Christmas Musical Traditions

 

Tomoko grew up in Japan, and celebrated Christmas because her family was Christian. Now Christmas is Japan is more popular and more commercialized. One contemporary Christmas activity that Tomoko would approve of is the performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, especially its “Ode to Joy” section, which is often sung in German.  Following are Christmas holiday traditions around the world.

Ethiopians dress in white as they attend church at Christmas dawn where why they see their priests dressed up, and the attendees dance and play musical instruments.

Jamaican radio stations start playing reggae-style and international Christmas carols as early as October. Their Christmas festivities include African-inspired Junkanoo, during which time the Jamaicans dance in masquerade costumes.

Colombian families sing religious Christmas carols called villancicos accompanied by simple percussion instruments. Children sing and play instruments at Novenas, which are religious gatherings during the holiday.

Because Uruguay celebrates Christmas during their summer time, the people there hold open-air music festivals.

Australia also celebrates Christmas in their summer season, and their Santa is often seen surfing – singing parodies of traditional carols. In contrast, the country's annual “Carols by Candlelight” concert is a charity appeal for Vision Australia.

Christmasland in New Taipei City includes a parade carnival and a Christmas Eve concert.

The whole Kastoria community participates in a Christmas time Dionysian revelry, which features folk melodies.

Christmas music can be heard as early as September 1 in the Philippines.

A week before Christmas Welsh people sing caneuon pygain: long sermons in song from the 17^th century, based on folk music, that tell about Christ's entire life. The songs feature close harmonies and were traditionally sung before dawn only by men.

Shopping is a popular Christmas activity in Singapore. In those shopping malls, caroling and concerts are frequently heard.

Outside their homes. Assyrian families make Christmas bonfires out of thorn bushes, and sing psalms as the thorns burn to ashes.

On Christmas eve in Denmark families sign carols and hymns around the tree, and dance around the house.

In Germany Protestant churches hold a Christmas eve service called Christvesper, which includes favorite Christmas carols and festive music for pianos and organs. Very traditional carols from the Latin school are also sung. Christmas eve in Germany, Austria, England, and the Czech Republic also features families lighting their trees and singing carols. In Bulgaria boy carolers visit neighborhoods starting at midnight.

Venezuelans carol from house to house, where they received food and drinks. In their Andes the carolers carry baby Jesus's image. House to house caroling also happens in Pakistan. In return for the singing, the families donate to the caroling choirs and their churches. Poland also features neighborhood caroling on Christmas eve. Romania takes caroling to a higher level. While children sing carols form house to house throughout the Christmas seasons, the first day of Christmas sees carolers parading through the village with a start depicting Bible stories.

Tomoko’s Christmas Memories

 

As Tomoko demonstrates, Christmas certainly builds lifelong musical memories.

Tomoko attended Ferris Academy: an elite Dutch Reformed school for girls, located in Yokohama. “At Christmas time everyone memorized Bible verses and performed Christmas music,” Tomoko remembers.  

She also recalls: “The Dutch Reformed school received Christmas cards from the U.S., and the images showed a very rich and full Christmas. The teachers would cut the cards with zigzag scissors, and sell them at the school Christmas bazaar (an American tradition brought to the school). In Japan at that time, every scrap of paper was dear, so the cards were very popular. “

When Tomoko attended the Conservatory of San Francisco, she spent the Christmas break with her classmate. Tomoko remembers dressing in a pale flowered kimono, and playing a board game at her friend’s home.

Tomoko’s musical memory of Christmas also extends to her daughter Beata’s ’s piano playing. The little girl was  frantic one evening, when she told her mother, “Mummy, the school Christmas program is tomorrow, and I have to play “Up on the Housetop! I told the teacher that I couldn’t do it, and she said that you would help. Help! What am I going to do??” Tomoko thought to herself: “That’s too much pressure for a little girl.” To Beata, though, she said calmly, “Let’s go to the piano.” Tomoko sat down beside her. “Don’t worry. The most important thing is the rhythm. Now play middle G, and sing the song, tapping the key for each note.” Tomoko listened and observed closely, and gave Beata some encouraging suggestions. Beata practiced for the next half hour, with Tomoko’s gradual release of coaching. The next day, Tomoko asked Beata, “How did the program go?” Beata smiled, “The teacher didn’t even notice that it was just one note!” Tomoko wasn’t surprised, and hugged her daughter.

As a teacher, Tomoko advised parents: "Your actions speak volumes. And your musical investment of time can bring untold value to your children. You can share Christmas carols as a way to share your love of music with your children. You and your children can grow together through music.”

Tomoko also sees Christmas as a universal musical experience. Tomoko sees the importance of experiencing music through the lens of a country, and comparing those different expressions. She suggests: “Compare Christmas songs from different countries. They are a way to connect with culture.”