The Bethlen Home Messenger, 1992-1993 (1-4. szám)

1992-12-01 / 1. szám

Many families have their own favorite traditions that they hold close to their hearts during the holiday season. As tradition holds, many generations of the same family try to carry out these same traditions with their families.

Below are traditions that are still held close in heart in other countries.

ENGLAND — On Christmas Eve, the yule log is brought inside the house and placed in the fireplace. According to custom, each person in the family must sit upon the log and salute it before it is lit to assure good luck for the coming new year.

IRELAND — On Christmas Eve, candles are lit and placed in every window of the house, and doors are left open. The candlelight and open doors symbolize welcome hospitality, and assures the Irish people that no one seeking shelter for a baby who is the Son of God will be homeless. The candles must shine forth all night long, and may only be snuffed out by those people having the name of Mary.

HOLLAND — In order to provide food and water for St. Nick’s good white horse on Christmas Eve, the little children of Holland stuff their clean wooden shoes with hay and carrots and place them on the window sills or outside the door, putting a dish of water beside them. St. Nick then replaces the hay and water with toys, candy, etc. for the children.

DENMARK — “Julnisse” is the little man who lives in the attic and is the essence of Christmas for many in Denmark. No one can see him except for the family cat. Before going to bed on Christmas Eve, the children place a bowl of porridge and milk by the attic door. Come morning, the food has disappeared and is replaced by gifts.

FINLAND — In honor of the Christmas Eve celebration, every member of the family takes a traditional “sauna”, or steam bath. After the bath, everyone gathers around the table while the head of the family reads the Christmas prayer. The young children then visit other homes during the evening to see if they can find the man dressed as the yule goat to see if he has left any gifts for them.

SPAIN — After the midnight “Nocha Buena” mass, the little children dress in peasant costumes and enact a Christmas Eve tradition of dancing around the Nativity Scene to the musical accompaniment of tambourines.

BELGIUM — Children leave tidbits in their wooden shoes for Santa’s reindeer, and then hang up their stockings. In the morning, the oats and tidbits have disappeared and are replaced with toys.

GERMANY —“Silent Night, Holy Night”, Kris Kringle, hand carved toys and the Christmas Tree are only a few of the many contributions to this joyous season brought to us by Germany’s yesteryear.

SWITZERLAND — “Samichlaus”, as he is known in Switzerland, is eagerly awaited by the children on December5th. Samichlaus is usuallyayoung Bishop who carries a bag and hands out treats to the children.

NORWAY — According to tradition, church bells are heard in all the cities of Norway, calling the people to five o’clock church on Christmas Eve, when the celebration begins.

ITALY — The Christmas Festival in Italy celebrates thefeast of the Immaculate Conception, honoring the Virgin Mary. Shepherds, dressed in goatskin trousers and colorful jackets, come down from the mountains to play their pipes and flutes, stopping before each shrine in the streets and before the doors of all the carpenter shops to honor the Virgin and Child.

YUGOSLAVIA — Men of the family rise before dawn on Christmas Eve to look for their young oak tree, which will be suitable for the “Badnyak” or yule log. According to tradition, the log must fall toward the east at the moment of sunrise. If any branches touch another tree, it is an omen of bad luck for the coming year. When the men return home, they are greeted with song and a light supper. They then place the log in the fireplace and keep it burning throughout the night.

SWEDEN — St. Lucia, dressed in white with a red sash around her waist and wearing a crown of pine haloed with the light of seven candles, awakens the members of the household by bringing them coffee and cakes on a tray, proclaiming the arrival of the Christmas Season on December 13th. There is also the belief that the former ancestors come back to their homes on Christmas Eve. The living shall act as servants and, for the night, they will make up the beds and prepare the tables. 1

CZECHOSLOVAKIA — Christmas to the people of Czechoslovakia means the ending of all quarrels and the beginning of a new year among friends. It is customary for all people to visit friends and foes and forgive any misunderstandings that may have happened during the year.