How Your Country Celebrates Christmas?

**bonner** Fri Dec 23, 2011 4:44 am

Here in the Philippines

Christmas in the Philippines, one of two predominantly Catholic countries in Asia (the other one being East Timor), is one of the biggest holidays in the archipelago. The country has earned the distinction of celebrating the world's longest Christmas season, with Christmas carols heard as early as September and the season lasting up until Epiphany, the feast of the Black Nazarene on January 9 or the Feast of the Santo Niño de Cebú held every third Sunday of January.

Activities

Christmas parties

In urban areas like Metro Manila, many offices organise Christmas parties. These are usually held during the second week of December, or right before schools and universities go on holiday. Common activities include Monito/Monita (Kris Kringle), musical or theatrical performances and parlor games. Food is provided either through potluck, or via a pool of contributions to buy food. Some have fireworks displays.

Simbang Gabi/Misa de Gallo

Traditionally, Christmas Day is ushered in by a novena of dawn Masses known as the Misa de Gallo ("Rooster's Mass") in Spanish and in Filipino as Simbang Gabi (literally, "Night Mass"). This series of Masses lasts from December 16 to 24, and is a very important tradition. The Simbang Gabi is practised mainly by Catholic and Aglipayan faithful, though some Evangelical Christians and other independent Protestant Churches have adapted this practise by holding similar early morning services.

In some parishes, the Simbang Gabi begins as early as three o'clock in the morning while anticipated Masses begin a day before at eight in the evening. Attendance at the nine Masses is meant to show the believer's devotion to God as well as to heighten anticipation for the Nativity of Jesus. A popular belief is that upon the devotee's completion of the nine Masses, God will grant any special wish he makes.
After hearing Mass, Catholic families eat traditional Filipino holiday fare sold outside the church, either within the church precincts or during breakfast at home. Vendors offer many native delicacies, including bibingka (rice flour and egg-based cake, cooked using coal burners above and under); putò bumbóng (a purple, sticky rice delicacy steamed in bamboo tubes, buttered then sprinkled with brown sugar and shredded dried coconut meat). Drinks include coffee, salabát (a ginger tisane) and tsokoláte (thick Spanish-style hot chocolate).
In some Aglipayan churches, the congregation is invited to partake of the "paínit" (literally "heater"), which are after-Mass snacks of delicacies served with coffee or cocoa at the house of the Mass sponsor.

Bibingka

Christmas Eve

For Filipinos, Christmas Eve ("Bisperas ng Pasko") on 24 December is celebrated with the Midnight Mass, and the traditional Noche Buena feast. Family members dine together at around midnight on traditional yuletide fare, which includes: queso de bola (Spanish: "ball of cheese"), which is edam cheese) sealed with red wax; tsokoláte, pasta, fruit salad, pan de sall, relleno and hamón (Christmas ham). Some families would also open presents at this time.

Christmas Day

Christmas Day in The Philippines is primarily a family affair. The Misa de Aguinaldo is celebrated on December 25 and is usually attended by the whole family. It is the main means of celebrating Jesus Christ's birth for Catholics and Aglipayans.

The Misa de Aguinaldo is often celebrated between 10 pm and midnight, a schedule preferred by many Filipinos who stay up late on Christmas Eve for the night-long celebration of the Noche Buena.
Preferably in the morning, Filipinos typically visit members of the extended family, especially to pay respects to their elders. This custom of giving respect has been an age-old tradition in the Philippines called "Pagmamáno", which is done by bringing the elder's hand to one's forehead, while saying the phrase Máno Pô (lit. "Hand, please"). The elder then blesses the person who has given their respect, and in turn gives "Aguinaldo", or money in the form of crisp, fresh-from-the-bank bills is given after the Pagmamano, mostly to younger children. Godparents are especially socially obligated to give presents or Aguinaldo to their godchildren.

A Christmas Lunch usually follows after the "Pagmamano". The menu is heavily dependent upon the finances of the family, with richer families preparing grand feasts, while poorer families choose to cook simple yet special dishes. Some families choose to open presents on this day after the lunch.
When nighttime falls, members of the family usually return home or linger to drink, or have family talks while listening to favorite Christmas carols. Some may opt to have another feast for dinner. Some families spend the entire day at home to rest after the previous days' festivities.

**bonner** Fri Dec 23, 2011 4:48 am

Usually every house decorates Parol and Christmas Lights.. But now not all are doing this tradition anymore

How Your Country Celebrates Christmas? Filipino-parol

How Your Country Celebrates Christmas? Filipino-parol

I cant feel the present of Xmas this time because of Global Crisis

And the people in the Southern Philippines is suffering right now after the disaster typhoon Sendong and killed many people there Sad

**Wojtek** Fri Dec 23, 2011 8:50 pm

Christmas in Poland

In Poland the greatest day is day before Christmas - Wigilia (Christmas Eve).
In the morning of December 24 polish people decorating the Xmas tree.
Very important is Christmas Eve vigil supper. Supper begins after the First Star appears in the sky (that's why we called Christmas Eve also "Gwiazdka" which means a little star) and after sharing the Christmas wafer (opłatek).

How Your Country Celebrates Christmas? Images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSnUX_MeNVd347GxLAPYw3aQuiLyrxByka77GEe-9EzUvxIyXu0

How Your Country Celebrates Christmas? Images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSnUX_MeNVd347GxLAPYw3aQuiLyrxByka77GEe-9EzUvxIyXu0

Everyone at the table breaks off a piece and eats it as a symbol of their unity with Christ. Then we share a piece with each family member and making wishes. A tradition exists to serve twelve different dishes at Wigilia symbolizing the Twelve Apostles. The most traditional dishes are carp and Borscht (beetroot soup) with Uszka (ravioli)

Other custom is an additional seat kept for somebody unknown at the supper table. No one should be left alone at Christmas, so strangers are welcomed to the Christmas supper. Next one is putting straw under white tablecloth. It's also believed that animals can speak with a human voice.
At the end of the day people are going to the church for a "Pasterka" - midnight mass.

Christmas Day, called the first holiday by the Poles, is spent with the family at home. No visiting, cleaning, nor cooking are allowed on that day, only previously cooked food is heated. This is a day of enjoyment, for Jesus was born. Christmas in Poland lasts 2 days: 25th and 26th December. 26th December "St. Stephen's Day" is known as the second holiday. This is a day for visiting and exchanging Christmas greetings.

**bonner** Sat Dec 24, 2011 4:55 am

"Christmas Day, called the first holiday by the Poles, is spent with the family at home. No visiting, cleaning, nor cooking are allowed on that day, only previously cooked food is heated."

wow.. nice tradition....and thanks for sharing... Very Happy

**bonner** Sat Dec 24, 2011 5:00 am

On the first minute of Christmas some traditions

those kids must jump to be tall

and firecrackers and fireworks everywhere...so scary...

some also use guns thats why many people are in the hospital during X'mas

How Your Country Celebrates Christmas? Images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS37GbfdMaVhXSOwLQhn2lhh0BxpDne22SogOB0rejAhPpNBk0u1CxX6t8NKg

How Your Country Celebrates Christmas? Images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS37GbfdMaVhXSOwLQhn2lhh0BxpDne22SogOB0rejAhPpNBk0u1CxX6t8NKg

How Your Country Celebrates Christmas? Firecracker640

How Your Country Celebrates Christmas? Injuries

**darkvindak** Sat Dec 24, 2011 12:51 pm

In Serbia and many Orthodox Christian countries Christmas eve and Christmas are on 6 and 7 jan. (O.S., Julian year) so I will wait until celbration 2 more weeks Smile

Anyway here are some photos from celebration of :
Christmas eve

- Badnjak

How Your Country Celebrates Christmas? 12688_bozic_foto_01_Beta_hf

How Your Country Celebrates Christmas? Badnje_drvo

Badnje Vece (Serbian Christmas Eve) is the greatest Serbian Holyday. In the Church, during mass and outside during the traditional burning of the Badnjak (pronounced Bad-nyak) the entire congregation leaves the church during mass to follow the priest outside to walk around the church three times before burning last year's Badnjak (oak tree, almost like a yule log). (Remember, the oak tree was the precursor to our now traditional evergreen Christmas tree.) The sparks that fly into the air from the burning Badnjak represent all the babies to be born in the coming year. The choir followed the priest during the first circle of the church, and sing a tribute to the Badnjak. It's a joyful hymn called Oj Badnjace (pronounced Oy Bad-nyach-eh, almost meaning Oh Glorious Oak Tree).
After the burning of the Badnjak, the people return to the church for the continuation of the mass and more singing. After mass is over, everyone lines up to collect a piece of this year's Badnjak, tied with red, blue and white ribbons. There are treat bags filled with chocolates for the children. Every family greets the priest, then takes a piece of Badnjak home. It is traditional to remove last year's Badnjak before bringing in the new...

source: SPCLUZERN

Christmas eve Food
Once the badnjak and straw have been taken into the house, the Christmas Eve dinner may begin. Christmas Eve being a fasting day, the dinner is prepared in accordance with that, but it is copious and diverse in foods. Besides a round unleavened loaf of bread called badnjački kolač, and salt, which are necessary, this meal may comprise roast fish, cooked beans, sauerkraut, noodles with ground walnuts, honey, and wine. It used to be served in some villages on a sack filled with straw, with the family seated around it on the floor.

How Your Country Celebrates Christmas? 12690_bozic_foto_01_Vladislav_Mitic_if

How Your Country Celebrates Christmas? 21202_slbozic_f

How Your Country Celebrates Christmas? DSC_0041

How Your Country Celebrates Christmas? Image

adult image hosting

Christmas
On Christmas Day, česnica, a round bread, is baked from wheat flour. A coin placed inside the bread brings good luck throughout the year to the person who finds it. The family goes to church early on Christmas Day, and upon return home the most festive meal of the year is served. The family turns the česnica from left to right and sings the Christmas hymn Rozdestvo Tvoje, which glorifies the birth of Christ. The cesnica is broken and each member of the family receives a piece, leaving one portion for an unexpected guest. Each person kisses the person next to him three times with the greeting Hristos se rodi, "Christ is born," and receives in reply Vaistinu se rodi, "Indeed He is born."

How Your Country Celebrates Christmas? 2428_medium

How Your Country Celebrates Christmas? 21843_prasece_pecenje_kf

How Your Country Celebrates Christmas? Bozic

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happy Christmas Eve to all who celbrate it today!

**kleftokotou** Sat Dec 24, 2011 3:26 pm

Christmas in Greece have many things in common with Christmas in Serbia, as I just find out from darkvindak's post! Families are reunited and enjoy food and wine! My favourite time of year!

Pastries are to die for!!!!!!!!! greek honey, orange and cinnamon are the main ingredients...
my personal favourites RE

MELOMAKARONA How Your Country Celebrates Christmas? Melomakarona-with-snowman

How Your Country Celebrates Christmas? Melomakarona-with-snowman

DIPLES

KOURABIEDES How Your Country Celebrates Christmas? 1746

...The food is mainly pork and turkey dishes!!I prefere pork with prunes and herbs!!! How Your Country Celebrates Christmas? Xoirono_me_damaskina

The houses are decorated and kids are singing carols from door to door!!

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ΚΑΛΑ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΑ = MERRY CHRISTMAS How Your Country Celebrates Christmas? CHRISTMAS_KITTENS