There are a large number of international students representing other countries here at Idaho State University. Places in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America and even here in North America have their own winter traditions that they celebrate.

In Sweden, much of the forested land is privately owned, making finding and harvesting a Christmas tree exceedingly difficult. The Silver Fir, a sought after Christmas tree, often only grows on private plantations. As a result, many Swedish people substitute with the Norway Spruce.

Traditionally, Swedish people celebrate “Julgransplundring,” a holiday twenty days after Christmas Eve. The holiday focuses on ending the holiday season with song and dance.

This winter, India will hold the Chennai Music Festival, a month-long festival that starts in mid-December and goes to mid-January. The large cultural event has traditional south Indian Carnatic music, dance and arts alongside music-related seminars, discussions and demonstrations.

Columbia, comprised of a large percent of Roman Catholics, celebrates Christmas. Early in December they have a ceremony to honor the Virgin Mary. Novena, on Dec.16, is when trees are raised and decorated, and involves a nine-day prayer in anticipation for Christmas day.

In Canada, they honor St. Emily, the patron saint of single women, with holding a taffy pull social for single people to meet. In parts of Canada, such as Southwestern Nova Scotia, they eat lobster for Christmas dinner instead of traditional ham or turkey.

In Israel, the Jewish followers celebrate Hanukkah on the twenty-fifth Jewish month of Kislev. The Hebrew word “Hanukkah” means “dedication” because the holiday commemorates the holy Temple in Jerusalem after the Jewish victory over the Syrian-Greeks in 165 B.C.E.