Which Christmas Traditions From Elsewhere Should The US Adopt?

[romansperson]

@Die_Capacitrix

It’s fun to go shopping in the oldtown and see a group of people with the big cowbells. Here’s a video of what they look, and sound, like, but normally they would be outside. During this time of year there will be groups of approximately 10-14 people walking around the larger towns.

Wow … that gives a whole new meaning to ‘more cowbell’!

[MrDibble]

Christmas braai (barbecue).
Boxing day at the beach.

[Beckdawrek]

@jnglmassiv

Seafood/meatless feast on Christmas Eve.

Don’t really know why, but when I was a kid we always had Lasagna on Christmas eve. I looked forward to that.
I’ve done for years myself. We have a gift opening and Lasagna dinner every year.

[mbh]

@naita

Not “European Christian children”, but “European children celebrating Christmas in, mainly, areas once covered by German and/or Austrian rule”.

Not French children, not Scandinavian children, not Polish children. Why blame Moore when reality is Krampus just wasn’t important enough to immigrants used to it and not of interest to the immigrants who didn’t have that tradition?

French children have Père Fouettard, who is not as exotic as Krampus, but serves the same function.

[Aspidistra]

Backyard Cricket.

On Boxing Day.

[Wesley_Clark]

Define ‘elsewhere’

I worked for a US company that would shut down from christmas eve until the 2nd of January. Thats a good tradition I’d support more broadly, if people had the 24th until the 1st off each year.

[Ulfreida]

In the Orthodox churches a penitential Advent fast, accompanied by specific prayers, and almsgiving, is prescribed from November 14th or so to Christmas Eve. I think that would be salutary. No meat, eggs, dairy, wine, oil, or fish for that time although there are mitigations on Sundays.

Doesn’t that sound like more fun than what we do now?

[D_Anconia]

@Beckdawrek

Don’t really know why, but when I was a kid we always had Lasagna on Christmas eve. I looked forward to that.
I’ve done for years myself. We have a gift opening and Lasagna dinner every year.

We always had our traditional Polish food on Christmas Eve, but always Lasagna on Christmas Day. I’m pretty sure Mother will serve it this year, too.

[Anny_Middon]

@MandaJo

I think group tamale making is a really awesome holiday. Lots of Americans do this, of course, but typically only those of Hispanic heritage. Tamales are great, and I like the idea of family gathering together a few weeks before the main celebration to crank out a feast, assembly-style. The only thing I would change is having at least the option to be coed. Lots of men cook, and I hate how so often the burden of holiday labor falls on women.

Is this a Mexican tradition, or a Mexican American tradition? If Mexican, from what part of Mexico?

I ask because a family member is Mexican, and this is not a tradition in her part of Mexico.

[Anny_Middon]

@jnglmassiv

Seafood/meatless feast on Christmas Eve.

I do this every year. It’s often called The Feast of the Seven Fishes, but we usually have eight or nine.

Which reminds me – dammit, herring in cream sauce was on sale at a local grocery. I went there, had it on list, and somehow neglected to buy it.

[Leaffan]

@Wesley_Clark

Define ‘elsewhere’

I worked for a US company that would shut down from christmas eve until the 2nd of January. Thats a good tradition I’d support more broadly, if people had the 24th until the 1st off each year.

At most medium to big companies in Canada that’s exactly what we do. Almost everyone gets the week off. Of course we don’t have a two-day Thanksgiving.

[DrDeth]

@HeyHomie

Some aspects of Christmas are shared across many Christian cultures, such as a Christmas tree, the giving of gifts, and a human embodiment of the season — viz, Kris Kringle, Sinterklaas, Father Christmas, Santa Claus, etc. Others are unique to their own locale – Christmas pantos in the UK, Christkindmarkts in Germany, etc.

Which foreign Christmas traditions should the US import?

I’ll start.

…
Krampus

Thanks to Clement Moore, the US has Santa, but not his antithesis. Where American Christian children have to contend with Elf-on-a-Shelf potentially narcing on them to Santa, European Christian children have to fear a demon who will beat them. This tradition has led to parades of drunken Krampi showing up to menace the whole town.

There aren’t enough words to describe how badly we need this over here.

Christkindmarkts

Temporary Christmas markets are a thing over here, in that they exist. But their scale is too small to compare with the German tradition. Plus, gluhwein.

What are some others?

I hate that stupid commercial made up “elf on a shelf” crap, but even tho krampus is more authentic, Christmas should be a time of joy and happiness, not monsters.

Yes, more street markets, i like that.

Boxing day, give gifts to the Mail carrier, UPS driver, barber, car guy, etc. I already do it, but everyone should.

How about carpathian vertep shows? Puppets, etc, usually the nativity but doesnt have to me. Some moral is given.Vertep - Wikipedia

[MandaJo]

@Anny_Middon

Is this a Mexican tradition, or a Mexican American tradition? If Mexican, from what part of Mexico?

I ask because a family member is Mexican, and this is not a tradition in her part of Mexico.

I guess I don’t know. Christmas tamales are a huge thing in Texas, and I always assumed it ccx came from Mexico.

[HeyHomie]

@mbh

French children have Père Fouettard, who is not as exotic as Krampus, but serves the same function.

Being a Christian child in Europe must suck.