South American is the forth largest of the seven continents, occupying almost 7 million square miles and a population of approximately 376 million people. South American is comprised of 12 countries, ten of which are Latin. Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, Guyana and Suriname are all Latin. Each country has its own Christmas customs and Christmas traditions.
Christmas in most of South America is a deeply religious celebration whose focus throughout the continent is the presepio or the manger. Many families devote an entire room to the manger display, complete with tiny figures and landscaped. Elaborate scenes include shepherds gazing upon their heavenly host, water mills, electric trains, the Wise Men on camels crossing the desert and grottos.
Argentina
Christmas Eve in Argentina is when the whole family goes to church followed by family gatherings at home. They dance to Christmas music and put on a fireworks display to celebrate Christ's birth. Christmas trees have ornaments, sparkling colored lights and Father Christmas as the tree topper. Usually white and red garland make up the Christmas decorations. A traditional Christmas dinner is roasted pork, stuffed tomatoes, roasted turkey and mince pies. As a beverage, they have beer, cider and juice. At midnight on Christmas Eve, everyone drinks a toast, made from chopped fruits mixed with cider and juice, and then open their presents from under the Christmas tree. Family is extremely important in Argentina, so after everyone opens their gifts they spend time talking and playing games. The children's shoes, placed outside, are for Father Christmas.
Bolivia
More as a harvest festival than a traditional Christmas celebration, native Bolivians celebrate Christmas in Bolivia by giving thanks for finishing a year's work. They describe the work they finished during the year and discuss plans for the following year. Bolivians hold feasts of adoration for Goddess Mother Earth and ask her to keep plagues away, bring them a fruitful harvest and prosperous new year.
Brazil
Many Christmas traditions in Brazil have a Portuguese heritage. In northeastern Brazil, people prepare a nativity scene. Santa Clause, known as Father Noel or Papai Noel wears silk clothes because of the heat and lives in Greenland. He brings gifts for all the children. A traditional Christmas dinner is ham, turkey, vegetables, colored rice and fruit dishes for dessert. At midnight on Christmas Eve, Catholics attend midnight mass, which ends on Christmas morning at 1 AM. In the late afternoons on Christmas day, so people can go to the beach or sleep in, the Catholic Churches hold mass again. Most families decorate their homes with fresh flowers, often from their own gardens. In Rio de Janeiro, San Paolo and other large cities, fireworks are set off. Festivities such as singing and dancing continue until January 6 knows as the Three Kings Day, which is the day the three wise men visited Jesus bringing gifts.
Chile
In Chile, Viejito Pascuero is Father Christmas. Under their Christmas trees, they place tiny figures made from clay.
Ecuador
In Ecuador, instead of writing a letter to Santa, children there write a letter to the Christ-child. Hoping for toys and gifts as he passes by Christmas Eve, children put their shoes in the window. Christmas morning, noise-making toys fill the air with sound. Because the weather is extremely warm, they hold their celebrations in the streets with brass bands, firecrackers and dancing. Families go to mass together and then enjoy their family dinner.
Peru
Priests' traveled around on festival days, carrying small alters. Changing into portable alters over time; they depicted saints above and scenes from daily life below the altar. These portable alters or retablos now show Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus with local people gathered around.
Venezuela
December the sixteenth is the day that families in Venezuela bring out their depiction of the nativity scene, called a pesebres. Most people observe the tradition of attending at least one of the nine carol services. Bells ring and firecrackers explode to wake worshippers in the predawn hours. Christmas Eve is the last mass to take place, which families attend and then follow with a fancy, huge dinner. Children leave straw beside their beds and awake in the morning of January 6 to find gifts where the straw was which Magi and his camels left. If the children awake with a black smudge on their cheek it means Balthazar, who is king of the Ethiopians, kissed them while they were asleep.
There are many other local Christmas customs and Christmas traditions celebrated throughout South America over the Christmas season.
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