Christmas Traditions in 3 Countries

GERMANY

The BUZZ: In Germany, Santa Claus visits twice: on December 6 in the form of St Nicholas, who places small gifts in polished shoes, and again in the form of the Weihnachtsmann (literally, “Christmas Man”) on Christmas Eve. During Advent, most German towns have a Christmas market, with a trademark smell of roasted chestnuts and mulled wine. On Christmas Eve, after dinner, children receive their presents (Bescherung). Often they are ushered out of the room while adults set up the gifts and light the Christmas tree candles.

The LOOK: Traditionally, the German Christmas tree features real candles, as well as sweets and pine cones. The Advent wreath is ubiquitous (with red candles), and Nativity scenes are common, especially in southern Germany.

The FOOD: Typical Christmas main courses include roast goose or carp, or sausages with potato salad. Sweet stuff includes Stollen (a heavy fruit bread) and Lebkuchen (similar to gingerbread).

Fancy THAT: Many German Christmas traditions have been exported to the English-speaking world, mainly thanks to the German-born Prince Albert, consort to England’s Queen Victoria.

IRAQ

The BUZZ: The Christian community in Iraq is tiny, so Christmas passes by the general public almost unnoticed. On Christmas Eve, Christian families gather to listen to the story of the Nativity, often recited by one person while the others hold candles. On Christmas Day, clerics carry figures of the Christchild in a procession. Often the priest will bless one congregant, who then blesses the next, who in turn blesses another, and so on.

The LOOK: While decorations tend to be discreet, bonfires are traditional on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day.

The FOOD: Iraqis have no special Christmas food.

Fancy THAT: Thornbushes are burnt on a bonfire on Christmas Day as indicator of fortune — if it burns down to ashes, good luck will follow.

GHANA

The BUZZ: Christmas festivities begin on December 20 and last until the first week of January. On Christmas Eve people attend church services with much drumming and dancing — sometimes going on all night long with street processions. On Christmas morning the churches are packed before people go home for lunch.

The LOOK: Father Christmas, or Papa Bronya (pictured), wears sandals and a gold-trimmed red robe adorned with a traditional patterned sash and a white cloak with a hood.

The FOOD: Traditional Christmas food may include okra soup, spicy chicken stew with rice, yams, and fufu, a cassava-based starch.

Fancy THAT: The Christmas season coincides with Ghana’s end-of-year cocoa harvest, which adds to the celebratory vibes.