Vol. 53, No.51 Special Section Temple City, San Gabriel, & ROSEMEAD PAGE 5
Serving the San Gabriel Valley Since 1966 Local Events page 2, 3 “Off Beat Happenings”
Entertainment
page 14 - 15
Sports pages 9 - 10
December 23, 2015 Student Corner
page 3
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Seven Christmas Traditions: Where did they Come From? by Kristy Hernandez and Jennifer Barbosa El Monte High School Lions Trail
#1 The Birth of Jesus - A long time ago, in the town of Nazareth, lived a young woman named Mary. She did her chores, was very king, and loved God very much. She was engaged to a carpenter named Joseph. One day, an Angel told Mary that she was going to have a baby. Soon after, Joseph found out and he was upset. Then, in his dream, an Angel visited him and told him that the baby that Mary was going to have was going to be God’s son and that he was going to be named Jesus. In those days, the government decided that they should keep track of the population in each town. So Joseph had to take Mary to his town, Bethlehem, to register the baby. The family set out and took the long walk from Nazareth to Bethlehem.
They both knew that Mary was going to have a baby soon. Once they arrived in town, all the hotels rooms were occupied; however, a barn was available for the family to sleep in. After they settled in, Mary soon gave birth to baby Jesus. #2 Mexican Christmas Traditions- In Mexico, Christmas is celebrated from December 12th to January 6th. The Mexican celebration of Christmas is called “Las Posadas.” Families begin the nine-day observance of Las Posadas by reenacting the Holy Family’s 9-day journey to Bethlehem and their search for shelter in a posada or inn. For the first 8 evenings of Las Posadas, 2 children carry small statues of Mary and Joseph as they lead the way from housed to house with friends and
neighbors. They sing a song asking for shelter and when they find a family that will give shelter, the children say a prayer of thanks to the family, and place the statues of Mary and Joseph in the family’s nacimiento, or nativity scene. Christmas Eve is known as “Noche Buena,” and is also a family day. Most of the time people take part in the final posada and then have the main Christmas meal. At midnight, many people attend Mass, which is known as the “Misa de Gallo.” At Mass, there are a lot of fireworks to celebrate Christmas Day. #3 The Origin of Santa Claus- A common legend of Santa Claus is traced back hundreds of years to a monk named St. Nicholas. He is believed to be born around 280 A.D. near Myra in mod-
Courtesy Photo Devette Johnson Christmas Traditions continued on page 4
Celebrating Christmas
Past or Current Resident
by Jo Anne Disney National
Christmas is celebrated all over the world and has a variety of names and traditions that are very special during this holiday season. Let’s look at a few. Hanukkah is the “Jewish Feast of Lights” or “Feast of Dedication.” This holiday begins on the eve of the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, lasts 8 days and usually falls in the month of December. Then, we have Kwanzaa, which is an African-American holiday that lasts for 7 days, beginning December 26th and ending January 1st. At Kwanzaa time, AfricanAmericans think about their people, their struggles and their future. In Mexico, Christmas is called “Navidad.” The main celebration is “posadas” which means “inn.” And for 9 nights friends gather for a parade, carrying small figures of baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph. They re-enact the scene at Bethlehem. Ending on Christmas Eve, the figure of baby Jesus is
placed in the manger and everyone sings songs and says prayers, while bells ring. A big party takes place and then everyone goes to church. In addition, Christmas in Iran today is called “Little Feast.” They begin to fast on December 1st, eating no meat or diary. This is “considered a time for peace and prayer.” The Little Courtesy Photo by Devette Johnson Feast begins after ebrate “Natale.” No matter church on Decalled “Dun Che Lao Ren.” what part of Italy you are cember 25th, where special In Sweden, the holiday fesfrom, Christmas is the time foods are prepared and tivities begin on December to spend with your famserved. 13th. This is St. Lucia Day. ily. Wonderful dishes are Then, the “trees of light” On this day, they celebrate always prepared while tables are what Christmas trees the “Festival of Light.” Then overflow for this grand feast. are called in China. The on Christmas Eve, families Traditional menu dishes may Christians decorate their have special dinners and include lasagna, sausages homes with “beautiful paper open their gifts. On Christand eggplant. Special bread lanterns and decorate their mas Day everyone goes to known as “panettone” is trees with paper chains, church and then rests. served as well as wonderpaper flowers and paper In Italy, the Italians celful desserts like the nougat lanterns.” And, when Celebrating Christmas continued on page 12 Santa comes to visit, he is