Christmas Traditions - English

For many of us, Christmas means a time for family and friends to celebrate at parties or dinners. Today, I'm going to focus on the British Isles for our traditional roots.

Many of the songs we sing for caroling or at our churches have their roots in English tradition. Joy to the World, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, and Coventry Carol are all from the British Isles. In fact, Christmas caroling seems to have originated in the British Isles then transferred to the United States. Probably due to English being the national language of the United States, England's history is closely connected to our own. Oddly, when we place Christmas carolers in "traditional" style, it's usually during the Victorian Era.

Both in Lancaster County area and Western New York, Christmas carolers can be heard. Some of the carolers might be families or groups of friends who wander around, but my experience has church groups providing most of the caroling.

Even more than the French, English traditions permeate American traditions to the point where the traditions are strictly Christmas. The English have their own Christmas traditions which we don't follow, such as Boxing Day, but some have carried over.

In looking through American history, and wondering why some traditions remain, and others disappear, the conclusion I came to is a simple one: by America welcoming many different ethnicities, we tend to accumulate cross-cultural celebrations (Christmas tree, stockings, caroling) in favor of traditions tied to a particular culture such as Boxing Day.

Out of all the English traditions that we maintain, it's the sound of Christmas that comes from the British Isles: caroling and the songs sung.

Today is Christmas Eve, so I will be taking a vacation for the remainder of the week. In the new year, I'll focus a bit more on both locations as everyone begins to consider summer vacation and spring breaks. Until then: Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Christmas Traditions - French

Christmas in Western New York and Lancaster County are beautiful times of the year filled with honking horns, long lines, and general malcontent. Some days, I felt it was worse in Lancaster County area because of the tourists added to the mix. Nothing says simple like flying to Lancaster county to run the length of shopping centers on Route 30 to purchase that perfect gift made from local Amish families.

Yet, somehow, we find quiet in the hustle and bustle to remember why we celebrate Christmas. For many Catholic families, the day begins or ends with Christ's Mass (hence the term, Christmas). For Western New York, with its heavy Catholic under-layer, mass, nativity scenes, and other elements remain.

Our Nativity Scene

Today's traditionally heritage comes from France, which is actually more focused in Western New York than in Lancaster County. Part of the reason comes from the fact that Western New York was once a part of France.

The nativity (or crèche) is a part of many households and churches. The practice developed in the Middle Ages with the first live nativity attributed to Francis of Assisi in 1223. Once again, the practice comes from all over Europe with some countries developing lavish nativities. The term crèche, however, is French.

Other elements that come from France are Christmas carols - Un flambeau, Jeannette Isabelle, Les (Bring the Torch, Jeannette Isabelle) Anges dans nos campagnes (Angels We Have Heard on High), and Cantique de Noel (O Holy Night)

Many of these traditions are American in the fact that we all utilize them regardless of our heritage. It is more common for ethnic minorities to hold onto their Christmas celebrations as a way to maintain their culture. For cultures such as the French, English and German, since those are the common heritage for a region, we see less in the way of specific elements and more as an origin of certain traditions.

Tomorrow, we'll focus on the last of the three major ethnic heritage of the two locations: English, though, we'll include all of the British Isles into the discussion.

Christmas Traditions - German

Both Lancaster County and Western New York owe a great portion of their cultural history to those of German descent. In Lancaster County area, the German heritage is most readily observed in the Amish and Mennonite communities. In Western New York, the influence is less noticeable, but still present.

Throughout American culture, one item; one fundamental symbol of Christmas can trace its roots directly to the German-speaking immigrants who came to America: the Christmas tree.

Christmas Tree ... sort of

Some families debate the fake vs. real Christmas tree; my family utilizes both, when we find a real one that doesn't bother my mom, who happens to be allergic to certain types of firs. Take  note of the background of the photograph above (taken this afternoon): our eighteen inches of snow disappeared overnight due to mild temperatures and rain. Keep the families in flood-prone areas of Western New York in your prayers as many of them will have to deal with the flood waters only a few days before Christmas.

Other traditional Christmas elements from German culture: gingerbread houses and Silent Night. One thing we must bear in mind when talking about these traditions is the layout of Europe before the Twentieth Century. For one thing, Germany as the current country did not exist, but German-speaking areas did. These areas covered much of present-day Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and included some parts of France and Poland as well. Therefore, some traditions we hold came from regions, not a particular group. Santa Claus is one such personage. While his name, Klaus, is most directly related to German, the actual person, Saint Nicholas, was from Asia Minor.

Other elements such as stockings, Christmas wreaths and singing are all European traditions that seem to stem from ancient mid-winter rituals. Evergreens have long been a symbol of eternity and hope in Northern European climates since they remain green even into the winter time. Some of these traditions came into the Christian celebration of Christ's mass later in our history.

One tradition in Buffalo that is connected to Eastern Europe is Broadway Market's Christmas and Easter celebrations. While the Easter celebrations are larger, Broadway Market is opened during the Christmas season as well. We'll visit Broadway Market in the new year with for the Easter celebrations, but until then take a look at their website.

Christmas traditions primarily have a European bent to them, especially here in Western New York and Lancaster County area. The Germans bring us Christmas trees and gingerbread houses, and Silent Night (technically written by an Austrian, but written in German). Monday, we'll focus on another culture: French.

Back Again

The past few days have been quite the interesting collection, so unfortunately, I've missed posting. Between two fairs, a book signing, and preparing for said fairs and book signing, I've been busy.

However, it's Christmas season now here in Western New York, and Lancaster County area, so the next few days, I'm going to take a look at different cultures and time periods to see how Christmas has been celebrated.

Both areas have a similar background: large German and English heritage with the occasional secondary ethnicity thrown in for good measure. Both areas are part of the original Thirteen Colonies, giving them both a long American history, yet in other ways they are different. Lancaster County area has a large Protestant influence from the Anabaptists, Baptists and Quakers whereas the Greater Niagara Region has a strong Catholic influence. These two parts of Christianity reflect on each area's celebrations in subtle, yet different ways.

Then there is the locations, economies, and general associations with the two locations that also adjust the celebration of Christmas. Believe me when I say, the differences are subtle, but they do exist, so sometimes I've blundered into a difference without realizing I did so. It's interesting since my part of Western New York is a farming community, not unlike where I grew up in the Dutch country.

Lastly, there are differences between the regions therewith. Lancaster County area has fewer differences than Western New York does, primarily because the region is smaller. If I included Southeastern PA as the region then I would have more differences because Lancaster area, the Brandywine area, and Philadelphia celebrate the holiday in slightly different avenues. Once again, subtly different, but different nonetheless.

In Western New York, we have three primary areas: Buffalo, Niagara, and the GLOW (Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, Wyoming) region. For clarification, not all of the GLOW region is a part of Western New York, but the G (Genesee County), the O (Orleans County), and the W (Wyoming County) are. Livingston County is technically a part of the Finger Lakes Region.

Tomorrow, for the WOW Wednesday, I'll focus a bit more on the differences between the two, but rest assured, I'm looking forward to showing you photographs and places in both locations that reflect the ways these two regions celebrate Christmas.