notes from the traveller’s christmas journal (part 9)

(Read Part 8 HERE)

Russia and Armenia, Eastern Europe

Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost) lives with his granddaughter Snegurochka (The Snowmaiden) in Russia. Grandfather Frost doesn’t enjoy Christmas as he feels that his identity has been taken away from him. He looks exactly like Santa Claus; however, he wears exotic clothes and his white bread dance and glide like wild flames. He is often mistaken for Grandfather Winter too, who lives at the top of Mount Ararat.

Armenians have a tough task ahead of them as they fight to fast for three days leading up to Christmas Eve. The aches and dizzy spells experienced by many are satisfied to know that after the ordeal, their stomachs would have reached a higher plane; they believe it will now become ‘pure’.

Santa Claus is always late in Armenia, although the children are not happy and thought that they had been forgotten; he always makes it on time for New Year’s Eve to renew hope once more.

Georgia and Ukraine, Eastern Europe

In Georgia, it seems Santa Claus has stolen another identity. Georgians call him ‘tovlis papa’ (Grandfather Snow).

Like Poland, Ukraine starts their holy supper when the first star appears. I still don’t know how they pick the first star.

Angels decided to bring the children their presents as Santa Claus (more accurately his reindeers) didn’t know how to get to Ukraine. Well, that’s what Santa said, he blamed it on the reindeers.

(to be continued …)

notes from the traveller’s christmas journal (part 8)

(Read Part 7 HERE)

Germany, Central Europe

I arrived early in Germany where it was Saint Nicholas’ Day. I later met up with Saint Nicholas as we went in search for children’s shoes. We had no intentions of stealing them like the thieves in the Philippines did; however, we ventured out to put gifts in them.

While leaving shoes unattended on Christmas has been quite popular, Saint Nicholas doesn’t decide entirely on who receives gifts. His servant Ruprecht punishes those children who have misbehaved during the year. Discipline is propriety on his agenda. It’s not all that bad, although he carries a small whip in one hand, be assured it’s only for intimidation purposes. I wonder how Ruprecht knows the children have been misbehaving?

Further to the subject of misbehaving, if you have been really naughty all year, you might be forced to explain yourself to the wrath of the four colourful characters. You have Saint Nicholas and his servant Ruprecht, Santa Claus and Christkind.

Christkind (ventures out to Austria, Switzerland and other regions) is invisible. However, Christkind doesn’t go entirely unnoticed; he rings the doorbell just before he leaves. If no one is at the door in the early hours of the morning and you have presents under the Christmas tree, then it’s safe to assume Christkind has visited you.

Hungary and Poland, Central Europe

Performers in Hungary wander from house to house in costumes telling stories in order to receive gifts, unfortunately, not many received gifts at all.

In Poland, the first star in the night sky determines when people start to fast. I had trouble identifying which star came first in a sky swimming with stars.

(to be continued …)

notes from the traveller’s christmas journal (part 7)

(Read Part 6 HERE)

Central Europe

It was reported that children had been witnessing several golden pigs running around in Central Europe on Christmas Eve. The tradition puts forward that if children can fast until dinner on Christmas Eve, they might be lucky enough to see these mysterious pigs.

It was also the only time where people attended church. It was believed that if they went to church for Christmas, it would make up for all the times they didn’t attend church throughout the year. Maybe the priests there need to walk around with umbrellas too.

Czech Republic and Slovakia, Central Europe

These golden pigs can be found in Czech Republic if you’re fast long enough. Psychologists there are still debating if it’s the result of hallucination for not eating for prolonged periods of time.

Since psychologists entered Czech Republic and Slovakia on Christmas Eve, they found another odd happening; girls threw their shoes over their shoulders repeatedly. Apparently, it was a way of finding out if they would get married soon. This worried psychologists and declared both countries are in a state of crisis.

I couldn’t work out how exactly the shoes told their future of marriage, I was too busy trying to land my eyes on one of those golden pigs!

(to be continued …)

notes from the traveller’s christmas journal (part 6)

(Read Part 5 HERE)

Philippines, Asia

After heading up to the Philippines, I thought I had missed Christmas. In the Philippines, Christmas begins in September and ends early January. I wasn’t sure if that made me late or not.

You can go to church whenever you feel like it; the masses go for nine days; however, a feast is enjoyed after which is a rather enjoyable incentive to stay until the end of the mass.

Most people had left the church before it ended; those who stay received the ‘good news’ at the end. Harsh, but true, patience pays off usually.

Most children in the Philippines lose their shoes on Christmas as they believe by putting their shoes outside; the Three Kings will put gifts in them. However, it seemed as if the Three Kings took the shoes instead. I didn’t see them in the act, but it was later reported that thieves heard about the unattended shoes and jumped at the opportunity.

Some children cried due to the size of their feat. It was widely believed that the bigger the shoe was, the more gifts they would get. Either way, size didn’t matter to the thieves.

Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan, Asia

Singapore followed in Hong Kong’s footsteps and decided Christmas is a time to boost the economy and bounce on vulnerable consumers, South Korea decided to be the only East Asian country to declare Christmas as a national holiday and Taiwan still doesn’t know what Christmas is.

I didn’t stay long in Taiwan.

(to be continued …)

notes from the traveller’s christmas journal (part 5)

(Read Part 4 HERE)

India, Asia

A transition happens in India, one of a celestial kind. The children there witnessed a ‘goat’ in the night sky. I didn’t see it, but the children had this innocence about them, it was hard to tell if they spoke the truth or made up stories. The expression of fear coated with disbelief on their face was hard to ignore. Even if it was an act, I fell for it.

It was not until one of the locals there told me about how on Christmas, the Sun passes Capricorn. After all, maybe there was some truth to the goat that wanders in the night sky in India after all.

Indonesia and Israel, Asia

Indonesia sometimes debates if it’s wrong to celebrate Christmas or not, where in Israel, they don’t debate it at all. That is because Hanukkah is on at the same time.

Lebanon, Malaysia and Pakistan, Asia

If you want to attend church later at night, Lebanon is open for midnight mass. Where in Malaysia there seems to be some confusion on the use of Christian religious symbols.

I found the Star of Bethlehem hanging on the rooftops of homes again in Pakistan so make sure you don’t think you’re in Bangladesh if you get confused.

If you see goats wandering in the night sky again, you probably still haven’t left India yet.

(to be continued …)

notes from the traveller’s christmas journal (part 4)

(Read Part 3 HERE)

Bangladesh, Asia

The Star of Bethlehem hangs on the rooftops of homes in Bangladesh. It’s not a real star contrary to what the children believe there. You don’t have to look far to find the real stars in the night sky, they’re used for those who want to make a very particular kind of wish. They wish for things like world peace and to eliminate poverty.

However, on Christmas Day, the middle class are reminded about those wishes that will never come true and we are reminded once again that no one will do anything about it. I wonder if that is the reason why we have turned to the stars for help.

China and Japan, Asia

Christmas was a private affair in China and Japan. Those that were Christian often celebrated the festive season in secret and were not seen.

Hong Kong, Asia

I ventured to the south coast of China and I encountered a giant Christmas tree outside a shopping mall in Hong Kong. It’s a public holiday here. Does Hong Kong celebrate Christmas?

It seems those who wanted to celebrate Christmas found their sanctuary under this particular tree. They appeared to be happy as their eyes enjoyed the lights and each other’s company.

(to be continued …)