Ethnic Traditions

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I’m sorry if this is the wrong place for this, please move if so. I am a member of my Diocese’s (Diocese of Greensburg, Pa), Catholic Committee on Scouting. Every year we have a weekend retreat in September and this year we’re doing the same. The theme is ‘The Universal Church,’ and what we are focusing on are the four marks of the Church, ‘One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic.’ the session I’m working on is for ‘Catholic.’ The age group I’m dealing with is 4th-8th grade. What I’m really supposed to focus on in this session is the Catholic Church’s different ethnic traditions in different parts of the world. I mean of course the Mass is the same format, we use the same readings on Sundays everywhere etc. But what we want to focus on is customs that people in different countries have that they practice etc. So what I’m asking is if you can give me any ideas and traditions that your families or friends’ families may have. I come from a Polish Slovak family so we have a few customs that I’m going to use but thru google etc i haven’t been able to find a lot other than Christmas traditions and I’d rather have ideas from just normal everyday and so on. So if anyone can give me any info or any resources to info I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you so much in advance and may God bless you!
 
Hm…a few come to mind.

Canada (Quebec): eating tourtière after Midnight Mass

Italy: Visiting 7 Churches on Holy Tursday

Kenya: Fasting during the day during Lent and coming together as a community after sundown to share a small feast

Russia: Dying Easter eggs red; “tapping” the tops against an opponent’s to see which one cracks first

Mexico: Quicinera

Vietnam: Lunar New Yeat celebrations with Mass, followed by traditional food and a variety show
Since you mentioned Polish, you included Oplatki and ***** willow, right? 😉
 
A couple of more:

Mexico: Day of the Dead

India: Remembering the dead 100 days after the deceased has passed on

Uganda: wearing white to a funeral instead of black

France: the symbol of the Flying Bell

Palestine: Eating Mesaf at weddings

Ukraine: Blessing of Easter Baskets

Spain: Basque communities go to Catholic funerals, whether or not they knew the deceased (link)

Philippines: Processions and fiestas are conducted during feast days of the patron saints of various barrios or barangays. (link)
 
Wow…the forum’s auto filter took out the word and I didn’t even see it had changed after my post.

Many Eastern European cultures use these in lieu of palms.

If I recall correctly, Ukrainian custom lets children swing the branches of [the plant which shall not be named 😉 ] at each other…but you’ll have to wait a bit before I can provide a link to you.
 
Yeah I googled it and found what you’re talking about and that’s interesting, didn’t know that! Thank you!
 
In Mexico on the Feast of Candemass , families dress up their statues of the Infant Jesus and take them to church.
 
Glad you could find it! I did find a bit on wiki: (link).

Here’s a couple more ideas:

Ireland: making St. Brigid’s crosses for February 2nd, saying a prayer over the hearth before retiring for the night

On Ash Wednesday in Germany, it is custom to have ashes sprinkled on one’s head as opposed to a cross on the forehead.

Thanks for posting this, because it was fun to look this up.
 
I liked reading about other traditions, and I will have to google to read more. 🙂
 
Latin Rite in the Philippines:

Sinulog
Fesitval celebrating the Sto. Nino (Holy Child Jesus) where there is a colorful procession of people dressed in native attire dancing tribal dances in honor of the Sto. Nino. A statue of the Sto. Nino was instrumental in Christianizing the Philippines.

Visita Iglesia
On Holy Thursday, you visit 7 or 14 churches and say the stations of the cross (either 1 or 2 stations in each). Traditionally you travel by foot, although in modern times people would take transportation to get from one to another, some would make it a road trip and go to major churches rather than the local parishes.

Simbang Gabi
9-day pre-dawn (4-5am start time) Masses before Christmas (Dec 16-24) in anticipation of Christmas

Salubong
Pre-dawn Eastern morning procession of a Virgin Mary statue in mourning clothes (usually a black veil) and a risen Christ. They travel opposite directions around town and when they meet at the front of the church, the veil is lifted (usually by a child dressed as an angel) when Mary first meets the risen Christ. Then people proceed into the church for Easter morning Mass.

Todos los Santos
During All-Saints and All-Souls day, people camp out in the cemeteries to pray for their departed loved ones.

These are the ones off the top off my head. There are many more processions for different occasions and other local practices.
 
Italian-Americans have seven fishes on Christmas Eve. We also put the palms from Palm Sunday behind our crucifixes.
 
Wowmeveryone thank you so much for your replies, I tried googling some info but you’re all helping me so much, it really means a lot to me! God bless all of you!
 
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