|
Sinterklaas is Holland’s Christmas figure
Theresa Seraphim
for Spotlight
For people in Holland, Christmas comes early.
“The biggest difference between here and Holland is the present giving,” said High Prairie resident Eric Verstappen.
Gifts are given not on Dec. 25 but on Dec. 5, the birthday of Sinterklaas, considered the forerunner of Santa Claus.
“He’s also dressed in red and white and has a red hat,” said Verstappen.
Like Santa Claus, Sinterklaas comes down through the chimney and leaves presents in people’s shoes which have been put out for him.
“For the kids, it’s a very exciting time,” said Verstappen.
Although gifts are not given on Christmas Day, families do come together at that time. It all starts, said Verstappen, on Christmas Eve when people go to church (and in villages, midnight mass starts at midnight instead of 9:00 or 10:00 p.m.) and then return home for snacks.
On Christmas Day, which the Dutch call the First Day of Christmas, the family will have a big meal.
“That’s when we have the turkey or goose,” said Verstappen, adding some people go to church a second time that morning. The stress is on family – any non-family members cannot just show up at a house but must be invited by the family.
The food is basically the same as in North America, but perhaps more high-quality and fancy than at other times, said Verstappen.
December 26 is known as the Second Day of Christmas.
“That’s when people go shopping and visiting whoever you feel like visiting. That’s the day for activity,” said Verstappen.
To cap off the celebrations, on New Year’s Eve, at midnight, Christmas trees are brought to the town or city square and burned.
“We use a lot of Christmas trees,” laughed Verstappen.
He said the entire celebration is especially fun for the members of the younger set.
“It’s neat for kids – it’s the most exciting time of the year.”
|
Christmas is Heiligabend for German people
|
This pyramid is an example of Christmas decorations used by the German people, such as Peter and Burgel Mertens.
|
Theresa Seraphim
for Spotlight
For folks in Germany, the first sign that Christmas is coming occurs on Dec. 6, the feast of St. Nicholas.
“We’re asked to put one shoe out (before bed on the evening of Nov.5) and there will be treats in it the next morning,” said Slave Lake resident Connie McWilliams.
Another tradition is the Advent wreath, which is lit to mark the four-week season prior to Christmas.
Decorations can include hand carved pyramids, angels, and the Nutcracker.
Presents are opened on the evening of the 24th, and are brought not by Santa Claus but by the Christkind (Christ Child). The evening is called Heiligabend, or Holy Evening, said McWilliams.
“People go to church later on in the night,” she said.
Food served on Christmas Eve varies according to region, but may include pickled herring in a yogurt sauce with apples, onion and baked potato.
“All streets are empty, because this is a holy celebration and no one would phone or visit anybody at this hour,” said High Prairie resident Burgel Mertens.
In the middle of the table, under a candle holder, is a penny, which symbolizes enough money for next year. On the table there is also a salt shaker and some bread, symbolizing the grace of God for providing daily bread, said Mertens.
Everyone had to partake of at least a bit of each dish and nobody was allowed to rise from the table until the mother had given thanks. Mertens recalled one year when a candle on the Christmas tree caught fire, but because it was considered a bad omen if anyone got out of their seat, nobody rose.
“My brother stayed sitting on the chair and moved with the chair to the tree to blow out the candle and did not lift up his rear end,” said Mertens.
After dishes were done, she said, everyone waited in the lviing room for Santa Claus, called Weihnachtsmann. Before he gave a child a present, the child had to sign a song or say a poem or a prayer. Then Santa would tell the child what they had done wrong or done well that year.
“Children were allowed to stay up till midnight to play with the toys they got,” said Mertens.
Christmas Day is the time for goose or rabbit or venison, served with Brussels sprouts and red cabbage. Stollen, a fruit cake powdered with icing sugar, is another German Christmas tradition
Christmas Day is reserved for family only, except by invitation.
“It’s very much a private thing. You would not impose on people on that day,” said McWilliams.
The following day – known not as Boxing Day but as the Second Day of Christmas – involves lots of visiting.
“We play games, board games, whatever,” said McWilliams.
New Year’s is celebrated, too.
“Children would go around wishing people a happy New Year’s and they’d give money,” said McWilliams.
She remembered one particular aspect of Christmas from her time in Germany.
“The church bells rang on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day. You could hear the bells from other towns so it was quite nice.”
|
Czech Christmas a month-long affair
|
Zdenka’s mother deciding which cup to flip over to find a penny, a piece of bread or piece of fabric.
|
Theresa Seraphim
for Spotlight
For Czech Republic residents, Christmas celebrations begin on Dec. 4, the feast of St. Barbara.
That’s the day girls of marriageable age cut a twig from a cherry tree and put it in water. Tradition holds that if it blooms by Christmas Eve, the girl will be married within the year.
“It never happened to me,” laughed Slave Lake resident Zdenka Steflova. However, seeing it bloom does give hope of warmth and new life, she said.
“It’s beautiful – something that reminds you of spring.”
Two days later, however, Christmas celebrations go into high gear.
“The 6th is the official day of St. Nicholas,” explained Steflova.
The saint, dressed like a bishop, comes to each house with two companions – an angel and a devil. Good children get treats from him (actually already bought by parents), while misbehaving ones receive a potato or lump of coal.
Unbeknownst to the children, the parents have already given “St. Nick” a letter detailing the good and bad things each child has done.
“The devil, he usually has a big sack and he says, ‘If you are naughty, I can put you in the sack,’” said Steflova.
“Every year kids are a little bit scared because they know they were naughty,” she laughed.
“They’re supposed to sing him a song or tell him a poem.”
The treats children receive are not toys, but foods such as mandarin oranges and bananas, that are available only at Christmastime.
People also bake cookies with recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation, said Steflova.
On Dec. 24, the four candles of the Advent wreath are lit, and the household goes into high gear preparing for that evening, which includes, among other celebrations, decorating the Christmas tree, which is done in a way so children cannot see it happening.
As with many other countries, in the evening there is a big meal.
The main dish is chlebicky, open-faced sandwiches with a spread of butter, egg or potato salad, and with ham and pickles added. Since each person eats three or four during the meal, the family makes quite a few, said Steflova.
“It is very popular,” she said.
Other dishes include carp dipped in egg and breaded, potato salad with vegetables, and soup (either fish or lentils) – all served on special plates kept aside for such occasions.
The family will eat by candlelight while listening to Christmas music on the radio.
“There’s a custom that when you eat, you have to stay by the table,” said Steflova, adding the person who moves will have bad luck in the next year.
Then, a member of the family flips one of three mugs which have been placed upside down on the table. Under one of the mugs is a penny, while another has bread and a third has fabric.
If the penny is chosen, the person will have money in the coming year. Fabric means poverty and the bread denotes having plenty of food.
“We laugh a lot because me and my brothers and sisters have money and my parents, they are poor,” said Steflova.
Other traditions include having each girl throw a slipper over her right shoulder to see if she will stay in the house (if front part points inside the house) or leave in the coming year, and cutting an apple cross- ways (if there is a star in the slice, the person will have good health).
Then, the family goes to the Christmas tree to open the gifts. Under each tree – whether or not the household is Christian – is a representation of a stable, to remind everyone that the season is more than gifts, said Steflova.
At 9 p.m., people wat- ch a movie, eat Christmas cookies and drink wine, then go to mass.
“They sing the whole mass and it’s more than two hours,” she said.
On the 25th, the family stays home and enjoys the day, perhaps going for a walk. The next day is for visiting other family members, such as grandparents.
“The first thing you do is go and check the Christmas tree (for presents),” said Steflova.
With many other family members present, the house is full, she said.
On New Year’s Eve, families eat chlebicky again, watch TV, and drink champagne and wish everyone a Happy New Year at midnight.
Steflova said tradition mandates that a person not be drunk on New Year’s Day morning, or the whole year will be like that. To ensure good health, on that day people eat a walnut before consuming anything else.
After an afternoon walk, everyone has a good supper and goes to church.
January 6 – by which time most people have already taken down their Christmas tree – marks the Three Kings. Usually, three boys in costume go around caroling and collecting money for charity.
“This is very popular in North Moravia or in … Bohemia,” said Steflova.
The entire season is for seeing people, she said.
“Lots of people meet friends which they didn’t usually see for a long time,” said Steflova.
|
Philippinos go all out at Christmastime
Theresa Seraphim
for Spotlight
To say that Christmas is a big deal for residents of the Philippines would be an understatement.
“It’s a very, very festive occasion for us,” said Jeanette Yamsuan.
Indeed, the season really begins in the fall.
“Once a month ends in b-e-r, it’s Christmas for us,” said Yamsuan.
This means malls have cards available and some people begin shopping.
Like here, there are Midnight Madness sales but, unlike here, the malls are crowded until midnight, said Yamsuan.
Christmas trees go up as early as October.
“We have lots and lots of fireworks,” said Yamsuan. Indeed, malls would have major fireworks each weekend from the first weekend of December.
From Dec. 16 to 24, Philippinos attend dawn masses, held at 4:00 or 4:30 a.m. The belief is that by going to all nine, any special prayer requests will be granted.
Christmas Eve consists of midnight mass and then a meal called Noche Buena.
“We all go to our parents’ house and it’s the mom who prepares the food,” said Yamsuan.
Noche Buena consists of delicacies such as a purple yam dish called puto-bungbong, ham, pancit (a noodle dish), and embodido (like meatloaf but using ground pork instead of beef).
Other dishes of the season include lechon (roast pig), leche flan (which is like crčme brule), fruit salad (which every household serves) and queso de bola.
“It’s a red bowl of cheese and it’s very popular,” said Yamsuan.
Bibingka, which is a popular food during the dawn mass period, goes with puto-bungbong.
“It’s like a pancake and then they put red eggs (a special kind of egg that has been left underground, salted and then dyed) and cheese on top,” said Yamsuan.
Manga (yellow mango) and suman (a rice cake wrapped in coconut leaves) is a popular dessert during the season, she said.
Gifts are opened on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day, godchildren will go to their godparents’ homes to bless them and receive a gift in return.
Other visits occur as well, said Yamsuan.
“Ours is open – anyone can just come in. That’s the time for us to visit … most of the time you’d have big family reunions.”
Carolers are also very much in evidence, as they receive either money or food for their singing.
“They’re children from the street or choirs from church,” said Yamsuan.
Some make holes in Coke bottle caps and string them together to form a tambourine to go with the singing.
“They can come up with a variety of accompaniments – they’re very creative,” said Yamsuan.
The time between Christmas and New Year is used for relaxing and enjoying.
“It’s a big thing. Everyone files for vacation leave,” said Yamsuan.
Some companies choose this time of year for charitable works, and their staff arrange visits to orphanages to bring donations.
“It can be monetary, it can be in kind (or) clothing,” said Yamsuan.
New Year’s Eve mass is followed by Media Noche. An important aspect of that meal is the inclusion of 12 varieties of a round fruit – for example, 12 types of oranges or 12 types of grapes – as an expression of hope for prosperity.
“We jump (in the air) at midnight hoping that you’d grow taller for the next year,” said Yamsuan.
She stressed the Christmas season is the one time when everyone makes a special effort.
“Even the poor people, they will try to get new clothes for their children,” said Yamsuan.
It’s also the one point in the year when everyone feels equal.
“It’s a poor country but it’s the only time that people will feel that we’re OK. Everyone’s the same, without distinctions,” said Yamsuan.
|
Reveillon a vital part of a French Christmas
Theresa Seraphim
for Spotlight
Like many groups at Christmas, the French celebrate with church and a meal.
“We have the reveillon after midnight Mass,” explained Falher resident Leonne Turcotte.
“Reveillon means ‘staying up late,’” said fellow Falher resident Gerry Nicolet.
The reveillon consists of a family gathering with food such as tourtiere (meat pie).
“We also have a Yule log”, or buche de Noel in French, said Turcotte.
This is a Christmas cake shaped like a log and made of eggs, sugar, flour, baking powder, salt, vanilla extract and jam.
At Mass, carols are sung, including O Holy Night in French, said Turcotte.
The next day, people open presents and have a big meal.
“It’s a turkey meal and stuffing and bagetelle and the buche de Noel,” said Turcotte.
“We always sing the French Christmas carols as we open our gifts.”
New Year’s is a time for visiting, said Turcotte.
“We go around to different houses to wish everybody a happy New Year,” said Turcotte, stressing the reveillon and Mass are the biggest part of the Christmas celebration.
|
Lottery kicks off Spain’s Christmas season
Theresa Seraphim
for Spotlight
For Spaniards, Christmas begins with money – lots of it.
On Dec. 22, a tradition dating back more than 200 years is continued when a winning number is picked in the National Lottery, with schoolchildren singing out the winning number and the amount of money the person has won.
Students are specially picked for this, according to singing ability, and have to practice. After the lottery, which is done in the morning, people wait for the afternoon edition of the newspaper, which publishes the winning numbers and the amount each has won.
Christmas Eve, called “La Nochebuena”, is marked by two observances: attending mass (called Misa del Gallo) and having a meal with one’s family.
The meal could include many types of foods, said Slave Lake resident Andrea Teruel-Diez.
“My family makes vegetables (artichokes, etc.), Spanish omelette, cheese, seafood such as shrimp, meat (pork, jamon serrano or salt ham, etc.) and dessert (such) as polvorones (Spanish shortbread cookies), turron (nougat), etc.” The latter, says Teruel-Diez, are made with ingredients such as honey, egg and almonds. People will also drink beer, Pepsi, or whatever suits them.
Later, the family will sing Christmas songs, called “Villancicos” and, says Teruel-Diez, “some people go to church.”
On Christmas Day morning, children get presents from Papa Noel, but they also wait for January 6, the feast of the Magi, which is the big gift-giving time, says Teruel-Diez.
Food that day consists of leftovers from the previous evening, with something more made to complement that amount.
December 28, called “El Dia de los Santos Inocentes” or Holy Innocents’ Day (commemorating when King Herod killed all the small children in Israel), is a time for visiting with family and friends. It’s also a time for practical jokes, says Teruel-Diez.
“For example, I take the lottery number and say, ‘You have the millions,’” she said.
Spaniards celebrate New Year’s Eve (La Nochevieja or “Old Year’s Night”) by wearing red underwear – said to bring good luck – and eating twelve grapes at midnight, one for each chime of the clock.
“After the clock has finished striking twelve, people greet each other and toast with sparkling wine such as cava or champagne, or alternatively with cider,” says Teruel-Diez.
Afterwards, some people turn on their TVs and watch the New Year celebrations in various countries, while young people go to parties at pubs and discos.
“Parties usually last until the next morning and range from small, personal celebrations at local bars to huge parties with guests numbering (in) the thousands at hotel convention rooms,” says Teruel-Diez. The morning also marks a traditional winter breakfast of chocolate con churros. That is hot chocolate and a fried pastry made by machine and then cut before being sprinkled with sugar.
In the evening of January 5, Spaniards celebrate the Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos, or the “Cavalcade of the Magi”.
“(They) ride through the streets, as their page boys throw candies to children,” says Teruel- Diez. Some people go on horses, some go on a big truck, some on camel.”
That evening, children clean their shoes and may put out something to eat for the Magi and (perhaps) the camel; then they go to bed early. The next morning they have either the gift of the Magi, which they previously requested via letter, or coal (if they have behaved badly, but this is a less frequent occurrence).
The following day, children open presents and, in the afternoon, the family gathers to eat El Roscon de Reyes, or “King Cake”.
“The cakes have a small trinket inside, and the person who gets the piece of cake with the trinket has various privileges and obligations, such as buying the cake for next year’s celebration,” says Teruel-Diez.
During the entire season, people have “El Belen” (a nativity scene) on a table in their houses. While the basic scene consists of Mary, Joseph, Jesus and the Magi, some people have even more elaborate creches with moving figures.
|
Ukrainians have a six-week Advent
|
This is the bread and wheat sheaf (known as didukh and kalachi) that grace the tables of many Ukrainian people on Christmas Eve.
|
Theresa Seraphim
for Spotlight
For Stella Sware and others of Ukrainian heritage, Christmas preparation begins with Advent six weeks before the big day.
“Advent saw us kids doing things like doing dishes, making our beds, sweeping, (and) polishing shoes for all our family with a smile and not being told to do it,” said the High Prairie resident.
“Some adults did no partying, no drinking, no smoking (and) no dancing for six weeks. This gave us all values and we appreciated what we had,” said Sware.
The day of Christmas Eve is marked by a strict fast in commemoration of the hardships endured by the Virgin Mary on her way to Bethlehem, but everyone is busy helping prepare the evening meal, called Svyata Vechera or Holy Supper, said Sware.
Hay is put into a corner or under the table to remind everyone of the humble birthplace of Jesus, and some hay is put on the table, as well.
“The richly embroidered tablecloth has a kolach (bread) in the centre. The three round braided loaves are placed one on top of each other, with a candle inserted into the top bread (and) also a candle on each side, representing the Father, Son and Holy Spirit,” said Sware.
A place is set for any family member who has died during the year in the belief that his or her spirit is united with the family at this time.
“A lighted candle is always placed in the window as an invitation to any homeless stranger, or perchance a lost soul, to join the family in celebrating the birth of Christ,” said Sware.
When the first star appears in the sky, the celebrations begin.
“The master of the household brings in a sheaf of wheat, a symbol of gathering together of the clan (and) greets his family, expressing joy that God has favoured them with good health,” said Sware.
The sheaf is put into a corner of the dining room with a Christmas tree and stays there until the New Year, when it is taken out and burned.
Then the family gathers around the table and the father (or grandfather) raises a spoonful of kutya (a mixture of wheat, honey and poppy seeds), greeting the family with the traditional Khrystos Rodyvsia (Christ is born).
“All reply Slavim yoho (let us glorify Him),” said Sware.
A legend about kutya states that when Joseph, Mary and the infant Jesus were fleeing into Egypt, they passed a farmer sowing wheat. The pursuing soldiers came and asked the farmer if he had seen the trio, and when he truthfully replied that he had, by a miracle his wheat was fully grown and the soldiers couldn’t see anything or anyone else.
“Thinking that the holy family had escaped, the soldiers gave up their pursuit,” said Sware.
“Twelve different and special dishes for this meal remind us of the twelve Apostles who gathered at the Last Supper,” she said.
Kutya is the first dish eaten at this meatless feast. It is followed by borscht (the familiar beet soup), holubtsi (cabbage rolls with rice), verenyky/pyrogies (filled with potatoes, cottage cheese, cheddar cheese, sauerkraut or prunes), pickled beets, baked salmon, pickled herring, beans, kapusta (sauerkraut with peas), mushrooms, nachynka (cornmeal), nalysnyky (crepes filled with cottage cheese), mushroom gravy, sour cream, pickles, a compote of dried fruit, pastries, medivnyk (honey cake), khrustyky (pastry - deer horns, pigs ears) and makivnyk (poppy seed rolls).
Sware said those of Norwegian ancestry, which includes her husband, have similar food, such as fruit soup made with large tapioca, cherries, prunes, strawberries, cinnamon sticks and lefsa (flatbread).
“We cherish all the Ukrainian and Norwegian customs today,” said Sware.
After the meal, the family sits around and sings Christmas carols before going to a midnight church service to celebrate Christ’s birth and sing carols.
“The oldest Ukrainian Christmas carol I remember is Boh Predvichnyi (God Eternal),” said Sware.
She recalled that in her childhood, gifts were not numerous and were practical, such as gloves or a scribbler.
“Gifts were not important – getting together was very important,” said Sware.
On Dec. 26, groups of kids and adults would go carolling house to house, giving a Ukrainian greeting.
“(People) welcome us with goodies and drink and gave us money for the church and charities,” said Sware.
Sware also recalled her family harnessing the horse and sleigh and visiting people such as grandparents.
“We had fun and we have a large family and still have fun doing these old customs,” she said.
|
Six-week fast prepares Romanians for Christmas
|
(From left) Consuela Covrig, Dumitru Streza (holding their daughter Natalie) and Streza’s mother Ana Streza show parts of a traditional Romanian outfit, which is handmade and naturally dyed.
|
Theresa Seraphim
for Spotlight
Christmas preparations begin with a reduction in food consumption for those of Romanian descent.
“The people start fasting in November, for six weeks,” said Canyon Creek resident Consuela Covrig, who comes from the Transylvania area of the country.
“Before the fasting, they grow pigs at the countryside and they prepare the meat (for Christmas).”
The fast, said Covrig, involves abstinence not only from meat but also from milk and eggs.
On December 24, between dawn and dusk, young people go caroling.
“They go from house to different house and they get goodies and money,” said Covrig.
She noted Romanians have special Christmas music, which is heard from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6.
The day before Christmas is also spent ensuring the house is clean and cooking and baking for the evening meal. That repast includes cabbage rolls, pork, fish, chicken, cookies and sweetbread (a roll with nuts or poppy seeds inside), with wine to drink.
“Everybody’s so stuffed after that night,” said Covrig, adding the meal is a family event like in Canada.
Presents are opened that evening, as well, and Santa Claus comes, said Covrig.
“On the 25th, people go to (Greek Orthodox) church.”
Between Christmas and New Year’s, some people work and some don’t.
“We have a lot of religious holidays – we celebrate a few saints,” said Covrig.
On December 31, people party to bring in the New Year, usually with friends, said Covrig’s husband Dumitru Streza.
January 6 is marked by church services celebrating the christening of Jesus, and the day is a national holiday.
|
|
