Sunday following Christmas Day. It is often celebrated by giving gifts and donations to the poor and needy.The origins of Boxing Day are not clear, but some think it could have come from a common practice for servants carrying boxers to their employers when arriving for work the day following Christmas. In return, the employer would put coins in the boxes as a special gift. This might also be where the idea of Christmas bonuses originated. Still others think it was named Boxing Day as it was traditional to open the church's donation box on Christmas Day and distribute the monies to those less fortunate the following day. It might also have been named Boxing Day for servants who had to work for their employers on Christmas Day and would instead open their gifts, or boxes, the following day. Boxing Day was also the day when the wren, the king of birds was captured and put in a box and introduced to each household in the village when he would be asked for a successful year and a good harvest. A holiday tradition exists today in England where boys go about town with a fake wren on a stick, asking each household for a donation to be placed in the box they carry so the wren will grant prosperity and good fortune on their home. In Canada, and indeed any other country that celebrates it, Boxing Day is also observed as a public holiday, and is a day when stores sell their excess Christmas inventory at significantly reduced prices. Most years Boxing Day happens to fall December 26th, which is the same day as the Feast of St. Stephen, commonly called St. Stephens Day. Who is your Christmas Amigo Secreto in Brazil?Father Noel is the gift-bringer in Brazil. According to Brazilian folklore, he lives in Greenland, and it's been said that because of how warm it is in Brazil during the Christmas holiday, Father Noel wears silk clothing to stay cool.There is a very common tradition among friends and families, called amigo secreto, or secret friend. In early December game participants write their own name on a piece of paper, and then place it in a bowl or hat to be drawn by another participant. They then draw a name from the bowl, but do not reveal to anyone what name it says. Then throughout December people receive cards and notes from their secret friend, which have apelidos, or fake names, on them. Only on Christmas Day do people reveal who their secret friend was and offer a gift. During the month there are exchanges of correspondence among the participants who use apelidos (fake names). On Christmas, family and friends gather to reveal their secret friends and offer them a special gift. In the old days, devout Catholics would attend Midnight Mass or Missa do Galo. Galo is Brazilian for rooster. The mass is called by this name because it actually doesn't end until very early Christmas morning. Since it can be hard to stay up that late, masses are celebrated December 24 later in the afternoon or in the early evening on Christmas Day. Homes are festively decorated using fresh flowers picked straight from the garden. Brazilians also take great pride in displaying their Presepio, or nativity scene. Gigantic displays of electric lights in the form of Christmas trees can be seen everywhere, especially in larger cities such as Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. Elaborate fireworks displays and festive celebrations help ring in the New Year. Toss a Shrimp on the Barbie in Australia for ChristmasChristmas is a very different experience in Australia. It takes place during the hottest months of the summer in the Southern Hemisphere, so dreaming of a white Christmas while in Australia is about the only way you'll have one!Many Australian Christmas traditions are ingrained in their British roots. A traditional Christmas meal usually includes a turkey dinner, sometimes with ham. Plum pudding is also sometimes part of the menu, as is a Pavlova, an Australian meringue made with whipped cream, strawberries and passion fruit. . But some opt for more traditional summertime fare for their holiday meal such as cold ham, salads, or seafood. Since the weather is so warm, many choose to spend their holiday outdoors. A great number of people flock to Bondi Beach in Sydney. Shorts, tank tops and swimsuits are the preferred Christmas attire. Because of the warm temperatures holiday decorating is done with beautiful flowers and fauna. One of the most popular choices is a native Australian plant called the Christmas Bush. Back in Melbourne in 1937, caroling by candlelight was born. Now it is an annual event during the holiday season all across the country. Sydney's Domain is another popular venue for carolers to gather and sing. Santa Claus, or Father Christmas, is as popular as he is throughout the world, though he is sometimes depicted wearing swimming trunks instead of a red wool suit, and cold drinks and foods are left out for him on Christmas Eve instead of milk and cookies. Australian trees have various wooden and glass decorations, tinsel, garland and lights, just as Christmas trees around the world. Boxing Day, a national public holiday in Australia as it is in England, is celebrated yearly the day following Christmas, December 26. It is well known for being the day the dangerous yacht race that runs from Sydney to Hobart begins. Wishes for Hronia Polla in Greece for the HolidaysSt. Nicholas is important part of Greek tradition as the patron saint of sailors. Greek ships never set out on a voyage without having an icon of St. Nicholas on board. Greek tradition tells of his clothes being soaked from sea water and perspiration from working to save sinking ships and rescue sailors from the angry sea.Boys travel from home to home on Christmas Eve beating drums and tinkling triangles while singing Christmas carols. Each household usually gives each boy a gift of dried figs, nuts and candies. Following 40 days of fasting, the Christmas feast is a grand celebration. Pigs are slaughtered and on almost every table are loaves of christopsomo, or Christ bread. This bread is made in large sweet loaves of various shapes and the crusts are engraved and decorated in some way that reflects the family's profession. As people gather together to celebrate and feast, they say Hronia Polla, or many happy years. Another favorite holiday treat is a kourambiethes, a cookie made from nuts. The main decorative symbol of the Christmas season in a Grecian household is a shallow wooden bowl with a piece of wire suspended across the rim. Sprigs of basil that are wound around a wooden cross hang from the wire. And just like a Christmas tree, the basil is watered slightly to keep it fresh. Then once a day someone in the family dips the cross and basil into some holy water and uses it to sprinkle water in each room of the house. This ritual is believed to keep the Killantzaroi, or mischievous goblins believed to appear from the earth during the 12 days of Christmas, away from the house. At Christmas very few presents are given to each other. Instead, Greeks choose to give small gifts that are given to hospitals, orphanages and others in need. | ||||||
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Holiday Traditions- Part 1 England / Germany / Mexico Holiday Traditions- Part 2 Jerusalem / Italy / France / India Holiday Traditions- Part 3 Africa- Kwanzaa / Holland / Ireland Holiday Traditions- Part 4 Canada- Boxing Day / Brazil / Australia / Greece | ||||||
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