Christmas memories from around the globe
By Joan Janzen
Christmas time brings back different memories for different people. Because Canada is multicultural, I am blessed to know people who grew up in different parts of the world, where they celebrated much differently than we do in Canada. Here are a few of their Christmas memories from around the globe.
Olga grew up in Moldova, an Eastern European country and former Soviet republic. She remembers celebrating Christmas with her grandparents, where they would open gifts and sing Christmas songs. They also went from home to home singing Christmas carols.
Tasha recalls a childhood memory of waking up to the sweet fragrance of apples and grapes, a treat she only received at Christmas time in Trinidad. “My memory was never about gifts because my parents couldn’t afford any. It was all about cooking different types of foods and having the family and friends over. One of my favourite memories as a child was lining up on the streets a couple of days before Christmas when Santa would be driving around behind a truck, handing out presents to kids in the neighbourhood, which were the only toys we got at Christmas.”
In the Philippines, Jen remembers singing carols at houses. “We had our own improvised instruments like a tin can used as a drum. We would do that every night from December 16th to 24th. We have Christmas delicacies (various types of rice cakes called bibingka and puto bumbong) which are sold outside the church every night. We put up our Christmas decorations the first week in September, and for our Christmas meal, we roast a whole pig because families gather together like a grand reunion.”
Grace, who also grew up in the Philippines, recalls a Christmas party held at the town hall where everyone brings food and exchanges gifts. They also had a design contest where they decorate ornamental lanterns (called a parol). “Each group will do a dance presentation, and the winner receives a cash prize. Kids visit their godmother/godfather who gives them gifts or money,” Grace explained.
Helenka grew up in South Africa and said Christmas was extremely noisy, busy and about the best family days ever! “We would attend a church service and head home for a full morning in the kitchen. Every family member would be making something, either a pudding or one of the meats. My grandfather would always make a “Spookasem” pudding, which was egg whites beaten stiff with a packet of jello and scooped in a bowl in between layers of hot custard. Since we’re in Canada for Christmas, I will be making the Spookasem Pudding for my family.”
Megan spent some of her teenage years in Guatemala, where Christmas celebrations are vastly different than Canadian customs. Festivities take place on Christmas Eve when everyone heads to the beach for fireworks and food. They enjoy eating Mulitas, which is a Mexican version of a grilled cheese with meat, or a small quesadilla. And instead of turkey, they feast on Tamales, a corn-based dough with a meat filling, which is steamed in a corn husk or banana leaf.
Now, people from all over the world are living in Canada, celebrating Christmas, each bringing their individual and unique flavour to our Christmas traditions.
