Today, tens of thousands of worshipers make the annual pilgrimage to the Cathedral near Mexico City. Native dancers leap for hours in the church's atrium. In Sweden, Christmas festivities kick off the morning of December 13, otherwise known as St. Lucia's Day, with trays of mouthwatering saffron-colored Lucia buns. A candlestick parade takes place on this day. Customs include lighting candles, exchanging gifts, lighting special fires, using evergreen decorations, enjoying special holiday foods and attending church services.
Celebrations vary according to culture, ethnicity and family traditions around the world.
A professor who wanted to encourage blacks to celebrate their heritage started Kwanzaa in California in 1966. Patterned after an East African harvest festival, Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26 to January 1. During Kwanzaa, families exchange homemade gifts and host African-style feasts. Kwanzaa Expresses Pride of Ancestry and Traditions Established in 1966 by Africanist Dr. Maulana Karenga, the African-American celebration of Kwanzaa is now observed by an estimated 15 million people in the U.S. and, increasingly, by people of African ancestry worldwide. The celebration lasts seven days, from December 26 to January 1.