Western Christmas customs show that

Christmas customs in various countries

Text/Zhang Minggu

When was the Lord Jesus born? Scholars have different opinions. Some people say that the Lord Jesus was born in four years BC. Some people say it was in the sixth year BC. On my birthday, some people said it was March 25th. Others said it was April 19, but the exact date was impossible. From 353 to 36 1 year, the Roman emperor Constantine declared Christianity as the state religion, and ordered Christians to celebrate Jesus' Christmas on1February 25th every year, that is, to celebrate Sutton, the god of agriculture. However, the Eastern Church (Greek Orthodox Church) usually takes 1 6 as Christmas Day, while the Western Church (Roman Catholic Church) takes March 25th or March 28th as Christmas Day. However, some of them followed the date set by Constantine.

Christmas, in English, is Christmas. People think that this word is a combination of Christmas and mass, which means "Christian sacrifice", and the British Oxford Dictionary also makes the same explanation. The Anglo-Saxon word "Christmas" also means the sacrifice of Christ. In other non-English speaking countries, such as French, Spanish and Italian, "Christmas" means "birthday". As for Germans, Christmas is called "Christmas season", but its original text contains the meaning of "Christmas Eve". Christmas is a day of celebration and joy for everyone. Due to different traditional habits, every country or nation in the world has different Christmas customs.

England: They think Christmas must be enjoyed. So Christmas dinner is extremely rich, including pork, roast turkey, Christmas pudding, Christmas meat pie ... and so on. Everyone in the family has presents, even servants. Gifts are distributed on Christmas morning. Sometimes when the choir sings from door to door, it will be invited by the host to entertain refreshments or give small gifts.

France: On Christmas Eve, everyone goes to church for midnight mass. After the mass, the family got together with their brothers and sisters in previous years, enjoyed the Christmas dinner and shared the important events in the family in the past year. Occasionally, family members are at odds, and they often bury the hatchet because of Christmas parties. Therefore, in the eyes of the French, Christmas is regarded as a day of kindness and harmony.

Italy: In Italian families, some model scenes of Jesus' Christmas story are happily arranged every Christmas. On Christmas Eve, families get together to have a big meal, attend Christmas Mass at midnight, and then visit relatives and friends, but only children and the elderly will receive gifts. Italy has a good custom at Christmas. In order to thank their parents for their kindness over the past year, children will hide their compositions or poems in napkins, tablecloths or plates before eating Christmas dinner. Take it out after a big meal.

Spain: Children in this country often put their shoes outside windows or doors to receive Christmas presents. In many cities, there are always many high-end gifts for beautiful women. Cows are also treated best at Christmas. There is a local legend: "When Jesus was born, a cow blew on him to keep warm." .

Sweden: During Christmas, Swedes are very hospitable. Every family, rich or poor, welcomes friends and even strangers to come in for dinner. They put all kinds of food on the table and let people choose their food freely.

Switzerland: Santa Claus in this country wears a white robe and a mask. They are often dressed up by the poor, begging for food and gifts from the rich in droves, and sharing the harvest when they leave the team.

Denmark: the first country to issue Christmas stamps. This Christmas stamp is issued to raise money to prevent tuberculosis. Danes like to put this stamp on Christmas cards and mails.

Intelligence: When celebrating Christmas in this country, there must be a "monkey tail" cold drink. This drink is made of coffee, milk, eggs, wine and fermented grapes. Why this drink is called "monkey's tail" is unknown.

Norway: On Christmas Eve, every family member should arrange their shoes from big to small before going to bed. Norwegians believe that family members can achieve harmony and peace in the coming year by doing so. The next morning, the family got together and took turns singing their favorite Christmas songs.

Ireland: On Christmas Eve, families in this country will put candles or lights on the window frames to welcome the birth of babies.

Scotland: Before Christmas, things borrowed from home should be returned to their original owners. In the first week of the new year, children and servants will receive gifts.

Holland: Christmas presents in this country are often unexpected, even hidden in pudding and sheep intestines!

Germany: the origin of the Christmas tree. Christians will put a beautiful Christmas tree in their homes, and Christmas cakes will be varied and exquisite.

America: a free and colorful country. Christmas is a time for them to have fun and revel. The ethnic groups in the United States are complex, so the way to celebrate is often different because of different immigrants. Most rooms have a unique layout, with beautiful garlands and decorations hanging outside the doors.

Vatican: If you want to attend the Christmas Mass hosted by the Pope in St. Peter's Church, the largest church in the world, although it can accommodate 35,000 people, you still need to make a reservation in advance. Its Christmas Mass is mostly held at 0: 00 on1February 25th. The Pope walked through the crowd in a sedan chair carried by eight followers, blessed the believers and walked to the altar. Wearing a white robe and a golden robe, the Pope boarded the altar of St. Peter's Cathedral and read a prayer in Latin. At 00: 00, the horn sounded loudly and the cradle on the altar was covered. At present, the white cloth on baby Jesus has been removed. In the church, believers from all over the world burst into tears and sang the melodious Silent Night in their language. Catholics all over the world regard going to St. Peter's Cathedral to see the Pope protected by him as the greatest honor in their lives.

Japan: Although Japan is not a Christian country, it is very popular to celebrate Christmas in Japan after the war. One of the reasons is related to the promotion of major businesses. Some department stores decorate their stores with Christmas trees and snow scenes to increase the atmosphere of silver Christmas. Teahouses, nightclubs and bars also put up Christmas trees for this occasion. 1In mid-February, the store was crowded with people, and everyone was busy preparing Christmas presents for relatives and friends. Good people also took the opportunity to give gifts to 52 indoor children with physical and mental disabilities in Tokyo.

New Zealand: Christmas in this country has a two-week holiday. On Christmas Eve, family and relatives get together and have a "party" to celebrate. New Zealand law clearly stipulates that Christmas celebrations should be held at home, so restaurants and teahouses close at 6 pm. Ordinary shops can only open until 9 pm at the latest. You can see bands in kilts touring the street.

Morocco, Africa: In Morocco, members of the royal family who usually don't meet civilians will give gifts to poor children at the Christmas Children's Fun Conference.

Poland: Poles are divided into two factions. On Christmas Eve, one is to eat Christmas dinner, and the other is to fast and pray all day.

Philippines: Christmas in this country begins on1February 16. After nine days of prayer, devout believers get up at four o'clock every morning to pray. They believe that they can get the special favor of the baby Jesus and the virgin Mary. Until the 22nd, the three-day Christmas celebration ended in Asahi.

Colombia: They celebrate Christmas with a fancy dress ball. Everyone wears a mask and tries not to be recognized. Whoever can recognize the most will win the prize.

Australia: Women of marriageable age pour molten tin into cold water at Christmas, and predict the appearance of future husbands by observing the shape of tin, whether they are tall or thin.

Czech Republic: Unmarried Czech girls leave peeled apples behind at Christmas. They think that by doing so, they can see the first letter of the future husband's surname.

Soviet Union: On Christmas Eve, every household around the tree symbolizing the "New Year" tells the children the absurd story of grandpa's entrepreneurship. On Christmas day, people below the middle class rushed to buy gifts in big shops for relatives and friends.