1700 Posts By Christmas 2011

[CandyKane]

Christmas In SCOTLAND
The Scots celebrate Christmas rather somberly and reserve their merriment for New Year's Eve which is called Hogmanay. This word may derive from a kind of oat cake that was traditionally given to children on New Year's Eve. The first person to set foot in a residence in a New Year is thought to profoundly affect the fortunes of the inhabitants. Generally strangers are thought to bring good luck. Depending on the area, it may be better to have a dark-haired or fair-haired stranger set foot in the house. This tradition is widely known as "first footing."

[CandyKane]

Christmas In SOUTH AMERICA
Throughout South America Christmas is celebrated in a deeply religious way. The main focus of the season throughout the continent is the presepio ("the manger"). Often a whole room is devoted to the presepio display, complete with landscape and tiny figures made to scale. Though the central feature is the manger at Bethlehem, elaborate scenes will include hills full of shepherds gazing upon the heavenly host, the Wise Men crossing the desert on their camels, water mills, grottos, electric trains, and even sailboats on the sea.

[CandyKane]

Christmas In SPAIN
Christmas is a deeply religious holiday in Spain. The country's patron saint is the Virgin Mary and the Christmas season officially begins December 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception. It is celebrated each year in front of the great Gothic cathedral in Seville with a ceremony called los Seises or the "dance of six." Oddly, the elaborate ritual dance is now performed by not six but ten elaborately costumed boys. It is a series of precise movements and gestures and is said to be quite moving and beautiful.

Christmas Eve is known as Nochebuena or "the Good Night." It is a time for family members to gather together to rejoice and feast around the Nativity scenes that are present in nearly every home. A traditional Christmas treat is turron, a kind of almond candy.

December 28 is the feast of the Holy Innocents. Young boys of a town or village light bonfires and one of them acts as the mayor who orders townspeople to perform civic chores such as sweeping the streets. Refusal to comply results in fines which are used to pay for the celebration.

As in many European countries, the children of Spain receive gifts on the feast of the Epiphany. The Magi are particularly revered in Spain. It is believed that they travel through the countryside reenacting their journey to Bethlehem every year at this time. Children leave their shoes on the windowsills and fill them with straw, carrots, and barley or the horses of the Wise Men. Their favorite is Balthazar who rides a donkey and is the one believed to leave the gifts.

[CandyKane]

Tomtemor--This one's for you!
Christmas In SPAIN
Christmas is a deeply religious holiday in Spain. The country's patron saint is the Virgin Mary and the Christmas season officially begins December 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception. It is celebrated each year in front of the great Gothic cathedral in Seville with a ceremony called los Seises or the "dance of six." Oddly, the elaborate ritual dance is now performed by not six but ten elaborately costumed boys. It is a series of precise movements and gestures and is said to be quite moving and beautiful.

Christmas Eve is known as Nochebuena or "the Good Night." It is a time for family members to gather together to rejoice and feast around the Nativity scenes that are present in nearly every home. A traditional Christmas treat is turron, a kind of almond candy.

December 28 is the feast of the Holy Innocents. Young boys of a town or village light bonfires and one of them acts as the mayor who orders townspeople to perform civic chores such as sweeping the streets. Refusal to comply results in fines which are used to pay for the celebration.

As in many European countries, the children of Spain receive gifts on the feast of the Epiphany. The Magi are particularly revered in Spain. It is believed that they travel through the countryside reenacting their journey to Bethlehem every year at this time. Children leave their shoes on the windowsills and fill them with straw, carrots, and barley or the horses of the Wise Men. Their favorite is Balthazar who rides a donkey and is the one believed to leave the gifts.

[CandyKane]

Christmas In VENEZUELA
Venezuelans attend a daily early morning church service between December 16th and 24th called Misa de Aguinaldo ("Early Morning Mass.") In Caracas, the capital city, it is customary to roller-skate to this service and many neighborhoods close the streets to cars until 8 a.m. Before bedtime children tie one end of a piece of string to their big toe and hang the other out the window. The next morning, rollerskaters give a tug to any string they see hanging. After Mass everyone enjoys tostados and coffee.

[CandyKane]

Christmas In WALES
Caroling is particularly popular in Wales where it is called eisteddfodde and is often accompanied by a harp. In some rural areas a villager is chosen to be the Mari llwyd. This person travels around the town draped in white and carrying a horse's skull on a long pole. Anyone given the "bite" by the horse's jaws must pay a fine.

[CandyKane]

VERY grateful for copy, paste, and quick reply.

The preceeding posts contained information on how Christmas was historically celebrated in each of these countries. It may or may not be up to date but is historically correct. Of course we all know that lots of people aren't allowed to celebrate Christmas (or anything else) the way they want to. Wish everyone had the freedom to celebrate exactly the way they want to.

[kiwidogy_max]

CandyKane, thank you for posting all of the different celebrations. Very fun to read and informative!

[kiwidogy_max]

After a long work week, I welcome the weekend, but don't want things to move too quickly towards Christmas. I keep these feelings in my heart all year long, but this time of year is magical, and I want to enjoy that magical feeling as long as I can!

[kiwidogy_max]

Snow is falling outside as I get ready to drift off to sleep. I am crossing my fingers for a white Christmas!!!

[kiwidogy_max]

Fun fact: The abbreviation Xmas isn't irreligious. The letter X is a Greek abbreviation for Christ.

[CandyKane]

It's finally here. The last Saturday before Christmas. I'm up and ready for a very busy day. Hope everyone has a great day and I'll try and pop in a few times to add some more posts.

[Noel+]

CandyKane, thank you for posting all of the different celebrations. Very fun to read and informative!

Yes thanks again Candy Kane! Every Christmastime she treats us to Christmas history/traditions/celebrations!

[Noel+]

It's finally here. The last Saturday before Christmas. I'm up and ready for a very busy day. Hope everyone has a great day and I'll try and pop in a few times to add some more posts.

Good Saturday morning! Before starting my day I wanted to say a Christmas Hello! to all my CAY buddies!

Before work, I'm having brunch with my sister. A long overdue sister day - its been 5 years since we had a few hours all alone together!

After work? Christmas movies, popcorn, and chocolate cocoa!

[kiwidogy_max]

I finished wrapping the last of my presents. I just need to get some stocking stuffers.

[kiwidogy_max]

I have 96 cookies from a cookie swap I need to figure out what I am going to do with. Not a bad problem to have. Fortunately, all is in cookie dough form.

[kiwidogy_max]

I just watched Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.

[Noel+]

I have 96 cookies from a cookie swap I need to figure out what I am going to do with. Not a bad problem to have. Fortunately, all is in cookie dough form.

They make wonderful gifts - just stop by the dollar store for small candy bags! Great Christmas eating!

[Noel+]

Great Christmas surprise today! Somehow the work schedule was edited and there were 2 of us scheduled. So? I took the half day off! My sister and I went to see Hugo 3D [awesome, creative, thought-provking film!], had brunch and then did some shopping at Ross for work gifts! Six hours of treasured fun!

[Noel+]

Off to work now........filled with renewed Christmas spirit!