Christmas Traditions
We have some great God honoring traditions in the United States and I am thankful that we have those traditions. As Americans we go all out with Christmas decorations, Christmas lights, Christmas trees, Christmas wreaths, nativity scenes and more.
Christmas food is like Thanksgiving feasts but there are also Christmas cookies, and Christmas candy canes. The candy canes are in the shape of a shepherd’s staff and represent the shepherds that were present at the birth of baby Jesus.
Another tradition that we have are watching Christmas movies like “It’s a Wonderful Life” during December. Also, we listen to Christmas music all month as some radio stations switch over to just playing Christmas music, religious and secular.
Something that we grow up knowing about and participating in is gift giving and Americans do a lot of shopping for those Christmas presents.
I shared all of that with you to tell you of a Christmas tradition that I am glad that we never adopted in the United States.
In Germany and Austria, they have a weird Christmas festival named Krampusnacht. In folklore there is a scary figure known as the Krampus who is Father Christmas’s scary friend. This is a devilish creature who punishes children that are on the naughty list during the festival time.
This mythical beast, called Krampus, is hairy with hooves and large horns and is celebrated every year on the 5th of December. There are parades where large numbers of people dress up as Krampus and they chase each other through the streets.
I’m really glad we have our Christmas traditions here in our country and that we never have to chase each other through the streets on the 5th of December!!
The greatest tradition that we have in Christian homes in the United States is that of reading the Christmas story on Christmas Eve or Christmas day. Here is the story from the Gospel of Luke:
“And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.”
“Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.’”
“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ’Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’”
“So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.’ And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds (Luke 2:1-18).”
May you have a most blessed Christmas and New Year!!