Holiday Traditions Around The World
As we are currently in the middle of the Holiday season, there are many cultural winter traditions that you and your family can learn about and celebrate! Here are a few of our favorites from around the world:
Mummers
Mummers plays are held all around the world, typically on January 1st. There are many different countries that celebrate some form of Mummers day, including Ireland, England, and parts of Canada. There’s even a Mummers Day Parade held annually in Philadelphia on January 1st, where members dress up in bright costumes and parade down the streets of Philadelphia with thousands looking on.
Lighted Boats
In Greece, you’ll often see boats wrapped completely in lights floating in the harbors. Beyond looking really cool, this has been a tradition that long predated traditional Christmas Trees in Greece, as their country has always centered around ancient maritime tradition. This decorating practice is also thought to be the Greeks paying homage to St. Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors.
Winter Solstice
One of the oldest celebrated rituals of the Holiday season, the Winter Solstice is the celebration of the longest night of the year. This has been celebrated since the early Druids and Pagans of the Celtic empire, and is still a widely recognized holiday all over the world today. Symbolizing the end of winter with the passing of the longest night, Winter Solstice is a time for hope, prosperity, and blessings upon those who celebrate. Stonehenge in England is thought to be one of the oldest sites where the Winter Solstice was celebrated, and you can purchase tickets to watch the sunrise through the stones as so many before have done.
Spider Web Trees
In the Ukraine, you will often find Christmas Trees that look more like a scene out of Halloween. That’s because Spider Web Trees are considered good luck in Ukrainian holiday traditions. According to legend, when a family could not afford to decorate their tree for the holidays, a family of spiders took it upon themselves and spun the most beautiful web decorations overnight. When the family woke up, they had a beautifully decorated Christmas tree! In many places that celebrate with a tree, if you find a live spider among the branches it’s thought that you will have good luck in the new year!
Night of the Radishes
In Oaxaca, Mexico, patrons come from all over to put their best carved vegetables on display! Originally done by shopkeepers looking to grab attention from folks walking by their stores, this tradition is now a three day festival that starts on December 23rd and stays up through Christmas day. Radishes are carved to depict scenes from Mexican Folklore, Nativity scenes, and more.
There are many things to be grateful for during this holiday season. We at Beautiful Births and Beyond wish you a happy and healthy year ahead, no matter what traditions you and your family take part in!
Feel free to comment your family or cultural traditions below! We’d love to hear from you all what holiday magic you create year after year!
