How Different Cultures Celebrate Christmas

By Sarah Newberry Staff Writer

Instagram @luv2dance43

Christmas is a busy and cheerful time of year, with many traditions from the United States and other countries around the world.

Christmas looks different and sometimes the same in the United States and in countries like Serbia or Belgium. In the United States, people celebrate Christmas on Dec. 24-25, but in other countries, people may celebrate at different times. Serbia is one of those examples.

“In Serbia, my Christmas is on January 7th, it’s not in December,” said Andrea Prvanovic, a track athlete and student from Serbia.

In the U.S., there is usually a Christmas Eve service, and gifts are opened sometimes on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, then there is lunch or dinner after that. In Serbia, things are a little different but almost the same.

“It’s similar to here, we are gathering together as a family, we have lunch, and we go to church in the morning,” Prvanovic said.

In the United States, there are usually several churches in a town or city, but in Serbia, it’s different. It really depends on whether it’s a village or a smaller town, or even a city.

“Everybody from the same town, they are going to the same church, and everybody knows each other,” Prvanovic said.

While in the United States people often enjoy turkey or ham on Christmas, in Serbia, locals enjoy a different dish called sarma.

 “It’s like meat and rice in lettuce and is cooked together,” Prvanovic said.

In Belgium, Christmas is very similar to that in the United States, but their Christmas food is also different, as in Serbia.

“ I would say we have ‘foie gras’, that’s what we eat,” said Hugo Duquaine, a Blue Dragon golfer from Belgium.

Belgium is also all about cheese, and there’s plenty of it during the Christmas season.

“We like to have cheese, just a plate of cheese and raclette,” Duquaine said.

Raclette is a type of cheese that is meltable and like fondue, but not quite. There are many different foods and traditions around the world during the holiday season, and each is unique.

All around the world, people come together to celebrate the Christmas season, and even in the United States, there are different ways to celebrate. Whether in the United States or Serbia, Belgium, or other countries, Christmas cheer is bright and brings people together.

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