Christmas around the world

At Christmas time, all around the world we celebrate the same thing, but local traditions vary. We asked a few members to reminisce about life in 'the old country' (wherever that may be) at this time of year.

Caroling under the Star

Christmas in Romania

Christmas carols form an important part of Romanian folklore. They were often simple songs which told the Christmas story and put people in the mood for a perfect communion with the profound and healing story of Jesus' birth.

In the first hours after dark on Christmas Eve, children go caroling from house to house (this is called 'Colinda'). They hold in their hands a star made of board and paper painted with Biblical scenes in watercolours, or an icon showing the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus. The adults stay home to greet them, and give them treats like candy, fruit, baked treats and sometimes even money.

An English translation of one of the best-known Romanian carols:

The star is rising high,
Like a hidden mystery.
The star shines brightly
And to the world announces
That today the pure,
The immaculate Virgin Mary,
Gives birth to Messiah,
In that famous city
Known by the name of Bethlehem.

Dinu and Anca Stamatescu

Food and family

Christmas in Germany

As children, we knew Christmas was near when the Advent wreath appeared at home and we lit the first red candle. During the Advent season we learned Christmas carols at home and at church, and helped our mothers bake special biscuits: cinnamon stars, almond fingers, 'spekulatius', and honey bells for example.

On Christmas Eve, we walked to church, sometimes through snow. There a huge tree was decorated with red, gold and silver baubles, lots of 'lametta' and real candles: the heat from them turned a big angel chime at the top of the tree. When we returned home, we had a meal of salads, cold meats and bread, but we children couldn't wait until we were allowed into the locked lounge room. There we saw the Christmas tree for the first time. Our gifts were spread out on a table and each child got a 'bunter teller' — a plate with an apple, sometimes an orange, Christmas biscuits and chocolate-coated marzipan bread.

We always had church services on both the first and second Christmas Day mornings, and after a sumptuous lunch at home (usually with a goose or roast pork), the afternoons were spent with relatives who lived in the neighbourhood.

  Chris and Marlene Rodenberg

Postwar luxury

An English Christmas

I have happy memories of Christmas from the years after World War II. It was especially thrilling if we had a white Christmas. We decorated the house with holly from the holly tree in our garden, a sprig of mistletoe, and of course the Christmas tree, which was hung with lovely Victorian

decorations originally used by our grandparents. Then we'd hang up our stockings, and seeing the interesting shapes made opening them even more exciting. In the toe, we always found a mandarin and a sixpence.

Elizabeth Stevenson

The first Christmas tree

A Latvian Christmas

In Latvia, Christmas revolves around Christmas Eve. Families attend church together and sing carols, before going home for a Christmas feast and gathering around the Christmas tree to exchange gifts.

Straw decorations

The tree is central — supposedly the earliest record of a decorated Christmas tree was in the capital of Latvia, Riga, in 1510. Historically trees were decorated with ornaments from nature — straw and reed ornaments were popular, and also apples and pine cones. The lit candles were added, though nowadays they are electric lights. Before receiving gifts, it is customary to stand beside the tree and recite a Christmas poem or folksong or even give a musical offering.

Modern Christmas tree outside St Peter's Church in Riga, capital of Latvia. The House of Blackheads, beside the church, is traditionally the house that began the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree  then burning it!

Latvians also have a few peculiar traditions arising from pagan times, but naturally we don't practice them any more. One was the ritual of 'mumming', where folk would dress up in costumes and masks in order to ward off evil sprits and bring blessing and health to the house. The other was dragging the yule log around the house, to collect all of the past year's problems and misfortunes, and then burning it. Both rituals were accompanied by special folk songs.

Aldi and Anita Elberts