Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Profesor coordonator:
Elev:
Mihescu Monica
BDUL ALISA-MARIANA
CLASA a XII-a G
Mai,2016
CONTENTS
Christmas Eve. 5
Christmas Plants. 6
The Tradition of Mistletoe at Christmas. 7
Pantomime... 8
The Star of Bethlehem 9
The Man Behind the Story of Father Christmas /
Christmas or Christmas
Day
(Old
English:
Crstesmsse, meaning "Christ's Mass") is an annual festival
commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ and also the most
widely celebrated festival world over, the most popular
festival globally.
The first Church did not celebrate the birth of Christ.
And the actual date of his birth was and still is unknown.
The earliest known indication to such a celebration comes in a passing statement
by St. Clement of Alexandria who mentions that the Egyptians of his time
celebrated the Lord's birth on May 20. At the end of the 3rd century, the Western
Churches celebrated it in the winter, and this was only accepted in Rome in the
middle of the 4th century.
Many people think Christmas is on December the 25th and that's all there is
to Christmas. However, for many people around the world, in different countries
and in different Christian traditions, Christmas lasts for a lot longer than that - and
it's even celebrated at different times!
Some churches (mainly Orthodox churches) use a different calendars for
their religious celebrations. Orthodox Churches in Russia, Serbia, Jerusalem,
Ukraine, Ethiopia and other countries use the old 'Julian' calendar and people in
those churches celebrate Christmas on January 7th.
Most people in the Greek Orthodox Church celebrate Christmas on
December 25th. But some still use the Julian calendar and so celebrate Christmas
on 7th January! Some Greek Catholics also celebrate on January 7th.
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve has many of its own customs and traditions. The most widely
practised one that still exists today is going to a Midnight Mass Church Service. In
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many countries, especially Catholic ones such as Spain, Mexico, Polandand Italy,
this is the most important Church service of the Christmas season. People might
fast during Christmas Eve (not eat any meat or fish usually) and then the main
Christmas meal is often eaten after the Midnight Mass Service in these countries.
The Midnight Mass Communion Service (or 'Christ-Mas') was a very special
one as it was the only one that was allowed to start after sunset (and before sunrise
the next day), so it was held at Midnight!
Christmas Eve is also the day when people in some countries,
like Germany, Sweden and Portugal exchange their presents. In many european
countries including Germany, Serbia and Slovakia, Christmas Eve is the day when
the Christmas Tree is brought into the house and decorated.
One of the most famous Christmas Eve superstitions included that farm and
wild animals would kneel at midnight in honor of Jesus being born or that they
could even talk!
Christmas Plants
Holly
Ivy
Ivy has to cling to something to support itself as it
grows. This reminds us that we need to cling to God
for support in our lives.
In Germany, it is traditional that Ivy is only used
outside and a piece tied to the outside of a Church was
supposed to protect it from lightning!
Rosemary
Rosemary was connected with the Virgin Mary
(because it was thought to be Mary's favourite plant)
and people thought that it could protect you from evil
spirits. It is also sometimes called the friendship plant
and it was the most common garnish put on the boar's
head that rich people ate at the main Christmas meal in
the Middle ages!
It is also known as the remembrance herb and was
used at Christmas as this is the time that we remember
the birth of Jesus.
Pantomime
Pantomime (or 'Panto' for
short!) is a traditional British
Christmas play and a chance
for people to go to the theatre.
But it really came from very un-British traditions, nothing to do with Christmas
whatever!
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astrologers from the east are inspired by the star to travel to Jerusalem. There they
meet King Herod of Judea, and ask where the king of the Jews had been born.
Herod, following a verse from the Book of Micah interpreted as a prophecy, directs
them to Bethlehem, to the south of Jerusalem. The star leads them to Jesus' home
in the town, where they worship him and give him gifts. The wise men are then
given a divine warning not to return to Herod so they return home by a different
route.
Many Christians see the star as a miraculous sign to mark the birth of the
Christ (or Messiah). Some theologians claimed that the star fulfilled a prophecy,
known as the Star Prophecy. Astronomers have made several attempts to link the
star to unusual astronomical events, such as a conjunction of Jupiter and Venus, a
comet or a supernova.
Many modern scholars do not consider the story to be describing a historical
event but a pious fiction created by the author of the Gospel of Matthew.
The subject is a favorite at
planetarium shows during the Christmas
season, although the Biblical account
describes Jesus with a broader Greek word,
which can mean either "infant" or "child"
(paidon), rather than the more specific word
for infant (brephos), possibly implying that
some time has passed since the birth. The
visit is
traditionally celebrated on
Epiphany (January
6)
in
Western
Christianity.
Christmas Candles
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Christmas Bells
Bells, especially Church Bells, have traditionally
been associated with Christmas for a long time. In the
Anglican and Catholic churches, the church day starts at
sunset, so any service after that is the first service of the
day. So a service on Christmas Eve after sunset is
traditionally the first service of Christmas day! In
churches that have a Bell or Bells, They are often rung to signal the start of this
service.
In some churches in the UK, it is traditional that the largest bell in the
church is rung four times in the hour before midnight and then at midnight all the
bells are rung in celebration.
In many Catholic countries such as England, France, Spain and Italy, the
midnight mass service is very important and everyone tries to go to a service.
In Victorian times, it was very fashionable to go carol singing with small
handbells to play the tune of the carol. Sometimes there would only be the bells
and no singing! Handbell ringing is still popular today.
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But the real celebrations begin with the decoration of the Christmas tree on
"Ajunul Craciunului" (Christmas Eve). Fir trees happen to be the main Christmas
trees here. Gift exchanges take place in Romania in the evening of Christmas Eve,
contrary to the American way of opening gifts on Christmas morning. Romanian
children believe that 'Mos Craciun' (the Romanian equivalent of Santa Claus) is the
one who delivers them their presents. Unlike in the U.S., the Romanian children do
not leave milk and cookies out for 'Mos Craciun'. While urban children receive
expensive gifts and money, those in the villages have to settle with sweets, fruit,
nuts, and pastries as Christmas gifts. A common and popular gift is
knotshaped bread, which, in Romania, symbolizes an abundant harvest.
The singing of carols is a very
important part of Romanian Christmas
festivities. Throughout the Christmas
season, little Romanian children
(especially those in the villages) visit
every house in the locality singing
carols such as Steaua ('The Star'), Trei
Pastori ('The Three Shepherds') and
Mos Craciun ('Santa Claus') and
reciting poems and legends tied to the
festival. On the first day of Christmas,
many carolers walk through the streets
of the towns and villages, holding a
star made of cardboard and paper on which are depicted various scenes from the
Bible. The leader of the group carries a large wooden star called "Steaua", which is
wrapped up with metal foil and adorned with bells and coloured ribbons. An image
of the Nativity is pasted on the center of the star, and the entire handcraft is
attached to the end of a broom or stout pole. The singing is taken up first by young
children, then the adolescents and lastly the adults, who join in often after
midnight). In return for such performances, carolers recieve apples, nuts,
traditional cakes ('cozonaci') and sometimes even money from each house.
Romanian folklores bound with Christmas carols which lend a religious mood to
the festival. Churches specially organize concerts to celebrate the occassion.
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In Romanian familes, all the women cook for three days leading up to
'Craciun'. Christmas dinner in Romania is a rich, multi-course meal. On the top of
the menu comes various kinds of pork sausages, along with plum brandy and home
made pickles. 'Sarmale' , an indispensable item for the festive dinner, comes next.
This dish consists of pickled cabbage leaves stuffed with a combination of pork
and beef, along with rice, pepper, thyme and other spices. Other dishes to follow
are roasted pork and turkey with red wine. The wine is consumed to celebrate the
birth of Jesus. The last item is 'cozonaci', a cake filled with nuts and raisins.
All the members of the extended family enjoy the feast together.
On Christmas day, children and grown-ups alike wander around, singing
carols. They may come from all over the country, for instance from central and
southern Transylvania, Crisana and sometimes from Banat. Traditionally, they
perform their carols wearing masks. The mask stands for a god in his zoomorphic
instantiation, impersonated by the group leader, who wears the mask while
performing the carol.Turca (the stag, BORITA) is born at the same time when the
mask is made, and it revels and makes merry with the group of carollers acting as
its divine company, dying violently, club-beaten, shot or drowned, so that it may be
reborn in the New Year. Quite often, the groups leader has fun scaring women and
children with the mask; at the same time he may ask for his due, the moneys worth
he thinks he should receive for the ritual he performed, being offered the most
honoured guests seat at the groups ceremonial table.
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unusual and beautiful Victorian Angel Pictures we have included for your pleasure
and enjoyment. Today Christmas songs and carols are also fast becoming a
tradition.
CONCLUSIONS
Christmas is a big festival of joy and happiness. It is celebrated
on the birth anniversary of the Jesus Christ (founder of the
Christianity) faith every year on 25th of December in the winter
season. It is observed as the Christmas Day to commemorate and give
honour to the Jesus Christ. People enjoy the Christmas holiday all
through the day by dancing, partying, singing and going outside the
home for dinner. It is celebrated by the people of all religion,
especially Christians. The wear new and colourful dress at this day
and enjoy a lot. Everyone wishes each other by the quote of Merry
Christmas and go to anothers house to exchange wishes and gifts.
Christian people start lots of preparations on this occasion at
least a month ago. At this day, houses, offices, churches, etc are
cleaned; white washed and decorated well using paper flowers,
natural flowers, sceneries, pictures, looking glasses, wall buntings,
etc. Market also gets decorated to look attractive and we can see the
market full of Christmas cards, gift items, sceneries, toys, etc. People
enjoy decorating their houses with the Christmas tree in the centre of
house. They load the Christmas tree with lots of gift items like
chocolates, candies, balloons, dolls, birds, flowers, lights, etc to make
it bright and beautiful.
Christian people do pray to their God Jesus Christ, confess in
front of God to remove their sins and sufferings, sing holy songs, and
exchange lots of gifts among friends, relative, family members,
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
http://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/
"Online Etymology Dictionary"
Christmas as a Multi-faith
Retrieved September 30, 2008
FestivalBBC
News.
Personnel
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