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Christmas Around the World

Miz Minka has written a lovely post about a Christmas tradition she grew up with in Germany—Saint Nicholas Day. Where I grew up, traditions were built around December 24th and 25th with no thought to what went on in other cultures on other days. When I was little I really did believe Santa Claus flew around the world all in one night because I thought everyone celebrated the same way I did. Now, of course, I know not everyone does celebrate Christmas the same way or even celebrates at all, so I have a better understanding of how Santa is able to deliver so many presents in one night.

I grew up about an hour from Chicago, and every year about this time the grade school teachers would shove us all on buses with our sack lunches and permission slips from home and take us to The Museum of Science and Industry. It is an amazing place year round, but at Christmas, it is magic. The museum exhibits a hall of decorated trees representing countries from around the world. It began in the 40s as a way to honor the allies, and there were only twelve trees that year. Now, there are over 50, and residents of Chicago decorate them in some significant fashion to represent the culture and tradition of each country.

I have lots of fond memories of Christmas as a child, but one that I really treasure is the memory of standing in the rotunda of the Museum of Science and Industry surrounded by giant decorated trees. We were small-town children bundled up in our coats and scarves and name tags, and our voices echoed through the hall to make us feel small. But for that one day, we were exposed to children from places like Russia and Japan and Brazil, if only by the unique ornaments on the trees that represented their countries. For that one day, we were part of Christmas Around the World.

Comments

Maria said…
I was exactly like you, except that I lived in small town Iowa and there was no big city museum to attend. But, my family was extremely religious and I have clear memories of being led down the upstairs steps blindfolded, in my Christmas finery...and taken out to the car to attend 7:00 mass. After mass, we would go kneel by the manger and say Happy Birthday to the baby Jesus and then head for home and gifts! And my Da would playfully say on the way home, "I feel like going out for breakfast today! Anybody wanna?" We would all chorus "NO!" and go home.

I wasn't allowed to have friends who weren't Catholic, and later not allowed to date non-Catholics.

I believe this is how you produce a lesbian......:)
8:05 AM
Cheltenhamdailyphoto said…
Well of course he flies around in one night! I just heard his bells actually (he sometimes does prep-flights just to make sure we haven't moved).

Beautiful tree that, Robyn. You're right when we were small the idea of other people celebrating in different ways didn't come up.
10:29 AM
Mrs. G. said…
What a cool memory and an equally cool tradition. I can imagine how beautiful and exciting it would have been to see the museum in all it's holiday glory. Beautiful photo by the way.
1:49 PM
dive said…
What a great idea.
Lynn's right. When I was a kid, we assumed everybody else got to do the same things at Christmas: argue about who played what in the Nativity Play and find an orange and a walnut in a sock at the foot of our bed on Christmas morning.
I wish it were still like that.
3:51 PM
Cheltenhamdailyphoto said…
Ahhh the orange and walnut Dive!! Actually satsumas. he he. Gold chocolate coins too? And a 50p.

I still do stockings for all three boys even though the eldest is nearly 21. Pah! Who cares. I'll still be doing them when they're forty.
4:20 PM
Anonymous said…
I've never actually thought much about how other countries celebrate christmas. I'm luckey enough to have decorations for my tree from the Black Forest and from Italy. And I have globe trotting in laws so I might make that my christmas wish from now on. Bring me back something christmassy from all of the different countries they visit.
11:17 PM
Gina said…
That looks just gorgeous!

I can imagine the impression that must have made on you!
2:48 AM
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