Celebrating the holidays, with an international flair

Unlike Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July, Christmas is celebrated throughout the world.

But while many Americans mark the season by putting up and decorating trees, hanging wreaths and other adornments on their doors and filling stockings with festive circes, citizens of other nations are keeping their own traditions.

In Italy, Befana, a friendly witch, brings candy and toys to children. Austrians celebrate Advent with parades featuring Krampus, Santa’s evil counterpart who is charged with punishing unruly children. Finnish families lunch of porridge, into which a single almond has been hidden.

Whoever finds it must sing a song.

On Saturday, the S.C. State Museum will kick off its annual Winterfest celebration with winter holiday foods, traditions and performances from around the world, including a Scandinavian parade honoring Sancta Lucia, who brings faith and hope to Scandinavians and a presentation by Holy Apostles Orthodox Church’s Father Thomas Moore about the “Real” St. Nicholas. There also will be a traditional Mexican Las Posadas procession, with pilgrims moving from house to house in search of shelter. At the final house, a piñata will be broken to celebrate.

Non-Christian celebrations also will be featured including a children’s group singing traditional Hanukkah songs and two dance troupes to share dances to commemorate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights and the Chinese New Year.

Santa will make an be on hand for photos and last minute shoppers can pick up locally-made gifts at the museum’s gift shop, the Cotton Mill Exchange.

Winterfest runs through January 3rd and features different events each day. The program is free with museum admission.

For more information about Winterfest, visit www.scmuseum.org

Katie McElveen, Special to The State