The winter holidays are upon us!
Everything that reminds us of our near and dear traditions (and the ones that
make us wonder, “wait…why do we do this every year again?”) is in the
air. From delicious delicacies to family festivities to cultural celebrations,
unique traditions are waiting to be discovered in all our study-abroad
locations.
Check out these worldwide
holiday customs and get your students excited about what they can experience
during their next adventure abroad with us.
Japan— Ōmisoka
Looking for a new way to
celebrate the New Year? In Japan, families gather to ring in the New Year by
eating long noodles (either Toshikoshi soba or Toshikoshi udon) to symbolize
the crossing over from one year to the next. We invite your students to take on
the Japanese tradition of cleaning their homes, cleaning themselves, and eating
noodles together to get the New Year off to a fresh start.
Spain—Grapes
New Year’s Eve in Spain is known as Noche Vieja (Old Night). It is custom to stay at home until midnight, and at midnight, people eat doce uvas (twelve grapes), one at each stroke of the clock. This is supposed to bring good luck, prosperity, and happiness in el Año Nuevo (the New Year).
South Korea—Kimchi
If you’ve had enough of your
grandma’s green bean casserole during the holidays, kimchi may be your new
favorite seasonal go-to! To mark the start of winter in South Korea, people
gather to celebrate Kimjang. During this festival, they make and share large
amounts of kimchi with extended families, friends, and their communities. Give
it a try and see what all the fermented fuss is all about.
Costa Rica—Holy Innocents
Whether you’re a huge fan of Halloween or you’re more of a Christmas enthusiast, you’ll love this tradition! During Día de Los Inocentes, or the Day of the Holy Innocents, Costa Ricans go from house to house collecting candy or cookies (just like trick-or-treating). It’s a Catholic holiday on December 28th, celebrating the winter season with a feast and traditional songs. Try it out and get the best of both worlds.
Italy—La Befana
This Italian custom may sound
familiar, but with a twist. There is a legend of an old witch named La Befana
who brings gifts (Santa, anyone?) on January 5th. She even carries a sack
filled with presents and is said to slide down the chimneys. But instead of a
sleigh, she rides a broomstick.
We all love to cozy up by the
fire during the winter months, but Italians take it to a whole other level as
they burn special Christmas wood—the Yule log—which must stay alight through
the “twelve days of Christmas” until New Year’s Day. Even if you
don’t have a fireplace, try this tradition with a Yule candle.
Need a new game to play with the
family?
Try out Tombola (known as
“Italian bingo”), a fun game played during this festive time of year
across southern Italy. Being a form of raffle where you can win prizes and
money, it’s a game everyone will want to join.
Peru—Fighting Festival
We can all agree that sometimes
holiday gatherings can bring up some…strong feelings. In Peru, they have a
dedicated event to dealing with those family and neighborly conflicts that were
bottled up all year! With Takanakuy, their annual fistfight, they take care of
their disagreements the old-fashioned way as they feast, drink, and dance.
The holidays and sweet treats go
together, like hot chocolate and marshmallows. Imagine a whole festival
dedicated to hot chocolate, plus a reason to gather for social good and
charitable giving. You have what the Peruvians call Chocolatadas!
Australia— Australia Beach Day
Many of us look forward to vacation this time of year. If you’re dreaming of a beach day instead of sugar plums and snow angels, consider celebrating winter like the Australians. Now a national festival on the beach, Australian Day (January 26th) honors existing citizens and welcomes new ones. This time of the year is warm and summery in Australia, allowing them to enjoy fireworks, family barbecues, and other beach cleaning festivities. Our bags are already packed!
South Africa— Boxing Day
We know we aren’t alone when we
say the best holiday gift would be taking a whole month off! South Africa
celebrates the winter holiday season with the month-long closing of schools and
many businesses in December. As if that wasn’t cause enough for celebration,
they also celebrate Boxing Day—a tradition that happens the day after Christmas
as a time devoted to relaxation. Sign us up!
Prague and Germany—Holiday Markets
Even though there’s a chill in the air, it may
not feel like a winter wonderland without going to a winter market. There’s
nothing quite like experiencing Weihnachtsmarkt to celebrate Christmas in Germany
or visiting the Old Town Square in Prague on New Year’s Day. Did you know that
many structures for the markets are rebuilt from the ground up each year? Epic.
Soak up the season with carols, sweets, and warm festive fare as you browse the
stalls of these epic winter markets.
Thailand—Festival of Lights
As we think about what the New
Year will bring, we’re always looking for ways to let go of the old and invite
in the new. Thailand’s “festival of lights” is the perfect way to do
just that with the Loi Krathong national celebration. Thai people gather to
celebrate this day by placing items such as banana leaves, incense, and candles
into small baskets and releasing them to float away in the river.
These global winter traditions have in common that they honor the past, welcome the future, and enjoy the present by bringing people together. Whether they embrace their longstanding traditions this winter or discover new ways to experience the holidays, we hope these special occasions and seasonal celebrations inspire your students!
The post Holiday Customs Around the World appeared first on WorldStrides.
