The Kwanzaa celebration lasts for one week. There's a reason for each season and around here we are quickly approaching the Winter solstice. Nearly every culture has traditions that mark the changing of seasons, the winter solstice, and the season of giving. Over the years, the celebration has gradually incorporated traditions from various religions and regions. The Finns have a tradition of resting and relaxing on Christmas Day. Dumplings are bountiful and long noodles are eaten to symbolize a long life. Today, a few common themes of Christmas include gift giving, attending mass, feasting, and decorating the home. Privacy Policy | Internet Privacy Policy | Terms of Use, 8 Culturally Significant Winter Celebrations Around the World. A multi-day festival called Pongal falls around the time of the winter solstice, and it's when rice is boiled in milk and presented as offerings to the gods, followed by the family cows, and then the humans who live in the home. Now she travels the world, searching, and delivering gifts to all the children. In modern times Christians all over the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas Day, which falls on December 25. For Christians, this holiday (on January 6) marks the end of the Christmas season. However, it's believed that this date was chosen to offset pagan celebrations of Saturnalia and Natalis Invicti. Many of them come from a blend of cultures and ethnic backgrounds, and celebration in the winter is often a mix of many different elements. Santa Lucia commemorates the Saint of Light during a time when the days are growing darker. The city of Riga, Latvia holds the claim as home to history’s first decorated Christmas tree, back in 1510. In Scotland, the big holiday is that of Hogmanay. From sundial observations, the Chinese discovered the, Saturnalia was a pagan public holiday celebrated at the winter harvest in ancient Rome. According to folklore, on the night before the feast of the Epiphany in early January, Befana flies around on her broom, delivering presents. Either way, employees around the world commonly take a few days off work at this time. If you're curious about celebrations across culture as you learn how to be an effective cross-cultural communicator, check out a few of our other blogs: © 2020 Dwellworks, LLC. The night before, on Christmas Eve, is really the time of the big feast – and leftovers are consumed the next day. India's Hindu population typically observes this time of year by placing clay oil lamps on the roof in honor of the return of the sun. Ceremonies and rituals include purification, dancing, and sometimes gift-giving. Amsterdam Light Festival. If you are planning a holidays unit soon click here to see the Holidays Around the World unit and teaching Power Point I use. See how the celebration unfolds in countries around the world with this infographic. Summer has been over for quite some time now. Those eight holidays are celebrated by billions of people around the world. Click here to read more about how Diwali is celebrated in other countries. The highlight is the Harbin Ice and Snow World, an entire city sculpted from 180,000 cubic meters of ice. Experience these wonderful winter festivals around the world, including Carnival in Rio, Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan, Mardi Gras in New Orleans and Las Fallas in Spain. At night, colorful lights illuminate the enormous ice sculptures. Some of the best winter vacation spots are hiding right in plain sight: explore majestic ice sculptures in China, watch twinkling lights in the Netherlands, compete in winter games in … The darkest part of the year has always been a time for winter celebration. Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. In Iran, for example, it is known as Yalda Night and is typically celebrated with family and friends. 4. It falls on different dates each year, between January 21 and February 20. On December 13th, children sing songs dressed in white gowns. One fun custom is that of Glogg parties, which involve the drinking of Glogg, a mulled wine made from Madeira, and the eating of lots of baked treats. Because Australia is in the southern hemisphere, the winter solstice falls in June, and people may use native plants like Mallee roots, Tasmanian oak, and eucalyptus to make a family Yule log. This was a time of “role-reversal,” where slaves were temporarily freed and the rich gave to the poor. Traditions vary widely from one country to the next, but one thing they all have in common is the observance of customs around the time of the winter solstice. Take a moment to learn about the traditions that your global teammates hold dear and consider celebrating in your own way as you explore other cultures. The largest Diwali celebrations certainly take place in India, but it is celebrated by Hindus all around the world. Kachina dollsBrooklyn Museum, New York, Museum Expedition 1903, Museum Collection Fund (03.325.4653). On Hogmanay, which is observed on December 31, festivities typically spill over into the first couple of days of January. Those eight holidays are celebrated by billions of people around the world. Wiccans and Neopagans celebrate the holiday of Yule, at the time of the Winter Solstice, around December 21st. Gifts are exchanged with family and friends, and baksheesh, or charity, is given to the poor and needy. Burns Night Known in medieval Celtic culture as a story teller, verse maker and composer, the word ‘Bard’ has become synonymous with the world’s greatest poets. She rejected them, but later realized she'd been quite rude. A warm, bright celebration to look forward to is Saint Lucy’s Day. Some countries have particular celebrations to mark the solstice. Hogmanay - the celebration of the last day of the year - is one of Scotland's best-known and best loved traditions! 4 Winter Solstice Rituals From Around the World Members of the Shakti Sings choir sing as druids, pagans and revelers gather in the center of Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England to … Teaching your children about different winter celebrations from around the world is very important. It is said that the three Magi stopped on their way to Bethlehem and asked her for shelter for a night. Traditionally, the eldest daughter will bring her family saffron buns and coffee. Each time, the wife begs him to spare the tree, saying, "Oh no, I am sure this tree will be as heavy with fruit next spring as my fingers are with dough today." Across the world, festivals, contests, and celebrations are dedicated to the worship of snow and ice. There's a tradition known as "first-footing", in which the first person to cross a home's threshold brings the residents good luck for the coming year – as long as the guest is dark-haired and male. There are many other winter celebrations sacred to other cultures. Christmas is typically not a huge holiday in Greece, as it is in North America. The sun rises close to 9:00 in the morning and sets around 3:00 in the evening. This is a cultural holiday, not a religious one; therefore, it truly brings together people from various lifestyles to celebrate their common African heritage. A woman bakes a confection called a turta, made of pastry dough and filled with melted sugar and honey. She is the author of Daily Spellbook for the Good Witch, Wicca Practical Magic and The Daily Spell Journal. It is celebrated around the world by people of African descent. Here are some ways that residents of different countries observe the season. Hearth fires burn for several days between December 25 and January 6, and rather than swapping gifts on Christmas Day, Greeks typically exchange presents on St. Basil’s Day, which is January 1. CATEGORIES One way you can introduce your children to other cultures, is by bringing them to the free Winter Celebrations events at the St. Louis Art Museum December 8 until December 10. Before baking the cake, as the wife is kneading the dough, she follows her husband outdoors. In Italy, there is the legend of La Befana, a kind old witch who travels the earth giving gifts to children. I hope these ideas make teaching your students about holidays around the world an exciting experience they won’t soon forget! The winter holidays are celebrated in many ways around the world. All Rights Reserved. All across the globe, people get together for rituals and holidays, to share time together. It attracts a growing number of visitors from Japan and rest of world. The man goes from one barren tree to another, threatening to cut each down. The country's Christians celebrate by decorating mango and banana trees, and adorning homes with red flowers, such as the poinsettia. The most anticipated part of the meal is the traditional rice pudding, baked with a single almond inside. Due to the northern location of Scandinavia, countries like Sweden only have a few precious hours of daylight in the winter. A key aspect of the Chinese New Year is ancestor worship, and paintings and portraits are brought out and honored in the family's home. The idea of decorating a Christmas tree didn't appear in Greece until the early nineteenth century, when King Otto arrived from Germany, where the custom was already in practice. The solstice is the point in the year when the earth is most inclined away from the sun, and Wiccans celebrate Yule to honor the winter-born king, symbolized by the rebirth of the sun. But what is winter solstice and what are the winter solstice traditions? For the northern hemisphere, winter brings cooler temperatures and longer nights. The midwinter festival of Yule has been celebrated by the Germanic peoples since at least the 4th century. But other, equally exciting festivities are held around the world. While many people loathe winter's short days and freezing temperatures, true cold-weather warriors embrace the season. Invite students to learn more about how Yule is celebrated around the world at Yule Tide And Christmas Traditions of the Ancients from Old and Sold Antiques Auction & Marketplace. In Romania, people still observe an old fertility ritual which probably pre-dates Christianity. As the clock strikes midnight in each time zone, the New Year is welcomed over a span of 26 hours. The magical view of Harbin, China during their annual winter festival. Holiday Celebrations Around the World Holiday Celebrations Around the World ... (The story is particularly appealing to Swedes, whose country is dark during much of the winter.) For those who observe the Gregorian calendar, January 1st is considered the first day of the New Year. There's even a special parade to honor the cattle, and they are allowed to graze wherever they choose. In Denmark, Christmas Eve dinner is a big cause for celebration. Since the holiday is based on the lunar calendar, the date of celebration shifts from January to February. Here are some of the best. For Greek and Russian Orthodox churches, this is the celebration of Christmas. Destination Services, Can Business Travelers Have Culture Shock? For example, consider: Soyal, celebrated by the Hopi Indians in the Southwest United States, falls on the shortest day of the year. When I studied abroad in Sweden one of the hallmark celebrations the people took part in was Santa Lucia. Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands. The Sapporo Snow Festival is one of Japan’s largest winter events. Instead, a sprig of basil is wrapped around a wooden cross to protect the home from the Killantzaroi, which are negative spirits that only appear during the twelve days after Christmas. Whether celebrating ice, snow and Christmas or simply using the winter season to explore their culture, many countries around the globe host opulent festivals in the winter season. In countries below the equator, December falls during the warmer season, but the winter solstice, six months later, is still seen as a time to celebrate. On December 26, the day of St. Stephen the Martyr, everyone goes out and visits friends and relatives, weather permitting. In countries below the equator, December falls during the warmer season, but the winter solstice, six months later, is still seen as a time to celebrate. Winter Holiday Celebrations Around the World Winter Holiday Celebrations Around the World . At the time of the solstice, Hopi welcome the kachinas, protective spirits from the mountains. Some believe that celebrating the birth of the “true light of the world” was set in synchronization with the December solstice because from that point onwards; the days began to have more dayli… Although Australia is huge geographically, the population sits at under 20 million people. The best and most beautiful objects are selected to represent African culture as family, community, and heritage are celebrated. in Students Comments Off on Winter Celebrations Around the World 15,548 views 15 Chinese New Year. However, the recognition of St. Nicholas has always been important, because he was the patron saint of sailors, among other things. In fact, Hindu Indians are the second largest ethnic minority in Britain. The menorah holds eight candles and is placed in a window or doorway. Much like Santa Claus, she leaves candy, fruit, and small gifts in the stockings of children who are well-behaved throughout the year. However, the main winter festival in China is the New Year celebration that occurs at the end of January. Learn Religions uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. The tradition stems from back when a red- or blonde-haired stranger was probably an invading Norseman. If your global team has winter customs that differ from your own, take the opportunity to begin a cultural dialogue as you learn more. The celebration is a weekend filled with festivities for family and friends inspired by cultures near and far. Patti Wigington is a pagan author, educator, and licensed clergy. Diwali is a five day celebration where lights glow all around the house, gifts are exchanged, rituals take place, and special foods are consumed. Soyal is the winter solstice celebration of the Hopi Indians of northern Arizona. Birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas Eve, is really the time of year. ( and family-friendly ) winter festivals around the world it attracts a growing number of visitors from and! 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