One of the things that UCLAN prides itself on is the variety of students it attracts from all over the world. The chances are then that if you are staying in UCLAN Accommodation this Christmas then you may be living with people who celebrate Christmas in a different way from you. After all, there are some weird and wonderful Christmas traditions out there – and who are we to judge?
For instance, in the UK we traditionally celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December, but in many countries in Western and Eastern Europe, it is actually celebrated on the 24th December. The night that we in the UK call Christmas Eve, is actually known as ‘Jul’ and is the night where many families gather together and swop presents and share a meal. However, if you are living in your student accommodation in Preston with friends who were born in Eastern Europe, for example, then they may not celebrate Christmas until the 7th January – due to the differences in the newer Gregorian calendar and the older Julian calendar.
So, let’s have a look at some of the other Christmas traditions from around the world.
An Austrian Christmas
One of the most recognisable Austrian Traditions that we have seen in the UK recently is the Christmas Market. These tend to be seen in large towns throughout Austria and Germany, and they sell things such as food, Gluwhien and Christmas decorations. Also in Austria, they tend to not put their Christmas tree up until Christmas Eve, when it is then decorated with candles, sweets, and Chocolate. Many children in Austria believe the tree is decorated by ‘Christkind’ who also leaves them a present underneath as well.
Some children may also get a present from St Nicholas on the 6th December, but he often does not arrive alone. Many times he is accompanied by Krampus – a large, hairy horned monster – who punishes children who have been bad. The main Christmas Meal is eaten on Christmas Eve in Austria, with fried carp being a popular main course, due to the fact that traditionally Catholics consider Christmas Eve as a day of fasting, and so no meat can be eaten. However, these days many families prefer to have roast Goose or Turkey instead.
Christmas in China
Only about 1% of the population of China is Christian, so Christmas is not widely celebrated over there – and celebrations tend to be focused on major cities. Similar to the UK, Department Stores tend to be decorated, and there are lights on the streets and even grottos with Father Christmas in. He is known as ‘Shen Dan Lao Ren’ in Chinese which roughly translates to Old Christmas Man!
Not many people will have a Christmas tree, but of those who do the majority tend to have plastic ones which are decorated with paper chains, paper lanterns and plastic flowers. A tradition that is becoming more popular in China is giving apples to friends and families on Christmas Eve. This tradition seems to stem from the fact that in Chinese Christmas Eve is known as “Ping’an Ye” which translates as peaceful evening. The word for apple in Chinese is “Pingguo” which sounds similar to the word for Christmas Eve. Shops are encouraging this tradition by selling apples wrapped in brightly coloured paper.
A Traditional Christmas in Cyprus
Christmas in Cyprus is quite similar to the UK in that presents are given, and lots of food is eaten. Cypriot’s like to bake, and they make a cake that looks a lot like the Christmas cake we are used to, but actually tastes very different. Their cake is very sweet as it is made with seasonal fruit that has been preserved in sugar syrup, lots of local nuts and also orange flower water. They then finish this off with a thick layer of marzipan.
They also make lots of little delicacies that they take with them when visiting friends and family – such as shortbread biscuits filled with toasted almonds (called Kourambiades) and honey biscuits (called Melamakarona).Turkey is not the meat of choice at Christmas either. Cypriot’s tend to prefer pork which is soaked in wine for a few days and then smoked. Gammon is also popular, as well as smoked ham.
Father Christmas doesn’t arrive in Cyprus on Christmas Eve like he does in other countries, instead, Ayios Vassilis (St Basil) arrives on New Year’s Eve. However, many Cypriot households celebrate Christmas in the traditional way as well which means that come lucky children get a present on Christmas Day and on New Year’s Eve as well.
A Spanish Christmas
Christmas is celebrated in many different ways throughout Spain, but the Catalonian region has a particularly notable tradition based around “Cago Tio” (the Christmas Log). This Christmas character is a log propped up on two sticks with a painted face at one end. From the 8th December, each family will care for their log by feeding it tiny morsels of food and keeping it warm in a blanket. On Christmas Eve, the log is placed near to the fire where the children sing a song encouraging it to leave presents, while they beat it with a stick! After each verse of the song is sung, the children leave the room giving the adults time to hide nuts and sweets under the blanket! When the children come back in to sing the next verse they find the treats! This carries on until the adults have had enough and signal the song is over by placing a salted herring under the blanket instead.
So, that is a little overview of some of the ways that Christmas is celebrated throughout the world. However you are spending Christmas this year, whether it be in your Preston Student Accommodation, at home with family, or with friends we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.