5 minute read
Tis the Season
Christmas is quickly approaching. From Las Posadas parades in Latin America to the Yule Log of Europe, Christmas can be found being celebrated in a wide variety of ways around the globe.
The Yule Log originated in Europe when the Norse people lived there. When the ancient Norse occupied the land known today as decor of a traditional Yule Log. Also, what is known as a Yule Log today is a dessert. The cake-like dessert was first seen in the 17th century. From there, the Parisians made the Yule Log dessert popular in the 20th century. Though the sweet treat is not as popular today, it can still be found if sought after.
Although Las Posadas is an
“The kids would get a goodie bag with treats, and so that was my favorite part.” -Patty Hernandez
Norway, they created the Yule Log to celebrate the sun’s return after the Winter Solstice, according to history.com.
Happy the winter was coming to a close, the Nordic people would all gather together and feast on rich foods. Logs were decorated with holly, pinecones or ivy and anointed with wine and salt. From there, families would burn the logs. Ashes that came from the Yule Log were said to have medicinal properties, and even the ability to protect a person from evil.
On a smaller scale, literally, this tradition can still be seen today. The original Yule Logs were enourmous, according to history.com. Nowadays, families will typically burn a single, small log in the fireplace without all of the
event that can be found all across Latin America, the main focus is mostly on Mexico. “The roots of Las Posadas stretch deeply into Latin culture. It originated in Spain, but it’s been a yearly celebration throughout Mexico for over 400 years,” according to Fransiscan Media. The celebration is held to honor the journey that Mary and Joseph took in order to find a place to stay. This is where Las Posadas gets its name. Posada in English would be a place to stay, such as an inn.
Las Posadas is celebrated in an almost parade type fashion. There is a group of people who represent the Holy Family (Joseph and Mary) and they must reach the designated home, which represents the stable. Along the way, the group stops by other houses, and when they stop, they sing a song. The song says that they are seeking “posada” and that they are travelers. The group is told that the place they have stopped is not an inn and they must keep moving. According to Fransiscan Media, once they reach the final destination, a song of celebration is sung and they eat a warm meal.
Patty Hernandez, (Full disclosure: Patty Hernandez is the mother of the author.), recalls her childhood regarding Las Posadas in San Jose De La Boca, Durango, Mexico. She remembers the song that was sung while walking from house to house, but her favorite part was always at the end. “In the evening there would be some kind of hot drink and a pastry. Then the kids would get [...] a goodie bag with treats, and so that was my favorite,” she said.
Las Posadas is a unique holiday in Mexico, especially in Hernandez’s home town. “It wasn’t common for children and adults to interact or work in any kind of activity together. It was more of adults making a request children complying or adults in their own little group [...] In this case they both worked toward a common goal. It was the entire community working toward finding a place for Mary and Joseph.”
According to Asia Society,
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Wayang Kulit is an art form in Indonesia which tells stories through shadow puppetry. In terms of Christmas, the shadows tell the story of how Jesus was born, according to Sun Education Group. Gabby Marpaung (11) describes Wayang Kulit as “A story in a new and different way.” She goes on to say, “Normally Americans use regular puppets, but actually making cut-outs and moving them against the light in a certain way make it more unique to the culture.”
Through the masterful skill of the puppeteers, the saga of a savior is told with buffalo hide puppets and light. Audiences are captured in the story as they are led through the early life of Jesus Christ.
In Ethiopia, the holiday season is a special time, just not the time one would expect it to be. Ethiopia observes a calendar different from the western, Gregorian calendar. According to Ethiopian Treasures, their calendar uses a thirteen-month system. The calendar is always seven years and eight months behind the Gregorian calendar.
Ethopians celebrate Christmas on December 29th according to their calendar, which is January 7th according to the Gregorian Calendar. This is not to say that Christmas is not special to the Ethiopian people. Most of the religious traditions are centered around the Ethiopean Orthodox church. Groups of people will walk from church to church until the sun rises, which marks the start of Christmas. From there, meals after forty days of fasting are enjoyed by the tired and weary travelers, according to Nazret.com. People will also play sports on this day. To remember the shepherds, a sport similar to hockey is played called Ganna. There is also potential for other events such as horse racing.
While Christmas traditions vary far and wide, they also differ greatly in Loma Linda Academy’s own community. Viveka Smith (9) goes to Arizona with her family to spend the holidays while Kalise Couture (11) stays local and visits the Mission Inn to see the lights with her family. Both women enjoy the time they are able to spend with their loved ones. “Who doesn’t love eating with your loved ones?” Couture said. Ross Gurule (10) spends time with his family at his aunt’s house making tamales.
Samuel Chapman (12) gets to see his siblings when they go to his house. “I’m the youngest in the family so everyone already is grown and has their lives in order, so it’s nice to get us all together again.”
The holidays are a special time reserved for family and chosen family alike. So no matter how you choose to spend the season, spend it with loved ones, and spend it well. “Who doesn’t love eating with your loved ones?” -Kalise Couture “I’m the youngest in the family so [...] it’s nice to get us all together again.” -Samuel Chapman Graphics by Noah Hernandez
