14 centrespread centrespread 15 DECEMBER 23-29, 2018 DECEMBER 23-29, 2018 The United States The Philippines Merry Christmas! Maligayang Pasko! The festival is celebrated in a variety of This island nation has a mix of Western and native ways, given the distinct immigrant cultures Filipino traditions as the religion came with the of the large country. People of the southwest Spanish and the Portuguese missionaries in the 15th display luminarias — lanterns made of brown century. So there is a Santa Klaus along with a parol paper bags that are weighted down with or bamboo pole or frame with a star-shaped bamboo sand and has a lit candle. Mexican Americans and paper lantern to signify the Three Wise Men. On take out a procession, Las Posada, to reenact Christmas Eve, Filipinos have a midnight open feast Mary and Joseph’s search for a place in Brazil known as Noche Buena. Bethlehem. Feliz Natal! The Christmas traditions Mexico here came with the Nigeria Feliz Navidad! Portuguese, the former Barka dà Kirsìmatì! colonisers. Nativity scenes Nativity scenes or Nacimiento or presépio are set up in The festival is a family affair here. People prefer are an important part of the churches as well as homes. to return home to be with their elderly parents or celebrations. The figures are not The Brazilians also organise grandparents. There can be all-night Christmas parties. small, like in other cultures, but Christmas plays known as Os Then there are traditional Yuletide rituals, including often life-size. Besides Mary, Pastores or The Shepherds. carols, Nativities and choirs. The Christmas feast Joseph, Jesus, shepherds and the They are also said to receive comprises of pounded yam, eba or amala and stewed Three Kings, figures of everyday a 13th salary in December vegetables. life are also used — like a tortilla that is twice the normal pay. seller and various types of local birds and animals. M A S! NY HUES OF MERRY CHRISTMA Russia From Melkam Gena in Ethiopia to Feliz Navidad in Mexico, Christmas China Schastlivogo is wished in multiple tongues and marked in a myriad ways. Shèngdàn jié kuàilè! Rozhdestva! Here are nine ways the day is celebrated :: Sourabh Gupta A Christmas Eve tradition in China is giving apples to one another, wrapped in Since the Russian Orthodox Church coloured papers. uses the old Julian calendar, Christmas falls on January 7. Tradition mandates a big family meal on Christmas Eve, with 12 courses to The Ethiopian Orthodox Church uses the signify 12 apostles. Since Christmas Ethiopia old Julian calendar. So Christmas is on was a hush-hush festival in the time January 7 and is called Ganna or Gena. A of the Soviet Union, it remains a Melkam special Advent fast is observed 43 days private ritual in Russia. Gena! before Christmas. The Fast of the Prophets (Tsome Nebiyat) starts on November 25. Germany Frohe Weinachten! Germans follow the Advent in the run-up to Where it all started Bethlehem, Palestine Christmas. Advent wreaths are made of fir tree REPORTS NEWS WHYCHRISTMAS.COM, SOURCE: branches and has 24 decorated boxes or bags, This year, in the birthplace of Jesus, the 12th century mosaics each with a little present. Another type, called of the Church of the Nativity have been renovated ahead of Advent Kranz, has a ring of fir branches with four Christmas, making the coming Midnight Mass special. In a grotto candles. Germans also believe Christkind (Christ under the church, an altar marks the spot where Jesus was born. child) sends a messenger angel in a white robe Christmas in this ancient town of West Asia is said to be sparse, and crown with gifts on Christmas Eve. without the frills seen in other parts of the world..