Christmas Around the World III

ITALY

The Christmas season in Italy goes for three weeks, starting 8 days before Christmas known as the Novena. During this period, children go from house to house reciting Christmas poems and singing. In some parts shepherds bring musical instruments into the villages, play and sing Christmas songs.



A strict feast is observed for 24 hours before Christmas Eve, and is followed by a celebration meal, in which a light Milanese cake called panetoni features as well as chocolate. Presents and empty boxes, are drawn from the Urn of Fate - lucky dip, which always contains one gift per person.



At noon on Christmas Day the pope gives his blessing to crowds gathered in the huge Vatican square. In Italy the children wait until Epiphany, January 6, for their presents. According to tradition, the presents are delivered by a kind ugly witch called Befana on a broomstick. It was said that she was told by the three kings that the baby Jesus was born, she was busy and delayed visiting the baby.
She missed the Star lost her way and has been flying around ever since, leaving presents at every house with children in case he is there. She slides down chimneys, and fills stockings and shoes with good things for good children and it is said leaves coal for children who are not so good.



IRELAND



Christmas in Ireland lasts from Christmas Eve to the feast of the Epiphany on January 6, which is referred to Little Christmas. Ireland's Christmas is more religious than a time of fun.
Lighted candles are placed in windows on Christmas Eve, as a guide that Joseph and Mary might be looking for shelter. The candles are usually red in color, and decorated with sprigs of holly.

Irish women bake a seed cake for each person in the house. They also make three puddings, one for each day of the Epiphany such as Christmas, New Year's Day and the Twelfth Night. After the Christmas evening meal, bread and milk are left out and the door unlatched as a symbol of hospitality.

On St. Stephen's Day, which is also known as Boxing Day, it's customary to give small gifts, usually of cash, to the milkman, mailman, and others who perform services throughout the year.

Epiphany
The official end of the Christmas season in Ireland occurs on January 6th, the Feast of Epiphany, or Feast of the Magi (also known as "Little Christmas"). This is the day when all Christmas decorations are taken down, and the last festive dinner is served. Grafton Street, Dublin Ireland

source: A History of Christmas

Christmas Around the World 2

CHRISTMAS IN DENMARK

Christmas in Denmark is suppose to be when a mischievous elf called Nisse can have his fun. He is said to live in the lofts of old farmhouses and enjoys playing jokes. He wears gray woolen clothes, a red bonnet, red stockings and white clogs. Families leave him a bowl of rice pudding or porridge on Christmas Eve to keep his jokes within limits. Usually though he is kind and helpful helping out on the farms and being especially good to the children.

Christmas Eve dinner begins with rice pudding that holds a magic almond inside. Whoever finds the almond receives a prize. They then have goose, red cabbage and browned potatoes. After that lots of pastries and cakes.

The Danish tradition is the Christmas plate. This was a tradition in the early days where rich Danes gave plates biscuits and fruit as presents to their servants. These plates were the nicest and best kind and were not used for everyday use, this is the reason why they became so collectable.




ISRAEL

Bethlehem the little town where Jesus is said to have been born, is the site of the Nativity

which is ablaze with flags and decorations every Christmas. On Christmas Eve, natives and visitors alike crowd the church's doorways and stand on the roof to watch the dramatic annual procession. Galloping horsemen and policemen mounted on Arabian horses lead the parade. They are followed by a solitary horseman carrying a cross and sitting astride a coal black steed. Then come the churchmen and public officials. The procession solemnly enters the doors and places an ancient effigy of the Holy Child in the church. Deep winding stairs lead to a grotto where visitors find a silver star marking the site of the birth of Jesus.

Christian homes in Bethlehem are marked by a cross painted over the door, and each home displays a homemade manger scene. A star is set up on a pole in the village square.


Source: The History of Christmas
Israel photo by: Damon Lynch