Bob S
European
Rainbow Bear
Posts: 2,052
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Post by Bob S on Nov 20, 2005 13:25:35 GMT -7
This is a time for children but I believe that we all become children during the Christmas season. I believe there are different spirits of giving in different parts of Europe, I.E. Sweden, Holland Belgium,France , Italy and Denmark all have a "Santa Clause" in different names and different forms. It would be nice if others could fill us in on this. When I was small and my parents were still alive, the Christmas tree would stay up until Epiphipney when it would be lit for the last time.. The lights would go out on New Years night and then relit on Epiphney. This was the day that relatives visited each others homes. I really felt sorry for the Protestants and non-Polish people because they stopped celebrating on New Years day. Poor souls, all that time between New Years and Epipheney gone to waste. "Sweet Memories".
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Post by leslie on Nov 20, 2005 13:52:03 GMT -7
Bob You probably know all about UK, but we erect the Christmas Tree a few days before Christmas Day and it is taken down, plus any other decorations, on Twelfth Night, that is the evening of the 12th day following Christmas Day (including Christmas Day). Children get their presents only on Christmas morning. We don't 'celebrate' New Year's Day as such, but we do go all out on New Year's Eve - what we call 'bringing in the New Year' usually by getting drunk almost out of our minds After midnight the first person allowed over the threshold has to be dark (skinned or haired) and who carries a piece of coal, a little bag of flour and a bottle of whisky. Some groups do not get home after this 'first-footing' until 5 or 6 in the morning!! It is mainly a Scottish and North of England custom - even as far north as Sheffield I had to explain 'first footing' to the natives of the area! But New Year's Day is a day of public holiday. So don't feel sorry for us! The children are brought their presents down the chimney (there's not many of those left in the more modern parts of UK!) during the night between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day morning. by Father Christmas or Santa Claus, with his sleigh that flies through the sky pulled by reindeer, alighting on the house roof. When we go to bed on Christmas Eve, we leave a glass of whisky and a mince pie or piece of Christmas cake for him (funny, it has always gone in the morning!) Hope this is of interest Leslie Claus ;D
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Bob S
European
Rainbow Bear
Posts: 2,052
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Post by Bob S on Nov 20, 2005 16:39:16 GMT -7
Czesc Leslie. Thank you for the information. Many things may have changed since I was last in England and I do not remember many people getting drunk or loud at the Midnight of New Years Eve. I do remember the "Piping in of the Haggis on Hogmanay in Scotland". ;D
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Post by suzanne on Nov 20, 2005 18:49:58 GMT -7
When we go to bed on Christmas Eve, we leave a glass of whisky and a mince pie or piece of Christmas cake for him (funny, it has always gone in the morning!) Leslie, I guess by the time Santa gets to the UK, he needs something more fortifying, like whisky, to keep him going through the night. As kids in the US, we only ever left the poor guy some wimpy milk and cookies (also always gone by the morning). And carrots for the reindeer, also gone by the morning.
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Post by leslie on Nov 21, 2005 2:20:51 GMT -7
Nancy and Jaga 0915h here so I'm catching up on what the slowcoaches on the other side of the world have been writing. Jaga I'm pleased that you have been told the reality of long stockings - my 21 year-old son still puts one up on Christmas Eve - it was the tradition that the stocking was not filled with the real presents but such things as an apple, orange, nuts, chocolate and so on. But different households had/have different approaches. NancyYou are, as I have suspected for some time, still living in the mid 19th century or you come from a long line of millionaires! Servants - what are they? Yes, that was (may still be in the posh houses) the tradition to give Christmas boxes (presents) to the servants on Boxing Day. Most households in UK are just getting over the excesses of Christmas Day food and drink - I know mine is! Leslie
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Post by leslie on Nov 21, 2005 2:26:38 GMT -7
Buenos dias Bob The tradition of the New Year's Eve bringing in the New Year at midnight, preceded by parties with lots of drink has been going on as long as I can remember. I remember when I was little, my father, who had very dark hair, going out of the back door just before midnight and being let in the front door just after midnight with the little gifts I mentioned. Usually the bottle of whisky the firstfooters brought was just for show, as the household visited provided a drink. When you were in England you probably stayed in the false England i.e in the south of the country?!! Hasta luega Leslie
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