Remember how we started with Christmas in two states? Artmas day 6 is going global with Christmas celebrations from all seven continents. I’m doing something I’ve never done before: represent photojournalism! Today is all about storytelling and learning about how different cultures celebrate during the holiday season. Enjoy!
*Note: Please remember that it would be incredibly difficult to represent every single culture & tradition. I did the best I could to find significant celebrations from each continent, but I also know that there are many more out there. This was such a fun project, and I highly recommend you do your own research to learn about celebrations around the world.
🎄 A F R I C A 🎄
🇪🇹 Every year at the beginning of January, Ethiopians travel to the city of Lalibela to celebrate Gena in the historic churches. The celebration lasts several days and includes church services, dancing, food, Gena (a hockey-like game), & music. Melkam Gena! 🇪🇹
🎄 A N T A R C T I C A 🎄
🇦🇶 Members of The Royal Navy stationed in Antarctica put on a Santa Run in 2012 to support their charity for the year: East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices. The HMS Protector crew works long hours day after day because sunlight lasts up to twenty-one hours. Even in the cold, its nice for them to do something fun and all in support of an organization providing medical care to children in East England. 🇦🇶
🎄 A S I A 🎄
🇯🇵 Despite not holding any roots in Japan, Christmas has slowly made its way into their culture. However, the most popular tradition is not what you would expect it to be. Families flood to KFC for their signature Kentucky fried chicken. The demand has become so great that many order their Christmas Party Barrel weeks in advance. Yes, that’s right. This tradition started with KFC Japan taking initiative to introduce a unique tradition to the Japanese people. They marketed a holiday meal stored in a bucket, and the rest is history. Merīkurisumasu! 🇯🇵
🎄 A U S T R A L I A 🎄
🇦🇺 Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere is a little warmer. Actually, it’s a lot warmer. It’s not unusual for locals and tourists to spend their holiday soaking up sunshine on the beach. Let’s have a round of applause for the lifeguards who spend the day working to keep beachgoers safe. 👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼
🎄 E U R O P E 🎄
🇩🇪 Christmas markets started in the picturesque country of Germany; they are called either Christkindlmarkts or Weihnachtsmarkts depending on where you are. The top picture features the Striezelmarkt in Dresden, and the bottom picture features the city of Erfurt. Christmas markets can be traced as far back as the 1200s. Hundreds of years later, they’re an annual tradition across Europe. These markets are like something out of a storybook or snow globe: bright lights, carnival rides, handcrafted one-of-a-kind products, ice skating, seasonal food, snow, & warm beverages. Attending a Christmas market has officially booked a spot on my bucket list. Fröhliche Weihnachten! 🇩🇪
🎄 N O R T H A M E R I C A 🎄
🇨🇦 At the end of November, two Canadian Pacific holiday trains depart from Montreal; one is traveling to cities across the border in the United States, the other to cities in Canada. At each stop, an event is held with holiday entertainment to collect food and money donations which are given back to food banks along the train route. By day, two flags can be seen waving in the wind representing Canada and the United States. By night, each car is illuminated thanks to bright Christmas lights; the nighttime effect is so magical that the lines are blurred between train and Santa’s sleigh. 🇺🇸
🎄 S O U T H A M E R I C A 🎄
🇪🇨 In South America, it is common to see parades by day and lights by night. The top photo features an El Pase del Niño Viajero (Passing of the Traveling Child) parade in Ecuador. This catholic procession takes places on Christmas Eve in the city of Cuenca. People typically wear traditional costumes or dress up as characters from the nativity story, but it is not unusual to also see pop culture costumes similar to that of American children on Halloween. The bottom photo features Colombians on Día de Las Velitas (Little Candles’ Day). Candles and lanterns are lit and placed around homes in honor of Mary and the immaculate conception of baby Jesus. Feliz Navidad! 🇨🇴
❄️ ⛄ 🕯️ 🎄 🎁 ❄️ ⛄ 🕯️ 🎄 🎁 ❄️ ⛄ 🕯️ 🎄 🎁 ❄️ ⛄ 🕯️ 🎄 🎁 ❄️
O N E D A Y U N T I L C H R I S T M A S . . .
❄️ ⛄ 🕯️ 🎄 🎁 ❄️ ⛄ 🕯️ 🎄 🎁 ❄️ ⛄ 🕯️ 🎄 🎁 ❄️ ⛄ 🕯️ 🎄 🎁 ❄️
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– Lauren Michele ❤
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Great Job! I really enjoy the research and insight involved in how you do these blogs. This one was very illuminating!