Mexico

Las Posadas

• Las Posadas is named for the Spanish word “posada,” which means accommodation or lodging.
• Two people dress up as Mary and Joseph. For the nine nights before Dec. 24, the couple travels to different houses in the community.
• Each “inn” welcomes them inside. They gather and pray before the crèche. The final “inn” may be a church.
• The travelers are accompanied each night by a procession. It concludes with a celebration, food and a piñata.

Ireland

Window Candles

• Irish families place a single candle in the window on Christmas Eve to light the way for Jesus, Mary and Joseph on their way to Bethlehem.
• The candle is a sign of welcome and hospitality for family and friends.
• When the Catholic faith was suppressed in Ireland during the 17th and 18th centuries, families would place these candles in their windows to invite passing priests to pray and celebrate Mass secretly in their homes.

South Africa

Barbecues (“Braais”)

• Christmas falls during the summer in the Southern Hemisphere, so South African Christmas celebrations are marked by picnics or backyard barbecues, called “braais.”
• Traditional braais often use wood fires, giving the meat a rich, smoky flavor.

Italy

Zampognari (also: pifferari)

• Traditionally, shepherds hoping to earn extra income would come down from the mountains of Abruzzo and Latium to play the bagpipes in markets and squares.
• They would wear short breeches, sheepskin vests and pointed caps.
• Legend says that the shepherds took out their bagpipes and played for the newborn Christ when they visited Jesus, Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem.
• One of their most popular songs is the Christmas hymn by St. Alphonsus Liguori, “Tu scendi dalle stelle” (“You Come Down from the Stars”).

Greece

Karavaki

• Instead of decorating Christmas trees in Greece, some families decorate boats called “karavaki.”
• Many Greek men traditionally worked as fishermen and spent much of the year at sea. Their families would decorate wooden boats in the harbors (and small ones at home) to welcome their loved ones home at Christmas and wish them safe travels for the New Year.

Poland

Oplatki

• On Dec. 24, each family member receives an unleavened rectangular wafer baked from wheat flour.
• Family members approach each other, break off a piece of the other person’s wafer and wish each other “Merry Christmas.”
• Then they sit down for Christmas dinner.

Ukraine

Lviv Parade of Star-Bearers

• Every year on Jan. 8, residents of Lviv dress in traditional Ukrainian costumes and parade throughout the city streets singing carols and carrying handmade stars.

Philippines

Giant Lantern Festival (“Ligligan Parul”)

• Each year in San Fernando, there is a competition to create the best “parol” lantern.
• Over time, the lanterns have grown significantly in size (sometimes reaching 15 feet in diameter!).