Holidays around the world

We all know what the general holidays in the United States are: Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and others. This answer is varied from family to family, but what about other countries and the way they celebrate the holiday season? Here is a selection of some cultural traditions and customs.

Japanese

In the Japanese culture, Christmas is not the main holiday. However, the Japanese do have a Christmas tradition: food. Christmas Cake is a traditional dish that the Japanese eat on Christmas Day. Bakeries rush to make these delicious desserts before the holiday, and promptly stop selling it once the day is over. Although Christmas is the lesser holiday, the New Year celebration or "Shogatsu" is celebrated from Jan. 1-3, and is more prominent. The beginning of the New Year is important and all previous debts and duties must be fulfilled before then. New Years Day is supposed to be experienced free of stress and worry, and it is also traditional to go to a temple and pray. • It is an insult to call a woman an "unsold Christmas cake." It implies she is getting too old for marriage.

• Rice Wine, Ozoni (a traditional soup made with miso), and fish cakes are eaten on New Years Day.

• Instead of Christmas Cards, the Japanese send out New Years cards that are specifically post marked to arrive on Jan 1.

• It is traditional to give money to children in decorated envelopes on New Years.

African American

Kwanzaa, developed in 1966 by Ron Karenga, gave African-Americans an alternative holiday to Christmas. It is celebrated from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 every year and is meant to give African-Americans an opportunity to reconnect to their African heritage. The word Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza" meaning "first-fruits". Kwanzaa celebrates what it's founder called "The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa" that reflect the basic concepts of African culture, which are: • Unity • Self-Determination • Collective Work and Responsibility • Cooperative Economics • Purpose • Creativity • Faith Candles are lit on each day of the celebration to symbolize these principles. On the evening of Dec. 31, a feast called Karamu is prepared, with the decoration of the space in which the meal will be eaten using black, red and green. On the last day of Kwanzaa gifts are given and often made, not bought, to emphasize the Kuumba or creativity aspect of the seven principles. • Fried Okra, collard greens, cornbread, biscuits and sweet potatoes are often eaten during Kwanzaa.

• The first day a black candle is lit and then each proceeding day after alternates between lighting a red and a green candle.

German

The German holiday season starts on the first Sunday of the Advent usually counting back four Sundays from Dec. 24, this year it will be Dec. 2. Each family has an Advent wreath with four candles, one for each Sunday in Advent, and the first candle is lit on the first day, the second on the second day, and so forth. Children learn Christmas poems, which becomes more difficult as the child ages. These have to be practiced to perfection during the weeks before Dec. 24. On Dec. 6, German children celebrate St. Nikolaus Day, children polish their shoes and put them in front of the door for St. Nick to put goodies in. However, if a child does not do a good job of polishing, they will find pieces of coal in the shoes instead of treats. The Christmas tree is not decorated until much closer to Dec. 24, sometimes children do not get to help, and they won't see the finished tree until Christmas morning.

• Traditional Christmas dinner is roast goose.

• Everyone must sing traditional Christmas songs.

•The Christmas trees are always fresh.

Swedish

The Swedish Christmas holiday begins on Dec. 13, with Lucia Day and it is said that everyone needs extra nourishment on this day. Prior to the holiday, a "Lucia" is chosen. This girl will dress in a white gown with a crown of candles in her hair. She will arrive at dawn on the morning of Dec. 13, with treats and "glogg" a mulled wine. Lucia is also accompanied by a small train of attendants who help her with the preparations and sing Lucia carols as they make their deliveries. On Dec. 24, the traditional feast is prepared and only the minimal housework was done (such as feed the livestock), but then all the rest of the day is devoted to the feast. At the end of the feast, rice porridge is served. Whoever finds the whole almond in their porridge is said to be married within the next year. After the meal, the elf that lives under the floorboards named "Tomte", who watches over the family throughout the year, brings presents to the children. Then in the very early morning of Christmas Day, the townspeople race to church. The tradition is who ever arrives at church first is said to get the best harvest in the coming year. Christmas spirits linger on until Jan.14, or Knut's Day. This day is set aside to discard the Christmas tree and any leftover decorations.

•The young boys who follow Lucia wear pointed hats decorated with stars.

•Ham, jellied pigs feet, sausage, "lutfisk" or lye-fish are traditionally eaten at the feast. • On Knuts Day children often dress as Old Knut and play practical jokes.

Mexican

The holidays begins on Dec. 16, with the "Las Posadas". It recognizes the journey that Mary and Joseph had to take to Bethlehem. After dark on each night beginning on Dec. 16, a procession is led by two children to the doors of the first house assigned to the "Posada". After the host lets them in they kneel around him/her and sing songs of welcome or "Ave Marias". On Christmas eve, another verse is added to the "Ave Maria" that tells Mary that the night of birth has arrived. At midnight the birth of baby Jesus is announced and church bells ring in merriment. When this happens people hurry to church to attend the "Misa de Gallo" or "Mass of the Rooster", followed by the traditional Mexican feast. Many children delight in the "Piñata" which is hung above their heads and they are instructed to swing a stick at it blindfolded. Once the piñata is broken, the children scuttle to find their share of candy and then the game is over.