The History of Christmas
 Christ, Claus and the evolution of our most popular holiday

Venezuela - Christmas traditions & customs

In Venezuela on December 16th families bring out their pesebres which is a specially designed and thought out depiction of the nativity scene.

Venezuelans attend a daily early morning church service between December 16th and 24th alled Misa de Aguinaldo ("Early Morning Mass.") In Caracas, the capital city, it is customary to roller-skate to this service and many neighborhoods close the streets to cars until 8 a.m. Before bedtime children tie one end of a piece of string to their big tow and hang the other out the window. The next morning, roller skaters give a tug to any string they see handing. After Mass everyone enjoys tostados and coffee.

It is a custom to attend at one of nine carol services is observed by most venezuelans. Firecrackers explode and bells ring to call worshippers from bed in the predawn hours. The last of the of the masses takes place on Nochebuena de Navidad Christmas Eve. Families attend a mass on this night and then return home to a huge and fancy dinner.

On January 6th when the children awaken they will discover that the straw that they had left beside their bed the night before has gone and in its place are gifts the children know that the Magi and their camels have been and when they go to look in the mirror if they have a black smudge on their cheek they know that Balthasar, King of the Ethiopians has kissed them whilst they slept.