Christmas Traditions in Latvia 🎄🎁☃🎅🏼

Christmas Traditions In My Family 🎄🎅🏼

In Latvia the official Christmas Eve is 24th of December and the official Christmas Day is 25th of December. I am Roman Catholic so I celebrate Christmas on these days as well. Nowadays Christmas traditions are mixed around the whole world so I will speak about traditions in my family and my school where I used to go but traditions could be the same like in other countries.

As I said my family and I are Roman Catholics and 4 weeks before Christmas we start to wait for it. This time is Advent. During Advent we have candle holder with 4 candles and every Sunday we light one more candle so at Christmas all candles are lit. During this time, we prepare ourselves for Christmas. When Advent starts we usually come together and light one candle. Then we pass it around and in the silence, we commit ourselves to do something to make us better until Christmas or not to do something. Just one thing, but for the whole Advent period. Usually during Advent, we try to be more patient, nicer and we try to spend more time together for example instead of watching TV. Normally in my school teachers said the same thing like; let’s be more friendly with classmates, more polite with adults, more peaceful during Advent.

Every year before the Christmas holidays, in the school I used to go to, there was a Christmas concert. The first part was just like a normal concert but the second part was the best. All the students changed into costumes and then Father Christmas came. Next, every class did something to get sweets for example they sang, did a play or danced whatever they wanted. After performing Father Christmas gave them a box of sweets so that everybody had their own bag of sweets.

After the school concert and Advent comes Christmas. By the way my favourite time of year is Christmas time because it’s so magical, I love it! Normally some days before Christmas my family and I tidy up the house and then maybe decorate it. Then all of us or just some of the family members go to forest to get a Christmas tree. Usually it is quite difficult to find a good one. It takes some time. Actually, it’s like an adventure, especially when there is a snow in the forest. So when we finally find the best one we cut it down and take it home. Usually we put it on the roof of our car. At home we decorate it with some lights and decorative balls. If we make gingerbread men, then we put them on as well.

On Christmas Eve we usually go to church to a Holy Mass. But before Mass we always eat unleavened bread at home because it is a catholic tradition. After Holy Mass when we get home there are presents under the Christmas tree for everyone.

The next day, which is Christmas day, we always go to Holy Mass again because it’s Christmas, Jesus is born! And then we usually go to my grandparents’ house to celebrate Christmas with them and other relatives. I have quite a big family and lots of relatives. For example, I have eight cousins. So, when it’s gets dark Father Christmas comes to us and all the children do something to get presents. That is always exciting and funny for all of as.

So, these are the traditions and things that my family does. Thank you, if you read it all, haha!!!