European approach to winter holidays
Christmas symbolizes the birth of Jesus Christ, it is a celebration of love and happiness throughout the world. People share warm wishes, try to congratulate all relatives and friends. The Christmas also denotes the arrival of winter. Europeans decorate their homes with dazzling Christmas lights, flowers, and hanging balls on Christmas trees. Christmas gifts are the perfect way to express love for your loved ones.
The French are sure to exchange Christmas gifts. By tradition, the children leave their shoes next to the fireplace so that Per Noel (an analogue of our Santa Claus) filled them with fruits, nuts, and toys. For Christmas, a puppet show is played on Cathedral Square. Almost all families also act out the scene of the birth of Jesus.
The most famous Christmas fair in France is held in the city of Arras, it presents items of local artisans and artists. Fair is famous for its low cost. It opens on November 8th and lasts until December 24th this year. The Christmas Market in the city of Lille is the largest in Northern France, and presents unique, rare gifts. At the fair you can have some fun and enjoy the treats. She works from November 19 until December 30. Fair in Reims is magical entertainment and runs from November 21 to December 28.
In England, there is an interesting custom called mummering. In the Middle Ages, participants in a special pantomime wore masks and played Christmas plays. In cities and villages, people still perform Christmas pantomimes. December 25 at noon is Christmas time. Until that time, they eat only corn porridge. An English Christmas dinner is roast turkey with sauce and vegetables. Brandy Christmas pudding is a popular dessert.
The Winter Wonders Fair in Hyde Park in central London includes numerous rides, a 60-meter observation wheel and an open-air rink for 400 people, a German bazaar with traditional gingerbread and hot mulled wine. The fair is open from November 23 to January 4.
At the Bata Christmas Fair, 120 stalls are presented, including those selling home-made gifts, unusual decorations, seasonal food and drinks. It runs from November 27 to December 7. At the fair in Lincoln, mainly traditional toys, jewelry, jewelry are sold, it works from November 3 to December 14.
In Germany, starting with the Catholic festival of Advent, this year from December 7, in all cities there are outlets and trays where you can buy everything you need to celebrate Christmas: Christmas trees and decorations for them, candles, sweets. The walk on such fairs is very pleasant, especially for children. The smell of tar fir and mixed with roasted almonds, grilled sausages and baked chestnuts. The air is filled with songs. The most famous Christmas fair takes place in Nuremberg and attracts many tourists every year.
In Greece, Christmas comes after a 40-day fast. The traditional dish is called “Christ’s bread” – bread with raisins, olives and nuts. Also eat roast pork. On the main square of Syntagma, there works the “Sugar Town” – rows of painted pavilions selling sweets, in particular, very popular candied fruits. Interesting is the Greek legend about the goblins of Kalikanzari from the center of the earth, which, within 12 days after Christmas, descend through the chimneys, bringing discord into the house. To scare them, sing Christmas songs.
In Portugal, children look forward to the arrival of the three wise men at Christmas. They put their shoes on the windows and at the door with carrots and straw inside on the evening of January 5 to feed the camels on which they come. In Portugal, the custom of placing extra seats at the festive table for the dead is popular.
In Spain, at Christmas after midnight, the streets are filled with dancers and spectators. A special Christmas dance called Khota, performed with guitar and castanets.
Christmas tree in Norway, as a rule, is decorated with apples, candles, red figures of deer, etc. Norwegian Christmas Dwarf, if not one, lives with pets in the yard. To cajole it, they make Christmas porridge.
