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More from ნათია შევარდენიძე
Christmas
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- 2. China SINCE ONLY ABOUT1% OF CHINA’S POPULATION IS CHRISTIAN, MOST PEOPLE KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT CHRISTMAS. THIS IS DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE WORLD’S PLASTIC CHRISTMAS TREES AND DECORATIONS ARE MANUFACTURED THERE. ALTHOUGH MOST DON’T UNDERSTAND ITS MEANING, CHRISTMAS IS STILL WIDELY CELEBRATED IN CHINA, PARTICULARLY IN THE MAJOR CITIES. ONE POPULAR TRADITION IS THE GIVING OF APPLES, LIKELY BECAUSE CHRISTMAS EVE IN CHINESE IS PING AN YE WHICH IS SIMILAR TO THE CHINESE WORD FOR APPLE, PING GUO.
- 3. Zimbabwe CHRISTMAS DAY INZIMBABWE USUALLY BEGINS WITH A CHURCH SERVICE. AFTER ITS CONCLUSION, EVERYONE GOES FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE TO VISIT WITH ALL OF THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHERE THEY EAT AND EXCHANGE GIFTS. THIS CELEBRATION OFTEN LASTS THE REST OF THE DAY. MUSIC IS ALSO A BIG PART OF THE CELEBRATION. MANY PEOPLE PLACE SPEAKERS OUTSIDE THE FRONT OF THEIR HOMES AND PLAY THEIR FAVORITE TUNES AT LOUD VOLUMES. THIS COULD INCLUDE HOLIDAY SONGS, CONTEMPORARY MUSIC, OR EVEN TRADITIONAL AFRICAN TUNES.
- 4. Brazil CHILDREN IN BRAZILAWAIT A VISIT FROM PAPAI NOEL OR BOM VELHINHO, WHICH MEANS GOOD OLD MAN. THEY LEAVE HIM A SOCK NEAR THE WINDOW, WHICH HE EXCHANGES FOR A GIFT. ANOTHER POPULAR GIFT-GIVING TRADITION IN BRAZIL INVOLVES THOSE FROM AN AMIGO SECRETO, A SECRET FRIEND. THESE ADMIRERS GIVE SMALL GIFTS ALL THROUGH THE MONTH OF DECEMBER USING A FALSE NAME, ONLY TO REVEAL THEIR TRUE IDENTIFY ON CHRISTMAS DAY.
- 5. Australia WHEN SANTA REACHESAUSTRALIA HE TRADES HIS REINDEER IN FOR KANGAROOS, KNOWN AS SIX WHITE BOOMERS (A POPULAR LOCAL CHRISTMAS SONG). HE ALSO SHEDS HIS FURRY SUIT FOR SOME COOLER CLOTHES TO BEAT THE HEAT IN THE OUTBACK. BEACH BARBECUES ARE A POPULAR WAY TO CELEBRATE WITH FAMILY. IN ADDITION TO THE TRADITIONAL FARE, MANY DINE ON SEAFOOD SUCH AS PRAWNS OR LOBSTER. THE CELEBRATORY MEAL IS USUALLY EATEN AT LUNCH TIME.
- 6. Egypt CHRISTIANS IN EGYPTPARTICIPATE IN A HOLY NATIVITY FAST FOR THE 43 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS. THEY EAT WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY A VEGAN DIET, WHICH CONTAINS NO FOODS THAT COME FROM ANIMALS (INCLUDING MILK AND EGGS). ON CHRISTMAS EVE, THEY ATTEND A CHURCH SERVICE THAT BEGINS AROUND 10:30 AND CAN LAST UNTIL AS LATE AS 4:00 A.M. FOLLOWING THE SERVICE, EVERYONE GOES HOME TO THE BIG CHRISTMAS MEAL, WHICH CONTAINS MEAT, BUTTER, AND ALL OF THE OTHER YUMMY THINGS THEY COULDN’T EAT DURING THE ADVENT FAST. A POPULAR DISH IS FATA, A SOUP THAT CONTAINS RICE, BREAD, GARLIC, AND BOILED LAMB.
- 7. France IN FRENCH HOMES,YULE LOGS MADE OF CHERRY WOOD ARE OFTEN BURNED. THEY’RE SPRINKLED WITH RED WINE, WHICH CREATES A NICE AROMA. THE LOGS, ALONG WITH CANDLES, ARE LEFT BURNING THROUGH THE NIGHT. THEY’RE ACCOMPANIED BY FOOD AND DRINKS THAT ARE LEFT OUT IN CASE MARY AND THE JESUS VISIT DURING THE NIGHT. CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS OFTEN INCLUDE A NATIVITY CRIB THAT’S ADORNED WITH CLAY FIGURES. IN ADDITION TO THE TYPICAL NATIVITY CHARACTERS, FRENCH SCENES SOMETIMES INCLUDE A BUTCHER, A BAKER, A PRIEST, AND A POLICEMAN.
- 8. Finland FINLAND IS LONGBELIEVED TO BE THE HOME OF SANTA CLAUS OR FATHER CHRISTMAS. HE’S PRESUMED TO LIVE IN THE KORVATUNTURI, OR LAPLAND, NORTH OF THE ARCTIC CIRCLE. AN ADDRESS THERE RECEIVES LETTERS TO SANTA CLAUS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. THERE’S ALSO A LARGE THEME PARK CALLED “CHRISTMAS LAND” IN THE AREA. ANOTHER IMPORTANT CHRISTMAS FIGURE IS JOULUPUKKI, WHICH TRANSLATES TO “CHRISTMAS GOAT.” THIS CHARACTER WAS A SCARY GOAT WHO ASKED PEOPLE FOR PRESENTS, WITHOUT EVERY GIVING ANY IN RETURN. EVENTUALLY, THOUGH HE BEGAN GIVING GIFTS, A DUTY THAT WAS LATER TAKEN ON BY SANTA.
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