International traditions
Hi, I have some homework where I have to find about some different ways people celebrate Christmas around the world. Can anyone please give me any answers?
I live in Australia.
Christmas Decorations
Christmas decorations have been in the shops for ages, but many traditions say they the tree and decorations shouldn’t be out until December.
Putting up decorations too early takes away some of the magic of Christmas, I feel. They are there so long they have less impact when Santa arrives – they become part of the background.
I also think it is confusing for young children – they see decorations and trees and Santas so assume it is Christmas tomorrow – how hard it is to explain “no, Santa isn’t coming for another 2 or 3 months yet”. Frustrating for parents, too.
When do you put up a tree at home? Do you decorate the rest of the house as well?
Falling from bed
When I was about 6, I feel out of bed on Christmas Eve taking the mattress and blankets with me! Santa arrived to deliver presents and helped me – he lifted the bedding and me back onto the bed! He did it so well I didn’t even stir.
I don’t remember how I knew this – I guess Mum and Dad told me the next morning after Santa told them – but I knew it was a fact and I loved Santa for it 🙂
Turron recipe for a Spanish Christmas treat
Turron is a Spanish almond nougat that they make especially for Christmas. And here is a Turron recipe so you and Santa can enjoy this Christmas delight, too!
Nougat in rice paper reminds me of some early Christmases as I didn’t have nougat at any other time than in a box of Christmas treats. It was rare and so much more special accordingly. And this Turron recipe means I can now make it myself – amazing!
Turron ingredients
1kg honey
500g sugar
1.5kg almonds
rind of 1 lemon
2 egg whites
Directions to make Turron
Heat the almonds in the oven
Slowly heat the honey in a saucepan until all its water is gone
Add sugar to the honey and mix
Whisk the egg white until it forms peaks. Gently fold this into the sugar/honey mix.
Stir rapidly for 8 – 10 minutes (less if using an electric beater) then slowly over a low heat until it caramelises.
Add the lemon rind and hot almonds, and mix thoroughly.
Cook for 3 – 5 minutes, but be careful it doesn’t stick.
Line baking trays or moulds with rice paper.
Pour the nougat mix onto the rice paper and leave to set for 2.5 hours. Cut into pieces.
Store the Turron in airtight containers once it has completely cooled. Yummy!
Leave some out for Santa and use some as Christmas gifts.
Make sure to let us know what you think of this Spanish Christmas treat in the comments.
Hand made decorations
Colouring in the foam Christmas ornaments
When I was a kid, we would make a decoration every year for my grandparents’ Christmas tree. Grandma proudly displayed our home made ornaments every year until she moved to a nursing home.
After she died, we were cleaning out her things and found a box where she had kept all our decorations! Each of us grandchildren had a shoebox with our name on it. In each box were all the decorations we had made, each in a bag with the year we made them.
These decorations are on my Christmas tree now, and my kids are enjoying them. As well as making their own decorations of course!
Enjoying this Christmas memory? If you would like to build your own special memories, the following home made decorations are ready to be made!
- Make paper decorations
- Making foam Christmas ornaments
- Poinsettia Christmas wreath
- making Christmas stars is fun
- Simple Christmas decorations made by kids
- Making Christmas paper chains
- Home made Christmas gifts from my kids
Christmas in a barrel
From 1983-1986, my parents were missionaries in Nepal. We would often receive barrels from Australia with all sorts of goodies in them.
The most exciting time was around Christmas when the gifts would arrive from our grandparents and other family members, all wrapped and ready to go under the tree. It was always exciting to open the barrels and find the gifts.
I don’t envy my parents the task of trying to keep 3 excited kids away from the gifts until Christmas day!
Scrunch Scrunch of pressies
Santa left our pressies in a pillowcase at the end of our beds.
On Christmas morning, we would wiggle our toes like crazy to hear the scrunching noise of a pillowcase full of wrapped gifts!
We had strict instuctions that our pillowcase of presents could only be opened if the sun was up…so we would use our toes to feel the presents while we waited for sunrise.
Santa Photos
Growing up, I saw too many kids being forced to sit on Santa’s knee for a photo, so I decided when I had kids I would only get Santa photos done on their first Christmas.
My second son was born exactly a week before Christmas. Two days before Christmas, I took him to the shopping centre to get his photo taken. I have the most beautiful photo of him at 5 days old fast asleep on Santa’s knee. The photographer even zoomed in a bit so it’s just my son and Santa.
A different day for Christmas
When my parents first got married, my maternal grandparents realised there would be a clash of places to be on Christmas Day. So instead of making mum and dad choose between their families or splitting the day in half, my grandparents came up with a family celebration on the Sunday before Christmas.
The tradition has stuck and we’ve celebrated that way ever since.
And it has made life easier as mum’s siblings got partners, too, and then the grandchildren got partners, and people had interstate relatives… Not only does it reduce the stress of Christmas Day, it has allowed us to celebrate together before some went interstate to be with other family.
Works for us, anyway!
Aussie 12 Days of Christmas
We all know the 12 Days of Christmas, with a partridge in a pear tree…
I was doing a Google search & came across the lyrics to the Aussie 12 Days of Christmas. which has Aussie animals and gifts for each day.
As you obviously love Australia with your Aussie letters, I thought you might enjoy it 🙂
Santa stocking… or a doona cover!
When I was a kid, before Mum got us each a “proper” Santa stocking, we used to use Dad’s socks (clean ones).
One year, one of my brothers decided the socks weren’t big enough. So he put up a pillow case! Not to be out done by his big brother, my other brother decided a doona cover was a much better idea…
Both boys were disappointed, however, because neither the pillow case or doona were full of gifts! They still received the same number of gifts they would have received with the sock. Santa isn’t fooled by a bigger Santa stocking 😉
Photos with Santa
Every year I have my kids photos taken with Santa. I buy a nice frame and put them on display when I put up my Christmas decorations. It’s nice to look at them every December and reflect on how much my kids have grown and changed.
I only leave the current photo on display for the whole year.
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