With Christmas rapidly approaching, families of different cultures and religions are preparing for the festive season. Within our multi-cultural school community, Ursuline students and families have been busy organising commercial gifts and family traditions that are unique to their celebrations. Sharing their family’s cultural Christmas traditions are 16-year-old students Meghan, Anna and Mary.
“In our house we have social, religious and food rituals that we re create every year”, says Meghan whose mother is originally from the Republic of Ireland. “In terms of social traditions, the youngest child puts the star on the Christmas tree. We also have a nativity play where again the youngest child has to put the baby Jesus into the crib on Christmas Eve to represent the baby coming into the family.” What’s interesting is that different cultures bring different traditions to Christmas celebrations. For Anna whose mother is Japanese, Christmas Eve is less of a religious celebration for families but more important for couples who celebrate it as if it were Valentines Day. Anna said, “in Japan you receive less presents as giving presents isn’t a big thing like it is in England.” For every family the social aspects of celebrating Christmas are completely different as each family have their own traditions like Mary’s family who had been living in America for the last 9 years. Mary told me “Every year in America we used to wake up and open our presents altogether, after that we would go to mass then drive down to the beach where we would celebrate Christmas Day with both friends and family.” That’s certainly an alternative to a wintery British Christmas Day.
Despite our different Christmas traditions the one thing each culture shares is the love of festive food. I was surprised to discover that in Japan its tradition on Christmas Day to eat KFC or chicken, which originates from a 90’s Japanese Christmas advert. In addition to this Anna also said “ we eat a lot of Christmas cake which consist of a basic vanilla sponge with lots of cream and fruit.” It’s fascinating how each family celebrate this festive season, as for both Meghan and Mary their families either have turkey or gammon and as Meghan mentioned “my family always stocks up on mince pies!” Alternative food traditions that have stemmed from different cultures are inspiring as something that may seem completely normal to you, may be untraditional for another.
Whichever way you celebrate this much-anticipated time of the year, each different cultural tradition is fascinating. Perhaps this is the year you order KFC instead of cooking a turkey for the whole family; but tradition is what makes Christmas your Christmas so enjoy your festive day full of your family traditions.
By: Alexandra Hack-Roberts
Ursuline High School
