Christmas Around The World

CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD

John 3:16

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. Arjun: What do you call a snowman with a six pack? Alexander: I haven’t the foggiest. Arjun: An abdominal snowman.

2. John: What did the gingerbread man put on his bed? Zack: What? John: A cookie sheet.

3. Zoey: What do you get if you cross an iPad with a Christmas tree? Johnny: I don’t know. What? Zoey: A pineapple!

4. Wayne: How much did Santa’s sleigh cost? Crystal: I’m stumped. Wayne: Nothing. It was on the house!

B. TITLE & THESIS

1. Tonight we’re talking about Christmas traditions. Does your family have any Christmas traditions that are a little different? Tell us about them.

2. Most people in the USA practice quite a large number of traditions during the Christmas season:

a. Lights b. Cards c. Tree

d. Shopping & Gift-giving e. Church services

f. Singing Carols & Hymns g. Christmas Eve

i. Holly j. Eggnog k. Wrapping paper

3. Tonight we’re going expand our search of traditions to look at “Christmas Around the World,” especially traditions celebrated by cultures on different continents, then we’re going to look at the real meaning of Christmas.

I. 10 TRADITIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

A. LIBERIA, AFRICA

1. In Liberia, the people celebrate Christmas much like Americans observe Halloween. They have a Santa Clause, but he comes around collecting instead of giving. The children get together and one of them puts on stilts and dresses up as Santa. Then they go door-to-door singing, dancing, and asking each householder to give Santa money or candy.

2. One of their legends says that Santa Clause is a poor American who came over on a ship and got stranded. Now he’s trying to collect money to pay his way back to the states. [Greg Davis]

B. THE PHILIPPINES

1. Looking for some festive sparkle? The Giant Lantern Festival is held each year on the Saturday before Christmas Eve in the city of San Fernando – the “Christmas Capital of the Philippines.”

2. Eleven villages take part in the festival and competition is fierce as everyone pitches in trying to build the most elaborate lantern. Originally, the lanterns were simple creation 3 feet wide made from paper and lit by candle. Today, the lanterns are 18 feet across and illuminated by electric bulbs that sparkle in a kaleidoscope of patterns.

C. SWEDEN

1. Since 1966, a 42 foot high Yule Goat has been built in the center of Gävle’s Castle Square for the Advent, but this Swedish Christmas tradition has unwittingly led to another “tradition” of sorts – people trying to burn it down.

2. Since 1966 the Goat has been successfully burned down 29 times – the most recent destruction was in 2016.

D. AUSTRIA

1. In Austrian tradition, St. Nicholas rewards nice little boys and girls, while Krampus, an evil horned-man roams city streets frightening kids and punishing the bad ones (rumor has it that he captures the naughtiest children and whisks them away in his sack).

2. In the first week of December, young men dress up as the Krampus frightening children with clattering chains and bells. It might scare kids into acting better! [Stefan Klauke]

E. JAPAN

1. Christmas has never been a big deal in Japan. Aside from a few small, secular traditions such as gift-giving and light displays, Christmas remains largely a novelty in the country.

2. However, a new, quirky “tradition” has emerged in recent years – a Christmas Day feast of the Colonel’s very own Kentucky Fried Chicken. The tradition has caught on and is spreading, considered one of the most bizarre traditions.

F. ICELAND

1. In Iceland, during the 13 days leading up to Christmas, 13 tricksy troll-like characters come out to play in Iceland. The “Yule Lads” visit the children across the country over the 13 nights leading up to Christmas.

2. For each night of Yuletide, children place their best shoes by the window and a different Yule Lad visits leaving gifts for nice girls and boys and rotting potatoes for the naughty ones. Clad in traditional Icelandic costume, these fellas are pretty mischievous.

G. GERMANY

1. Santa Claus travels by donkey in the middle of the night on December 6 and leaves little treats like coins, chocolate, oranges and toys in the shoes of good children all over Germany, and particularly in the Bavarian region.

2. St. Nicholas also visits children in schools or at home and in exchange for sweets or a small present each child must recite a poem, sing a song or draw a picture. In short, he’s a great guy. But it isn’t always fun and games.

3. St. Nick often brings along Knecht Ruprecht, a devil-like character dressed in dark clothes covered with bells and a dirty beard, Knecht Ruprecht carries a stick or a small whip in hand to punish any children who misbehave.