Christmas in Poland

Christmas in poland (2)

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The Magi (and The King's Cake)

The Magi, also referred to as the (Three) Wise Men, (Three) Kings, or Kings from the East, were a group of distinguished foreigners who visited Jesus after his birth, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. They are regular figures in traditional accounts of the nativity celebrations of Christmas and are an important part of the Christian tradition.

Western Christianity celebrates the Magi on the day of Epiphany, January 6, the day immediately following the twelve days of Christmas, particularly in the Spanish-speaking parts of the world. In these areas the Three Kings ("los Reyes Magos de Oriente", also "Los Tres Reyes Magos" and "Los Reyes Magos") receive letters from children and magically bring them gifts on the night before Epiphany. In Spain, each one of the Magi is supposed to represent one different continent, Europe (Melchior), Asia (Caspar) and Africa (Balthasar). According to the tradition, the Magi come from the Orient on their camels to visit the houses of all the children; much like Santa Claus with his reindeer, they visit everyone in one night. In some areas, children prepare a drink for each of the Magi. It is also traditional to prepare food and drink for the camels, because this is the only night of the year when they eat.

In Spain, Argentina, México and Uruguay there is a long tradition for having the children receive their Christmas presents by the three "Reyes Magos" (the figure of Santa Claus only appeared in recent years) on the night of January 5 (Epiphany Eve). Almost every Spanish city or town organises "cabalgatas" in the evening, in which the kings and their servants parade and throw sweets to the children (and parents) in attendance.

KING'S CAKE

"Roscón de reyes" or "rosca de reyes" (kings' ring) is a Spanish and Spanish American king's cake pastry traditionally eaten to celebrate Epiphany. Although the name indicates that it should be round, the “rosca de reyes” generally has an oval shape due to the need to make cakes larger than 30cm across for larger parties. Recipes vary from country to country. For decoration, fig fruit, quinces, cherries or dried and candied fruits are used. It is traditionally eaten on January 6, during the celebration of the "Día de Reyes" (literally "Kings' Day"), which commemorates the arrival of the three Magi. In Spain "roscones" bought in cake shops hide in their interior a figure - either of Jesus or others like little toys for kids and a dry faba bean. Whoever finds the figure is crowned and becomes the "king" or "queen" of the banquet, whereas whoever finds the bean has to pay next year's roscón.

Neujahrskonzert: The Vienna New Year Concert (Radetzky March)

Radetzky March, Op. 228, is a march composed by Johann Strauss Sr. in 1848. It was dedicated to the Austrian Field Marshal Joseph Radetzky von Radetz, and became quite a popular march among soldiers.

When it was first played, in front of Austrian officers in attendance, they promptly clapped and stomped their feet when they heard the chorus. This tradition is carried over today when the march is played in classical music venues in Vienna, among members of the audience who are familiar with the tradition. It is almost always played as the last piece of music at the Neujahrskonzert, the Vienna New Year Concert.

In 2009 the orchestra was conducted by Daniel Barenboim:

Twelve Grapes

The Twelve Grapes (Sp. Las doce uvas de la suerte, "The twelve grapes of luck") is a Spanish tradition that dates back from at least 1895 but become consolidated in 1909. In December of that year, some alicantese vine growers popularized this custom to better sell huge amounts of grapes from an excellent harvest.

The tradition consists in eating a grape with each bell strike at midnight of December 31. According to the tradition, that leads to a year of prosperity. In some areas, it is believed that the tradition wards away witches and general evil. Each grape is eaten with each beat of the bell.

The twelve grapes are linked to the Puerta del Sol tower clock, where this tradition started and from where the change of year is always broadcast.

This tradition was adopted also by places with a broad cultural relation with Spain such as Mexico and other Latin American countries, as well as Hispanic communities in the United States. Countries as far as the Philippines have adopted the tradition.

Nativity Scene

A nativity scene or crèche (also known as a manger scene, or crib) is a depiction of the birth of Jesus as described in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. While the term "nativity scene" typically includes two dimensional depictions in film, painting, printmaking, and other media, in the history of art and culture, as well as in popular use, the term refers to static, three dimensional, artistic, commercial or folk art dioramas, or pantomimes called "living nativity scenes" in which real humans and animals participate. Nativity scenes exhibit figures representing the infant Jesus, his mother Mary, and Joseph. Other characters from the nativity story such as shepherds, the Magi, and angels may be displayed near the manger in a barn (or cave) intended to accommodate farm animals. A donkey and an ox are typically depicted in the scene, as well as camels belonging to the Magi.

Saint Francis of Assisi is credited with creating the first nativity scene in 1223 (a "living" one) intending thereby to cultivate the worship of Christ, having been inspired by his recent visit to the Holy Land where he had been shown Jesus's traditional birthplace. The scene's popularity inspired communities throughout Catholic countries to stage similar pantomimes.

Nativity Scenes in Albacete (Spain)

Merry Christmas from Bulgaria

Bulgaria christmas 2012

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Baba Achour, The Moroccan Santa Claus

In the tenth day of the Muharram holy month, the first one in the lunar calendar, people celebrate in Morocco and other Muslim countries the feast of Achoura, a festive day related to childhood since last century, This day has an undoubted social and spiritual relevance. It is a day for sharing, charity and help to the poor. Children show their joy and delight, wearing their new clothes and adornments. It is also traditional that people visit the cemeteries or share out sweets. This holiday has a carnival look about it: firecrackers, spraying people passing by with water, and so on. Traditionally, children are given toys and presents, and families eat gueddid couscous. In the Achoura day children look forward the visit of Baba Achour, a character born from an old popular legend which represents what he looks like: The Moroccan Santa Claus.

Our moroccans pupils wish you Merry Christmas!

White Christmas

"White Christmas" is an Irving Berlin song reminiscing about an old-fashioned Christmas setting. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the version sung by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single of all time, with estimated sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide. Following its prominence in the musical Holiday Inn, the composition won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. In the film, Bing Crosby sings "White Christmas" as a duet with actress Marjorie Reynolds, though her voice was dubbed by Martha Mears.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas 

Just like the ones I used to know 

Where the treetops glisten and children listen 

To hear sleigh bells in the snow 

 I'm dreaming of a white Christmas 

With every Christmas card I write 

May your days be merry and bright 

And may all your Christmases be white 

 I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...

Feliz Navidad (I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas)

Christmas in Portugal

Christmas in Portugal

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Christmas tree

 

The cake was baked by our student Sima Trepenaityte

Merry Christmas from Spain

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Merry Christmas from Slovakia

Merry christmas from Slovakia

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Merry Christmas!

Santa's render

Click on each render, beginning with Rudolph, the one with the red nose. To begin to play, click on this image.

Clic on this image

Los Campanilleros (a Spanish flamenco carol)

The Campanilleros are groups of traditional musicians in the Spanish region of Andalusia. They sing religious songs accompanied by guitars, bells and other instruments. A Campanillero is also a "flamenco cante" or song form. It is in couplets of six verses. It has its origin in these sacred songs of Andalusia which were chanted during the early morning procession known as Rosario de la Aurora.

The oldest extant examples of this song form are those of Manuel Torre. The most popular of these is La Niña de la Puebla. Other composers were Juan Varea, and "El Agujeta". Today, these songs are sung by José Mercé and José Menese, among others.

Christmas in Romania

Christmas in Romania

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How we celebrate christmas

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Christmas in Bulgaria

In Bulgaria celebration begins on December 24 - Christmas Eve (Little Christmas). Throughout Bulgaria Christmas leave. In carolling involved only boys. Small Christmas day in orbit on 24 December, armed with cornel sticks - surouvaknitsi and bags, they rattled in doors, entering houses and sing "God was born, Christmas!". The hostess gave them with rings, nuts, a piece of bacon or black pudding. Adult Christmas leave after dinner. Collect a corps of a dozen people. One is the leader - or rebel kudabashiya, another is set to carry the gifts - he's back with saddlebags. The driver is chosen well before Christmas. Must be experienced to know carol blessing and all Christmas songs that are in places to 80 in number. On Christmas Eve Masses are special bread with mesh and the end of the same dough figurines are made of pigs, cows, sheep wagon, etc., which are baked with the bread. He before roast refers to the Church of pop hits to his special stamp. Prepare vegetarian dishes - beans, lentils, cabbage, peppers stuffed with dried onions and rice, cabbage soup with chopped leeks in it and pieces of dry chillies. Christmas Eve is the last day of the 40-day Advent. So dinner is rich (5, 7, 9, 11, etc. dishes and food), but very lean (beans, cabbage leaves stuffed, cabbage soup, boiled or roasted pumpkin and coconuts with oil, dried fruits, sweetened with sugar or copper). Christmas dinner is also rich, but her meat dishes predominate as kavarma, kebabs, steaks, burgers, leaves stuffed, sausage or stuffed pig.

Hristina Ivanova.

Merry Christmas from Bulgaria!

Euphorbia pulcherrima

Euphorbia pulcherrima, commonly known as poinsettia or noche buena, is a species of flowering plant indigenous to Mexico and Central America. It is commonly known as poinsettia after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States Minister to Mexico, who introduced the plant into the US in 1825. It is also called the Atatürk flower in Turkey.

Euphorbia pulcherrima is a shrub or small tree, typically reaching a height of 0.6 to 4 m (2 to 16 ft). The plant bears dark green dentate leaves that measure 7 to 16 cm (3 to 6 inches) in length. The colored bracts—which are most often flaming red but can be orange, pale green, cream, pink, white or marbled—are actually leaves; because the flowers are unassuming and do not attract pollinators, brightly coloured leaves developed (aka bracts). The colors come from photoperiodism, meaning that they require darkness for 12 hours at a time for at least 5 days in a row to change color. At the same time, the plants need a lot of light during the day for the brightest color.

In Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, the plant is called Cuitlaxochitl (from cuitlatl, residue, and xochitl, flower) meaning "flower that grows in residues or soil." The Aztecs used the plant to produce red dye and as an antipyretic medication. Today it is known in Mexico and Guatemala as Noche Buena, meaning "Christmas Eve". In Spain it is known as Flor de Pascua, meaning "Easter flower". In both Chile and Peru, the plant became known as "Crown of the Andes".

The plant's association with Christmas began in 16th century Mexico, where legend tells of a young girl who was too poor to provide a gift for the celebration of Jesus' birthday. The tale goes that the child was inspired by an angel to gather weeds from the roadside and place them in front of the church altar. Crimson "blossoms" sprouted from the weeds and became beautiful poinsettias. From the 17th century, Franciscan friars in Mexico included the plants in their Christmas celebrations. The star-shaped leaf pattern is said to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem, and the red color represents the blood sacrifice through the crucifixion of Jesus.

Poinsettias are popular Christmas decorations in homes, churches, offices, and elsewhere across North America. In the United States, December 12 is National Poinsettia Day (Wikipedia).