In the cold and the dark of
November, there is a way to fight the autumn's depression - that is to think of
the upcoming Christmas!
Better yet, the Christmas somewhere (relatively) warm and sunny, like Spain. The preparations for the Holidays start with the beginning of Advent. The streets and houses are decorated with lights and such, and every home must have a nativity scene - the bigger the better. Of course a Christmas Tree is also known in Spain, although it is quite a recent tradition.
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The 22nd of December is an extremely
important date for the Spanish folk. On that day takes place the famous
Christmas Lottery, an old tradition where the prizes can go up to several
million euros. At a Spanish Christmas table we can find lamb, pork, seafood and
fish, as well as a mandatory bottle of wine.
Gift giving differs from what we may be used to - traditionally, Spanish children get their presents not from Santa Clause, but from the Three Kings on the 6th of January. They prepare three bowls of water for their camels and the shoes for the gifts. Nowadays the traditions have merged and children receive their presents twice.
Gift giving differs from what we may be used to - traditionally, Spanish children get their presents not from Santa Clause, but from the Three Kings on the 6th of January. They prepare three bowls of water for their camels and the shoes for the gifts. Nowadays the traditions have merged and children receive their presents twice.
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https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/Reyes_Magos_en_centro_comercial.jpg
[dostęp 27-10-2015]
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The 28th of December is the Holy
Innocents' Day, which is similar to the April Fools' Day. On New Year's Eve there
is a custom to eat twelve grapes as the clock strikes midnight, to ensure
prosperity for the new year.
The Holiday period ends with the Epiphany, when (as said above) children get their presents and the streets teem with parades.
The Holiday period ends with the Epiphany, when (as said above) children get their presents and the streets teem with parades.
1. Do you know any interesting
Christmas traditions from other countries?
2. How do you usually celebrate
Holidays?
Not at all, traditions of other countries never bothered me so I'm kind of ignorant when it comes to that.
ReplyDeleteUsually I celebrate Holidays with my family, as it's perfect time to take a break from everything I'm doing every day and spend the time together.
I follow up what Łukasz said, I’ve never been unduly curious how other countries spend their Christmas. Despite that, I don’t get bored while I read this article and have some weird Christmas tradition that comes to my mind.
ReplyDeleteFor example in Norway there’s no cleaning on Christmas Eve – all brooms are safely hidden away, in case they’re stolen by witches and evil spirits.
Greenland has some unusual Christmas recipes. Mattak is raw whale skin, served with blubber. Kiviak is 500 dead auk birds, stuffed into a seal skin, and left to ferment for 7 months.
On Christmas Eve, Estonian families traditionally head to the sauna together.
You know I don't really like Christmas time, I mean I love spending time with my nephew and the Christmas time is somehow magical - I like cultivating the story that Santa Claus do exists and he leaves goodies for him each year and I always "troll him" in some way. But I don't really like Christmas, it's overrated this times. I think we feel it more when we are childs.
ReplyDeleteI don't want to be like "I knew something, god knows from" about christmas traditions so I will leave a link for all of you so you don't need to look for it :D
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_traditions
There is a lot of interesting traditions tho ;)
It could be very odd to spend Christmas in warm country. Listening 'Let it snow' and using air conditioner to cool off?
ReplyDeleteIf someone want to know some interesting Christmas tradition then Japan would be the better choice:
http://fast.swide.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/weirdest-christmas-traditions-around-the-world-japanese-christmas-cake.jpg
http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/strange-christmas-customs/
In my home I've got very traditional Holidays which I celebrate always with my family.
I must admit that I know little about handling the holidays in other countries, as I spend this time at home with family and never had the opportunity to meet other traditions. I have been two times in Spain and it is a wonderful country, but I can not imagine the holidays when the sun shines through the window and people lie in the shade of palm trees. Spain is great for a summer trip, but Polish holidays have something magical
ReplyDeleteExploring foreign tradition is very interesting. Especially the variety that in different countries, the same holidays are celebrated in a characteristic way.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I like the the Christmas period. I have the opportunity to meet with whole family. It is a special time. Christmas time is the only period of the year, which have the unique atmosphere. I look forward to Christmas time.
Personally, I don't, but this link contains different traditions in various countries:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bookland.com.pl/tradycje_swiateczne
I am spending christmas with my family, then you can safely talk, to slow down, and to forget about duties at least for moments.
I'm a great fan of Christmas time. It's not that I'm really religious but I love all this preparations, this special atmosphere and kindness that surrounds (or at least should surround) us. I've never been really into traditions, I barely know the Polish ones so when it comes to other countries the level of my knowledge equals zero. I usually spend Christmas with family, as it's the only part of the year when I come to my hometown for a longer period of time than weekend. Although the fact that my loved ones weren't rally glad, I've went to London last year for a winter break. I've seen all of these pictures of Oxford Street and I had to see that on my own eyes. I wasn't disappointed, it was really beautiful! If you haven't seen that yet, you can check it out here: http://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/event/40044982-oxford-street-christmas-lights-switch-on
ReplyDelete1. I know Christmas traditions from Portugal and Germany because I have a lot of friends there. In Portugal Christmas is very important. Whole families gather at one place at home, around Christmas tree, and wait for midnight. Then they go to the church on shepherdess and next come back home to eat consoada (Christmas dinner). In Germany the most important thing about Christmas is preparation time - Advent. People decorate they houses, using Advent wreaths and candles, and they go to the Christmas markets which are organized in most German cities. Christmas Eve is not as solemn as in Poland. More important is 25th December.
ReplyDelete2. I usually celebrate Holidays with my family. We meet at my aunt’s home. Everyone brings some dishes, we eat Christmas Eve dinner, sing carols and talk a lot. It’s nice time when I can meet my whole family together.
1. Unfortunately I don't know any christmas traditions from other countries.
ReplyDelete2. I celebrate Christmas with my family. We divide the wafer. After that we give each other gifts. And then we eat very tasty dishes cooked by my mom and sing carols. I love Christmas atmosphere.
One of my personal traditions is watching Kevin in TV :D
1. No.
ReplyDelete2. I usually celebrate holidays with my family, but not always beacuse everyone live far away and it's to meet at one place in winter, but in summer we always meet in one house.
I have family in Germany and I know that Germans make beautiful gingerbread houses and cookies. The German Christmas tree pastry, Christbaumgeback, is a white dough that can be molded into shapes and baked for tree decorations. Also Christmas Trees are very important in Germany. They were first used in Germany during the Middle Ages. If there are young children in the house, the trees are usually secretly decorated by the mother of the family. The Christmas tree was traditionally brought into the house on Christmas eve.
ReplyDeleteI usually celebrate holidays with my parents and grandparents. Sometimes my aunt and uncle from Germany comes to us and we spend this time together. We always sit to the table after first star shows up on the sky. Of course Christmas carols are playing in the background :)
1. I don't know any tradition from other countries.
ReplyDelete2. I celebrate my holidays with my family. At first we make a wishes to everyone. Then we eat many delicious dishes. After dinner everyone open a gifts and at the end we sing corals. But I must say I don't like christmas for 5 maybe 6 years because I don't feel Christmas atmosphere. Maybe this year will be better ;)
I don’t know any other countries Christmas traditions. We prepare homemade pasta with poppy, and dried fruit compote. Later we decorate Christmas tree and give each other presents.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea about other countries Christmas traditions. Every Christmas I spend with my familly in Poland and I guess we have rather traditional approach. The only problem is with the Christmas tree because of the cats. They keep knocking the baubles so we cant really have it.
ReplyDeleteMeh, a few more years and "warm and sunny christmas" will be right here. Thanks, I'd rather have my snow. It's much easier to justify devouring all this food when you need to keep a layer of insulation for the winter.
ReplyDeleteI don’t know any interesting Christmas traditions from other countries. In every country that holiday is spent different. I know Christams traditions from Poland.
ReplyDeleteI celebrate Christmas with my family and close friends. This is the most beautiful time in the year. A lot of food, calm music, warm atmosphere.
Heard that in Germany preparation time is important. People loves to decorate they houses. I always want to be with my familly on Christmas. This is sweety times, when you can spend more times with parents, sister, Talk with them, watching TV with whole familly. Just a few wonderful days.
ReplyDeleteIn the past times we spent the holidays with our family, eating and talking together, but in the last five years it suddenly ended with no hope of coming back, unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteBut as for the foreign countries and tradition, I like it how they spend the christmas time in japan. The weather is often nice there and they're playing together, wearing colorful clothes as in japan people like to try some crazy combinations of clothes. I like how the people there are spending time at public parties,dancing, eating at public stands and stuff.
Hmm, I don't know any foreign Christmas tradition, I'm afraid.
ReplyDeleteI spend Holidays on visiting my aunt's family in order to sing Christmas carols and basically on relaxing and not thinking of my daily chores.
I usually celebrate Christmas with my family and the nearest friends . Its really good and calm time to meet and talk about everything. Im not interested in traditions in other countries . I like our way to spend Christmas and think its enought.
ReplyDeleteSo, I don't know any interesting Christmas traditions from other countries. I think every other countries has got exceptional christmas time.
ReplyDeleteI usually christmas time with my familly. Christmas traditions for me is very amazing and especially. We celebrate exquisitely Christmas Time.