Eskimo Doll

Eskimo Doll

Christmas Around the World

With only weeks left until Christmas arrives, I was thinking about our traditions that we have in our home...and wondered what were traditions that other countries had.  So here's a little history as well as traditions from the United States, Canada, Italy and Germany.  You may wonder why I picked these countries well, my ancestors are from Germany and Italy, and we all probably have family living in the United States or Canada.

Christmas in the United States:

Santa Claus was born in the United States in the 1860's.  Santa Claus is the dutch word for St. Nicholas.  Although the Dutch had brought him with them in the 17th Century, he did not become an important figure until Washington Irving put him in a novel that he wrote in 1809.  The first Santa Claus was still known as St. Nicholas, he smoked a pipe, and he flew around in a red wagon.  But he did not have red suit or the reindeers. 

In 1863 he was given the name Santa Claus and at that time he began wearing the red suit, the pipe, with the reindeer and sleigh. 

Christmas Celebrations in the United States varies between regions because of the variety of nationalities which have settled here. 

In Pennsylvania, the Moravians build a landscape, called a putz- under the Christmas Tree, while in the same state Germans are given gifts by Belsnickle, who taps them with his switch if they have misbehaved.In Alaska, a star on a pole is taken from door to door, followed by Herod's Men, who try to capture the star.  Colonial doorways are often decorated with pineapple, a symbol of hospitality.    Also, in the Alaska, boys and girls with lanterns on poles carry a large figure of a star from door to door.  They sing carols and are invited in for supper.

In New Orleans, a huge ox is paraded around the streets decorated with holly and with ribbons ties to its horns.

In Arizona, the Mexican ritual called Las Posadas is kept up.  This is a ritual procession and play representing the search of Mary and Joseph for a room at the inn.  Families play the parts and visit each other's houses enacting and re-enacting the drama and at the same time having a look at each family's crib.

In Hawaii, Christmas starts with the coming of the Christmas Tree Ship, which is a ship bringing a great load of Christmas fare.  Santa Claus also arrives by boat.

Christmas Traditions In Canada:

Christmas celebrations are quite similar in the variety to the United States.

In some provinces, a big winter festival, called Sinck tuck, is celebrated by the Eskimos, with dancing and a present giving party.

In Nova Scotia, a country settled by Scottish highlanders, songs and carols brought from Britian nearly two centuries ago are sung each Christmas morning.  During the twelve days of Christmas small groups of belsnicklers, or masked mummers, appear in neighboorhoods, ringing bells, making noise, seeking candy and other treats. 

In Quebec they display Creches or nativity scnes in their homes as the Christmas decorations.  After attending midnight mass, families may be served tourtiere or pork pie. 

Christmas Traditions from Germany:

People start getting ready for Christmas on the eve of December 6th.  People often set aside special nights for baking cakes and cookies and making gifts and decorations.  Little dolls of fruit are traditional Christmas toys.

Children leave letters on their windowsills for Christkind, a winged figure dressed in white robes and a gold crown who distributes girs.  Sometimes they decorate them with glue and sprinkle sugar to make them sparkle.

In parts of Germany, people believe that the Christ child sends a messenger in Christmas Eve.  He appears as an angel in a white robe and crown, bearing gifts, the angel is called Christkind.  There is also a Christmas Eve figure called Weihnachtsmann or Christmas Man, he looks like Santa Claus and also brings gifts.

They hang up advent wreaths of Holly with four red candles in the center.  They light one candle each Sunday and last on Christmas Eve.  Children count the days until Christmas using a Advent Calendar.  They open one window each day and find a Christmas picture inside.  Sound fimilar?

Christmas Traditions in Italy:

The Christmas season in Italy goes for three weeks, starting 8 days before Christmas known as the Novena.  During this period, children go from house to house reciting Christmas poems and singing.

In some parts shepherds bring musical instruments into the villages, play and sing Christmas songs.

In the week before Christmas the children go from house to house dressed up as shepherds, playing pipes, singing and reciting Christmas poems.  They are given money to buy presents.

In Italy the children wait until Epiphany, January 6, for their presents.  According to tradition, the presents are delivered by a kind ugly witch called Befana on a broomstick.  It was said that she was told by the three kings that the baby Jesus was born, she was busy and delayed visiting the baby.

She missed the Star lost her way and has been flying around ever since, leaving presents at every house with children in case he is there.  She slides down chimneys, fills stockings and shoes with good things for good children and it is said she leaves coal for children who are not good.

Hope you've enjoyed reading some of the traditions from across the world.  It's amazing how after reading all of the these traditions that they do make up what we call "our" traditions.  From the coal in the stocking to the advent calendar.  Here's hoping that you and your family have a safe and Merry Christmas.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

About the Author

i have a porceline alaskan doll in a?

nice wooden box that says alaska on it with a picture of an eskimo and a wolf on it any ideas on where i can find it online to get a price for it

try ebay

Eskimo Nesting Doll (HD) by Golden Cockerel