DELICIOUS feasts, gifts and fun gatherings often accompany the festive joy of Christmas. Each country or city usually has traditions to add flavour to the season.
Hearing about some of these Christmas customs from around the world, though, one may wonder whether they are true, especially if one has never actually been present to witness them.
For example, picture yourself lacing yourself in roller skates, not for a day at the park, but to attend morning Christmas mass, en masse.
Sounds unusual? Get this - it is said that the people of a city have turned this into an annual festivity during the yuletide season. Could this be true?
Verdict:
TRUE
“It’s the season to be jolly...” and roll-y? The tradition, it turns out, is real!
Every year, from December 16 to 24, the streets of Caracas, Venezuela, turn into a roller skating route as residents of all ages strap on and roll their way to Christmas Mass at sunrise.
This unique and delightful tradition is known as “Misa de Aguinaldos,” which translates to “Early Morning Carol Mass.”
This tradition is even better because the local government supports it wholeheartedly. Officials close off many of the city's streets to traffic until 8am during these days, ensuring a safe skating journey for everyone.
According to some sources, the tradition also includes children tying one end of a piece of string to their big toe and hanging the other end out of the window before going to sleep.
As roller skaters pass by in the morning, they tug on any strings they see, waking the children for their exciting skate to mass.
The origin of this tradition, however, remains a mystery. Some say it began during a time when transportation was scarce, and people needed a way to get to church quickly. Others suggest it's simply Caracas' spin on the worldwide tradition of attending Christmas mass.
So, if you’re ever in Caracas during Christmas, don’t be surprised if you see folks zooming by on roller skates.
Even better, lace yourself up and join in!
References:
https://onvenezuela.com/
https://www.americamagazine.
