Christmas and New Year around the world
Who brings gifts to children in Italy?
On the night of January 6, a witch named Befana flies in on her broom and descends through the chimney into the fireplace. She leaves sweets for good children and embers for those who had bad behavior. A folk legend tells that one cold winter evening, three kings, who went to Bethlehem to bring gifts to the newborn Christ, asked to spend the night in old Befana's house. In the morning, the kings asked Befana to join them, but she refused. Later, the woman regretted it. So she prepared a basket of sweets, and decided to follow the kings but could not find them. Then she started knocking on all the houses she came across giving sweets to all the little children, hoping that one of them would be the newborn Jesus. And since then, on the night of January 6, she has traveled worldwide, hoping to receive forgiveness by giving gifts to children.
According to tradition, what do people in Finland do on Christmas Eve?
The sauna is an integral part of Finnish culture. According to statistics, from 60 to 90 percent of Finns go to the sauna at least once a week. Even at Christmas, Finns cannot help but take the opportunity to wash and relax. In the afternoon of December 24, many Finns go to the sauna with their families. Moreover, people in Finland believe that every sauna has its own elf, to whom families should bring something tasty.
In which country there is a tradition to throw old and unnecessary things out the window on New Year's Eve?
Italians throw out old and unnecessary things from the house at the stroke of the clock, thus getting rid of the problems of the old year.
In which country Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker was born and lived?
Saint Nicholas is a real person, a Christian bishop who became famous for his love for children and help for the poor. Nicholas was born around 270 in Lycia (now Demre in Turkey). Saint Nicholas was an extremely honest and kind person. Seeing the difficult situation in which poor people were, he helped them in every way. In order not to humiliate the needy with alms, he secretly put his gifts under their doors and windows at night. A separate holiday is established in his honor. Saint Nicholas Day is observed on December 6 in Western Christian countries and on December 19 in Eastern Christian countries.
What do the Greeks consecrate in church on New Year's Eve?
In Greece, on New Year's Eve, the owner of the house consecrates a large pomegranate in the temple and breaks it in the yard. The more seeds that fall out of the fruit, the more successful the New Year will be.
What do people hang on Christmas tree in Denmark?
The tradition of decorating Christmas trees with flags arose in Denmark after the Second Schleswig War of 1864. Patriotic Danes hung garlands of Danish flags on their Christmas trees, and this particular feature became part of Christmas traditions in the other Nordic countries too: in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and on the Faroe Islands.
In France, Pierre Noel comes to children with gifts. What animal accompanies him?
In France, the old man Pierre Noel comes to children in a fur coat, red hat and wooden shoes. He travels on a donkey. The children believe that Pere Noel climbs into the chimney and puts the gifts in specially prepared shoes in front of the fireplace.
What is the name of the traditional German Christmas pastry?
In Germany, people treat each other with stollen at Christmas. Stollen is a traditional German pastry, which in its shape and white color was supposed to "resemble" the baby Christ wrapped in diapers.
A ring of kings is a traditional Christmas dessert in Spain. A small plastic model of baby Jesus is hidden in the pastry. And what does it mean to find this figure?
What do polish people share during Christmas dinner?
The most important attribute of the dinner is the moment when the Christmas opłatek is broked and the wishes are made. Opłatek is a small, thin sheet of white unleavened dough that family members share before dinner. It symbolizes the Body of Christ and serves as a symbol of forgiveness, love, peace and friendship. Opłatek are cooked with various patterns, drawings, can be painted in different colors.
In which country there is a tradition of dressing up as Krampus at Christmas?
In Austria, on Christmas Day, young people dress up as Krampus, a scary fantastic creature with bells, whips and deer horns. Together with St. Nicholas, who gives sweets and gifts to good children, Krampus walks the streets and jokingly tries to put naughty boys and girls in a bag to take to his cave.
In which country the tradition of exchanging postcards on the Christmas holiday was started?
It is believed that the tradition of exchanging postcards on the Christmas holiday originated in England, when the first mass postcard was printed in London in 1843. The businessman Henry Cole ordered and sent 2,050 copies at a cost of one shilling each.
Whose giant figure is placed in the main square of Sweden cities instead of a Christmas tree?
The goat is a traditional Christmas character in Northern European countries. His giant straw figure is placed annually in central squares in Swedish cities. The goat is built every year on the first day of Advent, which according to the Western Christian tradition is at the end of November or the beginning of December. On New Year's Eve, the goat is burned.
Which of the following is one of the main Christmas souvenirs in Germany?
In Germany, one of the main souvenirs that can be found at every holiday fair is the Nutcracker, which became popular here long before the appearance of Hoffmann's fairy tale and Tchaikovsky's ballet. At the beginning of the 19th century wooden figures for cracking nuts were given to children at Christmas.
In which country there is a tradition of pouring water on New Year's Eve?
In Cuba, there is an interesting tradition on the New Year’s Eve to fill all the buckets, jugs and basins in the house with water. At midnight, Cubans splash water through open windows to the street, wishing that the New Year would be as bright and clean as water.
In which country Holiday House Decorating Contest is held annually?
Who brings Christmas presents in the Czech Republic?
In the Czech Republic, both children and adults receive gifts on Christmas Eve, December 24. They are delivered, strangely enough, by Jezhišek, that is, little Jesus. How the baby does it is unknown, because no one ever sees him. You could leave the room for a second - and the gifts are alredy under the Christmas tree.
In Mexico, an obligatory attribute of the Christmas is a piñata hanging in every house. What exactly is this?
A piñata is a container decorated with paper, filled with candy, and then broken as part of a celebration. 7 rays symbolize the 7 deadly sins. Blindfolded guests take turns trying to break the pot with a stick. This ritual is a symbol of faith that we will overcome sins, and sweets are a nice bonus.
