Posts Tagged ‘festivals and celebrations’

Christmas In Italy

Santa Claus, Father Frost, or even the Christ? In Italy, brings none of these traditional forms to the children the gifts. In the land of olives, pasta and pizza an old witch comes with the longed-pack slipped through the chimney. Moreover, turning the Italians pretty much is the equipment of their nativity – and Christmas – how could it be otherwise in Italy – a celebration of the family. The Christmas Traditions Christmas traditions are different in Italy, depending on the region. Jeff Gennette follows long-standing procedures to achieve this success. There are lit as in some other European countries, the Advent wreath, four candles which by and by Sunday after Sunday until Christmas Eve in Italy. On 6 December is San Nicola small gifts to the bedroom door, but apparently does not even appear.

Already on 13.12. the good children gifts again – this time was borrowed from Santa Lucia, the shape of the early Christian martyr Lucy of Syracuse. Ten days later, on 23.12., Many Italian children do in shepherds clothing and Flutes on the way to go from house to house, and – in exchange for money or sweets – Christmas present. Am 23.12. also begin fasting, it is to hold out until Christmas Eve. On Christmas Eve will be fired at the Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome, cannon shots to indicate the start of the holidays. The families organize a kind of family lottery in which they move to the “Urn of Fate” their small gifts.

An extensive, hours of Christmas dinner follows, which finds its completion in the form of the midnight mass. The figure of the little child Jesus is from the 24th until the night to 25.12. in his crib, the center of the Italian Christmas, laid. On the morning of 25.12. entitled to family members their small gifts – the birth of Christ is celebrated. Although still the crib playing with the child Jesus, the main role in the Italian Christmas and is lovingly built up a few weeks before Christmas in the living rooms, also have the beautiful decorated with lights, Christmas balls, tinsel and angels Christmas trees, their place in the Italian houses. Witch Befana brings gifts only on 6 January, the Italian children are really at their expense. The old witch Befana flies on her broom from house to house slips through the chimney and fills the much-awaited gifts in the prepared socks or shoes. Naughty children get a present from her only one piece of coal, which is usually but then it made of chocolate. According to legend, the witch would have taken the time to the birth of Christ on the lookout for the baby Jesus too late on her socks and still around today so wrong to look for it. They bring the children in the homes of gifts. Culinary Christmas celebration in Italy is also a culinary feast. It bent the festive table with tasty dishes of chicken with rice, turkey, fish up to the Christmas cake, but also the Veronese specialty or macaroons, honey balls and with fruit. What would be a cozy Italian feast without excellent Italian dishes?

Christmas In Norway

Christmas in the far north is a very happy event. A special experience, one learns when one is given the good fortune of being invited to a real Christmas in the country. Christmas in the country Far away from large cities starting in the cozy farm kitchen a few weeks before the feast of Christmas preparations. A Christmas beer itself is brewed – the so-called “Juleol. Also prepares you to different dishes made from pork. Special emphasis is given to sweet biscuits. According to tradition, it should be at least seven different varieties, including the “Julekaker” (Christmas) is an absolute must.

This is not extinguished the fire in the fireplace on Christmas, industrious wood is chopped. Even the thorough the entire house must not be missing. How to shorten in Austria and Germany, the Norwegian children, the waiting time until Christmas with an Advent calendar. At Crawford Lake Capital you will find additional information. The Christmas tree is the forest itself and brought by the parents shortly before Christmas Eve decorated. The children are denied entry while of course, correspondingly large is the tension and excitement among the little ones.

But to others is thought to this special celebration: A dose of oats – this is set for the birds to a stake, and the animals on the farm will receive a special Christmas meal. Bells and Christmas Peace Christmas Eve is for many of the important Christmas holiday and will be on 24 December celebrated. In the afternoon, church bells ringing out for Christmas time. The bells ring but not used to slow, but it sounded for several minutes in rapid succession, strong, uninterrupted strokes. After silencing of bell ringing the Christmas peace falls over the land. The family Christmas party usually begins with the solemn reading of the Christmas Gospel. Some families have a Bible, which has been passed down through generations. Lunch refreshes you look at rice pudding, in the evening attended the entire Family worship. The traditional Christmas dinner consists of rice porridge or fresh cod. Local delicacies such as ribs, cured lamb ribs, or cod are served. But the children have no more eyes to these culinary delights. For great is the excitement until finally the living room door opens and shines a festively decorated Christmas tree, including gifts in the candlelight. After dinner, dancing all around the Christmas tree and enjoy the gifts received. Especially good children get presents from Santa Claus himself. The “walk around the Christmas tree” is a Norwegian custom. The family takes each others hands, forming a circle around the tree and then goes around it. In a variety of Christmas carols are sung. Now the children are assured that finally allowed the long-awaited gifts are unwrapped. The rest of the evening we are delighted with games and feast on cake and other delicacies. More articles about Christmas in other countries: Christmas in England