Explore this end-of-year festivities from different countries!
It’s that time of the year. School is off, snow is falling and lights are all around. Some of you may enjoy the winter break with family or friends, travelling to new places or getting a well-deserved rest.
For others, this might involve holidays from their home country, festivities or annual traditions they’ve picked up over the years. Discover some of the unique festivities students celebrate based on their cultural backgrounds!
Mexico
Starting strong with Mexico, Alondra Sanchez shared a full list of traditions she celebrates during the holidays. Sanchez explained that, like Christians, most of the traditions have to do with Jesus’ birth. Some of these include posadas, Día de Los Reyes and Día de la Candelaria.
Sanchez said her favourite one is posadas, where family and friends get together to eat and drink traditional Mexican food such as tamales, ponche and churros. They also have a piñata and each person takes a turn hitting it with a stick while blindfolded.
“(I love) When it (piñata) breaks and all the candy, fruits and toys drop to the floor and we all try to grab as much as we can,” Sanches said.
Every year she celebrates these traditions even away from Mexico to stay connected to her culture and heritage.
China
Ruoti Li, an international student from China, said the major traditions in China take place around the Chinese New Year, celebrated in late January or February. However, for end-of-year festivities, she participates in the Dongzhi Festival, also known as the Winter Solstice Festival, which marks the shortest day of the year, typically around Dec. 21.
On this day, she gathers with her family to eat tang yuan, a traditional Chinese dessert, and dumplings. Li mentions she cherishes the Dongzhi Festival because it’s a warm time for family reunions during the coldest time of the year.
This festival has been celebrated annually for generations in Li’s family, as well as in many others, who symbolize it as a moment of hope, renewal and balance of yin and yang energies.
Philippines
Teo Ignacio shared that the Philippines places great importance on celebrating NocheBuena, on Dec. 24, the day when he used to visit his family and open gifts at midnight. Ignacio said his favourite part of this holiday is the food, including lechón (roasted pig) and desserts like puto bumbong, bibingka and leche flan.
In the Philippines, Ignacio also has a tradition with his family of exchanging red envelopes with money, called ang pao, which represents good fortune and happiness. Ignacio said he doesn’t celebrate the holidays as much in Canada but is trying to figure out what old and new traditions resonate with him.
Brazil
Luma Ramalho, an acting for film and television student, said she celebrates Christmas and New Year with two special traditions. On Christmas Eve, her whole family gathers to eat a traditional Brazilian meal and play secret Santa. And, on Christmas day, they exchange more gifts and eat the leftovers from the previous night’s feast.
Ramalho added that once the new year begins, they already start celebrating Carnival.
“As soon as the clock ticks midnight on Dec. 31, we begin celebrating Carnival season, even though the actual celebration starts around February/March,” Ramalho said.
Ramalho mentioned this will be her first Christmas away from her family, but she is planning to keep the traditions alive and enjoy her favourite holiday.
Canada
Of course, we couldn’t leave Canada out of the equation. Ceilidh Pate and Abby Henderson are lifelong Christmas lovers who embrace the classic routine of waking up early in the morning of the 25th to open presents, eat pastries and enjoy with family.
Pate said that one specific tradition her family has is watching the same black-and-white movie every Christmas Eve—It’s a Wonderful Life. She said that every time, right at the end, when the famous line, “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings” comes on screen, her dad starts sobbing.
As a proud Canadian, Henderson is a fan of skating and tobogganing during the holiday season, followed by a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows.
These are just some of the festivities celebrated around the world that represent how captivating and unique different cultures are.
Back in my home country, Colombia, we have this tradition on New Year’s of running around the block with a suitcase to manifest travelling in the coming year. It may sound silly, but it works!
So, how are you celebrating the holidays? Do you have any special festivities celebrated in your country? Share them with us on our Instagram @shareignite!
Feature image courtesy of Julia Volk via Pexels.
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