Christmas is probably the most celebrated holiday in the world, with modern Christmas traditions a product of hundreds of years of both secular and religious practices from around the globe. Christmas is typically celebrated on Christmas Day (December 25th), however a variety of traditions and celebrations are practiced around the world. Here is a a brief snapshot of some of these:
Many people in America celebrate Christmas Day on 25 December. The day celebrates Jesus Christ’s birth. It is often combined with customs from pre-Christian winter celebrations. Many people erect Christmas trees, decorate their homes, visit family or friends and exchange gifts.
In Italy a nativity scene, a ‘presepe’, is typically displayed in churches, town squares and houses. Although originating in Italy, nativity scenes (complete with a crib filled with straw) have become popular throughout the world. On Christmas Day ‘Babbo Natale’ (Father Christmas) brings children some small gifts, but the main day for present giving is on January 6th at Epiphany.
People in the Philippines are keen to celebrate Christmas for as long as possible which is why Christmas carols are sometimes played in shops as early as September! The formal Christmas celebrations start on 16th December when many people go to the first of nine pre-dawn or early morning masses. The last mass is on Christmas Day, however Christmas celebrations continue to the first Sunday in January when Epiphany or the Feast of the Three Kings is celebrated. In the Philippines there is also a special tradition of having a Christmas lantern, which is called ‘paról’; the lantern is star-shaped, remembering the star of Bethlehem, and traditionally made out of bamboo and paper.
At TTP, we celebrate by sincerely thanking you for your valued support during 2017 and wish you a very Merry Christmas!
If you have audio recordings you would like transcribed over the holiday season we will be trading as usual apart from public holidays, with a slightly longer turn-around time for the return of your transcripts between Saturday 23rd December 2017 and Friday 5th January 2018.