Christmas Traditions
In Argentina, homes are decorated with red and white garlands. The Christmas tree is adorned with colored lights and ornaments. It's customary to ask children to write a letter to Santa Claus in advance, requesting gifts. These gifts are placed under the Christmas tree. Not only children receive gifts, but adults as well. The gifts are opened at midnight, neither before nor after. Families go to church and return home for a family gathering. This celebration is special as it commemorates the birth of Christ. Various dishes are served at the Christmas Eve dinner, but the most well-known is the Argentine barbecue.
In Finland, as in the rest of the world, homes are decorated with large Christmas trees, which are adorned with lights and garlands. In the front yards of houses, Finns place an arrangement made of wheat stalks and fruits to attract birds. The nights of December 24th and 31st are shared with family around the table.
During Christmas, Danes drink fruit juice mixed with red wine, raisins, and spices. As for decorations, the Christmas tree is adorned with woven paper baskets in the shape of hearts, and they also place painted wooden objects with bright colors. At the top of the tree, they place a large Christmas star, which is illuminated by candlelight. Lastly, Danes hang a Christmas wreath in their homes, which holds four candles. Each Sunday of Advent, they light a candle, which serves as the perfect excuse to invite friends over to share an unforgettable moment.
In the paradisiacal Puerto Rico, where the sea and palm trees play a beautiful symphony to the rhythm of the waves, there is a tradition called "Las Parrandas or Asaltos," where people invade their friends' houses, arriving unannounced to surprise their loved ones. In this celebration, which lasts until sunrise, Puerto Ricans sing carols, eat chicken stew, and drink Pitorro. At the dinner on December 24th, the traditional dish is rice with pigeon peas, pickled green bananas, and pasteles made of green plantain dough filled with meat. After the 1959 revolution, political restrictions in Cuba have hindered the celebration of Christmas, although in recent years these have gradually disappeared, and many Cubans have their own traditions. One of the main activities that regained importance in some Catholic households is the tradition of the nativity scene or birth, along with the Christmas tree and dinner before opening gifts. However, the most popular celebration takes place on January 6th, on Three Kings' Day.
The Christmas dinner is held on the 24th, for Christmas Eve, and the typical foods are roast suckling pig, yucca, rice with beans, and nougat.