With Christmas approaching quickly, everyone is busy decorating their homes, watching their favorite movies, and partaking in their own unique traditions. The varying staple traditions of Christmas come far and between, so it’s not surprising that people often get a bit bored with the same things. After reading this article series, I hope you will have some new traditions for you and your families to enjoy! 

1. White Christmas

Many of us know Bing Crosby’s iconic song of the same title, but does anyone know where it came from? The song first debuted in the 1942 movie “Holiday Inn,” starring Bing Crosby, Marjorie Reynolds, and Fred Astaire. Then in 1946, the song appeared again in “Blue Skies,” also starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire, along with Joan Caulfield. To finish out his series of Christmas movies, Bing Crosby appeared in the movie “White Christmas,” along with Danny Kayne, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen. This movie was by far the most successful of the three, following the story of a male duo and a sister act stuck at a rarely visited inn in Vermont. Bing Crosby sang the song “White Christmas” in all 3 movies and recorded it as a single in 1947 due to the song’s gaining popularity. This is my absolute favorite Christmas movie, and if you’re looking for something to watch this Christmas, I would highly recommend “White Christmas” (it’s on Netflix!)

2. Night of the Radishes

Night of the Radishes is an annual competition in Mexico dedicated to the carving of oversized radishes. The displays can become very intricate, with whimsical scenes created out of varying shades of creme and vanilla. This yummy tradition dates back to 1897 when Oaxaca City’s mayor decided to incorporate this contest into the yearly holiday market as a way to promote local agriculture. These impeccable sculptures range from religious scenes to Christmas bakeries to pop culture characters. Instead of making a gingerbread house, this year try radishes! 

3. Venezeula’s Roller Skate Mass

The fun doesn’t stop in Mexico! In Venezuela, citizens will throw on their roller skates and skate to Christmas eve mass. Though it’s not clear exactly how this tradition was started, many believe it might have been adopted as an alternative to sledding since the temperatures in South America aren’t usually ideal for sliding down snowy hills. Either way, skating to mass has become so popular that the government in the capital city, Caracas, has even shut down the roads until 8 am so families can skate together safely. After the mass is over, there are large neighborhood parties in the streets where they share food, presents, happiness, and love.

Coming tomorrow… #4-6.