7. Christmas Around the World
Christmas as celebrated today is a culmination of centuries of
traditions that are religious and secular and which came from different
countries around the world. It is interesting therefore to look at some of the
general ways in which Christmas is celebrated in these countries. The traditions
examined for each country will be examples of some of the things that are unique
to that country and which are done today, or which were once done by people in
those countries.
To begin, it is symbolic to look at the town of Bethlehem, which is
believed to be the birthplace of Jesus. The Church of the Nativity is located in
Bethlehem and at Christmas it is decorated with a lot of flags and other
Christmas decorations. A very large crowd usually gathers at The Church of the
Nativity on Christmas Eve to see a dramatic parade procession of horsemen, led
by police who are mounted on Arabian horses. Following the police in the
procession is a lone horseman who carries a cross, followed by churchmen and
government officials. Members of the procession solemnly enter the doors of The
Church of the Nativity and place an ancient effigy of Jesus in the church. A
silver star located deep in an underground cave-like section of the church marks
the site where Jesus was born. A star is also set atop a pole in the town's
square. In Bethlehem, homes of Christians usually have a cross over the door and
a manger scene is usually set up inside the house.
In Germany, home of the Christmas tree tradition, the Christmas tree
is not seen until Christmas Eve. The tree is usually kept in a special room, or
elsewhere, and decorated in secret with lights, ornaments, tinsels, angels,
candies, nuts and cookies. It is then lighted, the presents placed underneath
and then shown to the delight of Children on
Christmas Eve. In Germany, Dec. 6
is known as St. Nicholas Day when Santa visits the homes of boys and girls. On
the day before, Dec. 5, children leave a shoe or boot outside or by the
fireplace for Santa Claus. If they were good, he places gifts and candies inside
the shoe. But if they were naughty, children will find twigs or a rod in their
shoe. Dinner on Christmas Day includes roast goose, long loaves of bread filled
with raisins, nuts and dried fruits. Other sweet delicacies are also enjoyed.
Many traditions in England are similar to those in the United States because
such traditions originated in England and were brought to the United States by
immigrants. The tradition of sending Christmas greeting cards started in England
and is still popular at Christmas, as well as the tradition of neighborhood
caroling on Christmas Eve. Children also hang stockings on Christmas Eve in
anticipation of Santa Claus filling them with Christmas gifts or treats. The
holly, ivy and mistletoe are also used a lot in Christmas decorations. In
England, the traditional Christmas Dinner is roast turkey, goose or chicken with
stuffing, vegetables and roast potatoes. Dessert consists of the British or
Christmas pudding with brandy sauce. A rich, fruit-filled Christmas cake may
also be enjoyed later in the day. A tradition of pulling Christmas crackers
also goes with the serving of food on Christmas Day. A cracker is a paper tube
that contains a party hat, riddle, toy or trinket, and is brightly colored and
twisted at both ends. It gives out a crack as the contents pop out when it is
pulled at each end. Also on Christmas afternoon, the Queen broadcasts a
Christmas message to the nation, which is heard on radio and television. The day
after Christmas is also a holiday that is known as Boxing Day.
Terms of Use for this Private Label Article
Possibly Related PLR Articles:
Intro To CD Duplication
The first thing you must know, is that there are many
different types of CD duplication. Some of them happen
to be illegal, which is why you'll need to make sure
that the CDs you are duplicating are allowed by local
laws and regulations. ...read more
Avoiding Extra High Financing Costs
Did you know that there are ways for you to pay less while you own more? If you know exactly how to work with the real estate market, then you can also find ways to avoid extra financing costs. By finding the right area to focus on for your...read more
Buying Boat Insurance
Those of you who own boat will want to make sure
you get watercraft coverage. Often times, people
don't realize that they need this type of coverage
for their boats. There are many boat owners that
don't even realize this type of...read more
"Andropause Mystery: Unraveling Truths about the Male Menopause", the enlightenment of men's predicament on aging
Andropause is a stage in man's life when there is a noticeable declination in his hormones. This usually occurs at the late 40's or early 50's. The declination of hormonal production extends until the eighties. During this period, physical,...read more
Betting Using Horse Racing Selection Systems
Since then, horse racing has been a part of our society. It has been a popular entertainment for many different people. Although many people think that it's impossible to make money by betting on horse racing, other finds it quite profitable using...read more
Resume writing from scratch - how to get started
Facing a blank page when you are trying to write a resume can be very scary. You may think that you don't have enough to say about yourself to fill a page; you may be wondering just how to list all of your skills and experience within a single sheet...read more
Is Re-Financing Worth the Hassle?
Some homeowners may never re-finance while others may re-finance frequently. This is a decision which is largely a matter of personal preference. Sure there are some financial benefits which may result from re-financing but for some homeowners these...read more
How To Create Effective Team bonding At Your Events
When it comes to team work you will need it for most of your events. You will need to think about the teamwork first. You will have plenty of little details that must be completed, but can you put the most effect team together? When it comes to...read more
Is Atkins right for you
The Atkins diet is very popular, but is it right for you? Before you start down the low carb road, you should take some time to decide whether low carb is the right way for you to lose weight. Just because it has been effective for others doesn't...read more
Consequences for Violating Air Travel Rules
In recent years, the media has been flooded with examples of security breaches on airplanes and in airports. Although a number of these instances have turned out legitimate, there are others that were simply a mistake. Although you might assume...read more