Christmas and New Year Traditions
There are a lot of countries where Christmas is celebrated and every nation has its own traditions of celebrating this beautiful holiday.
To give presets on Christmas is a popular tradition. Almost every nation has it. The only difference is that some nations give presents for New Year. But these two holidays follow one another and that is why there is no difference. What can be better than to get the present you've wanted? Some people start to buy presents for their friends and relatives from summer, others prefer to go shopping the last week, others the last day, because shops and supermarkets give a wide choice of Christmas and New Year's presents just before Christmas Eve. As a rule presents are packed into beautiful and bright paper that makes people wonder about the present that is packed for a minute. Children like to get presents that are put under the New Year Tree.
The other not less famous tradition is to put a New Year Tree in the house and to decorate it. Houses may be also decorated with multicoloured lights. People like to garland their houses and patios. These decorations create special atmosphere in the house. Besides some countries have the tradition to put presents under Christmas tree. All presents have cards that help to get to know for whom this present is.
Some peoples have the tradition to tell fortunes on Christmas Eve. This tradition is especially popular in Eastern Europe. People use different methods, they tell fortunes by cards, by hand, by candles and mirrors and with the help of other objects. People believe that this day is the most favourable for telling fortune and predicting future because it is the Saint Day when all good energy comes to the Earth and helps to tell fortunes.
Singing Christmas carols is also a popular tradition all over the world. These Christmas songs are called differently but they all tell us about Jesus Christ and His birth and about the world that should be happy because the God's Son was born. You may hear Christmas carols outdoors. There are people who create their own chorus and sing carols walking about the city.
A Christmas dinner is an important element of celebration of Christmas. And there are also a lot of traditions connected with it. Some nations have the tradition to cook special dishes for Christmas. People of some countries prepare twelve dishes, every dish for each month of the year.
A kiss is always a tradition. There is also a tradition to put a flower of mistletoe over the door and those who will stand under it will have to kiss. Other nations believe that people should drink a glass of champagne and kiss when midnight comes.
According to Spanish tradition, people should eat twelve grapes for each stroke of the clock.. This tradition is very popular and is followed and carefully kept.
There are also a lot of traditions and ways to celebrate this wonderful holiday, but every family has also its own traditions. But the celebration of Christmas is a tradition itself.