CHRISTMAS IN DIFERENTS COUNTRIES

CHRISTMAS IN ITALY• In Italy, the arrival of Christmas is celebrated with different

customs, and just the great diversity of family and regional traditions makes it difficult to define a typical Italian Christmas. Anyway, I tried to select some of the favorite traditions.

The crib or manger.

• crib or manger (also known as birth), a favorite traditions of children is also prepared. Usually contains miniature figures, houses, landscapes, shepherds and sheep, but each family adds its own details. In Naples, for example, these figures are updated every year: craftsmen create similar figures to celebrities

The Christmas tree.

• The Christmas tree is another tradition that begins on December 8. In general, evergreen trees are used. The Italians prefer to use live trees. One who does not have a real tree, can decorate a plastic, but the latter is rare in Italy. The decorated tree remains inside the house until January 6 when the Christmas period ends in Italy.

The food.• It is impossible to refer to a unique culinary tradition in Italy because

every family, every city and every region has its own typical Christmas dishes. Some people prefer to meet for dinner on December 24 and those who opt for family lunch on 25 December. However, it could be said that there is a major and unique feature of Italian food. Abundance

• One thing that is always present is the Panettone and Pandoro and Mascarpone sauce. The Panettone is a sweet bread baked with fruit and raisins, while the Pandoro has no fruit but often contains chocolate chips. One of these two is covered with Mascarpone, a cream made with egg and cheese (very soft and tasty). This combination is the best dessert of Christmas .

The food.

CHRISTMAS IN MEXICO

• In Mexico, Christmas is padrísima: people dinner with his family, all greet, markets selling handicrafts, gifts, food, piñatas, etc. Close surrounding streets to put their jobs.

• We nonalcoholic punch made with seasonal fruits (cane, orange, lime, hawthorn).

Las posadas.

• La Posada is a kind of representation of what happened the Virgin and Joseph to give them inn and give birth to Jesus.So a group of people are walking from house to house singing

Las piñatas.

• Another key element is the piñata that, along with the singing of the Litany, traditional games, sweets and drinks typical of the era. The piñata represents sin, as always piñata is colorful and pretty, and we are introduced sin into the world as something attractive. A need to hit the piñata with a stick which means the strength that God gives us in his gospel to fight against sin

24 and 25 December.

• Christmas Eve is celebrated on December 24. This is essentially a family day beginning with the date of the last posada and ends with a delicious and hearty dinner. Many families go to Mass of Gallo , Christmas Mass is held in Catholic c hurches at midnight. At midnight the gifts are opened but generally children do the morning of 25. Very early on Christmas Day children run to open the gifts that Santa Claus has left them.

CHRISTMAS IN SPAIN

• Christmas is a traditional festival that is celebrated in Spain cheerful and happily together with loved ones and close friends. They are national holidays in which each region has its customs to enjoy to the fullest

Christmas Eve and Family Dinner• Then comes the Christmas Eve (24), which is when families gather, often

separated by hundreds of miles, and celebrate getting back together again. select here to see the bigger pictureThat night revelry (joy) oozes everywhere. They usually play cards (cards) or other games and harmless family roots. And dinner arrives, usually composed of several dishes, depending on the area and the country changed a bit but not much. It usually starts with some seafood, after and according to the tastes can be fish (bream, eels, sea bass, etc.) or meat (lamb, goat, pig, etc), which is irrigated with Catalan Cava, which is the equivalent French champagne, but better. And in the end you end up with nougat, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, figs, raisins, and a large group of nuts, which are still watering with Cava.

New Year

• Almost all families following the end of the year through television last 12 strokes of midnight on the Puerta del Sol in Madrid. This custom comes with twelve grapes of luck, all close together and with each stroke are taken (much people chokes). I think this tradition comes from the ancient vintners. After the bell, it's natural to go to Midnight Mass , the Mass is celebrated on 4 am, and will people of all ages (even non-practitioners).