France
Crèche
Do you know what a Nativity Scene is? (see picture below) Well, crèche is the French word for nativity scene and you can find one in every French household during the festive season. The display features a village scene with many figurines of Mary, Joseph and the Baby Jesus. Actually many countries use nativity scenes as decorations; some are elaborate and some are austere.
Bûche de Noël (a.k.a Yule Log)
The tradition of Bûche de Noël has changed a lot over the years. It started as an actual log, the log was added to the fireplace on Christmas for good luck in the next year. Nowadays, the Bûche de Noël is commonly found at the dinner table as a beautiful and decadent chocolate swiss roll cake!
La Fête des Rois: the holiday season continues!
The Christmas season starts on December 1st in France, and the holiday season finishes on January 6th. Twelve days after Christmas Day Christians celebrate Epiphany, the arrival of the Three Kings after Jesus was born. It is not a public holiday in France, but it is still widely celebrated in schools and workplaces. They celebrate by having a cake called 'galette des rois' in English this translates to King cake. It is made from a flaky pastry with almond cream. A figurine is baked into every cake and the person served the slice with the figurine is crowned King or Queen for the day!
Stockings or Shoes?
I think that everyone has seen stockings hanging above a fireplace, but did you know that in France this isn't the case. In France it is common for children to leave their shoes by the fire instead!
The Big Meal Is Served on Christmas Eve
In France it is traditional to eat their Christmas meal, le réveillon de Noël, on Christmas Eve. When you imagine a Christmas Meal what food do you think of? Did you think of oysters, foie gras and escargot? Well in France this is a common way to start your Christmas meal!
Lucky Mistletoe
Just like in the U.K and other countries France also hangs Mistletoe. The main difference is in France it is only considered as lucky, so there is no kissing under the mistletoe in one the most romantic countries in the world!
Midnight at church
Christmas Eve is a busy day in France, it's tradition for French families to attend a midnight church service known as mass. After the service they return home to sleep and await le père Noël (a.k.a Santa Claus).
Spain
Belen de Navidad
In Spain the nativity scene is called belenes and they are very common in Spanish homes and cities. All nativity scenes are unique, but they all have a few things in common: they all contain Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and the three kings. Actually you find them in almost every town, village and city in the main square, plaza or in front of the church itself.
Spanish Christmas Carols
Spain have their own Christmas carols and they are called villancicos. These songs are mostly sung by children over the Christmas period. Villancicos have a very long history and they originally come from poems in the Middle Ages. Most of the villancicos are religious and are sung all over spain and parts of Latin America. Traditionally in Spain two instruments are used over Christmas the 'pandereta' and the 'zambomba'.
Christmas sweets (turrón, polvorones and mazapan)
Christmas Eve in Spain is called Nochebuena, which means 'good night' in Spanish. On Christmas Eve Spanish families eat a large meal in the evening. After the meal is finished, typical Christmas desserts and sweets are served such as Turron, Polvorones and Mazapan.
Turron is a nougat made of toasted almonds and honey.
Polvorones are crumbly shortbreads made of flour, sugar, milk and nuts.
Mazapan is a traditional Spanish dessert made of almond and sugar paste, then made into small shapes.
The 12 grapes at New Years Eve
New Year's Eve in Spain is called Nochevieja, which means 'old night'. All over Spain people prepare 12 grapes each to celebrate the New Year. The tradition is, you have to eat one grape for every strike of the clock. It is said if you can eat 12 grapes before midnight, you are guaranteed good luck for the following year.
Roscón de Reyes
The Roscón de Reyes is traditionally eaten on the day of Epiphany (the arrival of the three kings). The cake is round with a hole in the centre, the cake is decorated with candied fruits. Similarly to the 'gallete des rois' in France, there is a figurine and a bean baked inside the cake. The lucky person gets the figurine, whereas the unlucky person gets the bean!
Cesta de Navidad – Christmas basket
In the Roman Empire, the sportula was a gift of money or food, usually given at specific events, it also means basket. In Spain today giving a 'cesta de navidad' is still a very important tradition. Many companies give their employees one at Christmas time and dedicate a lot of money to make sure the basket of food is special.
The Three Kings
Like many countries, Navidades (Spanish for Christmas) lasts until January 6th when the Three kings visited baby Jesus. Often large towns in Spain hold parades on January 5th, this day is known as 'El Día de los Reyes'. This day is loved by children of all ages because there are big floats in the parade that throw candy to the children on the street.
Italy
Feast of the Seven Fishes
Feast of the Seven Fishes is the name the Italians call their Christmas Eve dinner. As the name suggests they eat a lot of fish, seven courses of only seafood! The Italians don't eat meat as part of a tradition connected to the Catholic church; the church believed that not eating meat helped to purify the body. Some common dishes include seafood soup, seafood pasta and marinated anchovies.
Midnight Mass
Just like the French, the Italians head to their local churches to attend a midnight service after their Christmas Eve dinner. People around Rome can visit the Vatican, where the Pope holds a free service, although the service is actually at 9:30 p.m.
Bagpipes of Italy
When you think of bagpipe music do you think of Scotland? Well if you go to a town square across Italy over the Christmas period you might hear a strangely familiar sound! Zampognari are musicians who are usually dressed as shepherds and play the bagpipes. Italy's most famous Christmas Carol 'Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle' which means 'You Come Down From the Stars' originally comes from Zampogna music.
Presepi (Nativity Scene)
We have talked about Nativity scenes from other European countries, but Italy takes them very seriously; they are usually hand-made by skilled artisans, often looking like art rather than a craft display! If you visit Italy over Christmas you are sure to be impressed by the ornate displays around the piazzas and churches.
La Befana
La Befana is the name the Italians use for celebrating Epiphany on January 6th. In Italian folklore la Befana, or in English the Good Witch, stayed at home cleaning rather than going with the three kings to visit the baby Jesus. According to the tradition, the good witch visits peoples homes on January 6th and fills children's stockings with gifts.
So Many Desserts
Italy has some of the best desserts on the planet! Christmas is no different, you can find a wide range of sweets from Christmas cookies, Pandoro (Christmas Tree Cake) to a classic Panettone. There are also many regionally specific desserts like the Tuscan Panforte or a Calabrian Nepitelle.
So as you can see there are many similarities around Christmas Traditions. People love to eat delicious food, drink lots of alcohol and spend time with their families. Many of the traditions might have different names in different languages, but they all share one thing in common, Christmas Spirit. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone.
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