Colombian Christmas Compared to USA Christmas - Essay Example

Though the fundamental reason for the festival, the birth of Jesus Christ, remains the same, the mode of celebrating Christmas differs from region to region. The cities decorate their streets and shops with Christmas lights and lots of goods that are significant for the festival spirit like Santa Claus. The shops have their own ‘Santa Claus’ to distribute gifts to children to promote the festival spirit. There are some differences in celebrating Christmas in the United States and Colombia, which is in South America, which would be discussed.

USA Christmas

     In the United States, the multicultural society celebrates Christmas in a variety of ways. Though Christmas falls on 25 December, Christmas Eve is a very important occasion for Christians. Salvation Army takes out a procession with ringing bells and asks for the donation. The family attends midnight mass in the local church which is followed by Christmas carols that are sung with family and dinner is shared by the family.

     The Christmas tree is an essential part of the Christmas spirit which is decorated with different kinds of baubles including colorful lights, nativity, bells, colorful balls, and holly. People also like to recreate scenes of mother Mary and baby Jesus and hang huge stars as stars of Bethlehem. Gifts for the family members are kept beneath it, which are to be opened the next day.

     Children are told that at ‘midnight Santa will come, bringing a huge bag of toys. He will come down through the chimney, leave candy in the stockings and presents under the Christmas tree’ (soon.org.uk) and they keep stockings beside their bed which they expect to be filled with gifts that are supposedly been given by Santa Clause, the most popular angel of the children.

     The Christmas cake is the most loved customary dish that is relished by all. The traditional Christmas cake is a rich fruit cake, made with the finest wine, chocolate, and dry fruits. Pure white icing is used and decorated with edible and inedible ornaments and Christmas trees made of colored icing and engraved with ‘merry Christmas’. The highlight of the Christmas feast is the cooked whole turkey which is cut by the head of the family. The elaborate feast is enjoyed by the whole family and friends, followed by lots of dancing and a fun-filled event where everyone takes part and enjoys. The celebrations extend to till the next day which is also called the boxing day.

Colombian Christmas

     In Colombia, the Christmas festivity starts nine days prior to the main event of 25 December and lasts till January 6 which is also called ‘epiphany day’. Celebrations for Christmas start from December 16 ‘with the beginning of the "Novena", a kind of nine-day count down leading up to the 25th, Christmas eve. During these days people build altars in their homes with miniature figurines of the Christmas scene: The little hut with Joseph and Mary and the cradle which actually stays empty until Christmas Eve when as part of the family celebration the little child Jesus is put into cradle’ (Colombia). The event is very special and the family reunites to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. With prayers, carols singing and firework, the birth is celebrated which is followed by a special dinner. After dinner, the gifts are exchanged and children receive their gifts on Christmas morning. But in some parts of Columbia, the gifts are exchanged on the epiphany day, the day when the three wise men are supposed to meet baby Jesus.

     During the ‘novena’, the parades and processions are taken out on the streets with persons dressed in white resembling ‘God’ and angels and Santa Claus, which ends on Christmas Eve when baby Jesus is put on the cradle.

     The Colombian people also celebrate the ‘Virgin Mary’ by putting lots of candles in the homes, churches, and offices (PBH). They decorate the Christmas tree with coffee beans, berries, bright ribbons, and other decorative items. Sometimes, the Columbian people make Christmas trees with thin colored paper and decorate them to bring in the Christmas spirit.

     Christmas time heralds the spirit of enjoyment and people celebrate it with lots of good food, dance, and folk music played on the traditional instrument ‘Bambucas’ (Heath). Sometimes, interesting events are played up on the streets where people dressed as ‘devils’ harass commoners and other people dress as ‘angels’ chase away the devils (PBH).

      Christmas cake made with lots of fruits, nuts, chocolate, and wine and decorated with edible Christmas decorations is hugely popular with Colombians also. The elaborate Christmas lunch has ‘turkey’ as its main delicacy that is relished by all.

Conclusion

     One can, therefore, conclude that Christmas is a celebration of life and is celebrated with lots of fun-filled traditions all over the world. Barring few differences in rituals, the spirit of Christmas is similar everywhere and the same is true for Colombia and the United States of America.