MEXICO
Christmas in Mexico is celebrated from December 12 to January 6. In some parts of Mexico children expect to receive Christmas gifts from Santa Claus, while in the south they wait for gifts at Epiphany on January 6. Christmas Day is usually spent in a close family circle, with friends and dear ones. Streets and houses are decorated with bright traditional poinsettias and nativity scenes. Mexico is the origin of the pointsettia.
From December 16 to December 24 posadas are held. These are special processions which are held every evening. On this evening people gather together and process to one particular house where festive parties are organized with food, drinks and games.
Christmas traditions around the world vary from one country to another, Santa Claus has different names and takes different forms, Christmas is also held on different days together with gift-giving or not. However, it’s impossible to deny the fact that Christmas is still one of the most celebrated and brightest events all over the world.
Make sure you celebrate it with those you love and care about!
Feliz Navidad! Счастливого Рождества! Merry Christmas! Eid Milad Majid! Joyeux Noël!
Cuba
Cuban New Year’s Traditions
New Year is a huge celebratory event for Cubans. They do their best to practice the traditions that were coming from their ancestors. Just like the rest of the world, Cubans also have their own set of New Years’ traditions that they abide by so sincerely. It is a big family gathering on the New Year for Cubans where they eat, talk, play, dance, etc. To fulfill their wishes in the coming year, Cubans follow certain traditions on New Year’s Eve and New Years’ Day. Today we shall be discussing all those traditions that Cubans strictly observe on the New Year to attain luck and prosperity. If you like them and want to execute them in your own life, you can do so with great New Year cheer.
1. Roasting a Hog
If you are a foodie and want to explore Cuba New Year’s Traditions that are related to food, here is the one for you. Cubans give more significance to food around the New Year time. New Year traditions also have food topping the charts. On New Year’s families gather to have huge dinners and the menu mainly concentrates on pork where the whole hog is roasted. People enjoy eating pork at the New Year’s Eve Party.
2. Throwing Dirty Water Away
Just like other countries do, Cubans also clean their house for New Years’. However, instead of throwing away the dirty water, they keep it aside. They believe that the dirty water contains bad juju from the past year and so they throw it out into the street with the hope that all the bad omens will be out of their house in the coming year. As soon as the old year passes, they throw the dirty water out of the house.
3. Eating 12 Grapes at Midnight
Eating 12 grapes at midnight is a tradition that is being followed for ages in Cuba just like in other countries. As soon as the countdown ends, people start eating all the 12 grapes each representing 12 months of the year with the hope that luck will enter their lives in the coming year. The twist in the tale is that the grapes need to be consumed before the clock strikes 00:01 AM or you will be bestowed with bad luck in the coming 365 days.
Another Cuban New Year’s Eve Traditions include burning an effigy. If your past year is something that you do not want to pass by again in the future, burn the effigy or a doll stuffed with paper pieces. Jot down the issues that you have faced in the past year on a piece of paper and stuff into a doll or effigy and then burn it. According to the belief of Cubans, burning the stuffed effigy rid all the negativity and awful situations from the last year and help you step into the New Year with a light heart.
Միսաք Մինասյան 