Listening 2.

4 (track 9)

Christmas is celebrated all over the world – I’m taking you on a tour round the globe to explore Christmas
traditions and festivities in different countries. If you’ve ever wondered how Father Christmas manages to
make his way around the world in just one evening, it’s probably because you didn’t have all the facts in front
of you.

Christmas is celebrated in cultures all across the globe, but sometimes with traditions peculiar to their country
and even on a different day! Largely English speaking nations often follow the more European traditions, with
the likes of Australia and Canada similar in everything but the weather.

Austria is one of the earliest countries to celebrate Christmas with their celebrations falling on the 6th of
December! The celebrations in Austria are very musical and a number of the world’s favourite carols originated
there. St. Nicholas and his assistant, Krampus may visit on Christmas Day but a day earlier ChristKind, who also
helps with the decorating of the tree, brings the gifts.

This time is special in Africa as it is a time when all relatives and friends come together and visit each other,
regardless of their own personal religion. Often families try to arrive at the ancestral home by Christmas Eve
although there is a lot of fun to be had out on the streets after the church service that night. Processions are
huge and often led by local bands, and the dancing,cheerfulness and celebrations continue well into the night
and for many nights after. On the well-attended Christmas Day services, the story of Christmas is told before
children receive presents of chocolates, special crackers and if they are very lucky, clothes or a book.

In Denmark Christmas is also celebrated on the 25th of December and it is a big event. The children receive
small gifts for every day of in advent and on Christmas Eve presents are lain under the tree. The presents are
only given out once the family have walked around the tree and sung many hymns and carols. A series of
Christmas lunches are held for the 12 days that follow. Similarly, in Latvia, Father Christmas delivers presents
for every day of Christmas starting on Christmas Eve!

Advent, the four weeks before Christmas, is a highlight in Germany. The decorations are taken very seriously
and candles play an important part in the celebrations. Many houses have little wooden frames with electric
candles in them displayed at their windows. It is also common to see nativity scenes in German homes. These
will often feature a wooden cribor a small model of the stable where Jesus was born with Mary, Joseph and
animals. Their Christmas services take place on Christmas Eve and it is only after this that Father Christmas will
visit, leaving presents under the Christmas tree.

Russia traditionally celebrates Christmas on the 6th of January with church services and also their ‘Feast of St.
Nicholas’, as the saint is especially popular in this country. These celebrations were repressed around the time
of the communist revolution, but have returned to make this one of the most celebrated times on the Russian
calendar, which runs 13 days ahead of the British one. Christmas in Russia is a time to revel in old folk
traditions. After the Christmas Eve church service the attendees carry candles, torches, and homemade
lanterns parade around the church, before returning to their places and singing hymns until late, just as their
grandparents did before them. They eat their festive feast after the service, of which the most important
ingredient is a special dish called ‘kutya’. The use of grains in this dish is to symbolise hope and immortality,
and honey and poppy seeds ensure happiness, success, and untroubled rest. The ‘kutya’ is shared around the
family in the same bowl, which symbolises unity amongst the family