[Cultural Customs] What does Christmas look like around the world?!
*Source_Future Korea Weekly (http://www.futurekorea.co.kr)
When and how did Christmas begin in Korea? The first Christmas tree experienced by Koreans was made by Mrs. Scranton for the girls at Ewha School on December 24, 1886. Korea's first Santa Claus was an Appenzeller missionary. After the first Korean churches, the Jeongdong Presbyterian Church and the Methodist Church, were established in October 1887, Appenzeller gathered the children together on Sunday, December 25, talked about Christmas, and gave gifts in stockings to students at Pai Chai School. This was Korea's first Christmas. It is said that the boys were happy because they thought it was a gift from Santa Claus.
Such Christmas began to take on full-fledged commercial value during the Japanese colonial period in the 1920s and 1930s. It was popular for modern girls and modern boys to enjoy entertainment on Christmas, and from this time on, unlike in the West, the tradition of Christmas becoming a day for lovers began in Korea. In 1936, an article titled ‘Christmas passed from the hands of Christians to the hands of merchants’ was published in the Maeil Shinbo. After liberation in 1945, the US military government implemented a night curfew, but made exceptions for Christmas and December 31. Afterwards, Christmas was designated as a holiday by U.S. military decree, and in 1949, the year after the establishment of the government, President Syngman Rhee legislated Christmas as a holiday. The meaning of Christmas began to be spread again by American soldiers during the Korean War. The impact of the war changed the idea of Christmas from the culture of consumption and entertainment of the Japanese colonial period to a day of joy and blessing for children.
- 미국(USA)
Christmas is one of the biggest holidays in America.
Starting with Thanksgiving Day at the end of November, you can feel the festive atmosphere all the way through Christmas and New Year. As the year comes to an end, the colorful and exciting atmosphere continues. A characteristic of American Christmas is that presents are piled up under the tree at home, right?
American Christmas culture is different from Korea. In the United States, it is considered a holiday as it is a day when the whole family gathers and exchanges gifts. The day before Christmas, gifts prepared for the family are piled up one by one under the Christmas tree and gathered together to open on Christmas Eve or the morning of the same day. Each person writes the name of the person they are sending the gift to on the wrapping paper. It is said that the way gifts are given differs slightly from family to family. Usually, they prepare several small, inexpensive gifts or give one expensive gift. They also say that the whole house is decorated with Christmas decorations. It is said that there is a unique culture in which when delivering a Christmas card, you must include a family photo in the card.
- 프랑스(france)
It is said that preparations for Christmas begin in mid-November in Paris, France. The city facade is transformed into a magical picture from a fairy tale. It is said that the center of Paris is filled with bright lights, and the smell of fresh fir trees spreads through the streets where small Christmas trees are planted. Also, people enjoy drinking wine, which is an essential part of France.
It is said that on Christmas Day in France, a log-shaped cake called ‘Buche de Noel’ is enjoyed with wine. It is said that this custom originated from lighting a log fire from Christmas Eve to New Year's Day to pray for good health.
- 영국(uk)
In the UK, like France, everyone looks forward to Christmas, so much so that they start preparing for it in November. From this time on, the streets are filled with early Christmas atmosphere. The streets add sparkle with Christmas shops and various pop-up stores depending on the season. Every year from the 25th to the 1st, it is crowded with people who have a long vacation and students who have a two-week Christmas vacation.
It is said that Christmas in England is a custom of preparing a log in the house, having the whole family sit on the log in front of the fireplace, exchange Christmas greetings with family, and then putting the log they were sitting on in the fireplace. It is said to be a custom filled with the hope that it will be filled with good luck like a roaring fire.
It is said that the tree decorations, which further enhance the Christmas atmosphere, will be maintained until January 6th. The reason is said to be that there is a popular belief that arranging decorations in advance “will bring bad luck.” They say ‘Boxing Day’ starts from the moment Christmas ends. Most department stores and stores are said to be participating in this event. It is said that Boxing Day began in the Middle Ages when people put items they wanted to deliver, such as leftover food and gifts, in boxes used as Christmas gifts and distributed them to the poor people around them.
- 호주(australia)
In Australia, you can experience the most special Christmas in the world. This is because Christmas in Australia, located in the southern hemisphere, is summer. During Christmas in midsummer, you can see unique scenes. It is said that many people gather at the beach dressed as Santa and enjoy surfing and sunbathing while listening to carols. Just like in Northern Europe and the United States, Christmas is the country's biggest holiday in Australia, and families gather together to decorate Christmas decorations and enjoy meals. It is said that Santa Claus in Australia wears short sleeves and shorts and hands out gifts.
- 필리핀(Philippines)
In the Philippines, where Catholics make up more than 80% of the population, Christmas is considered one of the most important holidays. Unlike Korea, where preparations for Christmas begin in December, the Philippines prepares for Christmas starting in September and is said to have the longest Christmas holiday in the world.
Since September through December all contain the syllable ‘BER’, this period of preparation and enjoyment for Christmas is called ‘BER Months.’ During this period, Philippine shopping malls decorate Christmas trees, hold Christmas discount events at each shopping mall store, and sell supplies.
They also say that since it is a meaningful holiday celebrated with family, they make sure to spend time with their families. It is said that at midnight on Christmas Eve, the whole family sits around and shares traditional Filipino food such as barbecued whole pig and bibingka. It is said that after eating, they exchange gifts or pocket money with each other on Christmas Day.
- 스페인(Spain)
In Catholic Spain, Christmas has special meaning. The Spanish people's Christmas week is longer and more colorful than ours.
Unusually, people get excited about the ‘lottery’ every year during the Christmas season. This is because of “El Gordo,” a lottery that started in the 1800s. It is said that more than 90% of Spanish people purchase ‘El Gordo’, a prize that Spanish people have been counting on to win for over 200 years. Every year on December 22nd, Spaniards draw the state-run El Gordo lottery, also known as the Christmas lottery. Christmas lottery sales begin around summer and are the most popular. The Christmas lottery is said to have never been stopped even during the Spanish Civil War, so it is truly a national event. The prize money for this year's Christmas lottery is estimated at a whopping 2.59 billion euros (KRW 3.6884 trillion). The Christmas lottery draw will be held throughout the morning and will be broadcast live on TV. People just enjoy the festival rather than trying to win the jackpot. ‘Toto Major’, a major site recommended rather than a festival
*Source: Segye Ilbo
- 일본(japan)
There are unique Christmas scenes and Japanese Christmas food unique to Japan.
Every December is the season when the world celebrates Christmas, and Japan is no exception. Customs related to Christmas that are often seen in the West have also widely penetrated into Japan. However, there are many differences between Japanese Christmas and foreign ones, so a unique Japanese Christmas culture is emerging and its customs are being reestablished.
- Eating fried chicken on Christmas?!
- Japanese Christmas Cake
- Is Christmas the season for lovers?
- Close relationship between illuminations and Christmas
- Does Santa come to Japan too?
- Japanese pop culture and Christmas
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