Posts Tagged ‘christmas traditions’

Merry Christmas in 35 languages!

Wednesday, January 18th, 2012

Although Christmas was originally a Christian tradition, it turned out to be one of the biggest and most popular events throughout the world. This is probably because Christianity accounts for about a third of the world population, with approximately 2.2 billion adherents who belong to various Christian denominations. This guide may come in handy if [...]

Consoada, Portugal’s Christmas Feast for the Dead

Friday, October 21st, 2011

In Portugal, the family comes together on December 25th, not only to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ but the passing of deceased friends and family members as well. The alminhas a pehar (“souls of the dead”) are given food and a place at the table to ensure good luck and fortune for the future. [...]

A Balsam Fir for the White House

Tuesday, October 11th, 2011

As reported by Fox News Online, the White House has chosen this year’s official Christmas tree. It comes from Schroeder’s Forevergreens, a farm owned by Tom and Sue Schroeder in Neshkoro, Wisconsin. White House Grounds Superintendent Dale Haney studied about half a dozen trees before deciding on the 18-and-a-half-foot-tall balsam fir. According to Haney, “the [...]

Knecht Ruprecht, Santa’s German Assistant

Friday, August 26th, 2011

For children in Germany, Santa Claus (a.k.a Saint Nicholas, Jolly Ol’ St. Nick, etc.) isn’t the only man who visits during the holidays. Knecht Ruprecht, which translates to “Servant Rupert” or “Farmhand Rupert”, escorts Saint Nicholas on December 6, Saint Nicholas Day in deustchsprachigen Raum, or German-speaking Europe. There are two stories of Knecht Ruprecht’s origin: [...]

The Caganer, A Catalonian Tradition To Make You Look Twice

Friday, August 12th, 2011

Look at the traditional nativity display of homes around Catalonia, Spain and its neighboring cities and you might find a strange and somewhat out of place character in the middle of all the familiar figures. The Caganer, a statuette of a man in the act of defacation, is a controversial yet traditional piece featured in [...]

The Moravian Star

Monday, July 25th, 2011

[/p] A stunning addition to any style of Advent or Christmas decor, the Moravian Star can be seen hanging in most parts of Germany and American states that have Moravian congregations. (Moravians being evangelical Protestants with roots in Germany) The star was created in the 1830s in Germany, where it was first made during school [...]

The German Christmas Pickle

Tuesday, July 5th, 2011

A long standing custom, our friends from Germany (and those with roots and relatives from the country) practice the German Christmas Pickle tradition. The tradition rewards the most observant child of the family. After the Christmas decorations and Christmas trees have been hung and finished, mothers or fathers hide a pickle-shaped glass ornament in the [...]

A Lovely Little Christmas Tradition

Wednesday, June 8th, 2011

In the United States, we have our Christmas traditions–the Christmas tree, Santa’s gifts and coal, stockings, etc. Other parts of the world also have theirs. Take for example the Tio de Nadal (Christmas Log) tradition in Catalonia, Spain. The Tio de Nadal, or as it is more popularly called, Caga Tio (translating to “Pooping Log”) is [...]

365 Days of Joy With a Christmas Tree

Thursday, April 14th, 2011

It’s April and the Bell’s artificial Christmas tree is still up. No, they didn’t forget to check what month it is. No, they’re not just lazy. And again, no, they’ve never really taken their Christmas tree down. While many others believe that letting your Christmas tree stay up until the Valentine’s Day is the height [...]

Delaware State Fair Christmas Tree Decorating Contest

Monday, March 21st, 2011

Does your family make a tradition of decorating your artificial Christmas tree? Do you pride yourself in creating a Christmas tree that is even more beautiful than last year’s? Does your family have a competitive, go-get-’em attitude that is somehow more pertinent during your favorite time of the year (i.e. Christmas)? Are you in Delaware [...]

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