The lights of Advent (the start of preparations for Christmas) are lit in the West, South and North on December 4, the day of the Great Martyr Barbara. Believers say that Varvarushka blesses them for fasting, repentance and preparation for a joyful event - the Birth of Jesus Christ. I wonder what special thing they prepare for Christmas there? I'll go and find out!
Christmas in Austria
Austria is unique in that people here do not know about Santa Claus, Father Frost, and other “New Year’s and Christmas Fathers.” From birth, children are taught that the Holy Child Christ himself puts gifts under the tree for them. From heaven he sees every child and writes down all his good and evil deeds. And at the end of the year, around Christmas, he compares the lists. And depending on the quantitative predominance of good deeds, it bestows gifts on the earthly child.
By the way, the fact that the gifts have “arrived” from heaven under the tree is announced by a bell hanging at the very bottom of the Christmas tree. Its melodic, silvery ringing is the most long-awaited event for Austrian children on Christmas Eve!
Also, Christmas in Austria is the only day when the mountaineers go down to the valley. Throughout their procession they sing Christmas carols. Amazing sight!
By the way, Austrians can be proud that their country is the ancestor of the world-famous Christmas song “Silent Night”. It was written in the early 19th century (December 24, 1818) by the priest Joseph More. Since then, this anthem has been translated into 44 languages.
The hospitable Austrians treated me to their traditional Christmas dishes: fried carp, chocolate and apricot cake. What a fabulous dish!
Christmas in the UK
The first thing that catches your eye when you come to the UK on the eve of the Christmas holidays is the happy eyes of children. The reason for such fun is the opportunity to participate in preparations for the holiday as a full member of the family. Christmas Advent is the time when parents and grandparents consult with their children about everything: menus, cards, gifts, etc.
And characteristically, you know what? That children thoroughly know the history of Christmas in their country. For example, even the smallest child will tell you without hesitation that the British invented the first Christmas card in 1840. And it is from their country that the tradition comes from sending them to their family and friends, congratulating them on the bright holidays.
And now the British never cease to amaze both their relatives and the whole of Europe with their extraordinary, very beautiful Christmas cards.
And in the UK they prepare an incredibly delicious pudding in honor of Christmas. Christmas pudding must contain 13 ingredients, of which one is intended for Jesus and the rest for His 12 disciples. Just before baking, a silver coin is placed in the dough, which, according to legend, attracts good luck and prosperity to the family.
The most popular Christmas gift in Britain is the poinsettia. The red and white petals of this plant symbolize the purity of the blood of Christ.
Christmas in Ireland
The New Year and Christmas cycle of holidays starts in Ireland, as well as throughout Catholic Europe, on December 6th. But the residents of the country themselves really feel the approach of a great holiday only when the streets of the city begin to shine with millions of garland lights, and shop windows become illustrations of the Biblical story.
Irish Father Christmas is a little different from his counterparts in other countries. He wears a green caftan and a red royal coat.
He is also a magician of unique power. Little Irishmen leave letters with wishes for him in the fireplace and believe that these letters rise up the chimney into the sky and fly to Grandfather's house. And he just collects them in a basket on the porch! Dikmi: The Irish are very pious and hospitable. And therefore, in all houses, on Christmas night, thick candles are lit on the windowsills. Local residents say that this is necessary in order to show Joseph and Mary that they are welcome here and ready to receive them for the night.
Christmas in France
The French are a nation that always and everywhere tries to show off its originality. And even when preparing for Christmas, to the traditions that have existed from time immemorial, they try to add something new every year. For example, in 2013, France practically abandoned traditional Christmas trees. Instead, artistic compositions from plants appear in houses, which play the role of a ritual tree.
Although, even in this country of eternal change, there is one unbreakable Christmas tradition: for every Christmas, the French prepare a Buc de Nol cake, which means “Christmas Entrance,” in the form of a log.
I was interested in the tradition of Southern France: here it is customary to keep the fire in the fireplace continuously, from Christmas to New Year. Anyone who strictly follows the ritual in his home will have all kinds of God's blessings. And right there, in Southern France, they bake a kind of ritual bread, inside which 12 beans are placed. Anyone who gets at least one bean in a piece of pie during Christmas dinner will certainly meet their happiness!
Christmas in Portugal
Christmas traditions in Southern European countries are somewhat different from those in Western Europe. For example, I remember Portugal for the fact that here it is customary to invite “the souls of deceased ancestors” to the second half of the Christmas meal. They also leave crumbs on the fireplace after dinner. Residents of the country are confident that if they perform such a good deed on the holy night of Christmas for their ancestors, they will repay them with a good harvest next fall.
And one more very interesting fact. Children in Portugal do not receive gifts for Christmas. Here they are usually given as gifts on January 5, Epiphany Eve. This is to continue the tradition started by the three wise men who brought gifts for the baby Jesus. On the evening of January 4, children put carrots and straw in their shoes to attract the horses of the three wise men, who they believe are carrying many gifts, to their home. And so it is, because the next morning with great delight the children collect “gifts” at the doorstep: candy, fruit, sweet bread, and other goodies.
Christmas in Italy
Italy also became a treasure trove of unique Christmas traditions for me, which I must admit, by the end of my trip I even began to write down! Imagine, Italy is probably the only country in which children write love letters to their parents, and not Christmas wish lists for Santa Claus!
And one more interesting custom. In Italy, the Christmas meal does not begin until the children come into the house and sing a special prayer - “Novena”. For this they are presented with sweets, nuts and fruits in every possible way.
Street children's Christmas theaters are also widely popular in Italy. Children walk through the streets, sing songs, pretending to be shepherds, and for this they are given small coins, with which (at the end of the street) they can buy gifts.
Although, the parents themselves give gifts to their children, as in Portugal, not on Christmas Eve, but on the eve of Epiphany night. They convey their gifts through the evil witch Befana, who is probably still looking for the cradle of the newborn Christ child.
Christmas in Norway
The traditions of Northern Europe basically repeat the main Christmas ceremony of the West and South. Although, the peoples close to Santa’s residence also have their own unique customs, which give their Christmas specialness and uniqueness.
For example, Christmas Eve in Norway is a working day. The solemn church liturgy begins here at about 5 pm and lasts until Christmas morning. As a rule, it is customary to invite guests and relatives here just in time for breakfast. The traditional holiday table in Norway consists of fried pork legs, lamb ribs, and cod.
Also, on Christmas Day, Norwegians always feed the mischievous gnome Nisse, who on the holy day is in a hurry to irritate the pets in the barn. To prevent him from causing mischief, a large bowl of rice porridge, generously sprinkled with roasted almonds, is placed in the stable.
In honor of Christmas, little Norwegians receive gifts for good behavior throughout the year. Moreover, personally from Yulenissen (Father Frost). In Norway, the New Year's wizard does not sneak into the house through the chimney and does not leave gifts under the tree. He comes to look the guys in the eyes!
Unfortunately, as I said goodbye to Norway, I had to say goodbye to the great miracle - European Christmas. My winter vacation has come to an end! But! Crossing the border of my native country, I promised myself that I would definitely return here again! And I’ll tell you next year about my new Christmas discoveries!
The Advent wreath is of Lutheran origin. This is an evergreen wreath with four candles. The first candle is lit on Sunday four weeks before Christmas as a symbol of the light that will come into the world with the birth of Christ. Every next Sunday another candle is lit. IN last sunday before Christmas, all four candles are lit to illuminate the place where the wreath is located (this could be the church altar or the dining table).The ringing of bells on Christmastide came to us from the winter pagan holidays.
When the Earth was cold, it was believed that the sun died and the evil spirit was very strong. To expel evil spirit, you had to make a lot of noise. The Christmas tradition of ringing bells, singing and shouting at the same time has survived to this day. At Christmas time, bells ring in churches all over the world. But not to drive out evil spirits. In this way people welcome the coming of Christ. In Scandinavia, the ringing of bells signifies the end of work and the beginning of a holiday; in England, the ringing of bells at the funeral of the devil and the greeting of Christ.
A Christmas tree for birds is a Scandinavian tradition. People try to share their joy on Christmas Day with other living beings.
Directly on Christmas Day or the day before, seeds or crumbs of bread are brought out to the birds. This is a sign that the new year will be successful. Celebrating outside adds to the fun of celebrating inside.
Playing Christmas carols on wind instruments is one of the delightfully boisterous traditions of Christmas. It probably came from paganism, because... To drive out evil spirits it was necessary to make noise. Currently it is followed in Germany and the Scandinavian countries. A musical quartet performs four Christmas carols near a bell tower or church.
Christmas carols end with a joyful chime, signaling the beginning of Christmas.
Light was an important component of pagan winter holidays. With the help of candles and fires they drove out the forces of darkness and cold. Wax candles were distributed to the Romans on the holiday of Saturnalia. In Christianity, candles are considered an additional symbol of the importance of Jesus as the Light of the world.
In Victorian England, merchants gave candles to their regular customers every year.
In many countries, Christmas candles signify the victory of light over darkness.
The candles in the tree of heaven gave birth to our all-loved Christmas tree.
In Scandinavian countries and Germany, on December 24th, Santa Claus knocks on the door, but in England and America his visit is secret. Santa Claus supposedly enters the house through the chimney.
In 1843, the Englishman Horsley drew the first Christmas card. 1000 copies of the postcard were sold that year in London. Publisher Louis Prang popularized Christmas cards in 1875. He held a national competition in America for best design Christmas card.
Improvements in the postal system and cheaper postage made it possible to send Christmas cards to many friends all over the world.
The first Christmas carol is believed to have appeared in the 4th century AD, but it was a bit dark. Lighter, more joyful Christmas carols emerged in Renaissance Italy. They were already beginning to live up to their name (Christmas carols - carols (English) - from the French "caroler" - dance to the bell).
Saint Nicholas is traditionally considered the giver of gifts. In Rome there was a tradition of giving gifts to children on the occasion of Saturnalia. The gift giver can be Jesus himself, Santa Claus, Befana (Italian female Santa Claus), Christmas gnomes, and various saints. According to an old Finnish tradition, gifts are distributed around homes by an invisible man.
It is believed that the first undecorated Christmas trees appeared in Germany in the 8th century. The first mention of spruce is associated with the monk Saint Boniface. Boniface read a sermon about Christmas to the Druids. To convince the idolaters that the oak was not a sacred and inviolable tree, he cut down one of the oaks. When the felled oak fell, it knocked down all the trees in its path except the young spruce. Boniface presented the survival of the spruce as a miracle and exclaimed: “Let this tree be the tree of Christ.”
Later, Christmas in Germany was celebrated by planting young trees.
A German source dating back to 1561 states that no more than one Christmas tree can be in a house at Christmas. In the 17th century, the Christmas tree was already a common attribute of Christmas in Germany and Scandinavian countries. At that time, the Christmas tree was decorated with figures and flowers cut out of colored paper, apples, waffles, gilded items, and sugar.
The tradition of decorating a Christmas tree is associated with the tree of paradise, hung with apples.
The success of the Christmas tree in Protestant countries was even greater thanks to the legend that Martin Luther himself was the first to light candles on the Christmas tree. One evening he was walking home, writing a sermon. The brilliance of the stars twinkling among the fir trees filled him with awe.
To show this magnificent picture to the family, he placed a Christmas tree in the main room, attached candles to its branches and lit them.
The Christmas tree owes its popularity in England to the German Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria. In the 17th century, German immigrants brought the Christmas tree tradition to America.
The first street Christmas trees with electric garlands appeared in Finland in 1906.
Every year at Christmas time a carol festival is held in Wales.
Choirs across the country are vying to be chosen as the official Christmas carol. These church choirs travel through towns and cities across Wales singing Christmas carols from both past and present.
The tradition of choosing a national Christmas carol began in the 10th century.
The first guest is the first person to enter the house and “let in” Christmas (in some countries this tradition refers not to Christmas, but to the New Year). Sometimes such a person is even specially hired to ensure that everything is done properly, since there is a superstition associated with the first guest. The first guest should hold a spruce branch in his hand. He enters the front door, walks through the house, and exits through the back door. He is presented with bread and salt or some small gift as a symbol of hospitality. The first guest must be a dark-haired man. If the first guest is a woman, this is a bad omen.
Holly is an evergreen shrub with red poisonous berries, dark green foliage and thorns. The brightness of this plant made it a natural symbol of the rebirth of life in the winter whiteness of northern Europe. Holly is believed to drive away the winter cold and evil spirits. In England, holly with thorns is called "he", without thorns - "she". Which holly (with or without thorns) was brought into the house first on Christmas Day determines who will run the household in the coming year.
Before the advent of the Christmas tree in the mid-nineteenth century, England had what was called the “kissing branch.” She had the shape double ring, decorated with garlands, green branches, holly, ivy, apples, pears, lit candles and mistletoe. If a girl accidentally found herself under this branch, she was allowed to kiss her.
In the past, one of the main dangers during Christmas celebrations was Christmas candles. Therefore, buckets of water were kept in the living rooms in case of fire. The idea is to use electric garlands instead wax candles belongs to the English telephone operator Ralph Morris. By that time, strings of electric light bulbs were already being used in telephone switchboards; Morris only had the idea to hang them on the Christmas tree.
The ancient Druids considered mistletoe a sacred plant, a symbol eternal life. The Romans valued it as a symbol of peace. Kissing under the mistletoe is also a Roman tradition.
The first Christmas trees were decorated with fresh flowers and fruits. Later sweets, nuts and other foods were added. Then - Christmas candles.
Such a load was certainly too heavy for the tree. German glassblowers began producing hollow glass Christmas tree decorations to replace fruit and other heavy decorations.
The first plum puddings were made in the 17th century. The pudding was prepared in large copper cauldrons several weeks before Christmas by the whole family. During preparation, each family member made a wish. Four items were placed in the pudding: a coin, a thimble, a button and a ring. Later, when the pudding was eaten, each item found in the pudding had its own meaning. The coin meant wealth in the new year, the button meant single life, the thimble for a girl meant unmarried life, and the ring meant marriage.
Before the advent of the Christmas tree, the Christmas pyramid was considered the main Christmas decoration in Germany and northern Europe. It was a wooden structure in the shape of a pyramid, hung with vegetation and decorations. Gifts or sweets were placed on the shelves of the pyramid. With the growing popularity of the Christmas tree, the functions of the Christmas pyramid were transferred to the Christmas tree.
The Christmas log must be cut down by the head of the family, and not bought from someone. It should burn in the fireplace along with the remains of last year's Christmas log. The log must burn all twelve days of Christmas. There is a superstition that if a person sees his shadow cast from a fireplace where a log is burning, without his head, he will die the following year. The ashes of the Christmas log heal illnesses and protect the home from lightning strikes.
In the Middle Ages, religious holidays were virtually the only holidays. Therefore, people sought to extend these holidays as long as possible. Over time, Christmas instead of one day turned into 12 - from Christmas to Epiphany. In wealthy families, it was customary to give each other gifts on each of the twelve days. This made the Christmas carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas" very popular. Presumably the appearance of this hymn dates back to the 16th century.
In England The most enjoyable part of the Christmas celebration is the festive family dinner on December 25, which is preceded by a church service. The centerpiece of the Christmas table in Britain is a roast turkey, previously stuffed with a mixture of bread crumbs and spices or chestnuts. A special redcurrant or cranberry sauce is prepared for the bird. As a complement to the Christmas feast, ham, bacon, small sausages and various vegetables (boiled or baked) are served. Well, the favorite dessert is, of course, Christmas pudding - a steamed cake made from dense dough with dried fruits. Before serving, the pudding is doused with cognac and set on fire - it looks very impressive!
Christmas is a great holiday established in memory of the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. Christmas is one of the most important Christian holidays, a public holiday in more than 100 countries around the world.
The first information about Christians celebrating Christmas dates back to the 4th century. The question of the real date of birth of Jesus Christ is controversial and ambiguously resolved among church authors. Perhaps the choice of December 25 is connected with the pagan solar holiday of the “Birth of the Invincible Sun” that fell on this day, which was filled with new content with the adoption of Christianity in Rome.
According to one of the modern hypotheses, the choice of the date of Christmas occurred due to the simultaneous celebration by early Christians of the Incarnation (the conception of Christ) and Easter; Accordingly, as a result of adding 9 months to this date (March 25), Christmas fell on the winter solstice.
The Feast of the Nativity of Christ has five days of pre-celebration (from December 20 to 24) and six days of post-celebration. On the eve or on the day of the eve of the holiday (December 24), a particularly strict fast is observed, called Christmas Eve, since on this day the juice is eaten - wheat or barley grains boiled with honey. According to tradition, the Christmas Eve fast ends with the appearance of the first evening star in the sky. On the eve of the holiday, Old Testament prophecies and events related to the Nativity of the Savior are remembered.
Christmas services are performed three times: at midnight, at dawn and during the day, which symbolizes the Nativity of Christ in the bosom of God the Father, in the womb of the Mother of God and in the soul of every Christian.
In the 13th century, during the time of St. Francis of Assisi, the custom arose of displaying in churches for worship a manger in which a figurine of the Infant Jesus was placed. Over time, mangers began to be placed not only in the temple, but also in homes before Christmas. Homemade santons - models in glass boxes depict a grotto, the baby Jesus lies in a manger, next to the Mother of God, Joseph, an angel, shepherds who came to worship, as well as animals - a bull, a donkey. Entire scenes from folk life are also depicted: peasants in folk costumes, etc. are placed next to the holy family.
Church and folk customs are harmoniously intertwined in the celebration of Christmas. In Catholic countries the custom is well known caroling- visiting the homes of children and youth with songs and good wishes. In return, the carolers receive gifts: sausage, roasted chestnuts, fruits, eggs, pies, sweets, etc. Stingy owners are ridiculed and threatened with troubles. The processions involve various masks dressed in animal skins; this action is accompanied by noisy fun. This custom was repeatedly condemned by church authorities as pagan, and gradually they began to go with carols only to relatives, neighbors and close friends.
The remnants of the pagan cult of the sun at Christmas time are evidenced by the tradition of lighting a ritual fire in the hearth - "Christmas log". The log was solemnly, observing various ceremonies, brought into the house, set on fire, while simultaneously saying a prayer and carving a cross on it (an attempt to reconcile pagan rite with the Christian religion). They sprinkled the log with grain, poured honey, wine and oil on it, put pieces of food on it, addressed it as a living being, and raised glasses of wine in its honor.
On the days of Christmas celebration, a custom has been established to break "Christmas bread"- special unleavened wafers consecrated in churches during Advent - and eat it both before the festive meal and during greetings and congratulations to each other on the holiday.
A characteristic element of the Christmas holiday is the custom of installing in houses decorated spruce tree. This pagan tradition originated among the Germanic peoples, in whose rituals the spruce was a symbol of life and fertility. With the spread of Christianity among the peoples of Central and Northern Europe, the spruce tree decorated with multi-colored balls acquired new symbolism: it began to be installed in homes on December 24, as a symbol of the tree of paradise with abundant fruits.
Christmas customs and traditions in Great Britain
At Christmas, all the windows of rural houses are lit with candles in Great Britain, so among the locals the night before Christmas is called "night of candles". In England today, on Christmas Eve, instead of the traditional Yule log, a thick Christmas candle is lit. In Wales, lit candles decorated not only private houses in rural areas, but also rural churches and chapels on Christmas Day. Candles to decorate the church were made and given to the priest by the residents of the parish.
In many villages, shortly before the holiday, women organized competitions for the best decoration of Christmas candles. These decorations were made from strips of colored paper, foil, gold and silver threads, bright ribbons, etc. In some areas of Wales, with the same decorated and lit candles in their hands, parish residents went to morning mass, which began at 2-3 am. Many similar candles were lit on this night in private homes.
Since the Middle Ages, the church began to use old rituals of dressing up in order to give people more vivid impressions of biblical stories. Thus arose "mysteries"- dramatic performances of such religious scenes, such as the Annunciation, the visit of the infant Christ by the three wise men of the East, etc. Participants in dramatic versions of biblical stories were usually masked or with their faces covered with a scarf, like the performers of ancient pagan rituals. Of the performances of this kind, the dramatic pantomime game about St. was especially widespread among the English. George and the Dragon, widely known in many other countries.
ABOUT masquerades and pantomimes at Christmas there is information already from the 14th-15th centuries. Thus, one of the sources reports that in 1377 a Christmas pantomime was organized at the Scottish royal court for the amusement of little Prince Richard. In the treasury registers of Scotland in the 15th century. The funds spent on organizing court masquerades for Christmas are often listed.
Another interesting custom in Britain was associated with the organization of masquerades: on the 12 days of Christmastide, in each palace or castle, the manager of the entire celebration, called in England, was chosen "Lord of Disorder"(Lord Misrule), and in Scotland - "imaginary abbot"(Abbot of Mock). The Lord of Disorder was the one who could joke well, organize various entertainments, and carnivals. He himself selected his retinue, the members of which were dressed in bright dresses, decorated with ribbons and bells.
In Scotland, the retinue of the “imaginary abbot” included characters typical of folk processions of mummers, such as Hobbie-horse - a guy portraying a horse. Such a noisy company and especially its leader were allowed to do whatever they wanted - break into any houses to play some kind of joke on their inhabitants, arrange games, dances and other entertainment. This custom was banned by Henry VIII.
In many villages in Scotland, on Christmas Day, men and young men, led by bagpipers and accompanied by many people, went outside the village and played football, bowls on some lawn, and organized various sports competitions: running, hammer throwing exercises, etc. Winner for all games he received a beret decorated with feathers and ribbons; After the competition, the youth sang and danced, and in the evening they returned to the village with the winner at their head. In the evening, the winner of the competition presided over the ball.
For all these old ones traditional customs The new Protestant church collapsed with great force in the 17th century. The Christmas holiday was especially persecuted in Puritan Scotland. Every pagan rite and custom, even the most innocent, was mercilessly cursed by the church. Thus, according to the records of a church session in 1574, several people were accused of playing, dancing and singing Christmas songs on this holiday.
Even baking Christmas bread was considered a crime by the clergy of the Protestant Church. In December 1583, Glasgow bakers were asked to name the names of those for whom they baked Christmas bread. In 1605, five people were summoned to court in Aberdeen for walking around the city wearing masks and dancing on Christmas Day. Finally, in 1644, the celebration of Christmas was banned throughout England by a special act of parliament.
After such persecutions in Scotland, the celebration of Christmas never again reached its former popularity; only a few rituals were preserved, most of them began to coincide with the New Year. And currently, December 24-25 are working days there, and the New Year is considered a holiday - January 1-2.
In England it’s already late XVII V. Christmas began to be celebrated again, but throughout XIX century the rituals that accompanied it changed, and by the beginning of the 20th century. From a major social event for the entire community, Christmas became a purely family holiday, only some of its old customs have survived to this day. For example, the custom of exchanging gifts on Christmas Day is observed everywhere among the British. With the introduction of Christianity, this custom was associated with the bringing of gifts to the baby Jesus by three magicians of the East. In memory of this, gifts are given primarily to children.
A kind old gentleman delivers gifts to children Santa Claus, red-cheeked, with a long white beard, dressed in a red fur coat and a tall red hat. Some people identify Santa Claus with creatures underworld- by gnomes, which, in their opinion, confirms it appearance. Usually, at Christmas, not only children, but also adults receive gifts; before dinner, they are presented to everyone by the youngest member of the family.
Since the 19th century it has become a custom to exchange greeting cards - instead of the once obligatory personal congratulations on the holiday. In 1843, the first Christmas card was printed in the printing house, and soon their production became a special branch of printing production. In the design of postcards, motifs of old traditional Christmas customs are often found: the robin, which has been around since the 18th century. often replaces the wren in rituals, branches of eternal greenery - holly, ivy, mistletoe, and on Scottish postcards the image of a sprig of heather intertwined with tartan ribbons is the national symbol of Scotland. Such cards are sent in large numbers at Christmas time to Scottish emigrants all over the world as a reminder of the homeland they left behind.
Christmas lunch and today includes such traditional dishes as stuffed turkey (among the British) or roast goose (in Wales, Ireland) and the inevitable plum pudding. The old custom of decorating the house for Christmas with branches of eternal greenery - ivy, holly, etc. is still preserved. As before, a sprig of mistletoe is strengthened above the door. According to custom, once a year, on Christmas Eve, men have the right to kiss any girl who stops under a decoration made from this plant. This doesn’t happen often, and in order not to waste time, one man decided to decorate a mirror with amela branches so that he could kiss all the girls who stopped to admire themselves.
Apparently, a late transformation of the custom of decorating houses with eternal greenery was
Christmas tree, as a symbol of undying nature. The custom of decorating spruce appeared in England relatively recently, in the middle of the 19th century, and was brought here from Germany. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert had their first Christmas tree for their children in Windsor, and the fashion quickly spread. Now in almost every English house For Christmas, the Christmas tree is decorated with colorful shiny toys and sweets; a Christmas fairy or a large silver star is usually placed on top of it. During the Second World War, a huge spruce tree was first smuggled from occupied Norway to England, where the Norwegian king and government were located at that time, and installed in Trafalgar Square. From now on, such a spruce is given annually by the city of Oslo to the British capital, and it is installed on the same square. She is decorated Christmas decorations, multi-colored light bulbs.
Finally, the once widespread processions of mummers and dramatic performances originate in all theatres, concert halls on Christmastide, Christmas pantomimes, masquerade balls. The second day of Christmas in the church calendar is dedicated to St. Stephen. In England this day is called boxing day(Boxing day). This name comes from the custom of installing special piggy banks in churches before Christmas, where offerings for the poor were placed.
On St. Stephen, the pastor distributed the collected money among his parishioners. Later, the boxes were no longer installed in the church, but the poor people of the parish gathered in groups on St. Stefan and his piggy bank went around houses, receiving small coins. Such groups consisted of journeymen, students, messengers, etc. And now the tradition of giving small sums of money to letter carriers, messengers and servants is still preserved.
In England and Scotland, a significant part of the Christmas holiday is ritual food- dinner on Christmas Eve and lunch on the first day of Christmas. The English and Scottish nobility, descended from the Scandinavians or Normans, had a boar's head as a traditional Christmas dish throughout the Middle Ages.
However, among the Celtic peoples this dish never appeared on festive tables. Perhaps the reason for this was the ban on eating pork that existed in ancient times among the Celts. This prohibition continued for a long time in some remote corners of the Highlands.
In Scotland, Ireland and Wales, a piece of roast beef or goat was usually prepared for Christmas dinner - Yule bull or Yule goat. But gradually roasted (in Ireland, Wales) or smoked (in Scotland) goose became a traditional meat dish for Christmas. It remains the main Christmas dish today in Wales and Scotland (Highland). In England since the 18th century. Fried or stuffed turkey took its place.
Had ritual significance drinks and foods made from cereals. In Aberdeenshire and the north-east of Scotland it was customary to place a large cup of a special Christmas drink called sowans on the table on Christmas Eve. It was prepared from fermented barley grain, with the addition of honey and cream. The drink was poured into small wooden cups, at the bottom of which some object was placed: if the drinker saw a ring at the bottom - this is for a wedding, a coin - for wealth, a button - for celibacy, etc.
For many centuries, all residents of the British Isles had a special food for Christmas. plum porridge oatmeal(plum-porridge), cooked in meat broth, bread crumbs, raisins, almonds, prunes and honey were also added to it and served very hot. During the 18th century. Plum Porridge is gradually being replaced plum-pudding-dingom(plum-pudding), and by the middle of the 19th century. the latter becomes the most important dish of the Christmas table. Plum pudding is made from bread crumbs with the addition of various spices and fruits; before serving, it is doused with rum and lit. It is still a custom to hide small silver coins and decorations in the Christmas pudding - “for good luck”.
In the past, the Scots, Irish and Welsh had a custom of baking for Christmas. special bread. It was supposed to be baked only on Christmas Eve, between sunset and sunrise. Christmas bread was a large round cake, on which a cross was cut out with a knife before baking. They also baked Christmas oatcakes - round, with jagged edges and a hole in the middle; judging by their shape, they were supposed to symbolize the sun. In the Highlands it was customary to invite every passerby into the house at Christmas. The guest was offered a piece of this flatbread with cheese and a sip of alcohol.
In all wealthy houses, baking was carried out and beer was brewed not only for themselves, but also for distribution to the poor, watchmen, workers, and shepherds. On the eve of Christmas Eve, on the so-called "small Christmas Eve"(Swedish - lille ju-lafton, Norwegian - julaften, Danish - ju-leaften), rich alms were distributed, especially in the priests' houses, to every house included in the parish. Gifts consisted of bread, meat, porridge, beer, and candles.
On Christmas Eve, before sunset, all the villagers gathered in the church. Upon returning home, everyone sat down to a festive treat. With Christmas comes everyone's celebration; There is not a single poor house where this event is not celebrated. The smallest loaf of bread is always kept hidden away from one Christmas to the next or even more. long time. There have often been cases where an 80-90 year old woman kept a loaf of bread baked in her youth.
And now in the UK they are still preparing for the New Year special traditional dishes. For breakfast they usually serve oatcakes, pudding, a special type of cheese - Kebben, for lunch - roast goose or steak, pie, apples baked in dough. New Year's oatcakes among the Celtic peoples had a special shape - round with a hole in the middle. We tried not to break them during baking, as this would be a bad omen.
The table decoration is christmas cake. According to an old recipe, it should be stuffed with the following items that supposedly predict fortune for the coming year: a ring for a wedding, a coin for wealth, a small horseshoe for good luck.
Currently in Scotland they bake for New Year's table a large round sand cake, with tucks along the edges, decorated with almonds, nuts, sweets, sugar and marzipan figures boiled in sugar. Every year great amount Such cakes are sent to all corners of the globe to Scots in exile. They are usually decorated with national emblems - heather, Scottish cross, arms crossed over the sea, mountains, etc.
You will be welcomed in the UK Christmas carols, church mass and pudding and turkey, typical of English cuisine. On Christmas Eve, crowds of people gather in Trafalgar Square, at the main Christmas tree in England, where charity organisations They organize performances for adults and children with the singing of hymns. Much the same thing happens in Leicester Square, where a fun fair takes place. Residents and tourists can enjoy carnivals and festivities in Coven Garden, warm up at the traditional Christmas Peter Pan Trophy swimming competition, and then relax in Hyde Park and the Serpentine Pond.
Edinburgh gets especially crowded on New Year's Eve on Princes Street. New Year's services are going on in churches. Fruit and candy stores work all night. The arrival of the New Year is heralded by the ringing of bells, horns and sirens from factories. After 12 o'clock everyone congratulates each other and goes home to the festive tables.
Christmas in England loomed back in October, when most of them sat down at the table at home and, sticking out the tip of their tongues from diligence, wrote Christmas Lists to Father Christmas with a most serious look. The owners of shops in England, don’t be fools, started selling various thematic junk right from that moment... But in general, all this is an established centuries-old Tradition. In the United Kingdom, there are probably more traditions, rituals, signs, quirks, quirks and other things associated with winter festivities than in the rest of Europe. Moreover, there are ancient traditions, and there are relatively young ones, but they have already managed to firmly cement themselves in the depths of the British mentality. Here, for example: with late XIX centuries, Advent Calendars came to England from Germany. Initially, they had a purely religious “adult” purpose, but soon children began to use them. And now every year, starting from the first of December, the whole of young Britain is “counting down to the Advent”, and the calendars themselves can be crazy: blinking, chocolate, waffle, in the form of Martian heads... In fairness, we note that most buildings here only begin to be decorated two weeks before Christmas. Trees, many of which still have leaves, are entangled with tinsel (glitters), wires with light bulbs (flicker), ribbons of tartan fabric (curl and rustle) and many others. other manifestations of the British sense of beauty. The lawns in front of houses are usually completely hidden by statues of Father Christmas, wreaths of holly and ivy, and in the windows - so that no one seems too little - they turn on Scandinavian welcome lights! All this, in fact, is called Traditions. Children generally have a good time here. On Christmas Eve in the evening they go to bed after prayers and Christmas stories are read to them. Before that, they always leave mince pie and milk for Father Christmas (and carrots for a certain Rudolph) - otherwise there will be no gifts! , where under the tree, in stockings or in special socks, lies “what they have been waiting for so long.” Around lunchtime (one o’clock in the afternoon), relatives and friends come to the house, everyone kisses, cuddles, gives presents, and enthusiastically discusses what... some nonsense and finally sit down to Christmas dinner. In fact, some holidays the British, with their dull, bland cuisine, somehow manage not to ruin from a gastronomic point of view - Christmas is one of them, they serve “cocktails” here. appetizers of shrimp, then for the main thing - turkey in currant sauce, and for dessert - Christmas Pudding or Christmas Pie... But usually it’s much worse! .. people, then everyone still stares for a while at the box in which they prepared “all the best and funniest”, and then, if the family is absolutely correct, they play charades or games that require ingenuity Board games. The true Home of Christmas and the Cradle of most traditions is undoubtedly London. These days the atmosphere in the metropolis is simply electric. The streets sparkle under the influence of the magic of thousands of magic light bulbs and other decorations. Fresh air cheeks and nose tingle, and the frost transforms the city into the Christmas Wonderland described by Dickens - the British, by the way, love to make this comparison... But with all that, London allows you to experience all the shades of the “holiday atmosphere”. The most luxurious junk is thrown into the windows, choirs of all kinds sing in the corners, in passages and in churches, all drinking and eating establishments offer special menus and some special entertainment, and the streets, theaters (open and closed) and squares are flooded with mass entertainers , pop groups and even clowns.
But, both for our people and for the London people, X-mas is, first and foremost, of course, Phaser Shopping. Despite the general poorly disguised high cost, Christmas sales in London usually do not let you get bored. Officially, sales are announced on the twentieth of December, but it is important to know that a really serious reduction in prices occurs after Christmas, when there is no longer a need for frantic purchasing of gifts from people. The largest discounts are provided by department stores (this year mainly on December 27). The heaviest shopping scene can be seen in the West End and in the Oxford Street area. The most luxurious place - dear to the Russian heart (and the center in general Russian culture in London!) Selfridges. Each time it is somehow thematically decorated according to one particular plan and it is always done, of course, with great taste. In another no less pleasant place, Liberty's (truly English fabrics for production are found here women's clothing) prices during sales are reduced by up to 50%. In addition, the store is located in a 16th-century building and its windows are considered among the most beautiful in London. A store named Simpson's is interesting because on all its five floors they sell almost exclusively goods for gentlemen. It is doubtful that anyone other than the British could decide on such strict specialization. Harrod is considered the flagship of London, and indeed British supermarkets in general. "s - they say that there are people who spent several days just looking at its windows... This is where everything your heart desires is really sold! And all - at exorbitant schizophrenic prices. But what is truly pleasing here is that “the staff works until the last whim of the last client is satisfied”... The discounts in this store are also “the very best” and in crazy extravagance reach as much as 75%! True, from the standpoint of common sense, these discounts are about the same as if we subtracted 75 cm from the height of a skyscraper... In London, it is customary to start sales on Saturday, but Harrod's announces them half a week later, on Wednesday, without any doubt in its own superiority. And, as they say, on the very first day of the sale, the turnover is equal to a month. And they’re not lying, probably. This is the power of habits and traditions. For the Christmas sale (with the most significant discounts of the year), all stores. They are prepared in advance, from about mid-October. The latest trend is to reduce time and nervous stress while shopping, and also to manage to get creative and buy something SUCH, SO MUCH, that no one dares to call junk. For example, a ticket for a helicopter ride (a whole fashion now). In this regard, the Internet, which distributes such things, is on the tail of traditional shopping centers. For people with lesser quirks, the opportunity to become perverted materializes in a more modest disease - in the choice of 100,000 varieties of holiday wrapping paper... Have you bought gifts? What did they wrap it in?! And here we are - look - what a cute little piece of paper... etc., etc....
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The peoples of Europe are one of the most interesting and at the same time complex topics in history and cultural studies. Understanding the peculiarities of their development, life, traditions, and culture will allow us to better understand the modern events that are taking place in this part of the world in various areas of life.
general characteristics
With all the diversity of the population living on the territory of European states, we can say that, in principle, they all went through one common path development. Most states were formed on the territory of the former Roman Empire, which included vast areas, from the Germanic lands in the west to the Gallic regions in the east, from Britain in the north to northern Africa in the south. That is why we can say that all these countries, despite all their dissimilarity, nevertheless formed in a single cultural space.
Path of development in the early Middle Ages
The peoples of Europe as nationalities began to take shape as a result of the great migration of tribes that swept the continent in the 4th-5th centuries. Then, as a result of massive migration flows, a radical transformation took place social structure, which existed for centuries during the period of ancient history, and new ethnic communities took shape. In addition, the formation of nationalities was influenced by the movement that founded their so-called barbarian states on the lands of the former Roman Empire. Within their framework, the peoples of Europe emerged approximately in the form in which they exist at the present stage. However, the process of final national formation occurred during the mature Middle Ages.
Further formation of states
In the XII-XIII centuries, in many countries of the continent, the process of formation began national identity. This was the time when the prerequisites arose for residents of states to begin to identify and position themselves as a specific national community. This initially manifested itself in language and culture. The peoples of Europe began to develop national literary languages, which determined their belonging to a particular ethnic group. In England, for example, this process began very early: already in the 12th century famous writer D. Chaucer created his famous “Canterbury Tales”, which laid the foundation for the national English language.
XV-XVI centuries in the history of Western Europe
The late Middle Ages and early modern period played a decisive role in the formation of states. This was the period of the formation of monarchies, the formation of the main governing bodies, the formation of economic development paths, and, most importantly, the specific cultural appearance was formed. Due to these circumstances, the traditions of the peoples of Europe were very diverse. They were determined by the entire course of previous development. First of all, the geographical factor affected, as well as the folding features nation states, which finally took shape in the era under consideration.
New time
The 17th-18th centuries were a time of violent upheaval for Western European countries, which experienced a rather difficult period in their history due to the transformation of the socio-political, social and cultural environment. We can say that in these centuries the traditions of the peoples of Europe were tested for strength not only by time, but also by revolutions. During these centuries, states fought for hegemony on the mainland with varying degrees of success. The 16th century passed under the domination of the Austrian and Spanish Habsburgs, the next century - under the clear leadership of France, which was facilitated by the fact of the establishment of absolutism here. The 18th century shook its position largely due to the revolution, wars, and also the internal political crisis.
Expansion of spheres of influence
The next two centuries were marked by major changes in the geopolitical situation in Western Europe. This was due to the fact that some leading states took the path of colonialism. The peoples living in Europe mastered new territorial spaces, primarily North, South American and eastern lands. This significantly influenced the cultural appearance of European states. First of all, this concerns Great Britain, which created an entire colonial empire that covered almost half the world. This led to the fact that it was the English language and English diplomacy that began to influence European development.
Another event had a strong impact on the geopolitical map of the mainland - two world wars. The peoples living in Europe were on the verge of destruction as a result of the devastation caused to it fighting. Of course, all this affected the fact that it was Western European states that influenced the beginning of the process of globalization and the creation of global bodies for resolving conflicts.
Current state
The culture of the peoples of Europe today is largely determined by the process of erasing national borders. The computerization of society, the rapid development of the Internet, as well as widespread migration flows have raised the problem of erasing national distinctive features. Therefore, the first decade of our century passed under the sign of resolving the issue of preserving the traditional cultural appearance of ethnic groups and nationalities. Recently, with the expansion of the globalization process, there has been a tendency to preserve the national identity of countries.
Cultural development
The life of the peoples of Europe is determined by their history, mentality and religion. With all the variety of paths of the cultural appearance of countries, one general feature of development in these states can be identified: the dynamism, practicality, and purposefulness of the processes that occurred at different times in science, art, politics, economics and in society in general. It was the last characteristic feature that was pointed out by famous philosopher O. Spengler.
The history of the peoples of Europe is characterized by early penetration into culture secular elements. This determined the rapid development of painting, sculpture, architecture and literature. The desire for rationalism was inherent in leading European thinkers and scientists, which determined the rapid growth rate of technical achievements. In general, the development of culture on the mainland was determined by the early penetration of secular knowledge and rationalism.
Spiritual life
The religions of the peoples of Europe can be divided into two large groups: Catholicism, Protestantism and Orthodoxy. The first is one of the most common not only on the mainland, but throughout the world. At first it was dominant in Western European countries, but then, after the Reformation that occurred in the 16th century, Protestantism arose. The latter has several branches: Calvinism, Lutheranism, Puritanism, the Anglican Church and others. Subsequently, on its basis, separate communities of a closed type arose. Orthodoxy is widespread in countries of Eastern Europe. It was borrowed from neighboring Byzantium, from where it penetrated into Rus'.
Linguistics
The languages of the peoples of Europe can be divided into three large groups: Romance, Germanic and Slavic. The first includes: France, Spain, Italy and others. Their peculiarities are that they were formed under the influence of eastern peoples. In the Middle Ages, these territories were subject to invasion by Arabs and Turks, which undoubtedly affected the development of their speech characteristics. These languages are distinguished by their flexibility, sonority and melodiousness. It is not for nothing that most operas are written in Italian, and in general, it is considered one of the most musical in the world. These languages are quite easy to understand and learn; however, French grammar and pronunciation can cause some difficulties.
The Germanic group includes the languages of the northern and Scandinavian countries. This speech is distinguished by its firm pronunciation and expressive sound. They are more difficult to perceive and learn. For example, German It is considered one of the most difficult among European languages. Scandinavian speech is also characterized by the complexity of sentence construction and rather difficult grammar.
The Slavic group is also quite difficult to master. Russian is also considered one of the most difficult languages to learn. At the same time, it is generally accepted that it is very rich in its lexical composition and semantic expressions. It is believed that he has all the necessary means of speech and language to convey the necessary thoughts. It is indicative that it was European languages that were considered world languages at different times and centuries. For example, at first it was Latin and Greek, which was due to the fact that Western European states, as mentioned above, were formed on the territory of the former Roman Empire, where both were in use. Subsequently, Spanish became widespread due to the fact that in the 16th century Spain became the leading colonial power, and its language spread to other continents, primarily to South America. In addition, this was due to the fact that the Austro-Spanish Habsburgs were the leaders on the mainland.
But subsequently France took the leading position, which also took the path of colonialism. That's why French spread to other continents, most notably North America and North Africa. But already in the 19th century it became the dominant colonial state, which determined the main role of the English language throughout the world, which continues to this day. In addition, this language is very convenient and easy to communicate, its grammatical structure is not as complex as, for example, French, and due to the rapid development of the Internet in recent years, English has greatly simplified and become almost colloquial. For example, many English words with a Russian sound have come into use in our country.
Mentality and consciousness
The characteristics of the peoples of Europe should be considered in the context of their comparison with the population of the East. This analysis was carried out back in the second decade by the famous culturologist O. Spengler. He noted that all European peoples are characterized by this, which led to the rapid development in different centuries engineering, technology and industry. It was the latter circumstance that determined, in his opinion, the fact that they very quickly embarked on the path of progressive development, began to actively develop new lands, improve production, and so on. A practical approach became the key to the fact that these peoples achieved great results in the modernization of not only economic, but also socio-political life.
The mentality and consciousness of Europeans, according to the same scientist, from time immemorial have been aimed at not only studying and understanding nature and the reality surrounding them, but also active use the results of these achievements in practice. Therefore, the thoughts of Europeans have always been aimed not only at gaining knowledge in pure form, but also to use them in transforming nature for their needs and improving living conditions. Of course, the above path of development was also typical for other regions of the world, but it was in Western Europe that it manifested itself with the greatest completeness and expressiveness. Some researchers associate this business consciousness and practically oriented mentality of Europeans with the peculiarities of the geographical conditions of their residence. After all, most European countries are small in size, and therefore, in order to achieve progress, the peoples inhabiting Europe began to develop and master various technologies to improve production due to limited natural resources.
Characteristic features of countries
The customs of the peoples of Europe are very indicative of understanding their mentality and consciousness. They reflect them and their priorities. Unfortunately, very often the image of a particular nation is formed in the mass consciousness based on purely external attributes. In this way, labels are applied to one country or another. For example, England is very often associated with primness, practicality and exceptional efficiency. The French are very often perceived as cheerful, secular and open people, easy to communicate with. Italians or, for example, Spaniards seem to be a very emotional nation with a stormy temperament.
However, the peoples inhabiting Europe have a very rich and complex history, which left a deep imprint on their life traditions and way of life. For example, the fact that the British are considered homebodies (hence the saying “my home is my castle”) undoubtedly has profound implications. historical roots. When there were fierce internecine wars in the country, apparently, the idea was formed that the fortress or castle of some feudal lord was a reliable defense. The British, for example, have another interesting custom, which also dates back to the Middle Ages: during parliamentary elections, the winning candidate literally fights his way to his seat, which is a kind of reference to the time when there was a fierce parliamentary struggle. Also, the custom of sitting on a sack of wool is still preserved, since it was the textile industry that gave impetus to the rapid development of capitalism in the 16th century.
The French still have a tradition of striving to express their nationality in a particularly expressive way. This is due to their turbulent history, especially XVIII century when the country experienced revolution and the Napoleonic wars. During these events, the people especially acutely felt their national identity. Expressing pride in their fatherland is also a long-standing custom of the French, which is manifested, for example, during the performance of the Marseillaise and in our days.
Population
The question of what peoples inhabit Europe seems very complex, especially in view of the recent rapid migration processes. Therefore in this section we should limit ourselves to only a short review of this topic. When describing language groups above, we already talked about what ethnic groups inhabited the mainland. Here it is necessary to identify a few more features. Europe became an arena back in early middle ages. Therefore, its ethnic composition is extremely diverse. In addition, at one time, parts of it were dominated by Arabs and Turks, who left their mark. However, it is still necessary to point out the list of peoples of Europe from west to east (only the largest nations are listed in this series): Spaniards, Portuguese, French, Italians, Romanians, Germans, Scandinavian ethnic groups, Slavs (Belarusians, Ukrainians, Poles, Croats, Serbs , Slovenes, Czechs, Slovaks, Bulgarians, Russians and others). Currently, the issue of migration processes, which threaten to change the ethnic map of Europe, is especially acute. In addition, the processes modern globalization and open borders threaten to blur ethnic territories. This issue is now one of the main ones in world politics, so in a number of countries there has been a tendency to maintain national and cultural isolation.
It’s always interesting to discover something new, draw ideas, and learn from experience. We invite you to learn some children's customs and “tricks” of European countries.
The creators of the concept are a store for children MushRoom. otherchildren bring from Europe not only children’s wardrobe items, but also Interesting Facts, knowledge and invaluable experience. Today we will learn about the traditions and customs associated with children in different countries.
1.
Denmark. The dummy tree.
B 192 0 year, the Danes came up with a ritual for saying goodbye to babies with a pacifier. So that children do not feel sad and part with the pacifier painlessly, parents often arrange a real holiday growing up: going to the zoo, picnic, attractions. At the end of the holiday, the “little adult” solemnly says goodbye to the “baby” accessory, hanging it on a special “sucker tree”. Sometimes this is accompanied by a touching note: “Dear pacifier, thank you for serving me so well, but I’m already a big boy/girl, and now the tree will take care of you.”
And at night the pacifier fairy comes and, instead of a voluntarily given pacifier, brings the baby a gift under the pillow.A very sweet and tender ritual, without any theft of the notorious pacifier by dogs, cats and other animals.
2. Germany. Schultüte
German first-graders go to school not with the usual bouquet for the teacher, but with the so-called “first-grader bag.” This tradition appeared in Germany in the 19th century, and until now the beginning of the school year is impossible set without schoolchildren joyfully carrying their cone-shaped gifts.
It is believed that a long and responsible educational journey awaits the baby, and parents want to sweeten this event a little for the child.
Previously, the “first-grader’s bag” was filled exclusively with sweets, but now parents collect as gifts everything that their child will like: sweets, school supplies, toys and other little things pleasant for children. First-graders ceremoniously take pictures with their Schultüte, and then open them in class or at home. The main thing is not to overdo it so that the gift does not weigh more than the baby :)
3. France. Doudou
For French children, their introduction to the world begins with mom, dad and “doudou”. This is a soft scarf with a toy head. This exists in many countries of the world, but it is the French who pay attention to the “dudu” Special attention. When baby When a baby is born, a personal handkerchief toy is immediately placed in his hand. It is believed that there is only one dudu for life, so parents buy several at once in case of loss. From birth, the baby sucks and fiddles with his cloth, which helps him in subsequent adaptation periods. Without “dudu” they may not even be accepted into the garden.
Educators are confident that without it, the child may be less able to tolerate homesickness. You can often find grown-up children carrying around worn-out handkerchief toys with them everywhere, as their personal symbol of home and warmth. And sometimes replacing an unsightly old “dudu” with a new one, exactly the same, turns into a difficult task for parents.
4. Italy. Battesimo.
Italians are temperamental and expressive, as well as superstitious and very respectful of traditions. There is a special attitude in Italy towards children's religious rites. One of the most important is the christening of babies. It is customary to baptize children in all Catholic churches. countries, but it is the Italians who turn this event into a real holiday for all generations of the family: solemn, beautiful, memorable.
Christening in Italy is a small (and sometimes large) wedding.
Italians have a cult of family, so all relatives gather to congratulate the baby. In many families, there is a tradition of passing on the outfit for the baptism of a newborn by inheritance. This is a relic that is kept by the older generation and presented to the little Italian on the day of baptism. A long shirt and cap are solemnly decorated with the hero of the occasion and then he goes back to wait for the addition of the family. All guests receive traditional Italian bonboriere (bags with sweets and a small souvenir) - an attribute of many holidays since the times of ancient Rome. The christening ceremony ends with a family banquet, where the newly minted Catholic receives gifts from the whole family.
One of distinctive features European kindergartens is where the group goes outside the garden. In public transport and on the streets in weekdays you can see preschool children heading to the park , museum, zoo, to an exhibition accompanied by teachers.
It looks like this: children walk in pairs, holding a hand, often they are dressed in bright “identification” vests or hold on to a common rope, one teacher leads the column, the second brings up the rear. Such “outings” are included in the preschool education program and are aimed at broadening the horizons of children. Such events are facilitated by numerous educational programs specially created by scientific and exhibition organizations for the little ones. Even a simple walk to a city park turns into a small educational journey: children are taught in practice about the rules of conduct for pedestrians and transport passengers, and are taught to behave in an orderly and attentive manner on the city streets.
For more than two thousand years, on one day a year, greetings have been heard: “Christ is Risen! Truly Risen!” Such exclamations are heard on Easter - the favorite and main Christian holiday, symbolizing victory over death, when light replaces darkness. It is celebrated in the spring, after the first flowers appear, which decorate homes and temples, rooms and festive tables. And each country has its own Easter traditions, which we will get acquainted with in more detail.
Easter traditions in Western and Central Europe
England. For many Britons, Easter is a more significant and vibrant religious holiday than Christmas, and even schools are closed for two weeks for spring break. Temples are decorated with decorated eggs, blooming daffodils and willow branches. Residents of Great Britain attend the Easter service in the evening, ending after midnight, and then rejoice at the end of Lent and congratulate others on the beginning of a new life. After visiting the temple, the British eat Easter cake with their families.
Germany. Easter is preceded by Good Friday, and most Germans eat fish on this day. On Friday and Saturday, residents of Germany do not have to work, and on Saturday evening in many German cities a grandiose Easter bonfire. This event is very popular, so many people come to watch the bonfire. local residents. Fire symbolizes the end of winter, as well as the burning of all negative feelings. On Sunday morning, almost every family eats breakfast together. On Sunday afternoons they visit relatives and friends, chat and drink tea together.
The day before, parents hide baskets with all kinds of sweets, small gifts and Easter eggs, and then the children look for them in all rooms of the house. It is believed that sweets bring Easter Bunny, and such a character also has pagan roots. At that time, the Germans believed in various gods, including the goddess of spring and fertility, Eostra. In her honor, at the onset of spring, festive events were held, and the main events occurred on the day of the vernal equinox.
Rabbit was identified with Eostra due to fertility, so in the pre-Christian era it was also associated with the arrival of spring. In the 14th century, a legend spread in Germany about the mystical Easter bunny, who hid laid eggs in the garden.The Germans later brought this legend to the USA, where the tradition of giving marzipan or chocolate sweet bunnies to children subsequently arose, and it subsequently merged with the religious holiday of Easter. Nowadays, in almost all European countries, children are given both colored eggs and sweet rabbits or bunnies.
Another legend is associated with biblical history about Noah's Ark. So, during the Great Flood, the ark collided with its bottom on the top of Mount Ararat, and a gap appeared in the ship. And the hare closed the hole with his short tail and prevented the ark from sinking in deep waters. This legend about a brave coward is very common among German children, and they are sure that a bunny in a magical clearing in an impenetrable forest is cooking magic herbs in a pot with firefly pollen. And with these herbs he hand-paints each Easter egg.
Belgium. For kids in Belgian cities, competitions are held to find eggs, but the kids don’t have to run to the chicken coop or store with a basket. Parents hide Easter eggs in the yard or garden near the house in advance, and the one who manages to collect the largest “harvest” wins. Belgians tell children that church bells will remain silent until the holiday, since they left for Rome, and return at Easter with eggs and a rabbit. The main sweets for children on this day are chocolate eggs and rabbits.
Netherlands. Most Dutch people follow the tradition of celebrating Easter, and the main symbols are colored eggs and the Easter bunny. You can often see funny figures of bunnies in the windows of houses, and without such an element it is impossible to imagine decorating a holiday table, since the Dutch do not bake Easter cakes. Residents of Holland buy colored eggs in stores, and chocolate eggs with various fillings, as well as hollow chocolate figures of a rooster or hare, are very popular.
On Sunday, the Dutch attend church services, where they kiss three times when meeting friends, and festive events are organized for the children. On children's party Painted eggs are hidden in bushes or grass, and children are very happy when they find them. Families spend Easter days together, going on picnics, or going on bike rides and walks in nature.
Easter traditions in Eastern Europe
Poland. Easter is celebrated here for two days, and all generations of a large family gather at one table. Believing Poles first pray and then sit down to a festive meal, and on the tables you can see sausage and meat, horseradish and eggs, and lighted pasta. The holiday is followed by Wet Monday, when people douse each other with water, symbolizing household profit, good luck and health.
Russia. Orthodox Easter in Russia is characterized by numerous customs that are not directly related to religious legends. This is entertainment and folk games, but what stands out is the custom of beating eggs, which involves several people. So, they hit the eggs twice with their nose, and whoever’s egg hasn’t cracked after that continues the game. Egg rolling is another Easter game. Since children were forbidden to play almost all games during Lent, after a long break, rolling eggs became the first fun for the children.
They set up a tray at a certain angle, along which Easter eggs were rolled onto a blanket, and to win, they had to hit another egg. And the girls played “heaps”, hiding the paint under a layer of sand, and the rest of the participants had to guess where it was. Believers attend church services on Easter and bless Easter cakes, Easter cottage cheese and eggs.
Ukraine. In Ukraine, Easter has merged over the centuries with family traditions and folk customs. After the 40-day fast preceding Easter, the festive table is decorated with flowers, and the main place on it is occupied by colored eggs and Easter cake laid on greenery, and the housewives prepare traditional dishes loved by the family. A special place is occupied by colored decorated eggs, painted with a “pysanka” pattern, as well as “scrobanks” - eggs on which the pattern is scratched with a sharp instrument.
Bulgaria. At Easter, according to the Bulgarian tradition, a lot of colored eggs are laid out around the Easter bread, which are painted only on Thursday, while the sun has not yet risen. On Thursday or Friday, Easter cake decorated with a cross is baked. Like other Orthodox Slavs, Bulgarians clink eggs until one of them cracks, wishing those around them good luck. And the one whose colored egg remains intact the longest is considered the luckiest.
Easter traditions in Scandinavia
Denmark. Danes celebrate Easter widely, but on a smaller scale than Christmas. As in Germany, the main holiday symbol is the Easter bunny, who brings treats to children, and popular characters also include a lamb and a chicken. Their figures will be made of caramel, sugar or white chocolate. It is customary for the Danes to brew a special type of beer and set the meat table. Some beer makers even display Easter symbols on their cans to create a festive atmosphere. The Danes are preparing for the religious holiday starting on Thursday, and only by Tuesday are they ready to return to work.
Sweden. Easter in Sweden is a less colorful and popular religious holiday than Christmas, but schools celebrate it for more than a week. Teachers and children remember the life of Jesus, his death to atone for sins, and his subsequent resurrection from the dead. For the holiday, Swedes decorate their homes with Easter flower beds in white, green and yellow shades, and the festive table contains the same food as on Christmas days. However, this time more attention is paid to candies and various sweets. All Easter eggs are made of cardboard, and inside such packaging there is candy.
Easter traditions in Southern Europe
Italy. On Easter Sunday, Italians flock to the main square of Rome and wait for the Pope to read a sermon and congratulate them on the bright religious holiday. The main dish on the Italian table is lamb served with fried artichokes, a salad of tomatoes, olives and sweet peppers, as well as a savory pie with cheese and eggs. Festive table It is impossible to imagine without colomba - this is a dish similar to Easter cake, distinguished by a lemon aroma, and it is often covered with almond glaze or almonds. On the second day, temperamental Italians with friends and neighbors flock to picnics.
Greece. Since Orthodoxy is the official religion in Greece, Easter remains the most long-awaited and vibrant holiday, and local residents paint eggs themselves. Greeks come to evening mass with white burning candles, which should be extinguished at midnight. Burning candles in Greece are associated with the resurrection of Christ and life, and light is transmitted from one candle to another. Traditional dish The Easter meal is magiritsu soup, made from lamb offal, and this dish is usually prepared on Saturday. During the meal, the Greeks uncork retsina - this is wine from last year's harvest.
Picnics and large feasts are usually held outdoors, where the meat of young lambs is roasted over fires. In Thessaloniki, citizens and guests are treated to free refreshments, and sweet churek, bright red Easter eggs, meat and wine are displayed on the tables. Greek dances and the songs do not stop until the morning, and schoolchildren's vacation lasts 15 days.
Spain. An integral part of the holiday for the Spaniards is the Easter procession, during which the boys carry ordinary palm branches, and the girls carry branches decorated with sweets, and the priest must bless them. The most interesting is the Easter procession in Seville, and in front of the cathedral in Palma de Mallorca, it is customary to play the Passion of Christ for the holiday. The most terrible action takes place in Girona: townspeople dress in terrifying costumes, scaring passers-by, and guests can see skeletons dancing. The entire week before Easter is non-working, since absolutely everyone is preparing for the religious holiday. Every year, Spanish families compete to make the best palm branch, and each branch has intricate weaves, and religious processions take place on the streets of Spanish cities.
South of France. The main Easter entertainment in France is picnics, and friendly companies and families gather near their houses in the garden and prepare a variety of omelettes. The French give each other red eggs, and the children play various games with them. From Good Friday until Christ's Sunday all the temple bells are silent, as if mourning the crucifixion of Jesus. The symbol of joy is not at all painted eggs, but ringing bells, and in villages, parents make peculiar nests in trees, from where children must get chocolate eggs. It is also customary to give adults and children chocolate coins to coming year passed comfortably.
