Christmas traditions are not the same the world over

The Christmas season is full of traditions. For many people they evoke memories filled with bright lights, elves who make toys and Bing Crosby singing with Danny Kaye.

But Christmas traditions are not always about Santa, reindeer, or even about a Jewish baby born in a Bethlehem barn.

According to christmastraditions.com, Christmas in Sweden is celebrated in honor of St. Lucia, the patron saint of the blind. Several traditions exist around how a young girl lost her sight, but all agree that it was connected to persecution of the early Christians.

The holiday season starts on Dec. 13. The oldest daughter in the family rises before the rest of the family, dresses in a long white gown tied with a red sash. She takes a crown fashioned with twigs and set with nine candles, lights the candles, and carefully places it upon her head.

As “Lussibruden” (Lucy’s bride), she wakes the rest of the family, and then they gather around the breakfast table and dine with candles lit around the room. Torches were used when hunting or fishing was done and at the end of the day, a parade would be held with the people carrying torches to light a bonfire in the common area.

In warmer and drier climates, snow does not exist, nor does the scent of pine fill the air. In Egypt, the holiday is primarily celebrated by a small portion of the population. According to whychristmas.com, only about 15% are Christians. Christmas is considered an Advent and the season starts on Nov. 25. and finishes Jan. 6. For 43 days, they do not eat any animal products, including milk and eggs.

On the eve of Jan. 6, everyone goes to the Christmas service. They start about 10 p.m. and end around midnight, but sometimes can run as late as 4 a.m. Afterwards they break the fast by serving foods with all of the animal products they went without. Sweet biscuits called kahk are baked and given as gifts as they wish each other Eid Milad Majid (Arabic for merry Christmas).

In Banglidesh, Christmas is celebrated as a public holiday. According to whychristmas.com, Muslims and Christians wish each other shubho [or shuvo] bôṛodin, which is Bengali for merry Christmas.

Nishans (small pink paper triangles strung on string) are also hung to decorate buildings. In rural areas, people gather at the church after the Christmas service for dinner, called the “Preeti-bhoj” or the love feast. Chicken and vegetables cooked with curry is served along with “pitha” which are sweet rice cakes made with rice flour mixed with milk, coconut and molasses.

Christmas in Greece has its own legends and stories as well. According to history.com, the primary difference are the mischief makers. It is believed the “kallilantzeri” (goblins) appear during the 12 days of Christmas.

Also, gifts are not exchanged until Jan. 1, known as St. Basil’s Day.