Слайд 2The New Year in Scotland lasts for four days – from
the 29th of December till the 1st of January.
Christmas in Scotland
Слайд 3The main event of the holiday is the torch-bearer on the
29th of December, fiesta Night Afore on the 30th of December, street evening –party Hogmanay and the concert with the candles on the 31st of December and sports and musical measures on the 1st of January.
Слайд 4In Scotland, Christmas planning and preparations start from just before Halloween.
The festival is known as Yule or Yuletide. Light and fire play an integral role in Scottish Christmas celebrations.
Слайд 5Fireworks and light display shows are organized nationwide. Holy wreaths, tinsel,
candles and decorations are placed in all the homes. Decorated Christmas trees take the central position in the homes.
Слайд 8In Italy, the new year begins on the sixth of January.
All the Italian kids were looking forward to a good Fairy Befanu. It flies at night on a magic broom, opens the door a tiny golden key, and went into a room where children sleep, fills the stockings of gifts for children, especially hanging from the fireplace.
Слайд 9Besides, who are poorly studied or naughty, Befana leaves a pinch
of ash or coal. It's a shame, but that he deserved!
Слайд 10Buon Natale - Italian Santa Claus.
Слайд 11In Italy, it is believed that the New Year should start
getting rid of everything old. Therefore, in the New Year's Eve taken throw from the windows of the old stuff. We must be careful, if you want that on your head fell off the iron or straw chair.
Слайд 13On New Year's table from the Italians are always present nuts,
lentils and grapes - symbols of longevity, health and prosperity.
Слайд 14In the Italian province there is a long tradition: January 1,
early - in the morning to bring home a "new water" from the source. "If you have nothing to give to friends - say the Italians - a gift" new water "with an olive twig." It is believed that the "new water" brings happiness.
Слайд 16Christmas in Australia comes in the middle of the summer holidays!
Children have their summer holidays from early to mid December to early February, so some people might even be camping at Christmas. Because it's so hot at Christmas time in Australia, there are quite frequently massive bush fires across the country.
Слайд 17People also decorate their gardens and houses with Christmas Trees and
Christmas lights. Sometimes, Neighbours have little competitions as to who has got the best light display. Often, the neighbours visit each other to look at the light displays at night.
Слайд 18Christmas in Australia is within three days of the highest day
of the year therefore we have long daylight hours with warm temperatures instead of short days with long cold nights. Of an evening the sound of children playing outdoors drifts across the suburbs.
Слайд 19A habitual meal includes a turkey dinner, with ham, and pork.
A flaming Christmas plum pudding is added for dessert. In the Australian gold rushes, Christmas puddings sometimes contained a gold nugget.
Слайд 22The non-religious celebration of Christmas is popular in Japan, although Christmas
is not a national holiday
The name for Santa Claus is Santa-san (meaning Mr. Santa)
Слайд 23Japanese children look forward to O-toshidama when they are given gifts
of small envelopes containing money - just like our Western traditions only good children will receive these envelopes!
Слайд 24Just before midnight on New Years Eve the Japanese watch temple
ceremonies on TV where a huge gong is stuck 108 times to wipe away the 108 sins of the past year.
Слайд 25
Daruma wish dolls, used for making New Year's resolutions, can
be purchased at the temple market. Similar to Russian dolls without arms or legs the dolls have a face with a moustache and beard. Its eyes only contain the color white. One of the eyes is blackened with a magic marker when making a resolution. If, during the year, they accomplish their wish, they blacken the other eye to show they succeeded!
Слайд 28In France, Christmas is called Noel. This comes from the French
phrase les bonnes nouvelles," which means "the good news" and refers to the gospel.
Слайд 29In southern France, some people burn a log in their homes
from Christmas Eve until New Year's Day. This stems from an ancient tradition in which farmers would use part of the log to ensure good luck for the next year's harvest.
Слайд 30On Christmas Eve, children leave their shoes by the fireplace to
be filled with gifts from Pere Noel. In the morning they also find that sweets, fruit, nuts and small toys have been hung on the tree.
Слайд 31Once dinner is over and
the family have retired to
bed,
they leave a fire
burning and food and drink
on the table in case the
Virgin Mary calls in.
Children leave their shoes
or wooden clogs called sabots
in the hearth for the Christ
Child or Pere Noel to fill.
In the north of France, children are given gifts on December 6, which is St. Nicholas' Day, instead of Christmas Day. The adults give each others presents on New Year's Day.
Слайд 32Nearly every French home at Christmastime displays a Nativity scene or
creche, which serves as the focus for the Christmas celebration. The creche is often peopled with little clay figures called santons or "little saints."
Слайд 33Christmas preparations often begin before December 1st. Many Germans set aside
special evenings for baking spiced cakes and cookies, and making gifts and decorations. Little dolls of fruit are traditional Christmas toys.
Christmas in Germany
Слайд 34Children leave letters on their windowsills for Christkind, a winged figure
dressed in white robes and a golden crown who distributes gifts. Sometimes the letters are decorated with glue and sprinkled with sugar to make them sparkle.
Слайд 35Germans make beautiful gingerbread houses and cookies. The German Christmas tree
pastry, Christbaumgeback, is a white dough that can be molded into shapes and baked for tree decorations.
Слайд 36On December 6 is Nikolaustag,
St. Claus day. A shoe or
boot is left outside the door on Dec.5 with hopes the following morning you find presents, if you were good - or, unfortunately a rod if you had been bad.
Слайд 37In Germany they lay out advent wreaths of Holly with four
red candles in the center. They light one candle each Sunday and last on Christmas Eve. Children count the days until Christmas using an Advent calendar. They open one window each day and find a Christmas picture inside.