Christmas Traditions In North America

 

CTL

North America is a vast area with many different ethnic backgrounds and each bring some of their own Christmas customs and Christmas traditions. Christmas in North American is on December 25, which is the anniversary of Christ's birth and extends to January 6. Some people call this period the Twelve Days of Christmas while others call it Christmastide.

In North America, it is the most significantly celebrated event of the year. Along with Christmas being a religious holiday, it is also a widely celebrated festive event. People celebrate this wonderful holiday season by getting together with family and friends, exchanging gifts and eating their Christmas meal together.

Until the nineteenth century in North America, people did not celebrate many of the modern Christmas elements. To many groups, Christmas became a very boisterous event with immense feasts and often drunkenness. In some parts of North America, merrymakers dressed in costumes went door to door to get drinks and food.

Normally among families, they did not exchange Christmas gifts but some of the wealthy gave modest gifts of money and small presents. With the industrial economy expanding, this helped build a new middle class that valued family and home life. Christmas became increasingly important because many believed it would honor children and draw families closer together. Giving gifts to loved ones and children replaced drunken public festivals and Christmas became a family holiday.

New Christmas customs and Christmas traditions were adopted as Christmas evolved in North America. Dutch settlers brought the Santa Claus legend, with European origins, to North America. Santa Claus was a distinguished, tall, religious figure who rode through the air on a white horse. It was in North America that Santa developed into a jolly, fat, old gentleman.

In 1823, a poem written by Clement Clark Moore, and published by a New York newspaper, introduced Santa as a kindly saint. In a sleigh pulled by reindeer, he could fly over rooftops. In the second half of the nineteenth century, Thomas Nast, and American illustrator, strengthened the legend further by drawing and doing portraits of Santa Claus. The modern Santa made toys, assisted by elves, and delivered them to all the good boys and girls.

The Germans transformed the Christmas tree, considered a pagan symbol of fertility in the 17th century, into a Christian symbol. Legend has it that it was Martin Luther, founder of German Protestantism, who saw starlit fir trees and moved by their beauty, brought one inside. The custom spread quickly and German immigrants brought the Christmas tree to North America where it became a very popular tradition. People decorated their trees with tin angels, paper chains, candles, blown-glass ornaments and other decorations.

It was John Callcott Horsley, an English illustrator, which made the first modern card in 1843 depicting a family Christmas celebration and reading "A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to You." In 1875, Louis Prang mass produced a beautiful, colored Christmas card that became extremely popular. This started the Christmas custom of giving Christmas cards to each other.

Because many of the North American inhabitants emigrated from different parts of the world, numerous Christmas customs and Christmas traditions mingled, to create modern Christmas folklore and celebrations. In the southwestern parts of the United States, many Mexican Americans have festivals or posada which recreates Joseph and Mary's search for a place to stay to give birth to Jesus. Hanukkah and Kwanzaa concur with the Christmas season.

The Hawaiian Christmas starts with a Christmas tree ship, which brings Christmas fare. Santa Claus arrives in a boat and people eat their Christmas dinner outdoors in Hawaii because the weather is so hot and sunny.

Most Americans celebrate by exchanging Christmas gifts, greetings, and visiting family, and friends. Many families go to Midnight Mass or Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve. A typical Christmas dinner is turkey, ham, duck or goose served with gravy and cranberry sauce. Pumpkin pie and Christmas cookies usually follow the meal.

No relevant info was found on this topic.

View the original article here

Christmas Traditions In North America

 

CTL

North America is a vast area with many different ethnic backgrounds and each bring some of their own Christmas customs and Christmas traditions. Christmas in North American is on December 25, which is the anniversary of Christ's birth and extends to January 6. Some people call this period the Twelve Days of Christmas while others call it Christmastide.

In North America, it is the most significantly celebrated event of the year. Along with Christmas being a religious holiday, it is also a widely celebrated festive event. People celebrate this wonderful holiday season by getting together with family and friends, exchanging gifts and eating their Christmas meal together.

Until the nineteenth century in North America, people did not celebrate many of the modern Christmas elements. To many groups, Christmas became a very boisterous event with immense feasts and often drunkenness. In some parts of North America, merrymakers dressed in costumes went door to door to get drinks and food.

Normally among families, they did not exchange Christmas gifts but some of the wealthy gave modest gifts of money and small presents. With the industrial economy expanding, this helped build a new middle class that valued family and home life. Christmas became increasingly important because many believed it would honor children and draw families closer together. Giving gifts to loved ones and children replaced drunken public festivals and Christmas became a family holiday.

New Christmas customs and Christmas traditions were adopted as Christmas evolved in North America. Dutch settlers brought the Santa Claus legend, with European origins, to North America. Santa Claus was a distinguished, tall, religious figure who rode through the air on a white horse. It was in North America that Santa developed into a jolly, fat, old gentleman.

In 1823, a poem written by Clement Clark Moore, and published by a New York newspaper, introduced Santa as a kindly saint. In a sleigh pulled by reindeer, he could fly over rooftops. In the second half of the nineteenth century, Thomas Nast, and American illustrator, strengthened the legend further by drawing and doing portraits of Santa Claus. The modern Santa made toys, assisted by elves, and delivered them to all the good boys and girls.

The Germans transformed the Christmas tree, considered a pagan symbol of fertility in the 17th century, into a Christian symbol. Legend has it that it was Martin Luther, founder of German Protestantism, who saw starlit fir trees and moved by their beauty, brought one inside. The custom spread quickly and German immigrants brought the Christmas tree to North America where it became a very popular tradition. People decorated their trees with tin angels, paper chains, candles, blown-glass ornaments and other decorations.

It was John Callcott Horsley, an English illustrator, which made the first modern card in 1843 depicting a family Christmas celebration and reading "A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to You." In 1875, Louis Prang mass produced a beautiful, colored Christmas card that became extremely popular. This started the Christmas custom of giving Christmas cards to each other.

Because many of the North American inhabitants emigrated from different parts of the world, numerous Christmas customs and Christmas traditions mingled, to create modern Christmas folklore and celebrations. In the southwestern parts of the United States, many Mexican Americans have festivals or posada which recreates Joseph and Mary's search for a place to stay to give birth to Jesus. Hanukkah and Kwanzaa concur with the Christmas season.

The Hawaiian Christmas starts with a Christmas tree ship, which brings Christmas fare. Santa Claus arrives in a boat and people eat their Christmas dinner outdoors in Hawaii because the weather is so hot and sunny.

Most Americans celebrate by exchanging Christmas gifts, greetings, and visiting family, and friends. Many families go to Midnight Mass or Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve. A typical Christmas dinner is turkey, ham, duck or goose served with gravy and cranberry sauce. Pumpkin pie and Christmas cookies usually follow the meal.

Read more... Read more... Read more...

View the original article here

Mexican Christmas Traditions

 

Karlie Bestler

In Mexico, Christmas festivities begin nine days before Christmas, which represents the time period when Mary and Joseph were seeking shelter before the birth of Jesus, and continue through January 6 when the three wise men presented him with gifts.

Las Posadas

This Mexican Christmas tradition is the best known manifestation of the Christmas spirit held each night on the nine days between December 16 and Christmas Eve, which represents the period when Mary and Joseph were searching for lodging before the birth of Jesus. At first these observances were solemn and deeply religious, but they evolved into more lighthearted observances and eventually left the church and began to be celebrated in people's homes.

The posadas have become a community affair with friends, relatives and neighbors getting together to share the festivities. People carry candles and visit several houses and ask for "posada" (shelter). The adults are given a thick punch called "Ponche Navideno." At the end of the journey, a pi?ata stuffed with candy and fruit is broken. Christmas itself is usually celebrated on Christmas Eve in Mexico with a midnight mass and a late dinner. Modern influences have introduced the Christmas tree and Santa Claus along with the tradition.

Pastorelas

This Mexican Christmas tradition refers to events prior to the birth of Jesus. Pastorelas are a Mexican version of Europe's medieval miracle plays. They are usually performed in the afternoon or early evenings of the last weeks of December most often outdoors in a public square, the courtyard of a church or an inn. The players may be local people, groups of school children, semi-professional traveling troupes of actors during the Christmas season. The performance might last from half an hour to several hours or all night.

Pastorela means pastoral or a play that takes place in the countryside and concerns the activities of pastores, or shepherds. The plot portrays the pilgrimage of the shepherds to Bethlehem to see the newborn Jesus. They were first introduced in Mexico by missionaries in the 1500's and continued to grow in popularity. Today they are one of the most popular Christmastime entertainments.

Flor de Nochebuena (Christmas flower) the Poinsettia

The cuetlaxochitl, or Poinsettia, is known as the Christmas flower due to its red color and because it blooms mainly in December. These beautiful red flowers native to Mexico have become a symbol of Christmas. In some countries, it is known as Poinsettia after a former US ambassador to Mexico, Joel R. Poinset. Pre-Hispanic Mexicans also used the flower for medicinal purposes. The red blossoms were believed to stimulate circulation to the heart if placed on the chest and were also crushed and applied to skin infections.

Pi?ata

One of the merriest Mexican Christmas traditions is that of the pi?ata, a whimsically decorated, brightly colored hollow figure that holds candy and other goodies designed to be smashed to give up its treats. The true pi?ata uses a large clay pot for the base, and becomes just about anything imaginable using cr?pe or tissue paper, papier-mach?, tinsel and sometimes colored paints and sequins for decorations. No matter what material a pi?ata is made of nowadays, you can find them in just about any shape from angels, Santa Claus, donkeys, flowers, clowns and stars, all with gaily colored streamers.

Dia de Reyes (Epiphany)

Each year, this Mexican Christmas tradition continues. The children gather at the Alameda Central Park in Mexico City to visit the Three Magi (The Three Kings) and hand deliver letters with their wishes and gifts in the tradition of the Three Wise Men who presented the Christ Child with gold, incense and myrrh. The traditional Epiphany supper of ring-shaped cake with hot chocolate originated in Spain and made its way to Mexico. The cake is decorated with sugar and dried fruit. A small figure representing the Christ Child is hidden inside the cake. The century old tradition is for whoever finds the "Child" is spiritually obliged to present the figure at the nearest church on February 2 and offer a tamale party in his honor.

No relevant info was found on this topic.

View the original article here

Christmas Traditions In Tropical Countries

 

CTL

Warm tropical climates have unique and very creative ways of celebrating the traditional winter festivals around Christmas. While the celebrations may look a bit different, the children and adults that live in tropical climates have just as much fun with their Christmas customs and Christmas traditions as those that live in colder climates.

Bahamas

Junkanoo is what they call holiday celebrations that people in the Bahamas observe on December 26 and January 1. They have an immense parade between two o'clock in the morning and dawn with people dressed in vibrant costumes, music and dancing. There are troupes of people, numbering close to one thousand members each, that have decorations and a theme of their own. These troupes compete with each other for prizes and cash.

Some creations take up to a year to complete. They make these colorful, big, works of art made of such things as crepe paper, tissue, feathers, fabric and wood. The troupes dance through the street, accompanied by music, in perfect practiced formations. Many people believe that this tradition originated from joyous festivals practiced by the slaves, when they received a few days off to spend time with their families around Christmas. These spectacular celebrations are similar to Brazils Carnival or New Orleans Mardi Gras and certainly express the culture of the Bahamas.

South Africa

South Africa's Christmas is unique as it falls during their summer season. Like many other places, they celebrate Christmas by starting to prepare for in well in advance. Because it falls during their annual holiday season, schools close as well as many small businesses. Many people head to Kruger National Park or camping in the shade on riverbanks and mountain slopes because the people of South Africa love the outdoors. Their lush green plants and beautiful exotic flowers make up for their lack of having snow.

The urban areas across South Africa celebrate a modern Christmas with carollers singing on Christmas Eve and special church services held on Christmas Day. Most homes have a fir tree or pine branches, beautifully decorated for Christmas, and gifts for the children under the Christmas tree. Their Christmas dinner, served out doors at lunchtime, usually consists of roast beef, turkey, suckling pig, yellow rice, plum pudding and other wonderful foods. Often people play games during the day but on December 26, it is strictly a time for relaxing.

Philippines

Land of Fiestas is what people call the Philippines at Christmas time. Their Christmas formally starts on December 16, with nine early morning or predawn church masses, which end on the first Sunday in January, with the Feast of the Three Kings ending the season officially. Most Filipinos are Roman Catholic, as Christians dominate this country, unlike other Asian counties so Christmas is a revered and significant holiday.

This is a time when family and friends get together and share meals, gifts and friendship. It is the biggest holiday of the year so people have wonderful celebrations. This tropical island has fabulous landscapes and lovely flowers. Because of their true devotion to faith and family, they celebrate these Christmas holidays in the wonderful Philippines festive tradition.

Nicaragua

Nicaragua keeps several of the Christmas customs and Christmas traditions of old Spain, similar to many Latin American countries. In the weeks before Christmas, people buy many things such as nativity pictures, candles, food and toys. Children sing carols while leaving fragrant bouquets of flowers at alter for the Virgin, while singing Christmas carols. Church bells chime to let people know it is time for Midnight Mass. On January 6, the three wise men deliver gifts to the children at the feast of the Epiphany. Christmas season ends with a huge fireworks display.

Costa Rica

In tropical Costa Rica, bright, beautiful tropical flowers make beautiful Christmas decorations. In the jungle areas where wild orchids bloom, people gather these gorgeous flowers, along with fresh, colorful fruit to decorate the manger scene, which the Costa Rican's call a portal. After Midnight Mass, people have a Christmas feast of tamales and other traditional dishes. At one time children left their shoes out for gifts from the Christ child but now Santa Clause has taken over.

Venezuela

Early each morning from December 16 to December 23, people attend a church service they call Misa de Aguinaldo or early morning mass. In Caracas, Venezuela's capital, they close many neighborhood streets to cars and open them to people roller skating to mass until 8 A.M. each day. Children tie strings to their big toes, hang the string out the window and people roller skating by give it a tug. People enjoy coffee and tostados after mass.

No relevant info was found on this topic.

View the original article here

Mexican Christmas Traditions

 

Karlie Bestler

In Mexico, Christmas festivities begin nine days before Christmas, which represents the time period when Mary and Joseph were seeking shelter before the birth of Jesus, and continue through January 6 when the three wise men presented him with gifts.

Las Posadas

This Mexican Christmas tradition is the best known manifestation of the Christmas spirit held each night on the nine days between December 16 and Christmas Eve, which represents the period when Mary and Joseph were searching for lodging before the birth of Jesus. At first these observances were solemn and deeply religious, but they evolved into more lighthearted observances and eventually left the church and began to be celebrated in people's homes.

The posadas have become a community affair with friends, relatives and neighbors getting together to share the festivities. People carry candles and visit several houses and ask for "posada" (shelter). The adults are given a thick punch called "Ponche Navideno." At the end of the journey, a pi?ata stuffed with candy and fruit is broken. Christmas itself is usually celebrated on Christmas Eve in Mexico with a midnight mass and a late dinner. Modern influences have introduced the Christmas tree and Santa Claus along with the tradition.

Pastorelas

This Mexican Christmas tradition refers to events prior to the birth of Jesus. Pastorelas are a Mexican version of Europe's medieval miracle plays. They are usually performed in the afternoon or early evenings of the last weeks of December most often outdoors in a public square, the courtyard of a church or an inn. The players may be local people, groups of school children, semi-professional traveling troupes of actors during the Christmas season. The performance might last from half an hour to several hours or all night.

Pastorela means pastoral or a play that takes place in the countryside and concerns the activities of pastores, or shepherds. The plot portrays the pilgrimage of the shepherds to Bethlehem to see the newborn Jesus. They were first introduced in Mexico by missionaries in the 1500's and continued to grow in popularity. Today they are one of the most popular Christmastime entertainments.

Flor de Nochebuena (Christmas flower) the Poinsettia

The cuetlaxochitl, or Poinsettia, is known as the Christmas flower due to its red color and because it blooms mainly in December. These beautiful red flowers native to Mexico have become a symbol of Christmas. In some countries, it is known as Poinsettia after a former US ambassador to Mexico, Joel R. Poinset. Pre-Hispanic Mexicans also used the flower for medicinal purposes. The red blossoms were believed to stimulate circulation to the heart if placed on the chest and were also crushed and applied to skin infections.

Pi?ata

One of the merriest Mexican Christmas traditions is that of the pi?ata, a whimsically decorated, brightly colored hollow figure that holds candy and other goodies designed to be smashed to give up its treats. The true pi?ata uses a large clay pot for the base, and becomes just about anything imaginable using cr?pe or tissue paper, papier-mach?, tinsel and sometimes colored paints and sequins for decorations. No matter what material a pi?ata is made of nowadays, you can find them in just about any shape from angels, Santa Claus, donkeys, flowers, clowns and stars, all with gaily colored streamers.

Dia de Reyes (Epiphany)

Each year, this Mexican Christmas tradition continues. The children gather at the Alameda Central Park in Mexico City to visit the Three Magi (The Three Kings) and hand deliver letters with their wishes and gifts in the tradition of the Three Wise Men who presented the Christ Child with gold, incense and myrrh. The traditional Epiphany supper of ring-shaped cake with hot chocolate originated in Spain and made its way to Mexico. The cake is decorated with sugar and dried fruit. A small figure representing the Christ Child is hidden inside the cake. The century old tradition is for whoever finds the "Child" is spiritually obliged to present the figure at the nearest church on February 2 and offer a tamale party in his honor.

“Winter” vacation has been suspended in the Chilliwack school district. For now. Chilliwack board of education trustees voted unanimously Tuesday to change the ‘winter vacation’ wording in all school documents and school calendars to ‘Christmas holidays’.

Read more...

Christmas brings joy and laughter into homes for the holidays – but don't find yourself missing out on that because of an unwanted holiday house fire. Commander Brian Lovik of the Austin Fire Department said that every year there are an estimated 250 home fires i

Read more...

Chilliwack school trustees have unanimously passed a motion to call the school vacation in December the Christmas holidays.

Read more...

View the original article here

Christmas Traditions In Tropical Countries

 

CTL

Warm tropical climates have unique and very creative ways of celebrating the traditional winter festivals around Christmas. While the celebrations may look a bit different, the children and adults that live in tropical climates have just as much fun with their Christmas customs and Christmas traditions as those that live in colder climates.

Bahamas

Junkanoo is what they call holiday celebrations that people in the Bahamas observe on December 26 and January 1. They have an immense parade between two o'clock in the morning and dawn with people dressed in vibrant costumes, music and dancing. There are troupes of people, numbering close to one thousand members each, that have decorations and a theme of their own. These troupes compete with each other for prizes and cash.

Some creations take up to a year to complete. They make these colorful, big, works of art made of such things as crepe paper, tissue, feathers, fabric and wood. The troupes dance through the street, accompanied by music, in perfect practiced formations. Many people believe that this tradition originated from joyous festivals practiced by the slaves, when they received a few days off to spend time with their families around Christmas. These spectacular celebrations are similar to Brazils Carnival or New Orleans Mardi Gras and certainly express the culture of the Bahamas.

South Africa

South Africa's Christmas is unique as it falls during their summer season. Like many other places, they celebrate Christmas by starting to prepare for in well in advance. Because it falls during their annual holiday season, schools close as well as many small businesses. Many people head to Kruger National Park or camping in the shade on riverbanks and mountain slopes because the people of South Africa love the outdoors. Their lush green plants and beautiful exotic flowers make up for their lack of having snow.

The urban areas across South Africa celebrate a modern Christmas with carollers singing on Christmas Eve and special church services held on Christmas Day. Most homes have a fir tree or pine branches, beautifully decorated for Christmas, and gifts for the children under the Christmas tree. Their Christmas dinner, served out doors at lunchtime, usually consists of roast beef, turkey, suckling pig, yellow rice, plum pudding and other wonderful foods. Often people play games during the day but on December 26, it is strictly a time for relaxing.

Philippines

Land of Fiestas is what people call the Philippines at Christmas time. Their Christmas formally starts on December 16, with nine early morning or predawn church masses, which end on the first Sunday in January, with the Feast of the Three Kings ending the season officially. Most Filipinos are Roman Catholic, as Christians dominate this country, unlike other Asian counties so Christmas is a revered and significant holiday.

This is a time when family and friends get together and share meals, gifts and friendship. It is the biggest holiday of the year so people have wonderful celebrations. This tropical island has fabulous landscapes and lovely flowers. Because of their true devotion to faith and family, they celebrate these Christmas holidays in the wonderful Philippines festive tradition.

Nicaragua

Nicaragua keeps several of the Christmas customs and Christmas traditions of old Spain, similar to many Latin American countries. In the weeks before Christmas, people buy many things such as nativity pictures, candles, food and toys. Children sing carols while leaving fragrant bouquets of flowers at alter for the Virgin, while singing Christmas carols. Church bells chime to let people know it is time for Midnight Mass. On January 6, the three wise men deliver gifts to the children at the feast of the Epiphany. Christmas season ends with a huge fireworks display.

Costa Rica

In tropical Costa Rica, bright, beautiful tropical flowers make beautiful Christmas decorations. In the jungle areas where wild orchids bloom, people gather these gorgeous flowers, along with fresh, colorful fruit to decorate the manger scene, which the Costa Rican's call a portal. After Midnight Mass, people have a Christmas feast of tamales and other traditional dishes. At one time children left their shoes out for gifts from the Christ child but now Santa Clause has taken over.

Venezuela

Early each morning from December 16 to December 23, people attend a church service they call Misa de Aguinaldo or early morning mass. In Caracas, Venezuela's capital, they close many neighborhood streets to cars and open them to people roller skating to mass until 8 A.M. each day. Children tie strings to their big toes, hang the string out the window and people roller skating by give it a tug. People enjoy coffee and tostados after mass.

Read more... Read more... Read more...

View the original article here

Christmas Traditions In The United Kingdom

 

CTL

The United Kingdom is comprised of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Christmas customs and Christmas traditions in the United Kingdom vary from location to location but the spirit of caring and goodwill extends all over the region at this special time of year.

England

The most popular holiday in England is Christmas, which has Christmas customs and Christmas traditions that go back hundreds of years. The United States practices many of the Christmas customs originating in Britain. In 1840, they mailed the first Christmas card in England, which became a common tradition, with over a billion cards posted annually in the United Kingdom.

Many Christmas decorations have very early origins dating back to the Dark Ages. Some of these decorations are ivy, holly and kissing under the mistletoe, which was an ancient pagan tradition. Each year, Norway, in honor of the memory of Anglo-Norwegian cooperation in the Second World War, donate a huge Christmas tree. This tree stands in Trafalgar Square for everyone to enjoy.

Pantomimes are very popular at Christmas time among children, so they dance and sing to favorite fairy tales while the audience also participates. Carollers go door to door and sing to their neighbors on Christmas Eve. Excited, happy children hang up their Christmas stockings for Father Christmas to fill before bed and wake up to gifts under their Christmas tree.

Many people faithfully go to church services on Christmas day. Families sit down to a traditional Christmas dinner of roast turkey, chicken or
goose with wonderful stuffing and vegetables. Dessert is pudding flaming with brandy, mince pies and Christmas cake. They make the Christmas pudding weeks ahead of time and each member of the family stirs it as they make a wish. Inside the Christmas pudding, many hide lucky charms or coins for the children to find. In 1846, a London baker invented a rolled, brightly colored tube of paper, tied at both ends and called this a Christmas cracker. Two people pull the cracker, which makes a bang, and inside is a party hat and trinkets.

Every year on Christmas afternoon the Queen of England makes her traditional televised Christmas speech to the nation. Boxing Day, which is the day after Christmas, got its name from a previous tradition where delivery and trades people received a Christmas box containing either money or food. This custom survives, as people tip their mail carriers, milkman and dustmen at Christmas for great service during the year.

Scotland

At one time in Scotland they celebrated Christmas very quietly because the Presbyterian Church or Church of Scotland placed very little emphasis on this holiday festival. Christmas Day is now a holiday but only since the 1950's. In Scotland, Hogmanay, their bigger celebration took place on New Year's Day. Nowadays their traditions are very similar to American traditions such as putting up and decorating Christmas trees, hanging mistletoe and homes decorated with Christmas lights. Family and friends exchange Christmas gifts and Father Christmas or Santa Claus leaves gifts for all the boys and girls.

Christmas dinner is a big family meal where they usually serve turkey, stuffing and all the trimmings. They call the Christmas pudding that the entire family helps make ahead of time, on a Sunday, "stir-up Sunday." This fantastic tasting Christmas pudding contains raisins, almonds, cinnamon and currants among other ingredients.

Northern Ireland

Christmas season in Northern Ireland traditionally begins December 8 and ends January 6. Choir's sing on sidewalks while street musician play popular Christmas carols. Most people only put a festive wreath up to decorate their home. In December, they light the streets in towns and cities with beautiful Christmas lights, decorations and live trees. Shops and department stores have animated Christmas figures and scenes in their windows for people to enjoy. Santa and his elves arrive at the large malls and department stores.

Family and friends exchange gifts, which they place under their Christmas tree and do not open until Christmas morning. Some families hang Christmas stockings for Santa to fill. Midnight Mass is a very strong family tradition held on Christmas Eve. Santa leaves the children's presents in their room instead of under the Christmas tree. Christmas dinner is usually stuffed turkey or goose, ham, vegetables with Christmas pudding, cake or small mincemeat pies for desert.

Wales

Because the Welsh love music, Christmas carols and singing, accompanied by a harp, are extremely popular Christmas customs and Christmas traditions. They sing in church, around their Christmas trees and at concerts. The Welsh make taffy by boiling butter and brown sugar and this is of the most popular and important Christmas traditions. Along with a meal of Christmas goose, their traditions are very similar to the English ones. On Christmas morning at dawn carolers awake families with their singing.

The ancient Welsh had a few unique and strange Christmas customs and Christmas traditions and New Years customs, some of which are still practiced today.

*Mari Lwyd or Grey Mare was a pre-Christian custom and still acted out by some in Wales even today. Around Christmas, a man accompanied by a frightening horse with a skull head, knocks on a person's door and then challenges them to do battle. The battle he challenges the person to is exchanging rhyming insults. A different version of this is when a person hides under a horsehair blanket and carries a spike with a horse's skull. Accompanied by a group of mummers you must pay a cash fine if bitten by the horses jaw.

*On New Years Day, from dawn until noon, young boys carrying threelegged totems called calennig, would go from home-to-home and splash people with water or chant rhymes and then ask for small gifts of change.

*On Christmas morning, before dawn, men would gather in country churches and sing harmony carols unaccompanied by musical instruments. Called Plygain, some still practice this service, which lasts about three hours.

Read more... Read more... Read more...

View the original article here

Christmas Traditions In The United Kingdom

 

CTL

The United Kingdom is comprised of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Christmas customs and Christmas traditions in the United Kingdom vary from location to location but the spirit of caring and goodwill extends all over the region at this special time of year.

England

The most popular holiday in England is Christmas, which has Christmas customs and Christmas traditions that go back hundreds of years. The United States practices many of the Christmas customs originating in Britain. In 1840, they mailed the first Christmas card in England, which became a common tradition, with over a billion cards posted annually in the United Kingdom.

Many Christmas decorations have very early origins dating back to the Dark Ages. Some of these decorations are ivy, holly and kissing under the mistletoe, which was an ancient pagan tradition. Each year, Norway, in honor of the memory of Anglo-Norwegian cooperation in the Second World War, donate a huge Christmas tree. This tree stands in Trafalgar Square for everyone to enjoy.

Pantomimes are very popular at Christmas time among children, so they dance and sing to favorite fairy tales while the audience also participates. Carollers go door to door and sing to their neighbors on Christmas Eve. Excited, happy children hang up their Christmas stockings for Father Christmas to fill before bed and wake up to gifts under their Christmas tree.

Many people faithfully go to church services on Christmas day. Families sit down to a traditional Christmas dinner of roast turkey, chicken or
goose with wonderful stuffing and vegetables. Dessert is pudding flaming with brandy, mince pies and Christmas cake. They make the Christmas pudding weeks ahead of time and each member of the family stirs it as they make a wish. Inside the Christmas pudding, many hide lucky charms or coins for the children to find. In 1846, a London baker invented a rolled, brightly colored tube of paper, tied at both ends and called this a Christmas cracker. Two people pull the cracker, which makes a bang, and inside is a party hat and trinkets.

Every year on Christmas afternoon the Queen of England makes her traditional televised Christmas speech to the nation. Boxing Day, which is the day after Christmas, got its name from a previous tradition where delivery and trades people received a Christmas box containing either money or food. This custom survives, as people tip their mail carriers, milkman and dustmen at Christmas for great service during the year.

Scotland

At one time in Scotland they celebrated Christmas very quietly because the Presbyterian Church or Church of Scotland placed very little emphasis on this holiday festival. Christmas Day is now a holiday but only since the 1950's. In Scotland, Hogmanay, their bigger celebration took place on New Year's Day. Nowadays their traditions are very similar to American traditions such as putting up and decorating Christmas trees, hanging mistletoe and homes decorated with Christmas lights. Family and friends exchange Christmas gifts and Father Christmas or Santa Claus leaves gifts for all the boys and girls.

Christmas dinner is a big family meal where they usually serve turkey, stuffing and all the trimmings. They call the Christmas pudding that the entire family helps make ahead of time, on a Sunday, "stir-up Sunday." This fantastic tasting Christmas pudding contains raisins, almonds, cinnamon and currants among other ingredients.

Northern Ireland

Christmas season in Northern Ireland traditionally begins December 8 and ends January 6. Choir's sing on sidewalks while street musician play popular Christmas carols. Most people only put a festive wreath up to decorate their home. In December, they light the streets in towns and cities with beautiful Christmas lights, decorations and live trees. Shops and department stores have animated Christmas figures and scenes in their windows for people to enjoy. Santa and his elves arrive at the large malls and department stores.

Family and friends exchange gifts, which they place under their Christmas tree and do not open until Christmas morning. Some families hang Christmas stockings for Santa to fill. Midnight Mass is a very strong family tradition held on Christmas Eve. Santa leaves the children's presents in their room instead of under the Christmas tree. Christmas dinner is usually stuffed turkey or goose, ham, vegetables with Christmas pudding, cake or small mincemeat pies for desert.

Wales

Because the Welsh love music, Christmas carols and singing, accompanied by a harp, are extremely popular Christmas customs and Christmas traditions. They sing in church, around their Christmas trees and at concerts. The Welsh make taffy by boiling butter and brown sugar and this is of the most popular and important Christmas traditions. Along with a meal of Christmas goose, their traditions are very similar to the English ones. On Christmas morning at dawn carolers awake families with their singing.

The ancient Welsh had a few unique and strange Christmas customs and Christmas traditions and New Years customs, some of which are still practiced today.

*Mari Lwyd or Grey Mare was a pre-Christian custom and still acted out by some in Wales even today. Around Christmas, a man accompanied by a frightening horse with a skull head, knocks on a person's door and then challenges them to do battle. The battle he challenges the person to is exchanging rhyming insults. A different version of this is when a person hides under a horsehair blanket and carries a spike with a horse's skull. Accompanied by a group of mummers you must pay a cash fine if bitten by the horses jaw.

*On New Years Day, from dawn until noon, young boys carrying threelegged totems called calennig, would go from home-to-home and splash people with water or chant rhymes and then ask for small gifts of change.

*On Christmas morning, before dawn, men would gather in country churches and sing harmony carols unaccompanied by musical instruments. Called Plygain, some still practice this service, which lasts about three hours.

Bah humbug! Every year the Christmas holidays (if you'll pardon the term) get here a little sooner. With the help of anxious merchants this year, the "holidays" probably started in mid-October.

Read more...

The sugar on these Christmas stories is pretty heavy, but the themes are positive and if you don't mind an overdose of the...

Read more...

The War on Christmas may be in its final days. This season, merry Christmas — not happy holidays or season's greetings — will dominate retailer's marketing messages.

Read more...

View the original article here

Traditions Of Christmas

 

CTL

Every country, nation and even local community has their own unique interpretation and celebration of the Christmas season. These celebrations may be religious or more based in the festivities of the season but they will always be just a bit different and truly unique from other celebrations around the world, or even in a neighboring community. Some countries have very traditional celebrations for the seasons whereas other countries have Christmas festivities that are a combination of the influence of several other areas.

Regardless of where the Christmas tradition originated it is part of a very special time of year where people are more considerate of others, more charitable, and where they look for the good in people, rather than the less positive attributes. This feeling of goodwill and peace is one reason that the

Christmas season is so special around the world. One of the many wonderful aspects of the Christmas season is the opportunity to be generous and considerate to others. The history of Santa Claus is one of benevolence and caring for others less fortunate and this continues to this day at the heart of most Christmas celebrations.

Christmas has always been a time of bringing families together. Many families plan reunions or even contact extended family members and invite them to Christmas dinners and events. There are even those that use the internet and other communication devices to reach out to family all across the world on this special holiday. Finding extra time and making extra efforts to contact family and friends helps to make this a memorable holiday season.

There are many different countries that celebrate their own unique versions of Christmas traditions and Christmas customs. A wonderful activity is to research some less well known Christmas traditions and Christmas customs and share them with the family every day of the Christmas season.

You may find some Christmas traditions and Christmas customs and historical facts that you can include in your Christmas traditions and Christmas customs in the future, or you may just find out the origins of the Christmas traditions and Christmas customs you practice within your community or family.

No relevant info was found on this topic.

View the original article here

Traditions Of Christmas

 

CTL

Every country, nation and even local community has their own unique interpretation and celebration of the Christmas season. These celebrations may be religious or more based in the festivities of the season but they will always be just a bit different and truly unique from other celebrations around the world, or even in a neighboring community. Some countries have very traditional celebrations for the seasons whereas other countries have Christmas festivities that are a combination of the influence of several other areas.

Regardless of where the Christmas tradition originated it is part of a very special time of year where people are more considerate of others, more charitable, and where they look for the good in people, rather than the less positive attributes. This feeling of goodwill and peace is one reason that the

Christmas season is so special around the world. One of the many wonderful aspects of the Christmas season is the opportunity to be generous and considerate to others. The history of Santa Claus is one of benevolence and caring for others less fortunate and this continues to this day at the heart of most Christmas celebrations.

Christmas has always been a time of bringing families together. Many families plan reunions or even contact extended family members and invite them to Christmas dinners and events. There are even those that use the internet and other communication devices to reach out to family all across the world on this special holiday. Finding extra time and making extra efforts to contact family and friends helps to make this a memorable holiday season.

There are many different countries that celebrate their own unique versions of Christmas traditions and Christmas customs. A wonderful activity is to research some less well known Christmas traditions and Christmas customs and share them with the family every day of the Christmas season.

You may find some Christmas traditions and Christmas customs and historical facts that you can include in your Christmas traditions and Christmas customs in the future, or you may just find out the origins of the Christmas traditions and Christmas customs you practice within your community or family.

No relevant info was found on this topic.

View the original article here

Christmas Traditions In South America

 

CTL

South American is the forth largest of the seven continents, occupying almost 7 million square miles and a population of approximately 376 million people. South American is comprised of 12 countries, ten of which are Latin. Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, Guyana and Suriname are all Latin. Each country has its own Christmas customs and Christmas traditions.

Christmas in most of South America is a deeply religious celebration whose focus throughout the continent is the presepio or the manger. Many families devote an entire room to the manger display, complete with tiny figures and landscaped. Elaborate scenes include shepherds gazing upon their heavenly host, water mills, electric trains, the Wise Men on camels crossing the desert and grottos.

Argentina

Christmas Eve in Argentina is when the whole family goes to church followed by family gatherings at home. They dance to Christmas music and put on a fireworks display to celebrate Christ's birth. Christmas trees have ornaments, sparkling colored lights and Father Christmas as the tree topper. Usually white and red garland make up the Christmas decorations. A traditional Christmas dinner is roasted pork, stuffed tomatoes, roasted turkey and mince pies. As a beverage, they have beer, cider and juice. At midnight on Christmas Eve, everyone drinks a toast, made from chopped fruits mixed with cider and juice, and then open their presents from under the Christmas tree. Family is extremely important in Argentina, so after everyone opens their gifts they spend time talking and playing games. The children's shoes, placed outside, are for Father Christmas.

Bolivia

More as a harvest festival than a traditional Christmas celebration, native Bolivians celebrate Christmas in Bolivia by giving thanks for finishing a year's work. They describe the work they finished during the year and discuss plans for the following year. Bolivians hold feasts of adoration for Goddess Mother Earth and ask her to keep plagues away, bring them a fruitful harvest and prosperous new year.

Brazil

Many Christmas traditions in Brazil have a Portuguese heritage. In northeastern Brazil, people prepare a nativity scene. Santa Clause, known as Father Noel or Papai Noel wears silk clothes because of the heat and lives in Greenland. He brings gifts for all the children. A traditional Christmas dinner is ham, turkey, vegetables, colored rice and fruit dishes for dessert. At midnight on Christmas Eve, Catholics attend midnight mass, which ends on Christmas morning at 1 AM. In the late afternoons on Christmas day, so people can go to the beach or sleep in, the Catholic Churches hold mass again. Most families decorate their homes with fresh flowers, often from their own gardens. In Rio de Janeiro, San Paolo and other large cities, fireworks are set off. Festivities such as singing and dancing continue until January 6 knows as the Three Kings Day, which is the day the three wise men visited Jesus bringing gifts.

Chile

In Chile, Viejito Pascuero is Father Christmas. Under their Christmas trees, they place tiny figures made from clay.

Ecuador

In Ecuador, instead of writing a letter to Santa, children there write a letter to the Christ-child. Hoping for toys and gifts as he passes by Christmas Eve, children put their shoes in the window. Christmas morning, noise-making toys fill the air with sound. Because the weather is extremely warm, they hold their celebrations in the streets with brass bands, firecrackers and dancing. Families go to mass together and then enjoy their family dinner.

Peru

Priests' traveled around on festival days, carrying small alters. Changing into portable alters over time; they depicted saints above and scenes from daily life below the altar. These portable alters or retablos now show Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus with local people gathered around.

Venezuela

December the sixteenth is the day that families in Venezuela bring out their depiction of the nativity scene, called a pesebres. Most people observe the tradition of attending at least one of the nine carol services. Bells ring and firecrackers explode to wake worshippers in the predawn hours. Christmas Eve is the last mass to take place, which families attend and then follow with a fancy, huge dinner. Children leave straw beside their beds and awake in the morning of January 6 to find gifts where the straw was which Magi and his camels left. If the children awake with a black smudge on their cheek it means Balthazar, who is king of the Ethiopians, kissed them while they were asleep.

There are many other local Christmas customs and Christmas traditions celebrated throughout South America over the Christmas season.

No relevant info was found on this topic.

View the original article here

Christmas Traditions In South America

 

CTL

South American is the forth largest of the seven continents, occupying almost 7 million square miles and a population of approximately 376 million people. South American is comprised of 12 countries, ten of which are Latin. Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, Guyana and Suriname are all Latin. Each country has its own Christmas customs and Christmas traditions.

Christmas in most of South America is a deeply religious celebration whose focus throughout the continent is the presepio or the manger. Many families devote an entire room to the manger display, complete with tiny figures and landscaped. Elaborate scenes include shepherds gazing upon their heavenly host, water mills, electric trains, the Wise Men on camels crossing the desert and grottos.

Argentina

Christmas Eve in Argentina is when the whole family goes to church followed by family gatherings at home. They dance to Christmas music and put on a fireworks display to celebrate Christ's birth. Christmas trees have ornaments, sparkling colored lights and Father Christmas as the tree topper. Usually white and red garland make up the Christmas decorations. A traditional Christmas dinner is roasted pork, stuffed tomatoes, roasted turkey and mince pies. As a beverage, they have beer, cider and juice. At midnight on Christmas Eve, everyone drinks a toast, made from chopped fruits mixed with cider and juice, and then open their presents from under the Christmas tree. Family is extremely important in Argentina, so after everyone opens their gifts they spend time talking and playing games. The children's shoes, placed outside, are for Father Christmas.

Bolivia

More as a harvest festival than a traditional Christmas celebration, native Bolivians celebrate Christmas in Bolivia by giving thanks for finishing a year's work. They describe the work they finished during the year and discuss plans for the following year. Bolivians hold feasts of adoration for Goddess Mother Earth and ask her to keep plagues away, bring them a fruitful harvest and prosperous new year.

Brazil

Many Christmas traditions in Brazil have a Portuguese heritage. In northeastern Brazil, people prepare a nativity scene. Santa Clause, known as Father Noel or Papai Noel wears silk clothes because of the heat and lives in Greenland. He brings gifts for all the children. A traditional Christmas dinner is ham, turkey, vegetables, colored rice and fruit dishes for dessert. At midnight on Christmas Eve, Catholics attend midnight mass, which ends on Christmas morning at 1 AM. In the late afternoons on Christmas day, so people can go to the beach or sleep in, the Catholic Churches hold mass again. Most families decorate their homes with fresh flowers, often from their own gardens. In Rio de Janeiro, San Paolo and other large cities, fireworks are set off. Festivities such as singing and dancing continue until January 6 knows as the Three Kings Day, which is the day the three wise men visited Jesus bringing gifts.

Chile

In Chile, Viejito Pascuero is Father Christmas. Under their Christmas trees, they place tiny figures made from clay.

Ecuador

In Ecuador, instead of writing a letter to Santa, children there write a letter to the Christ-child. Hoping for toys and gifts as he passes by Christmas Eve, children put their shoes in the window. Christmas morning, noise-making toys fill the air with sound. Because the weather is extremely warm, they hold their celebrations in the streets with brass bands, firecrackers and dancing. Families go to mass together and then enjoy their family dinner.

Peru

Priests' traveled around on festival days, carrying small alters. Changing into portable alters over time; they depicted saints above and scenes from daily life below the altar. These portable alters or retablos now show Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus with local people gathered around.

Venezuela

December the sixteenth is the day that families in Venezuela bring out their depiction of the nativity scene, called a pesebres. Most people observe the tradition of attending at least one of the nine carol services. Bells ring and firecrackers explode to wake worshippers in the predawn hours. Christmas Eve is the last mass to take place, which families attend and then follow with a fancy, huge dinner. Children leave straw beside their beds and awake in the morning of January 6 to find gifts where the straw was which Magi and his camels left. If the children awake with a black smudge on their cheek it means Balthazar, who is king of the Ethiopians, kissed them while they were asleep.

There are many other local Christmas customs and Christmas traditions celebrated throughout South America over the Christmas season.

No relevant info was found on this topic.

View the original article here

Christmas Traditions In Tropical Countries

 

CTL

Warm tropical climates have unique and very creative ways of celebrating the traditional winter festivals around Christmas. While the celebrations may look a bit different, the children and adults that live in tropical climates have just as much fun with their Christmas customs and Christmas traditions as those that live in colder climates.

Bahamas

Junkanoo is what they call holiday celebrations that people in the Bahamas observe on December 26 and January 1. They have an immense parade between two o'clock in the morning and dawn with people dressed in vibrant costumes, music and dancing. There are troupes of people, numbering close to one thousand members each, that have decorations and a theme of their own. These troupes compete with each other for prizes and cash.

Some creations take up to a year to complete. They make these colorful, big, works of art made of such things as crepe paper, tissue, feathers, fabric and wood. The troupes dance through the street, accompanied by music, in perfect practiced formations. Many people believe that this tradition originated from joyous festivals practiced by the slaves, when they received a few days off to spend time with their families around Christmas. These spectacular celebrations are similar to Brazils Carnival or New Orleans Mardi Gras and certainly express the culture of the Bahamas.

South Africa

South Africa's Christmas is unique as it falls during their summer season. Like many other places, they celebrate Christmas by starting to prepare for in well in advance. Because it falls during their annual holiday season, schools close as well as many small businesses. Many people head to Kruger National Park or camping in the shade on riverbanks and mountain slopes because the people of South Africa love the outdoors. Their lush green plants and beautiful exotic flowers make up for their lack of having snow.

The urban areas across South Africa celebrate a modern Christmas with carollers singing on Christmas Eve and special church services held on Christmas Day. Most homes have a fir tree or pine branches, beautifully decorated for Christmas, and gifts for the children under the Christmas tree. Their Christmas dinner, served out doors at lunchtime, usually consists of roast beef, turkey, suckling pig, yellow rice, plum pudding and other wonderful foods. Often people play games during the day but on December 26, it is strictly a time for relaxing.

Philippines

Land of Fiestas is what people call the Philippines at Christmas time. Their Christmas formally starts on December 16, with nine early morning or predawn church masses, which end on the first Sunday in January, with the Feast of the Three Kings ending the season officially. Most Filipinos are Roman Catholic, as Christians dominate this country, unlike other Asian counties so Christmas is a revered and significant holiday.

This is a time when family and friends get together and share meals, gifts and friendship. It is the biggest holiday of the year so people have wonderful celebrations. This tropical island has fabulous landscapes and lovely flowers. Because of their true devotion to faith and family, they celebrate these Christmas holidays in the wonderful Philippines festive tradition.

Nicaragua

Nicaragua keeps several of the Christmas customs and Christmas traditions of old Spain, similar to many Latin American countries. In the weeks before Christmas, people buy many things such as nativity pictures, candles, food and toys. Children sing carols while leaving fragrant bouquets of flowers at alter for the Virgin, while singing Christmas carols. Church bells chime to let people know it is time for Midnight Mass. On January 6, the three wise men deliver gifts to the children at the feast of the Epiphany. Christmas season ends with a huge fireworks display.

Costa Rica

In tropical Costa Rica, bright, beautiful tropical flowers make beautiful Christmas decorations. In the jungle areas where wild orchids bloom, people gather these gorgeous flowers, along with fresh, colorful fruit to decorate the manger scene, which the Costa Rican's call a portal. After Midnight Mass, people have a Christmas feast of tamales and other traditional dishes. At one time children left their shoes out for gifts from the Christ child but now Santa Clause has taken over.

Venezuela

Early each morning from December 16 to December 23, people attend a church service they call Misa de Aguinaldo or early morning mass. In Caracas, Venezuela's capital, they close many neighborhood streets to cars and open them to people roller skating to mass until 8 A.M. each day. Children tie strings to their big toes, hang the string out the window and people roller skating by give it a tug. People enjoy coffee and tostados after mass.

Tampa, Fla., is a great place to celebrate the Christmas holidays. With typically mild weather, pristine beaches, and plenty of Christmas lights and holiday lights in the area, Tampa caters to everybody's holiday fun needs.

Read more...

And so it starts. Cities are again battling over whether to allow religious Christmas displays in public squares during the "winter holidays."

Read more...

I've always considered myself a free spirit, a sort of beatnik. But even my laid-back attitude didn't prepare me for the holiday from hell.

Read more...

View the original article here

Christmas Traditions In South America

 

CTL

South American is the forth largest of the seven continents, occupying almost 7 million square miles and a population of approximately 376 million people. South American is comprised of 12 countries, ten of which are Latin. Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, Guyana and Suriname are all Latin. Each country has its own Christmas customs and Christmas traditions.

Christmas in most of South America is a deeply religious celebration whose focus throughout the continent is the presepio or the manger. Many families devote an entire room to the manger display, complete with tiny figures and landscaped. Elaborate scenes include shepherds gazing upon their heavenly host, water mills, electric trains, the Wise Men on camels crossing the desert and grottos.

Argentina

Christmas Eve in Argentina is when the whole family goes to church followed by family gatherings at home. They dance to Christmas music and put on a fireworks display to celebrate Christ's birth. Christmas trees have ornaments, sparkling colored lights and Father Christmas as the tree topper. Usually white and red garland make up the Christmas decorations. A traditional Christmas dinner is roasted pork, stuffed tomatoes, roasted turkey and mince pies. As a beverage, they have beer, cider and juice. At midnight on Christmas Eve, everyone drinks a toast, made from chopped fruits mixed with cider and juice, and then open their presents from under the Christmas tree. Family is extremely important in Argentina, so after everyone opens their gifts they spend time talking and playing games. The children's shoes, placed outside, are for Father Christmas.

Bolivia

More as a harvest festival than a traditional Christmas celebration, native Bolivians celebrate Christmas in Bolivia by giving thanks for finishing a year's work. They describe the work they finished during the year and discuss plans for the following year. Bolivians hold feasts of adoration for Goddess Mother Earth and ask her to keep plagues away, bring them a fruitful harvest and prosperous new year.

Brazil

Many Christmas traditions in Brazil have a Portuguese heritage. In northeastern Brazil, people prepare a nativity scene. Santa Clause, known as Father Noel or Papai Noel wears silk clothes because of the heat and lives in Greenland. He brings gifts for all the children. A traditional Christmas dinner is ham, turkey, vegetables, colored rice and fruit dishes for dessert. At midnight on Christmas Eve, Catholics attend midnight mass, which ends on Christmas morning at 1 AM. In the late afternoons on Christmas day, so people can go to the beach or sleep in, the Catholic Churches hold mass again. Most families decorate their homes with fresh flowers, often from their own gardens. In Rio de Janeiro, San Paolo and other large cities, fireworks are set off. Festivities such as singing and dancing continue until January 6 knows as the Three Kings Day, which is the day the three wise men visited Jesus bringing gifts.

Chile

In Chile, Viejito Pascuero is Father Christmas. Under their Christmas trees, they place tiny figures made from clay.

Ecuador

In Ecuador, instead of writing a letter to Santa, children there write a letter to the Christ-child. Hoping for toys and gifts as he passes by Christmas Eve, children put their shoes in the window. Christmas morning, noise-making toys fill the air with sound. Because the weather is extremely warm, they hold their celebrations in the streets with brass bands, firecrackers and dancing. Families go to mass together and then enjoy their family dinner.

Peru

Priests' traveled around on festival days, carrying small alters. Changing into portable alters over time; they depicted saints above and scenes from daily life below the altar. These portable alters or retablos now show Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus with local people gathered around.

Venezuela

December the sixteenth is the day that families in Venezuela bring out their depiction of the nativity scene, called a pesebres. Most people observe the tradition of attending at least one of the nine carol services. Bells ring and firecrackers explode to wake worshippers in the predawn hours. Christmas Eve is the last mass to take place, which families attend and then follow with a fancy, huge dinner. Children leave straw beside their beds and awake in the morning of January 6 to find gifts where the straw was which Magi and his camels left. If the children awake with a black smudge on their cheek it means Balthazar, who is king of the Ethiopians, kissed them while they were asleep.

There are many other local Christmas customs and Christmas traditions celebrated throughout South America over the Christmas season.

Tampa, Fla., is a great place to celebrate the Christmas holidays. With typically mild weather, pristine beaches, and plenty of Christmas lights and holiday lights in the area, Tampa caters to everybody's holiday fun needs.

Read more...

And so it starts. Cities are again battling over whether to allow religious Christmas displays in public squares during the "winter holidays."

Read more...

I've always considered myself a free spirit, a sort of beatnik. But even my laid-back attitude didn't prepare me for the holiday from hell.

Read more...

View the original article here

Traditions Of Christmas

 

CTL

Every country, nation and even local community has their own unique interpretation and celebration of the Christmas season. These celebrations may be religious or more based in the festivities of the season but they will always be just a bit different and truly unique from other celebrations around the world, or even in a neighboring community. Some countries have very traditional celebrations for the seasons whereas other countries have Christmas festivities that are a combination of the influence of several other areas.

Regardless of where the Christmas tradition originated it is part of a very special time of year where people are more considerate of others, more charitable, and where they look for the good in people, rather than the less positive attributes. This feeling of goodwill and peace is one reason that the

Christmas season is so special around the world. One of the many wonderful aspects of the Christmas season is the opportunity to be generous and considerate to others. The history of Santa Claus is one of benevolence and caring for others less fortunate and this continues to this day at the heart of most Christmas celebrations.

Christmas has always been a time of bringing families together. Many families plan reunions or even contact extended family members and invite them to Christmas dinners and events. There are even those that use the internet and other communication devices to reach out to family all across the world on this special holiday. Finding extra time and making extra efforts to contact family and friends helps to make this a memorable holiday season.

There are many different countries that celebrate their own unique versions of Christmas traditions and Christmas customs. A wonderful activity is to research some less well known Christmas traditions and Christmas customs and share them with the family every day of the Christmas season.

You may find some Christmas traditions and Christmas customs and historical facts that you can include in your Christmas traditions and Christmas customs in the future, or you may just find out the origins of the Christmas traditions and Christmas customs you practice within your community or family.

Read more... Read more... Read more...

View the original article here

Christmas Traditions In The United Kingdom

 

CTL

The United Kingdom is comprised of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Christmas customs and Christmas traditions in the United Kingdom vary from location to location but the spirit of caring and goodwill extends all over the region at this special time of year.

England

The most popular holiday in England is Christmas, which has Christmas customs and Christmas traditions that go back hundreds of years. The United States practices many of the Christmas customs originating in Britain. In 1840, they mailed the first Christmas card in England, which became a common tradition, with over a billion cards posted annually in the United Kingdom.

Many Christmas decorations have very early origins dating back to the Dark Ages. Some of these decorations are ivy, holly and kissing under the mistletoe, which was an ancient pagan tradition. Each year, Norway, in honor of the memory of Anglo-Norwegian cooperation in the Second World War, donate a huge Christmas tree. This tree stands in Trafalgar Square for everyone to enjoy.

Pantomimes are very popular at Christmas time among children, so they dance and sing to favorite fairy tales while the audience also participates. Carollers go door to door and sing to their neighbors on Christmas Eve. Excited, happy children hang up their Christmas stockings for Father Christmas to fill before bed and wake up to gifts under their Christmas tree.

Many people faithfully go to church services on Christmas day. Families sit down to a traditional Christmas dinner of roast turkey, chicken or
goose with wonderful stuffing and vegetables. Dessert is pudding flaming with brandy, mince pies and Christmas cake. They make the Christmas pudding weeks ahead of time and each member of the family stirs it as they make a wish. Inside the Christmas pudding, many hide lucky charms or coins for the children to find. In 1846, a London baker invented a rolled, brightly colored tube of paper, tied at both ends and called this a Christmas cracker. Two people pull the cracker, which makes a bang, and inside is a party hat and trinkets.

Every year on Christmas afternoon the Queen of England makes her traditional televised Christmas speech to the nation. Boxing Day, which is the day after Christmas, got its name from a previous tradition where delivery and trades people received a Christmas box containing either money or food. This custom survives, as people tip their mail carriers, milkman and dustmen at Christmas for great service during the year.

Scotland

At one time in Scotland they celebrated Christmas very quietly because the Presbyterian Church or Church of Scotland placed very little emphasis on this holiday festival. Christmas Day is now a holiday but only since the 1950's. In Scotland, Hogmanay, their bigger celebration took place on New Year's Day. Nowadays their traditions are very similar to American traditions such as putting up and decorating Christmas trees, hanging mistletoe and homes decorated with Christmas lights. Family and friends exchange Christmas gifts and Father Christmas or Santa Claus leaves gifts for all the boys and girls.

Christmas dinner is a big family meal where they usually serve turkey, stuffing and all the trimmings. They call the Christmas pudding that the entire family helps make ahead of time, on a Sunday, "stir-up Sunday." This fantastic tasting Christmas pudding contains raisins, almonds, cinnamon and currants among other ingredients.

Northern Ireland

Christmas season in Northern Ireland traditionally begins December 8 and ends January 6. Choir's sing on sidewalks while street musician play popular Christmas carols. Most people only put a festive wreath up to decorate their home. In December, they light the streets in towns and cities with beautiful Christmas lights, decorations and live trees. Shops and department stores have animated Christmas figures and scenes in their windows for people to enjoy. Santa and his elves arrive at the large malls and department stores.

Family and friends exchange gifts, which they place under their Christmas tree and do not open until Christmas morning. Some families hang Christmas stockings for Santa to fill. Midnight Mass is a very strong family tradition held on Christmas Eve. Santa leaves the children's presents in their room instead of under the Christmas tree. Christmas dinner is usually stuffed turkey or goose, ham, vegetables with Christmas pudding, cake or small mincemeat pies for desert.

Wales

Because the Welsh love music, Christmas carols and singing, accompanied by a harp, are extremely popular Christmas customs and Christmas traditions. They sing in church, around their Christmas trees and at concerts. The Welsh make taffy by boiling butter and brown sugar and this is of the most popular and important Christmas traditions. Along with a meal of Christmas goose, their traditions are very similar to the English ones. On Christmas morning at dawn carolers awake families with their singing.

The ancient Welsh had a few unique and strange Christmas customs and Christmas traditions and New Years customs, some of which are still practiced today.

*Mari Lwyd or Grey Mare was a pre-Christian custom and still acted out by some in Wales even today. Around Christmas, a man accompanied by a frightening horse with a skull head, knocks on a person's door and then challenges them to do battle. The battle he challenges the person to is exchanging rhyming insults. A different version of this is when a person hides under a horsehair blanket and carries a spike with a horse's skull. Accompanied by a group of mummers you must pay a cash fine if bitten by the horses jaw.

*On New Years Day, from dawn until noon, young boys carrying threelegged totems called calennig, would go from home-to-home and splash people with water or chant rhymes and then ask for small gifts of change.

*On Christmas morning, before dawn, men would gather in country churches and sing harmony carols unaccompanied by musical instruments. Called Plygain, some still practice this service, which lasts about three hours.

No relevant info was found on this topic.

View the original article here

Christmas Traditions In The United Kingdom

 

CTL

The United Kingdom is comprised of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Christmas customs and Christmas traditions in the United Kingdom vary from location to location but the spirit of caring and goodwill extends all over the region at this special time of year.

England

The most popular holiday in England is Christmas, which has Christmas customs and Christmas traditions that go back hundreds of years. The United States practices many of the Christmas customs originating in Britain. In 1840, they mailed the first Christmas card in England, which became a common tradition, with over a billion cards posted annually in the United Kingdom.

Many Christmas decorations have very early origins dating back to the Dark Ages. Some of these decorations are ivy, holly and kissing under the mistletoe, which was an ancient pagan tradition. Each year, Norway, in honor of the memory of Anglo-Norwegian cooperation in the Second World War, donate a huge Christmas tree. This tree stands in Trafalgar Square for everyone to enjoy.

Pantomimes are very popular at Christmas time among children, so they dance and sing to favorite fairy tales while the audience also participates. Carollers go door to door and sing to their neighbors on Christmas Eve. Excited, happy children hang up their Christmas stockings for Father Christmas to fill before bed and wake up to gifts under their Christmas tree.

Many people faithfully go to church services on Christmas day. Families sit down to a traditional Christmas dinner of roast turkey, chicken or
goose with wonderful stuffing and vegetables. Dessert is pudding flaming with brandy, mince pies and Christmas cake. They make the Christmas pudding weeks ahead of time and each member of the family stirs it as they make a wish. Inside the Christmas pudding, many hide lucky charms or coins for the children to find. In 1846, a London baker invented a rolled, brightly colored tube of paper, tied at both ends and called this a Christmas cracker. Two people pull the cracker, which makes a bang, and inside is a party hat and trinkets.

Every year on Christmas afternoon the Queen of England makes her traditional televised Christmas speech to the nation. Boxing Day, which is the day after Christmas, got its name from a previous tradition where delivery and trades people received a Christmas box containing either money or food. This custom survives, as people tip their mail carriers, milkman and dustmen at Christmas for great service during the year.

Scotland

At one time in Scotland they celebrated Christmas very quietly because the Presbyterian Church or Church of Scotland placed very little emphasis on this holiday festival. Christmas Day is now a holiday but only since the 1950's. In Scotland, Hogmanay, their bigger celebration took place on New Year's Day. Nowadays their traditions are very similar to American traditions such as putting up and decorating Christmas trees, hanging mistletoe and homes decorated with Christmas lights. Family and friends exchange Christmas gifts and Father Christmas or Santa Claus leaves gifts for all the boys and girls.

Christmas dinner is a big family meal where they usually serve turkey, stuffing and all the trimmings. They call the Christmas pudding that the entire family helps make ahead of time, on a Sunday, "stir-up Sunday." This fantastic tasting Christmas pudding contains raisins, almonds, cinnamon and currants among other ingredients.

Northern Ireland

Christmas season in Northern Ireland traditionally begins December 8 and ends January 6. Choir's sing on sidewalks while street musician play popular Christmas carols. Most people only put a festive wreath up to decorate their home. In December, they light the streets in towns and cities with beautiful Christmas lights, decorations and live trees. Shops and department stores have animated Christmas figures and scenes in their windows for people to enjoy. Santa and his elves arrive at the large malls and department stores.

Family and friends exchange gifts, which they place under their Christmas tree and do not open until Christmas morning. Some families hang Christmas stockings for Santa to fill. Midnight Mass is a very strong family tradition held on Christmas Eve. Santa leaves the children's presents in their room instead of under the Christmas tree. Christmas dinner is usually stuffed turkey or goose, ham, vegetables with Christmas pudding, cake or small mincemeat pies for desert.

Wales

Because the Welsh love music, Christmas carols and singing, accompanied by a harp, are extremely popular Christmas customs and Christmas traditions. They sing in church, around their Christmas trees and at concerts. The Welsh make taffy by boiling butter and brown sugar and this is of the most popular and important Christmas traditions. Along with a meal of Christmas goose, their traditions are very similar to the English ones. On Christmas morning at dawn carolers awake families with their singing.

The ancient Welsh had a few unique and strange Christmas customs and Christmas traditions and New Years customs, some of which are still practiced today.

*Mari Lwyd or Grey Mare was a pre-Christian custom and still acted out by some in Wales even today. Around Christmas, a man accompanied by a frightening horse with a skull head, knocks on a person's door and then challenges them to do battle. The battle he challenges the person to is exchanging rhyming insults. A different version of this is when a person hides under a horsehair blanket and carries a spike with a horse's skull. Accompanied by a group of mummers you must pay a cash fine if bitten by the horses jaw.

*On New Years Day, from dawn until noon, young boys carrying threelegged totems called calennig, would go from home-to-home and splash people with water or chant rhymes and then ask for small gifts of change.

*On Christmas morning, before dawn, men would gather in country churches and sing harmony carols unaccompanied by musical instruments. Called Plygain, some still practice this service, which lasts about three hours.

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Traditions Of Christmas

 

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Every country, nation and even local community has their own unique interpretation and celebration of the Christmas season. These celebrations may be religious or more based in the festivities of the season but they will always be just a bit different and truly unique from other celebrations around the world, or even in a neighboring community. Some countries have very traditional celebrations for the seasons whereas other countries have Christmas festivities that are a combination of the influence of several other areas.

Regardless of where the Christmas tradition originated it is part of a very special time of year where people are more considerate of others, more charitable, and where they look for the good in people, rather than the less positive attributes. This feeling of goodwill and peace is one reason that the

Christmas season is so special around the world. One of the many wonderful aspects of the Christmas season is the opportunity to be generous and considerate to others. The history of Santa Claus is one of benevolence and caring for others less fortunate and this continues to this day at the heart of most Christmas celebrations.

Christmas has always been a time of bringing families together. Many families plan reunions or even contact extended family members and invite them to Christmas dinners and events. There are even those that use the internet and other communication devices to reach out to family all across the world on this special holiday. Finding extra time and making extra efforts to contact family and friends helps to make this a memorable holiday season.

There are many different countries that celebrate their own unique versions of Christmas traditions and Christmas customs. A wonderful activity is to research some less well known Christmas traditions and Christmas customs and share them with the family every day of the Christmas season.

You may find some Christmas traditions and Christmas customs and historical facts that you can include in your Christmas traditions and Christmas customs in the future, or you may just find out the origins of the Christmas traditions and Christmas customs you practice within your community or family.

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Christmas Traditions In South America

 

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South American is the forth largest of the seven continents, occupying almost 7 million square miles and a population of approximately 376 million people. South American is comprised of 12 countries, ten of which are Latin. Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, Guyana and Suriname are all Latin. Each country has its own Christmas customs and Christmas traditions.

Christmas in most of South America is a deeply religious celebration whose focus throughout the continent is the presepio or the manger. Many families devote an entire room to the manger display, complete with tiny figures and landscaped. Elaborate scenes include shepherds gazing upon their heavenly host, water mills, electric trains, the Wise Men on camels crossing the desert and grottos.

Argentina

Christmas Eve in Argentina is when the whole family goes to church followed by family gatherings at home. They dance to Christmas music and put on a fireworks display to celebrate Christ's birth. Christmas trees have ornaments, sparkling colored lights and Father Christmas as the tree topper. Usually white and red garland make up the Christmas decorations. A traditional Christmas dinner is roasted pork, stuffed tomatoes, roasted turkey and mince pies. As a beverage, they have beer, cider and juice. At midnight on Christmas Eve, everyone drinks a toast, made from chopped fruits mixed with cider and juice, and then open their presents from under the Christmas tree. Family is extremely important in Argentina, so after everyone opens their gifts they spend time talking and playing games. The children's shoes, placed outside, are for Father Christmas.

Bolivia

More as a harvest festival than a traditional Christmas celebration, native Bolivians celebrate Christmas in Bolivia by giving thanks for finishing a year's work. They describe the work they finished during the year and discuss plans for the following year. Bolivians hold feasts of adoration for Goddess Mother Earth and ask her to keep plagues away, bring them a fruitful harvest and prosperous new year.

Brazil

Many Christmas traditions in Brazil have a Portuguese heritage. In northeastern Brazil, people prepare a nativity scene. Santa Clause, known as Father Noel or Papai Noel wears silk clothes because of the heat and lives in Greenland. He brings gifts for all the children. A traditional Christmas dinner is ham, turkey, vegetables, colored rice and fruit dishes for dessert. At midnight on Christmas Eve, Catholics attend midnight mass, which ends on Christmas morning at 1 AM. In the late afternoons on Christmas day, so people can go to the beach or sleep in, the Catholic Churches hold mass again. Most families decorate their homes with fresh flowers, often from their own gardens. In Rio de Janeiro, San Paolo and other large cities, fireworks are set off. Festivities such as singing and dancing continue until January 6 knows as the Three Kings Day, which is the day the three wise men visited Jesus bringing gifts.

Chile

In Chile, Viejito Pascuero is Father Christmas. Under their Christmas trees, they place tiny figures made from clay.

Ecuador

In Ecuador, instead of writing a letter to Santa, children there write a letter to the Christ-child. Hoping for toys and gifts as he passes by Christmas Eve, children put their shoes in the window. Christmas morning, noise-making toys fill the air with sound. Because the weather is extremely warm, they hold their celebrations in the streets with brass bands, firecrackers and dancing. Families go to mass together and then enjoy their family dinner.

Peru

Priests' traveled around on festival days, carrying small alters. Changing into portable alters over time; they depicted saints above and scenes from daily life below the altar. These portable alters or retablos now show Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus with local people gathered around.

Venezuela

December the sixteenth is the day that families in Venezuela bring out their depiction of the nativity scene, called a pesebres. Most people observe the tradition of attending at least one of the nine carol services. Bells ring and firecrackers explode to wake worshippers in the predawn hours. Christmas Eve is the last mass to take place, which families attend and then follow with a fancy, huge dinner. Children leave straw beside their beds and awake in the morning of January 6 to find gifts where the straw was which Magi and his camels left. If the children awake with a black smudge on their cheek it means Balthazar, who is king of the Ethiopians, kissed them while they were asleep.

There are many other local Christmas customs and Christmas traditions celebrated throughout South America over the Christmas season.

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Christmas Traditions In Australia

 

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Christmas in Australia is a wonderful, magical, exciting time of year. Summer holiday season is beginning and students are not only happy because it is Christmas but because school is closed for six weeks holiday. For many students this means surf, sun, shopping and spending time with their family and mates.

Because Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere, Christmas takes place in their summertime. Depending on your location in Australia, the temperatures range from the high seventies to over one hundred degrees Fahrenheit, so there is definitely no chance of a white Christmas. From Christmas Eve until January 26, which is the Australian Day Public Holiday, many professionals close their doors to spend time with their family over the holiday season. Offices and stores close for Christmas and Boxing Day while some of the major retailers open December 26 to start their big clearance sales.

Because Christmas falls in Australia's summer months and is an extremely hot, people spend a lot of time surfing, swimming and fishing. Many people head for the beachside caravan parks and coastal resorts for some of the Christmas holidays.

Many of Australia's Christmas customs and traditions go back to their British beginnings but later European and American traditions also had an influence. Since Australia has such a harmonious mixture of ethnic groups with varied backgrounds they bring with them their festive rituals and customs. This variety is certainly one aspect of Christmas that Australians appreciate. At the beginning of December families start decorating their homes by bringing out and setting out the Christmas ornaments and decorating their artificial Christmas trees, unlike the American tradition of real trees. Often the children help their parents decorate the family Christmas tree although few people do decorate gum tree branches.

Many people also decorate the outside of their homes and yards with lights and decorations. A few even go to great lengths to make fabulous Christmas displays that become local attractions appreciated by many locals and tourists.

Children sit down and write their letters to Santa Claus including a list of toys and items they would like. People Christmas shop, buying gifts for family and friends, which they wrap and place beneath the Christmas tree. Because it is hot this time of year, many shop wearing shorts and t-shirts instead of winter coats and boots like in many other parts of the world. Friends and family get together and visit. People mail Christmas cards to family, friends and relatives that they may not have been in contact with since last Christmas. Many enclose pictures and letters catching up on the news and events of the last year.

Many of the cards sent follow the western tradition and picture people iceskating, winter scenes and Santa wearing his traditional Santa suit pulled in his sleigh by reindeer. Children hang their Christmas stockings and leave out cookies or cake and milk for Santa. They believe that Father Christmas will leave them sweets in their stockings and gifts under the Christmas tree.

Christmas is a time to remember the spiritual meaning of Christmas for many Australians. Approximately 70% are Anglican, Lutheran or catholic. There are midnight church services held Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

One of the Christmas customs that a radio announcer by the name of Norman Banks started in Australia in 1937, was an evening Christmas carol service lit only by candles. Each year on Christmas Eve "Carols by Candlelight" held in Melbourne's Sidney Myer Music Bowl, attracts crowds of well over thirty thousand people. For people that are unable to attend, they now televise it to over two million Australian homes. They sing carols by candlelight while holding candles that illuminates the sky. Performers at Carols by Candlelight perform both traditional and contemporary favorites. These Christmas customs have become very popular across Australia with many places holding Christmas carol, candle lit events leading up to Christmas.

Christmas morning is an exciting time, with children waking up early and opening their stockings and gifts. Family and friends get together and exchange gifts. Many make early morning phone calls to friends and relatives that are often scattered worldwide. For Christmas dinner, which many people have at noontime Christmas Day, the whole family gathers to give thanks and share food. Traditionally they served roast turkey, ham, Christmas pudding and pies but because of the very hot weather, many prefer lighter meals, such as cold turkey, seafood or barbeques.

On Christmas day, many people spend it out of doors and head to the beach for either the day or camping grounds for a longer Christmas break. Up to forty thousand international visitors in Sydney head for Bondi Beach on Christmas Day. Although Christmas in Australia is very warm it is still a wonderful, magical time of year and they really enjoy their Christmas customs.

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