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.
H. NORWAY
1. Never leave a good broom behind in Norway over Christmas: it might get stolen. Perhaps one of the most unorthodox Christmas Eve traditions can be found in Norway, where people hide their brooms.
2. It’s a tradition that dates back centuries to when people believed that witches and evil spirits came out on Christmas Eve looking for brooms to ride on. To this day, many people still hide their brooms in the safest place in the house to stop them from being stolen.
I. VENEZUELA
1. Love Christmas, but think it could be improved by a spot of roller-blading? If the answer is yes, visit Caracas, Venezuela this year. Every Christmas Eve, the city’s residents head to church in the early morning – but they do so on roller skates.
2. This unique tradition is so popular that roads across the city are closed to cars so that people can skate to church in safety, before heading home for the less-than-traditional Christmas dinner of ‘tamales.’
J. COLOMBIA
1. Little Candles’ Day marks the start of the Christmas season across Colombia. In honor of the Virgin Mary and the Immaculate Conception, people place candles and paper lanterns in their windows, balconies and front yards.
2. The tradition of candles has grown, and now entire towns and cities across the country are lit up with elaborate displays. Some of the best are found in Quimbaya, where neighborhoods compete to see who can create the most impressive arrangement. [Mafe Aristizabal]
II. THE REAL MEANING OF CHRISTMAS
A. TEXT
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” John 3:16.
B. TRADITIONS VERSUS REAL MEANING
1. People all over the world celebrate Christmas because God loves all the people in the world.
2. The Incarnation (birth of Christ in human form) is a mysterious, profound event in history. If it weren’t for the Gospel, understanding it would be really hard.
3. What parent is willing to give up their child to danger or death? Won’t most parents rather defend their children to their death? Yes! What could have been at stake – that God would be willing give up His Son? How could God have been motivated to do such a thing?
4. John 3:16 outlines the motive and necessity of God; “For God SO LOVED THE WORLD, that he gave his only begotten Son.” It was love, on a galactic scale, that made God willing to give up His Son; love for you and me!
5. As Paul points out, God’s love wasn’t for deserving, innocent people, but for rebels, wicked, immoral, and God-hating people. God loved us at our worst – while we were yet sinners. He must love you a lot more since you’re trying to please Him!
6. Jesus’ birthday didn’t give Him a Christmas tree, but a cruel cross to hang on until He died. The final goal of God in all this drama was to give US eternal life. God wants to live forever with us in fellowship. What an amazing thought!
7. I like a lot of people, but there’s not too many people I’d like to live with – especially up close, for eternity. But God DOES love us like that. Wow! We ought to throw a party and celebrate that God would love us so much!
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION: Recovery of Christmas' Meaning
1. In New York's Hayden Planetarium a special Christmas holiday show was enhanced by an added feature. A giant lollipop tree was projected onto the planetarium dome, surrounded by a horizon filled with brilliantly colored toys which came to life and cavorted to the tune of "Jingle Bells."
2. At the climax a huge figure of Santa Claus faded out in a snow storm, and the star of Bethlehem broke through into a sky that produced exactly the Palestine sky on the night of the nativity.
3. The designer of this show may not realize that he dramatically staged the supreme Christmas message our world needs to understand: The recovery of the lost meaning of Christmas. [Robert E. Luccock in James W. Cox, The Minister's Manual: 1994, San Fransico: Harper Collins, 1993, p. 218.]
B. THE CALL
1. Have you gotten caught up in the traditions of Christmas and lost focus on the real meaning of Christmas? It’s time to get the Babe of Bethlehem back in focus! How many of you want to do that?
2. Have you realized how much God loved you and gave His Son for you? Would you like to receive eternal life tonight?
3. Let’s believe on Jesus tonight and receive the Gift that keeps on giving! PRAYER.
[Most of section I traditions are from the article, “11 weird and wonderful traditions from around the world” on momondo.com]
