Christmas ( p.75-79 ): Christmas in Europe

Read the text

CHRISTMAS IN EUROPE

Some of very interesting European customs go back centuries.

Advent preparation. Many Europeans observe Advent, the four weeks before Christmas. In Germany and neighboring countries, children count the days until Christmas on an Advent Calendar. This kind of calendar has a picture of a village with tiny houses filled with doors and windows that actually open! Behind each door or window there is a Christmas scene or symbol. Each day a child opens a door or window of the Advent Calendar.

In France, children prepare a manger for the Christ Child. They add a piece of straw each night for some prayer they have said or good work they have performed that day.

Gift giving. Christmas has always been a time for giving gifts, especially gifts for children. Each country in Europe has its own special person who delivers the Christmas surprises.

In many European countries, Saint Nicholas knocks on the door carrying a sack full of cookies and fruit. In Holland, Saint Nicholas comes by boat on the 6th of December. After he lands, he mounts a white horse to ride through the streets. Belgian children believe that Saint Nicholas comes with a helper who slides down the chimney to leave toys and gifts in the shoes children leave by the fireplace. In Switzerland, a girl dressed in white represents the Christ Child. She rides in a sleigh pulled by six reindeer. She goes from house to house, passing out gifts.

Saint Nicholas, or Santa Claus, has many names in Europe: Per Noel in France, Jultomten in Sweden, Father Christmas in England. Italian children wear a blindfold so they will not see the Christ Child deliver their gifts.

Christmas trees. This custom began in Germany. In Germany, Austria, Poland, and England, parents often decorate the tree behind tightly shut doors. The children are not allowed to see the tree until Christmas Eve. Only on Christmas Eve the parents throw open the doors and the children go rushing in to see the shining tree.

Christmas feasts. Christmas dinner is important everywhere in Europe, but each country has its own traditions. People in Denmark and Sweden hide an almond in the Christmas pudding. The lucky person who finds the almond wins a prize. Young Swedes go from door to door asking for treats. This Swedish Christmas custom, very similar to Halloween trick-or-treating, dates back to Viking times.  People in Serbia cover their dining table with straw. The Czechs leave one seat empty at the Christmas feast table for the Christ Child.

Christmas sharing. Christmas is the time to remember others, and many European countries have special sharing customs. The Irish place a candle in the window, inviting all travelers to share the warmth within the house.

One old European tradition says that farm animals gain unusual powers at midnight on Christmas Eve. Based on the belief that farm animals were in the stable when Christ was born, the tradition has it that the animals kneel at midnight in His honor. And in many parts of Europe, people believe that animals gain the power to talk at the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve.

Austrian villagers decorate a tree with breadcrumbs to feed wild birds. Scandinavian children treat the birds by trimming a pole with sheaves (bundles) of wheat.

And what Christmas traditions are observed in your country?

Ex.1. Each picture below presents a European Christmas custom. Write some sentences for each picture, describing the custom and identifying the country where the custom is observed.

Источник: http://englishaz.narod.ru