Winter Holiday Celebrations Around the World

When I studied abroad in Sweden one of the hallmark celebrations the people took part in was Santa Lucia. Santa Lucia commemorates the Saint of Light during a time when the days are growing darker. The eldest daughter of each family is the selected Lucia and along with her star boys and younger sisters sings traditional Swedish holiday songs to her parents and other household members before serving them coffee and saffron buns. 

If you will be studying abroad in a foreign country at this time of year look into the traditional holidays that the culture will celebrate. The winter months especially have been marked as the time of year when there are so many diverse festivals taking place. As American's the ones we are most familiar with include Hannukah, Christmas, and Kwanza. Other popular celebrations that take place during this time of year include Yule and the Chinese New Year.

Celebrating a traditional holiday alongside the country you will be studying in is another fun way to broaden your knowledge about another culture and get involved with your community. If you are someone who is particularly attached to your beliefs and do not with to compromise them though, then winter celebrations taking place in the country that you are studying in could be a great research topic for class. 

Photo credit: melanielinktaylor.mzteachuh.org