Christmas Eve Traditions
In most of the countries Christmas is celebrated on December 25th but there are countries where Christmas celebrations take place on January 6th or 7th. Generally, the eastern churches (Armenian, Russian, and Ethiopian) celebrate Christmas in January. The best way of enjoying Christmas Eve is to mix the age old traditions with the new ones. Christmas Eve is a curtain raiser to the main event.
Watching Christmas light decorations, La Posada, and enacting Nativity scene plays are some of the Christmas Eve Traditions that have followed over the years.
Read on, you will find that most of these are similar to what we do every year.
Watching Christmas lights
Cities, towns, villages, schools, offices, shopping malls, bridges, and market squares are illuminated with dazzling lights. These lights are strewn all over the Christmas trees. Many families set off for a city tour to watch these lights and the decoration of the houses.
Preparing food for reindeer
You can prepare some reindeer food along with your children. Ask your kids to take a small paper bag and fill it with oatmeal. You can add some red glitter to it and have it scattered on the snow. In this way, the reindeer will locate the oatmeal. This is a fun activity and will be greatly enjoyed by kids.
Visit church for prayer services
Prayer services are held in most of the churches on Christmas Eve. Attend prayer services. This is a great way of celebrating Christmas Eve and showing your gratitude to Jesus – the Son of God who was sent from Heaven to save mankind.
Bake a cake for Jesus
Every year you have been preparing interesting dishes on your child’s birthday, why not today Let your child know why Christmas is celebrated. Bake a cake on
Arrange a seven fishes feast
Feast of Seven Fishes originated in the southern part of Italy. This Christmas Eve tradition is practiced by American Italian households. On this day, people have a meatless meal. Instead they cook shellfish and seafood. 7 different kinds of fishes are prepared. This is because it is believed that the Universe was created in 7 days by the Lord.
Christmas carols
Caroling is one of the oldest Christmas Eve traditions. Church-goers, neighbors, and groups of friends visit houses in the neighborhood and sing carols and hymns related to Christmas. In return the carol singers receive hot cocoa.
Enacting Nativity Scenes
Enacting Nativity Scenes are very common all over the world. In many countries local artists perform plays.
La Posada is one such event, which takes place not on Christmas Eve but 9 days before Christmas. This event takes place in Mexico and few Central American countries. People take out a procession carrying candles in their hands and images of Jesus and Virgin Mary.
The Nativity Scene plays are known as Pastorelas in Mexico. Artists dress up like Virgin Mary, Baby Jesus, 3 wise men, and shepherds.
Decorating Christmas tree
Decorating the Creche is one of the most important Christmas customs. Small figures (santons) of clay resembling Virgin Mary, shepherds, Jesus are placed inside the Manger. In some countries, figures of local prominent men and women also adorn the crí¨che.
Christmas trees are decorated with bells, colored streamers, flowers, and glitters. In home decoration, Poinsettia, ferns, mistletoe, and evergreens are used for indoor as well as outdoor decoration.
Hanging stockings for gifts
This is probably the best part for children. Father Christmas (Magi, Pere Noel, 3 wise men in some places) bring gifts for children. Mostly these gifts are kept inside stockings and shoes. The presents are usually placed at the base of the trees. Children place their shoes and stockings near the fireplace, sometimes on the balconies so that Santa can keep the gifts. But they are not allowed to open these gifts on Christmas Eve. They usually unwrap the presents in the afternoon on the following day.
Last updated on 14/07/2011
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