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Christmas customs in Poland The first star, beautifully decorated Christmas tree, wafer, twelve dishes, hay under the tablecloth, Christmas carols are one of the most important Christmas symbols. It is worth knowing the meaning of these characters and the traditions associated with them.
The first star in Poland It is a symbol of the Bethlehem Star whose appearance accompanied the birth of Jesus. Thanks to her shepherds, the Three Kings were able to reach the birthplace of the Savior. Today, we expect the first star. Only when it shines in the sky can we, according to tradition, sit at the table and share the wafer.
Wafer in Poland It is a thin piece of wheat flour and water. We share the wafer before the Christmas Eve supper, we make wishes. The wishes we make when sharing the wafer should be sincere, we forgive each other for all the blame in order to sit down for dinner and reconciliation with pure hearts.
Hay under the tablecloth in Poland We put them under a white cloth on the table, at which we will eat Christmas Eve supper. Of course, it symbolizes the place in which Jesus came into the world - a crib and hay on which he lay after birth.
Christmas tree in Poland Usually dressed on Christmas Eve or December 23. Christmas decorations should be connected with the Christmas symbolism, and on the top of it Christmas bauble in the shape of a star of Bethlehem is hanging. The green tree is a symbol of the life and birth of the Savior. We should light the Christmas tree lights for the first time after the first star appears.
Christmas carols in Poland We start singing them at the Christmas table. These are songs that tell about the Lord's birth.
Christmas in Poland In Poland, Advent is the beginning of Christmas Time. It's a time when people try to be peaceful and remember the real reason for Christmas. People try not to have excess of anything. Some people give up their favorite foods or drinks and parties and discos are not widely held. Some people also go to Church quite frequently. There is the tradition of the 'roraty', special masses (or communion services) held at dawn and dedicated to Mary for receiving the good news from the angel Gabriel. During Advent, people also prepare their houses for Christmas. There's lots of cleaning and people wash their windows and clean their carpets very thoroughly. Everything must be clean for Christmas day! Before Christmas, children in schools and preschools take part in "Jasełka" (Nativity Plays). They are very popular and often more secular than religious. The Christmas story is also sometime put into modern times. The smell of tangerines in schools or workplaces is widely thought to mean that Christmas time is about to start!
Christmas food in Poland Fasting Christmas menu must include beetroot soup or mushroom soup, herring, although one fish dish, a dish of cabbage, compote of dried fruit, poppy seed noodles with sweet, poppy or poppy seed cake with nuts and raisins, gingerbread, fruit, nuts and other sweets.
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Christmas Customs from Greece In Greece, international customs such as Santa Claus and the reception of the New Year are combined with Greek customs, such as the New Year's Pomegranate and stories with goblins. An important celebration at Christmas is the gift exchange. Especially for children, the Christmas season is the one in which they receive a significant number of gifts from their parents and relatives, but also by Santa, who, according to tradition, brings the gifts down from the chimney of the house. The main customs in the decoration are the Christmas tree (international custom), the Alexandrian or Star of Bethlehem (international custom), the Christmas ship (a Greek custom related to the Greek occupation with the sea) and the Christmas lights. During the Christmas season in Greece special sweets and food are prepared, such as turkey, special Christmas bread, the pie of the King, melomakarona, kourabiedes and others.
Christmas Customs from Greece The day before Christmas, children go from home to home sing the carols (each region has specific carols). The housewife gives them money as a small gift. In the past children were given Christmas sweets. In the morning of Christmas people get up very early and go to the church to pray. The day before New Year’s Eve go to sing the carols again. On New Year's Eve, people gather in their homes. When the clock hits twelve, you hear greetings such as Happy New Year. Evaggelia Konstantakopoulou, Athens
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The tradition of the Christmas boat
The practice of decorating sailing boats with Christmas lights is a fabulous Greek Christmas tradition. More often than not, these Christmas boats are seen on the islands, where the habit originated, but slowly, they are making their way to the mainland. Greece is a nation of sailors, where men folk are often away from hearth and home, for long stretches at a time.
The story goes like this; long, long ago, women of the Greek islands, during the dark winter months of ferocious, stormy and dangerous seas, spent their days fretting over fathers, husbands and sons, battling with the waves, praying for their safe return. On spotting the ships returning to harbour, the women would joyfully rush home to celebrate, by decorating small wooden boats, as a welcome to the weary seafarers. The boats were arranged on the floor, or next to the fire, with their bows pointing inwards, symbolising the homeward journey.
The tradition of the pomegranate
Pomegranate is an ancient red fruit, which has been the symbol of fertility, prosperity and regeneration for thousands of years in Greece and in Greek mythology. During Christmas time in Greece you see pomegranates everywhere as
most Greek households hang this rich fruit above the main entrance door of their house- some people also get the fruit blessed at Church before doing so. A little before the clock strikes twelve- marking the advent of the New Year- it is the custom to turn off all lights and for family members to step outside their home, symbolising the old year that has passed. The family members then step in again with their right foot first after midnight. The person who enters immediately after the first footer rolls the pomegranate holding it in their right hand and forces it against the door to smash it open. Maria Stalia,Thessaloniki, Greece
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We celebrate Christmas in my country on the 7th of January every year. . It is one of the most famous Christian holidays here. We all love Christmas . The night before Christmas we eat together with our families .That night is blessed. We make a little bread and put a little coin inside.The oldest member of the family gives the others a piece from the bread. That member of the family who has the little coin inside the piece , we believe that will have a very happy , healthy and successful year . We eat very different food that night without fats . Next day on Christmas , little kids sing Christmas songs in front of our houses , and we give them candies , fruit , money etc. We go to church and pray there . After that we visit our relatives and we exchange little presents . Christmas is magical !!!
Elena Pantova, Macedonia
Christmas in Macedonia
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Christmas in England A traditional English Christmas is all about spending time with family and loved ones. People decorate their homes with a Christmas tree and put stockings up ready for Father Christmas (Santa) to leave presents in when he visits on Christmas Eve, 24th December. On Christmas Day, everyone wakes up excitedly to open the presents that Santa has left for them! Having built up an appetite people eat a traditional roast dinner which is made up of turkey, roast potato, sprouts, pigs in blankets (sausages wrapped in bacon) and lots of other yummy vegetables.
After the roast dinner, families eat a traditional Christmas Pudding. It is a boiled pudding made from flour, suet and dried fruit. Traditionally a silver sixpence was stirred into the mixture and whoever found it would be brought wealth and good luck in the year to come. When families sit down to eat their Christmas dinner, they pull crackers. A cracker is a cardboard tube with a banger inside and when you and your partner pull it, it makes a bang, Inside the crackers are paper hats to wear, a joke and a gift. Feeling full up, families often settle down to watch a special TV broadcast made by the Queen.
Christmas in England • In the lead up to Christmas (advent) people start to count down the days to Christmas. Children celebrate this with advent calendars. Each day in advent, children open a door and get to eat a little chocolate. • Christmas cards are sent to friends and family to send them love at this special time of year. • Lots of people go to church to pray to God and celebrate the birth of Jesus. • Carol singers sing traditional Christmas songs
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Serbian Orthodox Christmas
It's done ... the divine child is born! In Serbia, we do not celebrate Christmas on December 25th, but on January 7th.
Тraditions and rituals A bread "of happiness" - "cesnica" (pronounced "chessnitsa") it is an ordinary bread in which a coin is hidden. At the time of sharing, the oldest member of the family break bread according to the number of people present by adding a part called "for the house" and another "for a traveler"... The coin symbolizes happiness and material goods - and finally, everyone strives to not find it, so that it stays in the house.
The tree
In the old days, it was the father of the family and the eldest son, who left at the dawn of New Year's Day, to look for the "badnjak" (read "badnyac") ... a tree preferably very young, and well stocked leaves. In the evening, this "badnjak" will be returned to the house, sprinkled with wine and honey, and, with the exception of a branch (placed next to the door), taken out for burning - the fire representing the happiness and the light of the divine word. Today, this custom is saved only in churches, monasteries and some rural areas ... For the most part, people buy a large, well-stocked branch that they do not burn, but deposit it next to the tree.
“Христос се роди!” “Ваистину се роди!”
Christmas in Serbia, by Maja Medic Il and it celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. On the Christmas Eve (Jan 6th) we eat vegetables, dried fruit and food without animal fat (beans, potatoes, cabbage, fish, nuts…). Dad takes a bunch of straw and we go around the house. He is a big hen and we are chickens. We say ‘cluck’. Then he takes the straw into the house and we put it under the table. He also goes into the forest, takes an oak branch and gets it into the house. It is called ‘badnjak’n Serbia, we celebrate Orthodox Christmas on January 7th. It is a very important festiva. We put it into the kitchen stove. We also decorate our gates and cars with the oak branches. In the evening we go to the church for the liturgy. We have a big ‘badnjak’ there and we make a big fire. There is also a firework. We light candles at the church and at home. There are planted wheat grains too, that grew into a green sheaf. It symbolizes a new life.
On the Christmas day we get up very early. We go to the church for the Holy Communion (bread and wine). We greet each other with ‘Hristos se rodi’ (The Christ is born) and ‘Vaistinu se rodi’ (He is really born). Mum makes a big lunch and dad makes roasted pork. Mum also makes special corn bread called ‘chesnica’. She puts pieces of basil, plum tree, bean, corn and a coin in the bread. Then we cut the bread at lunch and who gets the basil will be healthy this year, who gets the piece of the plum tree will get the orchard, who gets the bean will get the chickens, who gets the corn will get the cattle and who gets the coin will have money the whole year. On the third day of Christmas we take the straw out and light a fire.
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CHRISTMAS IN CROATIA Christmas is no doubt the most beautiful holiday of the year. Christmas customs in Croatia are varied, and this diversity speaks of the cultural richness of our country. Because of the modern lifestyle and the new values, many traditional Christmas customs have vanished and can now be seen only in rural areas. Along with the Christmas celebration, numerous customs have been developed, such as decorating the christmas tree on Christmas Eve, Christmas Mass, Christmas songs and gifts. Before Christmas, it is time to prepare ourselves, which takes about a month from the beginning of December. One of the rare, if not the only, old Croatian Christmas customs, which is still practiced is planting wheat. We plant wheat for the feast of St. Lucy and let it grow until Christmas.
According to tradition, wheat is decorated on Christmas with the colors of the Croatian tricolor so that the red and white-blue strips around it are clustered and candles are placed in the center.Depending on how the wheat grows, this year's crops in the fields would be a breeze. Otherwise, wheat is considered a symbol of fertility, renewal, and new life.
The children are especially delighted with the holiday of St. Nicholas, when they get gifts in their boots, and naughty kids get coal from the Krampus
Numerous customs aim to have a desire for well-being, good seed, progress, and good health. The Christmas Eve is rich in a variety of customs such as putting straw in the house, solemnly decorating the holiday table, preparing the Christmas food, and going to mass.The Croatian name for Christmas Eve is derived from the word badnjak – a log lit on Christmas Eve in the evening (Badnja veÄ?er), Although the Christmas tree in today's form in Croatian homes came only in the middle of the 19th century, the houses had been decorated before that. They were decorated with flowers, ivy, dried fruit, candles and similar ornaments that were available.
In some places in northern and north-eastern Croatia, there is a tradition that groups of 3 boys, called zvjezdari ( zvijezda meaning star, named after the Bethlehem star made of cardboard that they carry with them) or betlehemari or svjećari ( svijeća = light; candle) go from house to house and people give them gifts. Zvjezdari are sometimes accompanied by other boys who sing occasional songs.
In Croatian Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Sretan Božić'
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Christmas in Turkey Shopping is done.The food is cooked. Gifts are taken.Entertainment is organized.Everyone celebrates the New Year by calling each other.
On St. John’s the next day, they drink blessed wine, and the straw that came from home is placed under the fruit trees to give better fruits in the coming years. The New Year would be congratulatory to each other, but the atmosphere would be less intimate than the Christmas one. The end of twelve days, twelve Christmas days, is the feast of the Holy Three Kings. On that day, we remember the three wise men who donated Jesus,we go to Mass, we take down the decorations, and that is how the holiday season ends. Houses for the next year are blessed by the priest.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are mostly celebrated with close family. On Boxing day friends and extended family visit each other. On Christmas Eve, most people eat dried-cod called 'bakalar' or some other kind of fish as it's considered as meat fast (so you can't eat meat). The main dish on Christmas Day is often turkey, goose or duck. A popular side dish is sarma (cabbage rolls filled with minced pork meat). There's also always lots of small cookies on the table! There's 'Krafne' which are filled with jam, jelly, marmalade or chocolate and also 'fritule' which are flavored with lemon and rum.Christmas is celebrated in the family circle. In some parts of Croatia people would wait to see who the first person to enter the house would be. This would most often be a young and healthy person because it meant that the next year would be happy for the family.
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Christmas in Ukraine
Natalia Grushko
Christmas Eve, or as it called 'Sviatyi Vechir' in Ukrainian ('Holy Evening') is filled with numerous customs and rituals. The customs include: decorating house and dinner table with special attributes (didukh, garlic, hay and others), performing koliadky ('carols') and so on. Each ritual has its own meaning and purpose, as such a few wisps of hay on the embroidered table cloth as a reminder of the manger in Bethlehem. One the most prominent customs of the night is a special supper, called Sviata Vecherya (Holy Supper). Kutia (sweet grain pudding) is traditionally served at the Ukrainian Christmas dinner table. It is often the first dish in the traditional twelve-dish Christmas Eve supper (also known as Svyaty Vechir) and is rarely served at other times of the year.
Koliadky (Caroling) - At the end of the Sviata Vechera the family often sings Ukrainian Christmas carols. In many communities the ancient Ukrainian tradition of caroling is carried on by groups of young people and members of organizations and churches calling at homes and collecting donations. The Ukrainian song "Shchedryk" became the basis for the world-famous Christmas carol, "Carol of the Bells". Another well-known carol is Boh predviÄ?nyj narodivsja.
Didukh (Grandfather) - When the children see the first star in the eastern evening sky, symbolizing the trek of the Three Wise Men, the Sviata Vecherya may begin. In farming communities the head of the household now brings in a sheaf of wheat called the didukh which represents the importance of the ancient and rich wheat crops of Ukraine, the staff of life through the centuries. Didukh means literally "grandfather spirit" so it symbolizes the family's ancestors. In city homes a few stalks of golden wheat in a vase are often used to decorate the table.
Shopka (Nativity scene) -Shopka is a traditional portable nativity scene used to represent nativity and other figures in a puppet form.
Christmas Tree - Small ornaments in the shape of a spider (known as pavuchky, literally "little spiders") and spider webs are traditionally a part of Ukrainian Christmas tree decorations. They represent the Legend of the Christmas Spider.
An old Ukrainian Christmas tradition was to give children gifts on the 19th of December which is St Nicholas’s day. Santa Claus to the rest of the world is Grandfather Frost who flies across the sky in his sleigh drawn by reindeer. He is accompanied by his granddaughter who is called Snowflake Girl (Snihuronka) dressed in silver and blue clothes.
Tetiana Shypko
Traditional dishes for the Holy Evening from my table
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Christmas in Bulgaria
Zlatka Toskova
Christmas is one of the brightest Christian holidays, so the preparations around it have always been a thrilling moment. Christmas in Bulgaria is definitely a family holiday. In every home there is a Christmas tree that is adorned at the beginning of December.
Then decorate the home.
The evening of Christmas Eve In fact, Christmas Eve is a very important holiday - everyone stays at home with their family members for a rich vegetarian dinner. Typically, it consists of beans, cabbage and vine leaves and red peppers, stuffed with rice and spices, many starters, dried fruit compote, and important homemade bread. This is the so-called "cake" that puts a coin before baking. At dinner, the oldest member of the family gives away to everyone, and the one who falls the coin will be lucky during the year. Curious detail is that on Christmas Eve the table does not shake, and the remains are left at night so our dead ancestors can also dine.
The Christmas Eve table should be rich and well arranged.
Christmas Christmas is the third important element of the preserved Christmas customs in Bulgaria. It begins after midnight, and the chairs prefer to choose their leader. The Kolerad bands consist of young men who know Christmas songs and blessings.
Đ? traditional Bulgarian Christmas song
Christmas is an unparalleled holiday full of warmth, coziness, love and light. It is rich in symbolic actions for the purpose of health, happiness and prosperity of the family.
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Christmas in Catalonia, Spain The form of the Tió de Nadal found in many Catalan homes during the holiday season is a hollow log about thirty centimetres long. Recently, the Tió has come to stand up on two or four stick legs with a broad smiling face painted on its higher end, enhanced by a little red sock hat (a miniature of the traditional barretina) and often a three-dimensional nose. Those accessories have been added only in recent times, altering the more traditional and rough natural appearance of a dead piece of wood. Beginning with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8), one gives the tió a little bit to "eat" every night and usually covers him with a blanket so that he will not be cold. The story goes that in the days preceding Christmas, children must take good care of the log, keeping it warm and feeding it, so that it will defecate presents on Christmas Day.
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On Christmas Day or, in some households, on Christmas Eve, one puts the tió partly into the fireplace and orders it to defecate. The fire part of this tradition is no longer as widespread as it once was, since many modern homes do not have a fireplace. To make it defecate, one beats the tió with sticks, while singing various songs of Tió de Nadal.
El Tió
The tradition says that before beating the tió all the kids have to leave the room and go to another place of the house to pray, asking for the tió to deliver a lot of presents. This makes the perfect excuse for the relatives to do the trick and put the presents under the blanket while the kids are praying. The tió does not drop larger objects, as those are considered to be brought by the Three Wise Men. It does leave candies, nuts and torrons. Depending on the region of Catalonia, it may also give out dried figs. What comes out of the Tió is a communal rather than individual gift, shared by everyone there. The tió is often popularly called Caga tió ("Shitting log", "Poo log"),.[1][2] This derives from the many songs of Tió de Nadal that begin with this phrase, which was originally (in the context of the songs) an imperative ("Shit, log!"). The use of this expression as a name is not believed to be part of the ancient tradition.
A song is sung during this celebration. After hitting the tió softly with a stick during the song, it is hit harder on the words Caga tió! Then somebody puts their hand under the blanket and takes a gift. The gift is opened and then the song begins again. There are many different songs; the following are some examples. Catalan
English
shit, log, "Caga tió, caga torró, avellanes i mató, si no cagues bé et daré un cop de bastó. caga tió!"
shit nougats (turrón), hazelnuts and mató cheese, if you don't shit well, I'll hit you with a stick, shit, log!
Decorate your Home with a Nativity Scene Like in many other countries in the world, the Nativity Scene, or pessebre, is central to the decoration of Catalan homes during the Christmas period. It is often assembled as part of the celebrations for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and in Catalonia it is common to find not only the traditional stable scene, but an entire reconstruction of the town of Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’ birth – complete with moss for the grass and cork for the hills. The obvious centerpiece for the pessebre is the empty manger, in which the baby Jesus is placed on 24th December, and around him you can find the usual nativity characters – farm animals, angels, Mary, Joseph and the Three Wise Men. But on top of this, there is one additional character that you are unlikely to come across anywhere else in the world.
Don’t Forget the Caganer ! The counterpoint to the ornamental traditionalism of the Nativity Scene is the outrageous figure of the Caganer – a man in traditional Catalan dress, squatting with his trousers around his ankles, defecating in the stable. This is a character without which the traditional Catalan pessebre would not be complete. He is an essential element of the decoration, and his popularity ensures that he will always remain so. The tradition of placing this character within the customary Nativity Scene dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries, when it was allegedly added as a symbol of good luck. The feces of the Caganer are supposed to fertilize the ground and ensure a good harvest for the year ahead. Today, however, Catalans commonly use the figurine as an excuse for satire and as a means to bring the mighty back down to earth. The models can often be found for sale in Christmas markets carrying the faces of celebrities, politicians and other public figures.
Relax on Christmas Day Unlike many other countries in the world, Christmas Day itself is not the main celebration in the Catalan festive period. Gifts are not traditionally exchanged on 25th December, though it is increasingly common for families to embrace more secular Christmas ideals and place presents under the tree for one another. Roast turkey is often served as the main meal that day, accompanied by various traditional Catalan tapas dishes. However, rather than being a day for giving and receiving presents, 25th December is a much quieter affair, treated as another occasion in which to enjoy good food in the company of your nearest and dearest.
The Canelons Much like in many other Catalan festive traditions, Boxing Day (December 26th) is seen as another day to enjoy a hearty meal with your relatives and loved ones. Traditionally, the people of Catalonia will use the leftover food from Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to prepare canelons – cannelloni filled with the uneaten meat from the carn d’olla, and any other surplus ingredients from the meals of 24th and 25th December. For dessert, again, families will often serve different varieties of the typical Catalan turrón – nougat mixed with honey and almonds – while the children will recite a traditional poem for the Feast of San Esteban, or St. Stephen in English.
Food!!!
Canelons
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Torrons
Escudella
Stock up on Grapes for New Year’s Eve Celebrating the New Year in Catalonia is another event that is traditionally shared between close family and friends. Relatives will gather together in the evening to enjoy a meal together, placing a gold item in their glasses of cava before drinking them in order to bring themselves good luck. The family will then, almost mandatorily, turn their attention to the television for the countdown of the clock to midnight. As the New Year is ushered in, and the chimes ring out across the region, you will find bars, restaurants and homes filled with Catalan people shoveling grapes into their mouths (and no doubt choking on them too!). This is because the tradition in Spain is to greet each chime of the clock by eating a grape (one for each month of the year) and, no matter how many years’ practice you have, this is not something that is easy to do! Following the usual toasts and well-wishings for the year ahead, the family is likely to split up, as the younger members go out to join their friends at parties, and the older contingent stays at home to continue the festivities. On New Year’s Eve in Catalonia, it must be added, it is customary to wear red underwear in order to guarantee yourself a successful love life for the upcoming year.
Treat your Loved Ones on Three Kings’ Day In Catalonia, the traditional day that is reserved for the giving and receiving of presents is January 6th, known as Día de los Reyes Magos in Spanish. While much of the excitement builds among children for the day that they will open their gifts, the actual celebrations begin on 5th January – the day that the Three Kings arrive in town on camelback, having travelled from the Far East. In Barcelona, they are welcomed to the city with an enormous procession, which weaves its way from the harbor throughout the city’s streets, with the Three Kings throwing gifts and sweets to the hoards of excited children that have gathered to greet them. On the night of 5th January, in order to ensure that they are filled with presents, Catalonia’s children will clean their shoes and leave them out for the Three Kings to find. They will also leave water and hay nearby so as not to neglect the camels. On the day itself, once the delirium of opening the gifts has subsided, the family will again sit together to share a meal, which is followed by a traditional dessert. The roscón de reyes is a ring-shaped cake cooked especially to be eaten on Three Kings’ Day. Inside the cake there are two items – a small king figurine, and a dry green bean. When the cake is served, everyone checks their piece to find out whether they have either object. The person who finds the king in their piece of cake is made king for the day, and will be given a crown to wear, while the person who finds the bean is the unlucky one – they have to pay for the cake!
CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS FROM MALLORCA (SPAIN)
CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN MALLORCA
Belenes
Belenes are a nativity scenes – it is the Spanish word for Bethlehem. More than just a stable with animals and figurines, however, the Spanish belÊn can be huge scenes, complete with many different houses, farms, rivers and marketplaces. The Spanish often set one of these up in their homes in the lead up to Christmas, but much larger ones are placed in shop windows or town squares.
CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN MALLORCA Midnight Mass Many Spanish people go to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, known as La Misa Del Gallo (The Mass of the Rooster) to celebrate their faith. Often the main Christmas meal is eaten on Christmas Eve, just before or just after the mass.
CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN MALLORCA The Three Kings The Three Kings, or Reyes Magos (Melchor, Gaspar and Baltazar), are who bring children their gifts in Spain, not Santa Claus (although he is becoming more popular now, too). On the night of January 5, the Kings parade through the towns across the country with their entourage of helpers, animals and elaborate floats, throwing sweets out for the children. Depending on the areas the kings give the presents on the same night 5th or other places on next day on the 6th of January.
CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN MALLORCA Roscón de Reyes Instead of Christmas cake or Christmas pudding, the Spaniards enjoy the Roscón de Reyes, usually on the Day of the Epiphany, on January 6. A sweet bread ring, it is topped with crushed almonds and candied fruits, and is sometimes stuffed with whipped cream. Sometimes a small figurine is hidden inside the bread, and the person who finds it has the honour of buying next year’s roscón.
CHRISTMAS TRADITION FROM CATALONIA (SPAIN) Tió de Nadal The “Tió de Nadal” is a log decorated with legs, nose, eyes and mouth. Some days before Christmas, children must take good care of the log, keeping it warm and feeding it. On Christmas Day, the log defecates presents. To make it defecate, we beat the log with sticks and sing the “Tió de Nadal” song. Click on this link to see how we do it: https://youtu.be/x8gb2Ot5yOE
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All the towns and villages are decorated with Christmas lights during the whole month of December. Most of them also have a traditional Christmas market. They are mostly in Eastern France with the oldest one taking place in the pretty city of Strasbourg and gathering nearly 300 stalls or artisan food and traditional toys. In Paris, the French capital gets even more magical. Highlights include the Galeries Lafayette’s stunning Christmas displays on the windows and inside the shopping gallery, the Big wheel on place de la Concorde and the ice rink outside the Hotel de Ville.
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You can also enjoy the Christmas parade in Disneyland Paris !
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French families decorate their Christmas tree at the beginning of December, so there’s plenty of time to be ready for Christmas Eve when Santa Claus comes. Mistletoe is also popular in French Christmas traditions and used as an important decorative item. People hang it above the door during the Christmas season, where it is supposed to bring good luck during the coming year. The four weeks before Christmas are dedicated to preparations for Christmas. On December 1st, children open their first “window� in the Advent calendar and get a chocolate per day until Christmas Day.
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In France, Christmas Eve is when the real celebrations happen. The French families gather for a huge meal called Le Réveillon, which derives from the word “réveil”, meaning “waking”. The meal stretches on late into the night with a break around midnight, when the children can finally open their presents, under the Christmas tree. Sometimes, they wait until the next morning December 25th - to find their presents under the Christmas tree.
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It is very important to French people to have their Christmas dining table looking extremely elegant and inviting. French children also put their shoes near the fireplace or under the Christmas tree so that Santa Claus can find them and fill them with small presents or treats. There are many nativity scenes or “crèches” displayed in many French homes. There are little clay figures called “santons” (meaning “little saints”) which you can buy from Christmas markets. In the South West of France, you can even find nativity scene shows with real actors.
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In France, Father Christmas is called Père Noël or Saint Nicolas in Eastern France where he’s also accompanied by Le Père Fouettard, a man dressed in black who punishes children who’ve misbehaved during the year. Father Christmas comes down the chimney to bring the presents under the Christmas tree. Another celebration in the South of France is the “13 desserts tradition” : 13 different desserts are eaten. They are all made from different types of Fruit, Nuts and Pastries.
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Food is a big part of French Christmas traditions. It depends on the region but some common French Christmas foods include : - Smoked salmon and oysters with bran bread and butter - Foie gras (goose or duck liver pâté) - Snails stuffed with garlic butter - Capon or turkey stuffed with chestnuts - Servings of vegetables such as green beans cooked with garlic and butter and provincial herb cooked potatoes - The “bûche de Noël” (yule log) : a sponge cake decorated like a yule log, traditionally made of chocolate and chestnuts - Gingerbread
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The papillotes are chocolates or candied fruits wrapped in golden sparking paper with fringed ends. Inside there is a little note written on it. They are sold massively in shops in December. They usually decorate the Christmas table and are an essential element of Christmas traditions in France. Mulled wine is popular in bars and in French Christmas markets, although you won’t see it so much at French houses. During Christmas dinner, a very good wine is required and Champagne is imperative.
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Christmas celebrations include the installing and lighting of Christmas trees, the hanging of Advent wreaths, candy canes, and the creation of Nativity scenes depicting the birth of Jesus Christ, midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.
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Christmas celebrations begin with Advent, the first day of which is the Sunday that falls closest to St. Andrew’s Day, from then on all loud musical entertainment was forbidden. The Advent Crown, made of woven fir branches and four candles, representing the four seasons of the year. The four candles are lit one by one, on each of the four Sundays before Christmas.
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a-Tra y n a A custom called “looking for lodgings” is a recent religious custom. Nine families gathered together and from December 15 on carried the picture of the Holy Family to a different house every day, singing and praying in front of it.
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In Transylvania, celebrations begin with Christmas tree decoration and gift packaging during daytime on December 24, then comes a family dinner with traditional Christmas meals. Jul
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In the evening the Angel delivers the presents. This is the most intimate moment of Christmas, featuring warmly lit Christmas tree and candles, soft Christmas music, family singing of Christmas or religious songs and gift pack openings.
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The most popular Christmas custom is the Nativity play, in which children present the birth of Jesus.
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Christmas in Romania In Romania, Christmas and mid-winter celebrations last from 20th December to 7th January. The 20th is when people celebrate St. Ignatius's Day. It is traditional that if the family keep pigs, one is killed on this day. The meat from the pig is used in the Christmas meals. Sfantul Nicolae's Day (St Nicholas) is celebrated on the 6th December. On the evening of the 5th December children clean their shoes or boots and leave them by the door and hope that Sfantul Nicolae will leave them some small presents! Sfantul Nicolae might also be called 'MoĹ&#x; Nicolae' (Old Man Nicholas) and although he is celebrated in December, it's not part of the Christmas celebrations! A tradition says that if it snows on December 6th, Sfantul Nicolae has shaken his beard so that winter can begin. The Christmas celebrations really begin on Christmas Eve, 24th, when it's time to decorate the Christmas Tree. This is done in the evening of Christmas Eve. In Romanian, Christmas Eve is called 'Ajunul Craciunului'.
Christmas in Romania Carol singing (known as 'Colindatul') is also a very popular part of Christmas in Romania. On Christmas Eve, children go out carol singing from house to house performing to the adults in the houses. They normally dance as well. The children get sweets, fruit, traditional cakes called 'cozonaci' and sometimes money for singing well. Adults go carol singing on Christmas Day evening and night. A traditional Romanian Carol is the 'Star Carol'. The star, made of colored paper and often decorated with tinsel, silver foil and sometimes bells, is put on a pole. In the middle of the star is a picture of baby Jesus or a nativity scene. Carol singers take the star with them when they go carol singing. The words of the Star Carol are: "The star has appeared on high, Like a big secret in the sky, The star is bright, May all your wishes turn out right." Other popular carols to sing include 'Oh, What Wondrous Tidings' ('O, ce veste minunata') and 'Three Wise Men coming from the East' ('Trei Crai de la rasarit').
Romanian Christmas Traditions
In Oltenia On December 24, the Romanians have the day of Ignat, the day when the pig is cut in the courtyards of the villagers. This tradition is only observed in the villages. In the city, people are shopping and preparing various pork foods: sarmale, cartabos, sausages, roast, and, as a dessert, it is made a Christmas cake:cozonac. A few days before Christmas, the priest goes through each house to bring Christmas and bless each Christian family. On Christmas Eve, children go to groups to go to farmhouses. After singing carols, children receive money, sweets, nuts, apples, or pretzels. But most of them enjoy money. Vartosu-Toma Florentina
CRÄ‚CIUN FERICIT!
Christmas into in the houses of people through these carols. The tree is adorned in every Christian house!
VARTOSU-TOMA FLORENTINA
Christmas characters from Romania
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Christmas in Ireland ● ● ●
Santa Claus brings presents on Christmas Eve when all the children are in bed Presents are usually left under the Christmas tree. Smaller presents are sometimes put in a Christmas Stocking. There is great excitement on Christmas Morning when children wake and go to the Christmas Tree to see what Santa has left for them.
Decorations ● ● ● ●
Most houses are decorated inside for Christmas. This includes a tree, maybe some holly and a crib. Many houses have started putting lights up outside in the past ten years. Most towns and cities have lots of lights up in the streets. Shops are very busy with crowds of people buying presents.
Christmas Dinner • The traditional dinner in Ireland is Roast Turkey with stuffing, Honey Glazed Ham, roast potatoes, vegetables. • Many people would have soup as a starter before the main-course. • The traditional dessert is Christmas Pudding.
St. Stephen’s Day In Ireland, the day after Christmas Day is St. Stephen’s Day. It is also known in some parts as the Day of the Wren. In some towns and villages, “Wren Boys” go around from house to house and through the town playing music, dancing and singing. They sometimes dress in grass costumes to disguise themselves.
Christmas in Ireland • • • • •
In school, children usually learn Christmas songs and Carols. Very often, children perform the Nativity Play. Children listen to the story of The Birth of Jesus. People send each other Christmas Cards. There are often Carol Singers in the towns and cities singing for the shoppers as they do their Christmas shopping.
Christmas in Ireland • Another big tradition in Ireland on the lead up to Christmas is watching the ‘Late Late Toy Show’ on the television. • It is usually on the television on the last Friday in November and families gather together to watch and find out the toys children want to ask Santa Claus for. • It is full of music, dancing and fun. • Click here to watch a clip from the show!
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Christmas in Hungary The Christmas and gift-giving season starts with the Santa - like figure, Hungarian version, saint Nicholas, traditionally visiting the homes of Hungarian children on the night of fifth of December. There is no Mrs Mikulás in Hungary. He comes with an assistant called “Krampusz”. Mikulás can not be seen because he arrives in the middle of the night when good little children are already fast asleep. It is better not try to stay up late, otherwise children won’t get any presents, only a birch stick.
Christmas in Hungary Before 24 December people decorate their houses and start to cook and bake. People decorate the tree with ornaments and put the wrapped presents under it. On Christmas Eve young children are waiting the arrival of Jesus and for the presents. Gift giving is done after the meal and after singing carols around the tree. A favourite Christmas song is - Silent Night. A popular cake or biscuit is from honey.
Hungarian Christmas meal -Fish soup -Stuffed cabbage
-Fried fish and rice
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Hungarian cakes and sweets Bejgli with walnut and poppy seeds Honey cake
Hungarians decorate the tree and eat “szaloncukor�. It is a typical sweet.
Merry Christmas - From Hungary
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I Christmas in Italy is a very important festivity. We usually start decorating our houses and Christmas trees on 8th December. We put up a nativity scene with statues, called “presepe”, in houses, churches and squares.
On Christmas Eve and Day a lot of people go to the church to celebrate Jesus’ birth. On Christmas day children open the presents left by Father Christmas, “Babbo Natale”.
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We have a big lunch with our family. At the end we eat our traditional Christmas desserts: “panettone ( a dry fruity sponge cake) or “pandoro” (a sponge cake without fruit). Our Christmas desserts: pandoro and panettone
January 6th is the feast of Epiphany, which celebrates the visit of the Three Kings to the Holy Family in Bethlehem. Children hang up stockings and an old, good witch called Befana brings them sweets, if they have been good, or coal, if they have been bad. We say that Epiphany takes away all the feasts with her. Befana
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Christmas in Norway In Norway, we start preparations for Christmas on December 1. The children get their Advent Calendar, and open a door every day until the 24. Sometimes there is candy inside, sometimes little gifts. There is also an advent calendar for children on TV, with one episode every day until Christmas.
Christmas in Norway December 13th is the day of Santa Lucia. She was originally a young girl from Syracuse who was burned in the 5th century. In Scandinavia, we celebrate this day as a day of light. The children dress up in white robes and parade with candles though the dark streets. They give “lussekatter� (a sort of sweet roll) to everybody. Clivk the picture, watch the parade and listen to the song.
https://www.nrk.no/video/PS* 24316
Christmas in Norway I n Norway, Christmas preparations are very important. In the old days, everybody had to bake at least 7 sorts of cookies for Christmas. These days, people still bake, and gingerbread men and gingerbread houses are a big part of the traditions. Some cities have competitions on the best gingerbread house. Another popular cookie is Krumkake.
Christmas in Norway Most people decorate their tree on December 23, and December 24th, Christmas Eve, is the big day. Earlier, families would walk around the tree and sing carols. People have a big family dinner around 5 o'clock, and after that, everybody gets their gifts. Christmas is a big holiday for families, and most families have parties and dinners during Christmas.
Christmas in Norway Food is of course very important, and every region has their own traditions. Most common for Christmas dinner is pork ribs or lamb ribs. Everybody eats rice porridge with an almond in it, the person who gets the almond wins a prize - normally a marzipan pig. It is still common to set a bowl of rice porridge out on the porch for Santa as well.
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Christmas in Finland Christmas begins on the 1st of December - Advent calendar - Decorations - Sending Christmas cards - Writing a letter to Father Christmas - Baking gingerbread cookies and building a gingerbread house
Christmas in Finland Christmas Eve (the 24th of December) is the most important day over Christmas. It's traditional to eat rice porridge with cinnamon or stone fruit soup for breakfast. Then the Christmas tree is decorated.
Christmas in Finland At midday, the Declaration of Christmas Peace in Finland is broadcasted on radio and TV by the City Mayor of Turku. It’s a tradition dating back to the 12th century. It gets dark in most parts of Finland around 3.00pm. Many people visit the graves of family members in cemeteries.
Christmas in Finland The Christmas meal is usually eaten in the early evening. A traditional Christmas meal consists of - Fish (baltic herring, lutefisk, salmon‌) - Casseroles (potato, carrot, swede...) - Ham - Salads (rosolli, variety of green salads‌) A traditional dessert is a plum mousse or a stone fruit soup.
Christmas in Finland After the meal, Joulupukki (Santa) might visit the house and bring presents. Joulupukki comes from Korvatunturi, Lapland. The whole family gathers to open the presents together. After opening some presents, it's time to spend time with the family. Most people like to go to sauna on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day is much quieter and families usually spend it quietly at home or visit relatives.
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Christmas traditions in Latvia 24th of December is peaceful Christmas Eve – the time when families go to the church and afterwards have Christmas meal together. Christmas Eve is a celebration of the birth of Jesus, but in many families it is also a celebration of the Winter Solstice – the time when days become longer and the nights become shorter again.
Christmas trees in Latvia can be decorated in a variety of ways, but traditional decorations are made from straw, colored yarn, or dried fruit. Some people say that the Christmas tree originated in Latvia. The legend says that the first Christmas tree was decorated in front of the House of Blackheads in Town Hall Square in 1510.
Christmas traditions in Latvia Children in Latvia believe that Ziemassvētku vecčtis (Christmas old man) brings the presents. The presents are usually put under the Christmas tree the night before Christmas. Children learn a lot of poems by heart before Christmas. They can also sing, play some music instrument or even dance to get their presents.
Christmas traditions in Latvia Latvian Christmas tables are probably known for a laying out of nine dishes. These dishes must be eaten till midnight to retain one’s wealth. However, it’s important what you have on the table – the beans, peas, the pig snout, bacon pies are a small part of the food richness.
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In Portugal, Christmas celebrations are broadly similar to those in other countries. Portuguese parents tell their children that baby Jesus (“Menino Jesus”) helps Santa with the presents. Families usually set up a Nativity scene (“Presépio”) with Mary, Joseph, the cow and donkey, the three wise men and the figure of the Christ Child.
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Children like to make the nativity scene, fetching moss to make the grass and arranging the figures.
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Some shops and clubs still make huge nativity scenes with over one hundred figures, waterfalls, windmills that rotate, and lights. People like to go and see the big scenes.
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In some regions, a special Christmas tradition called the “Christmas Madeiro� takes place on Christmas Eve. Traditionally, young men were meant to steal whole trees to make the tallest fire in the church yard.
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The “consoada� is the reunion of the family while they wait for Father Christmas at midnight after dinner on Christmas Eve.
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The “consoada” main course is usually boiled “bacalhau” (codfish), potatoes and cabbage or greens with olive oil. Turkey is also a main dish now. Traditionally it was goat or lamb in northern Portugal and pork in the south of the country.
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The variety and quantity of desserts is usually enormous. Rice pudding lightly flavoured with lemon and decorated with cinnamon (“arroz doce”); “rabanadas” (very special French Toast);
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pastries made with syrup or honey called “Broas de Mel”;
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“Azevias" are round cakes made of a crust filled with a mixture of chick peas, sugar and orange peel; "aletria" is a vermicelli sweet with eggs
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and "filhรณs" are large donuts made from a dough close to the one used for bread, often very lightly scented with brandy and orange.
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“Bolo Rei� is sure to delight anyone with a sweet tooth - in the form of a crown, it is composed of dried fruits and garnished with crystallized fruits. With two surprises inside: one is a little present like a fake ring or a medal. The other is not as welcomed.
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It is a raw broad bean. Whoever gets this bean has to buy the "Bolo Rei" in the coming year. In addition to these desserts there are many other that differ from region to region. People drink Porto wine, traditional liquors.
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The midnight mass is still very visited in Portugal. It is called the “Missa do Galo�, literally "the mass of the rooster". According to beliefs, a rooster would indeed have sung the morning of December 25th, celebrating in its own way the birth of Jesus Christ.
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In some regions, one offers an orange with cloves, as a symbol of wealth and prosperity.
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Another tradition that is still widespread in Portugal: on December 8th, families put seeds (wheat, barley, peas) to sprout in cotton soaked in water. The seeds will then be placed near the crib with oranges. On Christmas Eve, families lay them on the table as a symbol of prosperity.
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Finally, during the night of Christmas, the musicians and singers of each town and village, walk the streets to sing and play at the doors of locals.
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These events are called the “Janeiras”, although as their name suggests, they are most often held in January - groups of people will go from house to house with an image of the Baby Jesus in his manger singing the “Janeiras” songs (January songs). They are often accompanied with small instruments. V
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They usually start with an opening song asking the owner of the house for food and drink. The owner of the house should invite them in to warm up and to help themselves of a spread of snacks like dry figs with walnuts inside them or savory like cheese and chorizo and some wine or brandy.
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If you do not open your door, or your food and drink doesn't meet what is expected, the singers will sing songs mocking you (like saying you've got a big nose)! Normally after enjoying the food, the January singers will sing a song of thanks praising the generosity of the hosts.
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On Christmas Day the living room table remains untouched and people still enjoy their goodies together! Families come together and have Christmas Day lunch together.
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During the holiday season towns are decorated with lights. The festivities end on January 6th "Dia de Reis".
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Christmas in Lithuania
Lithuanian Christmas traditions are a combination of old and new and Christian and pagan.In pagan Lithuania, the Christmas celebration as we know it today was actually the celebration of the winter solstice. Roman Catholics, the predominant religious population in Lithuania, gave new meaning to old customs or introduced new ways to celebrate the religious holiday.
Christmas in Lithuania
Some people say the practice of placing hay underneath the tablecloth on Christmas Eve predates the introduction of Christianity to Lithuania. Christmas table and the hay in the manger where Jesus was born.The Christmas Eve feast traditionally consists of 12 meatless dishes. The breaking of religious wafers precedes the meal.
Christmas in Lithuania The practice of decorating the Christmas tree is relatively new to Lithuania, though evergreen branches have long been used to bring color to home.Handmade straw ornaments are particularly traditional. They can decorate Christmas trees or be used as decoration for other parts of the house.
Christmas in Lithuania Just like elsewhere the children receive their presents during Christmas. The Santa Claus, known in Lithuanian as KalÄ—dĹł senelis (The Christmas grandfather), visits at night between 24th and 25th and leaves the presents under the Christmas tree of the home.
Christmas in Lithuania Lithuanians celebrates Christmas with public Christmas trees and a relatively new tradition - a European-style Christmas market. The Christmas market takes place in the historic center; stalls sell seasonal treats and handmade gifts.
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CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN ALBANIA The Christmas party is on December 24th. The ritual of this holiday begins with the preparation of traditional dinner.
CHRISTMAS TRADITIONAL IN ALBANIA Traditional dinners are fish and lakrora and their accompaniment is made with red wines. At Christmas night every Christian family sparks a candle. After all Christian believers go to church at 24.00
CHRISTMAS TRADITIONAL IN ALBANIA In the most delightful delicacies are baklava and hajjimakulle. In the meantime, the decoration of the red-dĂŠcor room is made.