Christmas

Christmas is one of the most joyful and memorable holidays. It is celebrated in many major countries. And each country has its own customs for the Christmas. So let's learn at the most vivid examples!

ENGLAND

Christmas is a real family celebration in England. On this day, everyone gathers in the parental home, give each other gifts and view their family photos. The traditional dishes are pudding and turkey under a gooseberry sauce. A drink to this day is only tea or brandy.
English Christmas table decoration is a celebratory cake. According to ancient custom, the cake is stuffed with various objects, which predicting the fate for the next year. Britishers believe that a ring means a quick wedding, a coin - the future wealth, and a horseshoe - good luck in the new year. House in the UK is decided to decorate the branches of holly, symbolizing prosperity, and mistletoe, meaning hospitality and fertility.

FRANCE

Christmas is the most important holiday of the year for all the French families, so the French prepared for it thoroughly - for a whole month! Celebration continues them also about a month. Yule log is burned in fireplaces, then its ashes left in houses to ward off evil spirits. Pie with a bean is usually served for dessert. Anyone who gets a piece of cake with the bean gets the title of "Bean King“ the whole evening. All the others will have to follow orders "monarch“.

ITALY

In Italy, the tables is covered of the red and white tablecloths. There is lasagna, turkey, cold cuts, nuts, Christmas cakes on this tables. The only thing that Italians don’t eat on this holiday - apples, considering them a symbol of original sin.

BETHLEHEM

Here, the holiday begins long before sunset. In Palestine, the Christian holidays have a special attitude: sometimes Arab Muslims come to Bethlehem for Christmas to give the Christians respect. Celebrations are started with music on the Mount of Olives, where is the Church of the Nativity. Orchestras pass by several quarters. The same melody in the Middle Ages is played Knights Crusaders. Service in the church carried out several priests in various languages. Thousands of people are gather around the temple.

GERMANY

According to ancient tradition, the 11th of 11 months in 11 hours and 11 minutes in Germany comes the season of Christmas, called "fifth season". There are grandiose fairs in the historic square where thousands of people gather. People hug, drink hot mulled wine, eat, dance and sing. At the same time, children begin to open sweet Advent calendars. They are designed for 24 days, and every little window in the calendar hide a candy for every day.
In Germany, it decided to give "Christmas Star". One hundred years ago this plant was brought from Mexico. It is called spurge in Russia. With the right care at Christmas on a green bush adorns a bright red or pink corolla, resembling a star. Also, they give the clover in a pot, which is a sign that the happiness will smile that person. In Catholic areas, especially in Bavaria, during the Christmas holidays on the streets there are processions of maskers and many of them have awesome views: the face smeared with soot or hidden under terrible horned masks.