While Christmas is a worldwide phenomenon, each part of the world has shaped these celebrations into their own. To catch a glimpse into the different customs of Christmas, a few students shared their traditions from other parts of the world.
First Stop: Brazil
Sophia Dawson, junior biology major, comes from a Brazilian family. Her Christmas begins on Christmas Eve. Her family shares a large dinner consisting of Brazilian dishes such as “arroz natalino,” turkey or ham, “bacalhau,” “panottone,” “brigadeiro” and “rabanada.”
For Brazilians, Dawson said that Christmas is faith-focused and family-oriented. Relatives will fly from across the world to gather at her grandma’s house. Families set up a huge nativity sets, or “presépio,” to fill the space. Due to the country’s Catholic influence, the holiday is about devotion and togetherness more than gift-giving. After experiencing Christmas both in the U.S. and Brazil, Sophia said she noticed how different the priorities feel.
“America is so materialistic, we are such big consumerists. When you go to Brazil, so much of Brazil is in poverty, so the gift in itself is being around your family during Christmas,” Dawson said.
Second Stop: Greece
Iris Gkini, junior economics major, lived in Athens, Greece, up until the age of 11 when she moved to New York City. Gkini said that for Greeks, Christmas is one of the biggest celebrations of the year. Since most of Greece is Christian Orthodox, Christmas is a time to get acquainted with the religion and celebrate together with a rich history of tradition. One of Gkini’s most fond memories is “kalanda,” going caroling.
Children go knocking door-to-door on Dec. 24, 25 and Jan. 6, and each date has its own meaning. The 24th is to get the town ready for Christ’s birth, the 25th to spread the excitement that Christ is born and the sixth to spread the light. As a reward for caroling, neighbors give children money, which they use to buy gifts for their families. Gkini said that from the start, this tradition instills generosity.
Gkini said that another tradition is “vasilopita,” or New Year’s cake, with a coin hidden inside. On Jan. 1, in honor of St. Basil — their St. Nicholas — the family would unite to cut the vasilopita in a specific order: the first slice for Christ, then elders, all the way down to the children. The person who gets the slice with the coin gets the “good luck” of the year.
“It doesn’t matter who gets the coin, but it’s the idea that you have a cake, and we are all together,” Gkini said.
Last Stop: Ecuador
Isabella Mantilla, senior mathematical finance, economics, and business, analytics and technology triple-major, grew up celebrating Christmas in Quito before moving to the United States six years ago. With over 60 family members present at her family’s Christmases, the biggest difference she has seen is the amount of family that gathers during the holiday.
“Being able to see your family is such a special time, and that’s something I don’t really see over here. I think that is something that makes the holiday more special,” Mantilla said.
Her Christmas begins the first week of December, when her family decorates the tree in lights, ribbons and candles topped with an angel instead of a star while singing “villancicos,” traditional Spanish Christmas carols. Next to the tree lies “el nacimiento,” a nativity scene. Families lay moss, dirt and figurines to recreate the scene in Bethlehem, leaving baby Jesus covered until Dec. 25. Friends and relatives compete to see who has the most spectacular nacimiento display.
Nine days before Christmas, the “novenas” begin — a Catholic tradition of prayer that lasts for nine days to prepare for a feast day. On Dec. 24, dinner becomes a spectacle where the family shows up in dresses and suits. They indulge in turkey, potatoes, rice and her great grandma’s recipe for “pristiños,” an Ecuadorian dessert made of deep-fried dough served with warm panela syrup. By the time midnight arrives, the family takes a moment to make their Christmas wish.
