With Christmas around the corner, we asked a few international students to share their traditional way of celebrating Christmas and New Year's Eve.
Natallia Uzunbajakava, S&T, Belarus
In Belarus, Catholics celebrate Christmas on December 25 and Orthodox Christians on January 7. NewYear's Eve is hard to imagine without "Djed Moroz" (Frostö, a grandfatherly figure) and "Snjegurochka", his granddaughter. The food is very diverse; the cakes are superb. The Dutch ones don't compare! On December 31, people get together for dinner and watch the clock as it approaches 12. Congratulations are exchanged and people go outside- it is not as quiet as Enschede.
Dimitrios Iakovou, ENG, Greece
Our Santa Claus Agios Vasilios visits on New Year's Eve. At midnight, the lights are switched off and on to symbolise the passing of the old year and dawn of the new one. Vassilopita, a special pie with a coin hidden inside, is prepared. The one with the coin in his pie is considered to be lucky. The Christmas tree is not really a Greek tradition - the Greek tradition prescribes a fisherman's boat filled with colours and lights.
Marek Mikrut, S&T, Poland
Celebrations start in the evening on Christmas Eve, when the first star appears in the sky. The family supper should comprise 12 dishes; not many families prepare them all. After supper people gather around the Christmas tree and sing carols. Catholics attend the midnight mass. People spend Christmas visiting each other. It is believed, that at midnight animals start talking, so you can know what your cat thinks about you!
Monica Lopez-Lorenzo, S&T, Spain
On December 24 we celebrate Nochebuena, to remember the birth of Jesus. Some typical songs, Villancicos are sung. On December 25, families have a big meal. On December 31 at midnight we eat twelve grapes symbolizing the twelve chimes of the clock before the new year begins. It is also customary to drink chocolate milk accompanied by churrosö (a special pastry). The night of January 5, we celebrate the giving of presents to Jesus by the three kings.
Mary Sheela Bobby, EEMCS, India
The Christmas tree is decorated on December 23. Mothers are very busy preparing different sweets. On Christmas eve, we don new clothes and distribute sweets to our neighbours and friends. We attend the midnight mass and on returning home, a cake is cut. On December 25, a lot of relatives come visiting. My father makes trips to different regions in Pondicherry (where I live) to visit friends and distribute sweets.
Tomas Krilavicius, EEMCS, Lithuania
The house is cleaned and a special supper called Kucios is prepared. For Christmas Eve dinner, the table is spread with some hay as a reminder of the birth of Jesus in a stable. A small plate with Christmas wafers and twelve different dishes are served (as Jesus had twelve apostles). Everyone gathers at the dinner table as the first star appears in the sky. A prayeris said and the wafers are shared.
Helena Margaretha, EEMCS, Indonesia
The Christmas eve service is so crowded, some people sit on the church stairs or in a tent outside the church. On Christmas after the morning service, we drive around the city to visit our relatives and have lunch together. We don't have to make an appointment for that! Since there are many different tribes in Indonesia, we don't have a common Christmas meal. Every family has its own preferences. What one can find commonly is lots of cakes and cookies.
Ann-Sofie Hallbaeck, S&T, Sweden
December 13 is Santa Lucia - we remember a young girl who died a martyr because of her Christian faith. Christmas Eve has the usual family gatherings, gifts and Santa Claus. At three pm there is a Donald Duck cartoon on TV, which is a classic feature - it has been shown for more than 30 years. The Christmas porridge sometimes has an almond in it - the one who gets it is believed to get married the next year.
Here's wishing you all a merry Christmas and a happy new year from everyone at UT-Nieuws!
