Haiti Christmas in Haiti is one of the most popular festivals of this country. It is celebrated in a big way with great pomp and show. Christmas in Haiti is the happiest time of the year for the natives. At this time, the entire country remains preoccupied with intense holiday activities. It is celebrated and enjoyed by all, children, adolescents, adults, and even the elderly. Everybody seems to be in a happy mood at this time of the year.
Christmas celebrations in Haiti become prominent with parties, midnight suppers, concerts, family get-together and buffets. In Haiti Christmas starts from December 24. On that night there are midnight suppers and concerts, activities mainly carried out by the natives of the country as well as tourists.Many people enjoy themselves by visiting the various nightclubs of the country. Young people choose to dance at the different nightclubs of Port-au-Prince and other provincial towns. It is also a very special time for children.
Every year, certain organisations announce their distribution of toys to the children in need. In the year 2007, the president of the Republic, Rene Preval, distributed toys to kids at the National Palace. It is also a time when the whole country is decorated with Christmas trees and lightings. Beautiful decorations can be seen in people's homes, hotels and malls. In addition, there are Christmas church services, following which families invite their friends to party all through the night.
Greece
Until recently, Christmas was never considered much of a holiday in Greece. But in recent years things have slowly changed, and now the occasion is celebrated lavishly. The Christmas season in Greece now begins on December 6, which is Saint Nicholas day, and ends on January 6, the day of Epiphany.
Celebrations really pick up as Christmas day gets closer, usually from December 20. Streets are packed with people buying Christmas gifts for their loved ones, as well as Christmas carolers singing Christmas songs. Festive shopping continues way after Christmas Day, with New Year's Day following the festival.
In major cities and towns of Greece, dazzling decorations are made with brilliant lights strung across most of the streets. Shops are decorated with all the usual Christmas ornaments, and the festive mood is apparent. Most of the Christmas traditions in Greece are more or less similar to the West.
A popular tradition is small-village children travelling from house to house on Christmas Eve singing kalanda, the equivalent of Christmas carols, and offering their good wishes. In return they receive dried figs, almonds, walnuts, lots of sweets, coins, small gifts and other tokens of appreciation. Sometimes they are given small gifts as well.
A number of rituals are associated with the observance of the festival in Greece. One well-known custom is hanging a sprig of basil wrapped around a wooden cross in a shallow wooden bowl. Once during the day, a family member, usually the mother, dips the cross and basil into some holy water and uses it to sprinkle water in each room of the house. This ritual is believed to keep the Killantzaroi (mischievous spirits) away.
Another ritual performed to get the same benefit is keeping the hearth burning at all times throughout the 12 days. Gift-giving takes place on St Basil's Day, January 1. On this day all water jugs in the house are emptied and refilled with new St Basil's Water. The ritual is known as the renewal of waters.
Christmas trees are not commonly used in Greece. But these days, in most Greek homes, an evergreen tree is decorated with tinsel and a star placed on top. Priests sometimes go from house to house sprinkling holy water around to get rid of the bad spirits that may be hiding in people's houses.
The feast is a grand attraction of the Greek Christmas festivities and greatly awaited by adults and children alike. The menu includes such dishes as roasted lamb and pork, along with loaves of spicy golden christopsomo (Christ bread). This bread is usually made in large sweet loaves of various shapes, and their crusts are indicative of the
profession of the family.
Czechoslovakia
In Czechoslovakia, Christmas Day is celebrated on December 25. The preparations for Christmas begin here with the commencement of the Advent season. It starts from four Sundays before Christmas Day and continues until December 25. For devout Christians, Advent is a time to keep away from dairy and animal products (like milk, meat, eggs) and indulge themselves in penance and religious reflection. But the Christmas festivities are actually believed to begin after St Lucille's Day, the last holiday of Advent. Gift shops in the country stuff themselves with gifts, apparels and decorative items for the season, and these are whisked away by enthusiastic buyers.
On Christmas Eve, family members gather to set up pine trees in their homes and decorate these in a beautiful manner. Other than in individual homes, these are also erected in public spots. These are usually taken down before January 6, the Day of Epiphany. On Christmas Eve, families attend the midnight Mass at local churches, along with their friends and family members. Fishes are the main highlight of the Christmas dinner. Fish scales are traditionally under Christmas dinner plates or under the tablecloth, with the belief that doing this would usher in wealth to the house. Carrying a fish scale in the wallet all year is also said to ensure that the person will never be short of money.
An ancient tradition still practised here involves putting a cherry branch in water indoors to bloom. If it blooms on Christmas Day, it is believed to be an omen of good luck, and also a sign that the winter may be short. In the 19th century, Christmas in Czechoslovakia was more of a secular holiday. But the Second World War and the subsequent Communist regime saw the holiday become even more secular. Being atheists, the Communists tried to do away with the religious connotation of the occasion.
But they failed to replace baby Jesus, who is believed to deliver presents to the children, along with Grandfather Frost. They were also unsuccessful in moving the celebration of Christmas Eve to New Year's Eve.