Warm tropical climates have unique and very creative ways of celebrating the traditional winter festivals around Christmas. While the celebrations may look a bit different, the children and adults that live in tropical climates have just as much fun with their Christmas customs and Christmas traditions as those that live in colder climates.
Bahamas
Junkanoo is what they call holiday celebrations that people in the Bahamas observe on December 26 and January 1. They have an immense parade between two o'clock in the morning and dawn with people dressed in vibrant costumes, music and dancing. There are troupes of people, numbering close to one thousand members each, that have decorations and a theme of their own. These troupes compete with each other for prizes and cash.
Some creations take up to a year to complete. They make these colorful, big, works of art made of such things as crepe paper, tissue, feathers, fabric and wood. The troupes dance through the street, accompanied by music, in perfect practiced formations. Many people believe that this tradition originated from joyous festivals practiced by the slaves, when they received a few days off to spend time with their families around Christmas. These spectacular celebrations are similar to Brazils Carnival or New Orleans Mardi Gras and certainly express the culture of the Bahamas.
South Africa
South Africa's Christmas is unique as it falls during their summer season. Like many other places, they celebrate Christmas by starting to prepare for in well in advance. Because it falls during their annual holiday season, schools close as well as many small businesses. Many people head to Kruger National Park or camping in the shade on riverbanks and mountain slopes because the people of South Africa love the outdoors. Their lush green plants and beautiful exotic flowers make up for their lack of having snow.
The urban areas across South Africa celebrate a modern Christmas with carollers singing on Christmas Eve and special church services held on Christmas Day. Most homes have a fir tree or pine branches, beautifully decorated for Christmas, and gifts for the children under the Christmas tree. Their Christmas dinner, served out doors at lunchtime, usually consists of roast beef, turkey, suckling pig, yellow rice, plum pudding and other wonderful foods. Often people play games during the day but on December 26, it is strictly a time for relaxing.
Philippines
Land of Fiestas is what people call the Philippines at Christmas time. Their Christmas formally starts on December 16, with nine early morning or predawn church masses, which end on the first Sunday in January, with the Feast of the Three Kings ending the season officially. Most Filipinos are Roman Catholic, as Christians dominate this country, unlike other Asian counties so Christmas is a revered and significant holiday.
This is a time when family and friends get together and share meals, gifts and friendship. It is the biggest holiday of the year so people have wonderful celebrations. This tropical island has fabulous landscapes and lovely flowers. Because of their true devotion to faith and family, they celebrate these Christmas holidays in the wonderful Philippines festive tradition.
Nicaragua
Nicaragua keeps several of the Christmas customs and Christmas traditions of old Spain, similar to many Latin American countries. In the weeks before Christmas, people buy many things such as nativity pictures, candles, food and toys. Children sing carols while leaving fragrant bouquets of flowers at alter for the Virgin, while singing Christmas carols. Church bells chime to let people know it is time for Midnight Mass. On January 6, the three wise men deliver gifts to the children at the feast of the Epiphany. Christmas season ends with a huge fireworks display.
Costa Rica
In tropical Costa Rica, bright, beautiful tropical flowers make beautiful Christmas decorations. In the jungle areas where wild orchids bloom, people gather these gorgeous flowers, along with fresh, colorful fruit to decorate the manger scene, which the Costa Rican's call a portal. After Midnight Mass, people have a Christmas feast of tamales and other traditional dishes. At one time children left their shoes out for gifts from the Christ child but now Santa Clause has taken over.
Venezuela
Early each morning from December 16 to December 23, people attend a church service they call Misa de Aguinaldo or early morning mass. In Caracas, Venezuela's capital, they close many neighborhood streets to cars and open them to people roller skating to mass until 8 A.M. each day. Children tie strings to their big toes, hang the string out the window and people roller skating by give it a tug. People enjoy coffee and tostados after mass.
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