We will discuss Christmas customs and traditions of South American
countries such as Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, Peru and Venezuela, here.
Here are some of the highlights of the Christmas celebrations in these
countries:
In Bolivia, Christmas is mostly a harvest festival and people
adore and have a feast for Mother Earth. Mother Earth is asked to
bring plentiful of harvest next year, is thanked for completion of
the year's work, is given an account of the work done during the
year, asked to keep away plagues and is told what could be the plan
for the next year. Mother Earth is asked to bless all the Bolivian
people with a prosperous year.
In Ecuador, children write letters to the Christ-child and place
their shoes on the windowsill for Him to keep toys for them in it on
Christmas Eve. On Christmas morning, children love to find
noise-making toys and play with them enthusiastically. Weather is
warm there during the Christmas season and hence, most celebrations
take place on streets. The highlights of Christmas celebrations are
firecrackers, brass bands, and dancing. Families attend Midnight
Mass and then the festive family dinner follows.
In Chile, little clay figures are placed under the Christmas tree
known as 'Pesebre'. Father Christmas is known as Viejito Pascuero
and everyone exchanges Christmas greetings and gifts.
In Peru, Nativity scenes are known as 'Retablos' and are very
popular. In the past, priests used to carry small altars from home
to home during the Christmas season but now portable boxes are used,
which depict saints above the altar and scenes from everyday life
below it. Retablos show Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus along with local
people around the Nativity scene.
In Venezuela, on 16th of December, families proudly display their
'Pesebres', an elaborate Nativity scene designed specially by the.
Most Venezuelans still follow the Christmas custom of attending at
least one of the nine carol services. Before dawn, bells are rung
and firecrackers explode and bells ring are used to wake up
worshippers on Christmas Eve. The last mass for the festival is the
Nochebuena de Navidad on Christmas Eve. Families attend the mass on
this night, which is usually followed by grand Christmas feast. In
the evening of 5th of January, children leave straw and water for
the camels of the Magi and they are replaced by gifts for them on
next morning. If they have black smudge on the cheek, then they
understand that Balthazar, King of the Ethiopians, had kissed them
while they were sleeping.
