christmas in other european countries

8/13/2019 Christmas in Other European Countries

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CHRISTMAS IN

OTHER EUROPEAN

COUNTRIES


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-In the 16th Century in Europe, the stories

and traditions about St. Nicholas hadbecome very unpopular.

-But someone had to deliver presents tochildren at Christmas, so in the UK, he

became 'Father Christmas', a character fromold children's stories; in France, he was thenknown as 'Pre Nel'; in Germany, the'Christ Kind'. In the early USA his name was'Kris Kringle'. Later, Dutch settlers in theUSA took the old stories of St. Nicholas withthem and Kris Kringle became 'Sinterklaas'

or as we now say 'Santa Claus'!


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CHRISTMAS IN SPAIN

Most people in Spain go to Midnight Mass or 'LaMisa Del Gallo' (The Mass of the Rooster). It iscalled this because a rooster is supposed to have

crowed the night that Jesus was born.Most families eat their main Christmas mealon Christmas Eve before the service. The

traditional Spanish Christmas dinner is 'PavoTrufado de Navidad' which is Turkey stuffed withtruffles (the mushrooms, not the chocolate ones!)

In Galicia (a region in north-west Spain,surrounded by water) the most popular meal forChristmas Eve and for Christmas Day is seafood.

This can all kinds of different seafood, from

shellfish and mollusks, to lobster and small ediblecrabs.


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After the midnight service, people walk through

the streets carrying torches, playing guitars andbeating on tambourines and drums. OneSpanish saying is which means 'Tonight is thegood night and it is not meant for sleeping!'


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CHRISTMAS IN SWEDEN

Christmas begins in Sweden with the SaintLucia ceremony. Before dawn on themorning of 13 December, the youngest

daughter from each family puts on a whiterobe with a red sash. She wears a crown ofevergreens with tall-lighted candlesattached to it. She wakes her parents, andserves them with coffee and Lucia buns.The other children accompany her. Theboys dressed as star boysin long whiteshirts and pointed hats.


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-Christmas trees are usually found in Swedish homes twodays before Christmas. Decoration may include candles,apples, Swedish flags, small gnomes wearing red

tasseled caps, straw ornaments. The houses may filledwith red tulips and smell like pepparkakor, which is aheart-star, or goat-shaped gingerbread biscuit.

-After Christmas Eve dinner, a friend or family memberdresses up as tomteor Christmas gnome. The tomte,unlike Santa Claus is supposed to live under thefloorboards of the house or barn and ride a straw goat.The make-believe tomte, wearing a white beard anddressed in red robes, distributes gifts from his sack.

Many are given with funny rhyme that hints at thecontents.

-In Sweden Jultomten, a little brownie helps Santa Clausgive gifts to the children who have been good.

-On Christmas morning, churches are lit up entirely by

candles for the Christmas service.


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CHRISTMAS IN FRANCE

-On Christmas Eve, children leave their shoes by the fireplaceto be filled with gifts from Pere Noel. In the morning theyalso find that sweets, fruit, nuts and small toys have beenhung on the tree.

-In cathedral squares, the story of Christ's birth is re-enactedby both players and puppet

-The Christmas tree has never been particularly popular inFrance, and though the use of the Yule log has faded, theFrench make a traditional Yule log-shaped cake calledthe buche de Nol, which means "Christmas Log." Thecake, among other food in great abundance is served at

the grand feast of the season, which is called lereveillon. Le reveillon is a very late supper held aftermidnight mass on Christmas Eve. The menu for the mealvaries according to regional culinary tradition. In Alsace,goose is the main course, in Burgundy it is turkey with

chestnuts, and the Parisians feast upon oysters and pat defoie gras.


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CHRISTMAS IN ITALY

-The Christmas season in Italy goes for three weeks,

starting 8 days before Christmas known asthe Novena. During this period, children go fromhouse to house reciting Christmas poems andsinging.In some parts shepherds bring musical

instruments into the villages, play and singChristmas songs.

In Italy the children wait until Epiphany, January 6,

for their presents. According to tradition, thepresents are delivered by a kind ugly witchcalled Befanaon a broomstick. It was said thatshe was told by the three kings that the baby Jesus

was born, she was busy and delayed visiting thebaby.


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CHRISTMAS IN GERMANY

-Christmas preparations often begin on the eve ofDecember 6th. People often set aside specialevenings for baking spiced cakes and cookies, andmaking gifts and decorations. Little dolls of fruit aretraditional Christmas toys.

- In parts of Germany, people believe that the ChristChild sends a messenger in Christmas Eve. Heappears as an angel in a white robe and crown,bearing gifts. The angel is called Christkind. There

is also a Christmas Eve figurecalledWeihnachtsmannor Christmas Man, helooks like Santa Claus and also brings gifts.

- In Germany boys dress up as kings and carry a starround the village, singing carols.


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PROJECT BY:CORPODEAN CLAUDIU

COSTEA MIHAELA

DANCIU ILINCA

GHILEA GEORGIANA

GIURGIU ANDREEA

PATIU IZABELA

PETRIOR ADELINA

clasa a-VII-a B

christmas in other european countries

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