Advent Celebrations Around the World
Advent is a joyous occasion, celebrating the lead up to the birth of our savior. Here in the U.S., Advent begins four weeks before Christmas. However, Christians around the world celebrate on different timelines and in various ways. At our Osceola Catholic schools, we emphasize the importance of Advent to our students, and one way to learn about Advent is to see how different cultures celebrate it around the world.
Mexico and Central America
In Mexico, rather than dedicating the month of December to Advent, the most prevalent tradition is to celebrate the journey of Mary and Joseph to the stable in Bethlehem from December 16th-24th. In religious ceremonies known as “Las Posadas,” which translates to “The Inns,” children dressed as angels lead processionals to different homes, only to be turned away because “the inn is full.” After trying a few houses, the party moves to a central location where children strike piñatas shaped like nativity animals. On the ninth and final night of this celebration, families gather to feast and then worship together at church.
France
To shift the focus away from one big day of opening gifts, France has three separate gift giving occasions during Advent: Saint Nicholas Day on December 6th, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Unlike in the U.S. where children are encouraged to go to bed early on Christmas Eve, French families tend to start celebrating at the stroke of midnight with a meal and gifts. After the meal, children place their shoes by the fireplace, and parents place small gifts in the shoes to be found the next day. Another notable French tradition, especially in Paris, is adding modern style to nativity scenes, dressing the historical figures in modern fashionable provincial clothing.
Other European Countries
Most of the modern day traditions in the U.S. come from Europe, most notably Christmas lists from England and Christmas trees from Germany. Other traditions differ greatly from the familiar ones here. Spain, the Netherlands, and Belgium all include Saint Nicholas’s horse riding in their holiday traditions. In Italy, gifts are traditionally opened January 6th, when the Wise Men are said to have arrived. Czechs set a place at the table for the Christ child, and Danes set aside milk and rice pudding for Santa’s helpers. In Croatia, Advent starts on November 25th, on Sveta Kata or St. Catherine’s Day. While many cultures celebrate Christmas and Advent, every country does so differently.
At our schools, we encourage children to learn about the world to understand how cultures differ and what brings us all together. Advent and Christmas traditions help demonstrate how faith unites people around the world. Our Osceola Catholic schools foster an atmosphere of care and an environment of high expectations and effective discipline. To learn more about what makes us different, contact us here.