Nikoleta

Madala

Year:2014-15

CONTENTS

Christmas in:

Poland

Pictures of Poland

Mexico

Pictures of Mexico

Hawaii

Pictures of Hawaii

Canada

Pictures of Canada

Brazil

Pictures of Brazil

PolandChristmas in Poland is a major annual celebration, as in most countries of the Christian

world. The observance of Christmas developed gradually over the centuries, beginning

in ancient times; combining old pagan customs with the religious ones introduced after

the Christianization of Poland by the Catholic Church. Later influences include mutual

permeating of local traditions and various folk cultures. Christmas trees are decorated

and lit in family rooms on the day of Christmas Eve. Other trees are placed in most

public areas and outside churches. Christmas is called "Boże Narodzenie" in Polish.

Christmas carols are not celebrated in Poland until during-and-after the Christmas Vigil

Mass called Pasterka held between 24 and 25 of December. The Christmas season

often runs until February 2. The early hymns sung in Catholic church were brought to

Poland by the Franciscan Brothers in the Middle Ages.

In Poland, Christmas Eve is a day first of fasting, then of feasting. The Wigilia feast begins

at the appearance of the first star. There is no red meat served but fish, usually carp.

The supper, which includes many traditional dishes and desserts, can sometimes last

for over two hours. It is followed by the exchange of gifts. The next day, the Christmas

Day, is often spent visiting friends. In Polish tradition, people combine religion and

family closeness at Christmas. Although gift-giving plays a major role in the rituals,

emphasis is placed more on the making of special foods and decorations.

Pictures of Poland

MexicoChristmas in Mexico is celebrated during a season that begins in early December to January 6, with one other related

event on February 2. During this entire time, one can see nativity scenes, poinsettias and even Christmas trees.

The season begin with celebrations related to the Virgin of Guadalupe, the patroness of Mexico, followed by

traditions such as Las Posadas, pastorelas, a mass and feast on Christmas Eve, the arrival of the Three Wise

Men on January 6 ending with Candlemas and the presentation of Child Jesus images at churches. These

traditions are a mixture of remnants from the pre Hispanic period, Spanish traditions, traditions created during

Mexico’s colonial period and later adaptations from German and U.S. Christmas traditions.

From December 16 to 24 there are a series of photos and parties called Las Posadas (from the word for inn), for many

children the most anticipated part of the Christmas season. The tradition was begun by Spanish evangelists to

teach the Christmas story to the indigenous and reportedly to substitute for rituals related to the birth of the

god Huitzilopochtli . Today they are most often still performed in rural areas and in the lower-class neighborhoods

of cities. The first part consists of a procession. The most traditional version heads out after dark each of the nine

evenings from a local church. A girl and boy are chosen to play Mary and Joseph in costume, sometimes with

Mary riding a donkey. The rest of the procession carries candles, paper lanterns and/or decorated staves and

often an empty manger. If no one is dressed at Mary and Joseph, the procession generally carries a nativity

scene.

The last posada is early Christmas Eve. What follows is a late night mass called the Mass of the Rooster. It originated

about six years after the arrival of the Spanish, when Father Pedro de Gante began a celebration of Christmas

with a late night mass. The name comes from the tradition that the birth of Christ was announced by the crowing

of a rooster. The celebration became popular among the newly converted indigenous as it included elements

from the old celebrations for the god Huitzilopochtli such as fireworks, torches, sparklers and plays along with

food and dancing.

New Year’s Eve falls during this time as well. It is celebrated much like most of the rest of the world with some

exceptions. One notable tradition is the eating of twelve grapes rapidly along with the twelve chimes of the clock

at midnight, to bring luck for each of the months of the coming year. Fireworks are common and in very rural

areas they festivities may include shots fired in the air as well. In some parts of Veracruz, December 31 is

reserved to honor elderly men with the Fiesta del Hombre Viejo

Pictures of Mexico

Hawaii

Christmas in Hawaii is a major annual celebration, as in most of the Western world.

The annual Honolulu City Lights ceremony features a 50-foot Norfolk pine Christmas tree decorated with bright lights and elaborate decorations. There is also live entertainment.

The traditions on Christmas day are similar to other places; a large meal is eaten and then, as the beach is often nearby in Hawaii, surfing or swimming often takes place in the waters, and musical groups with guitars and ukuleles and dancing hula entertain the crowds on the beach. Santa hats are worn and the traditional Santa's sleigh and reindeer are replaced by an outrigger canoe pulled by dolphins. The different cultures and ethnic groups that have settled in the islands celebrate the Christmas traditions of Hawaii in their own unique ways, which may be religious or plainly secular. Even Santa Claus (Hawaiian: Kanakaloka) himself is not wearing his corporate red and white suit, but has swapped it for flowery Hawaiian clothes.

Christmas wreaths are made from the poinsettia plant.

Pictures of Hawaii

CanadaIn the Canadian provinces where English is the predominant language, Christmas traditions are largely similar to those

of the United States, with some lingering influences from the United Kingdom and newer traditions brought by

immigrants from other European countries. Mince pies, plum pudding and Christmas cakes are traditionally

served in English Canada as Christmas dinner desserts, following the traditional meal of roast turkey, stuffing,

potatoes and winter vegetables. Christmas table crackers are not uncommon in English-speaking Canada. In

some parts of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia Christmas traditions include mummers.

North American influences on Christmas are evident in the hanging of stockings on Christmas Eve, to be filled by

Santa Claus. However, Canadian children believe that the home of Santa Claus is located at the North Pole, in

Canada, and through Canada Post address thousands of letters to Santa Claus each year, using the postal code

designation "HOH OHO", a play on Canada's six digit postal code that includes letters and numbers. Decorated

Christmas trees, either fresh cut or artificial, introduced to Canada in 1781 originally by German soldiers

stationed in Quebec during the American Revolution, are now common in private homes and commercial spaces

throughout most of Canada.As Canada is a cold, dark country in winter, lights are often put up in public places,

and on commercial and residential buildings in November and December. Many communities have celebrations

that include light events, such as the Cavalcade of Lights Festival in Toronto, the Montreal Christmas Fireworks

or the Bright Nights in Stanley Park, Vancouver.[ A national program, Christmas Lights Across Canada,

illuminates Ottawa, the national capital, and the 13 provincial and territorial capitals. In the east-central Canadian

province of Quebec and other French-speaking areas of North America, Christmas traditions

include réveillon, Père Noël("Father Christmas") and the bûche de Noël (Yule log), among many others. A

traditional dish for the réveillon is tourtière, a savoury meat pie, and gifts are opened during réveillon, often

following Midnight Mass. Boxing Day at the Toronto Eaton Centre in downtown Toronto, Canada The Royal

Christmas Message from Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada is televised nationwide in Canada, the occasion being

an observance which unites Canadians with citizens of the other Commonwealth countries worldwide. The

observation of Boxing Day (which coincides with the Christian Feast of St. Stephen) on the day following

Christmas Day, December 26, is a tradition practiced in Canada, as it is in many other Anglophone countries,

although not in the United States. In Canada Boxing Day is a day (or the beginning of a few days) of deeply

discounted sale prices at retail stores which attract large numbers of shoppers in search of bargains.

Pictures of Canada

BrazilChristmas Day on December 25 is a national holiday in Brazil. In

the small cities in the entire country, as well as in the largest cities, like São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Recife, Salvador, Fortaleza, Curitiba, Porto Alegre, Brasília, Manaus, Belém, Natal and Belo Horizonte, the celebrations resemble in many ways the traditions in Europe and North America, with the Christmas tree, the exchanging of gifts and Christmas cards, the decoration of houses and buildings with electric lights and the nativity scene. Despite the warm tropical summer weather, some incongruences such as decorations with themes of winter and snow are not uncommon. In some cities like Curitiba, there are decoration contests, when judges go to houses to look at the decorations, inside or outside of the house, and decide the most beautiful house. Christmas Eve is the most important day. Unlike in the North American and Anglo-Saxon tradition, Christmas takes action mainly near midnight, usually with big family dinners, opening of gifts and the celebration of the "Missa do Galo" (the rooster's mass) in churches throughout the nation.

Pictures of Brazil