martes, 26 de diciembre de 2017

New Year

NAME: Daniel Erazo
CLASS: 2nd "A"
TOPIC: NEW YEAR IN ECUADOR, SCOTLAND AND ITALY

NEW YEAR IN ECUADOR
  • Custom
The main attraction is the burning of the famous old year, represented by a doll made with sewn and old clothes, filled with sawdust or paper, or made also with other materials; This can be a famous personage of politics, sports, or someone close to the family, who on the night of the 31st, burns it, they also put in it a list of bad things that will burn next to the puppet. Jump on him, give him a couple of kicks. 

Other costumes are the following:
La Maleta.- This is very important for me since I love to travel. It works like this: at midnight on December 31, with an empty suitcase, run around the block or block. This will bring you good trips and adventures in the New Year. If you also want prosperity - or that your trips are luxury - then put some coins in the suitcase. If you do not live in a block, you can run a bit on the street where you live or you can go around your house - if you do not want neighbors to think you are crazy.

The Calzones.- Super easy, wear yellow pants to have prosperity and money, or if you are looking for love and passion then wear red pants.

Grapes.- Eat 12 grapes at midnight, each grape represents a month in the New Year. Make a wish for each grape you eat.

The puppet of the Old Year.- In Ecuador it is customary to make a puppet - the size of a person - that represents the Old Year and burn it at midnight. In general, these puppets resemble famous people, especially politicians. The Old Year can be someone who died during the year or someone who made news, or someone who falls super good or super bad - think about politicians. There are parades and contests for the best Old Year, and you can make them yourself or buy them already manufactured.

The Testament.- It is natural that as the Old Year leaves, you must leave a will for your heirs. The testament is a list of the events that have occurred - the good, the bad, the funny. It is satirical and includes advice for the heirs (family, friends and celebrities). It can be written in the form of a letter, poem, or song. They tend to be very creative and not very politically correct.

The Widow.- It is also natural that when the Old Year "dies", it leaves its Widow, who needs alms to survive. It is customary for men to dress up in black dresses, wigs and make-up to pose as Widows and ask for money from people who pass by. Widows can be very dramatic and put together a whole show, which is very entertaining; Especially when you live in a small city and you can recognize who they are. Oh, and the money is to buy beers.
  • Typical Dishes
Food is part of New Year's traditions. For example, people should eat a grape for each of the 12 chimes that the clock gives. Ideally six green and six purple. Champagne and wine can not miss this celebration. The hornado and the pork leg are also traditional Ecuadorian recipes that are prepared during the New Year holiday.
  • Traditional Costumes
The traditional costumes at the end of the year are used in puppets and children, who dress up as famous people to ask for charity. Widows wear makeup, dress, heels and go out to the streets to fulfill this tradition. 
  • Special Activities
In different cities of Ecuador competitions of old years are realized, many of which are traditional for more than 40 years. The dolls represent the most significant events, or especially negative ones, of the past year. The puppets can be funny, reminiscent and expressive.
Its incineration at midnight on December 31 is a ritual of purification to ward off bad luck and transition because it also celebrates the arrival of the new year. Fireworks illuminate the sky and dismiss the year.

NEW YEAR IN SCOTLAND
  • Custom
New Year's Eve in Scotland has its own name and essence: the Hogmanay, the Scottish New Year, is the biggest celebration of winter.

It combines pagan and ancestral traditions with modern festivals, always with a backbone element: fire and its purifying power in parades of torches, fireworks, smoking chimneys and bonfires.
 

Fireball Festival.- At midnight on December 31, the carriers, or swingers, parade down the main street, High Street. Around their bodies they spin fireballs made of wire and filled with a combustible mixture. Following the beating of the drums and before the watchful eye of thousands of spectators, the bearers chase away the evil spirits with fire to start the new year on the right foot.


First-footing.- One of the most familiar traditions of Scottish New Year's is the first-jogging, which is to be the first to cross the threshold of the door of a loved one's home after the Bells, midnight chimes. The first person who visits you in the first hours or days of the new year is the first footer, and can mark the luck of the year that begins.


Redding.- In Scotland it is known as redding the house ('prepare the house') and consists of a thorough cleaning, a symbolic act similar to fire: the home is purified, preparing it for a new year. In the past, redding was practiced with special attention in the chimney, which was cleaned of ashes and embers.


Auld Lang Syne.- The most famous tradition of New Year's Eve in Scotland takes the form of music. When the midnight of December 31 gives way to the first day of the new year, those present at the Hogmanay celebrations in Scotland shake hands and sing the year-end song par excellence: Auld Lang Syne It is a traditional song, based on a poem written in 1788 by the Scottish poet Robert Burns, who in turn collected some verses from a popular poem.
  • Typical Dishes
It is typical that rich and consistent meals are served, such as stewed beef or venison, meatloaf or roast beef. Of course, there is no lack of haggis, a spicy sausage made from lung, liver and heart of sheep or lamb, with mashed potato and turnip; or rumbledethumps, a dish made with potato, cabbage, onion and butter with gratin cheese. The food is accompanied by a good wine or whiskey. On New Year's Eve an oat cake known as 'hogmanay' is cooked. The dish is an attraction for children. For adults, the coneo is celebrated with a glass of whiskey. After the celebration embrace there is an exchange of food and drink between neighbors.
  • Traditional Costumes

The Scots in this and all their parties, demonstrate their culture through their typical costumes. They use the kilt, also called Kilt, which contains a pattern called tartan. The tartan serves to identify the owner of the skirt, taking into account the social and economic position in which it is. In addition, they usually wear hats and scarves, which combine with the leather bag, hanging on the waist of people.
  • Special Activities
Every New Year's Eve there are several concerts in gardens, as well as classical music concerts. Fireworks are characteristic of Scottish culture on this date. Children can visit the Bairns Afore children's celebration, an outdoor fireworks party. Traditional dances of the Gaelic people are developed in gardens and outskirts of castles.

NEW YEAR IN ITALY
  • Custom
New Year's Eve is known there as San Silvestro, and on January 1 as Capodanno. Naturally, as in the rest of the world, people gather for dinner and the skies of the cities are filled with spectacular fireworks. 


The best known customs in this country are:
Lentils.- The first is to eat a plate of lentils during dinner to start the year well, a custom that derives from an old ritual consisting of giving a purse full of lentils to loved ones, with the hope that one day they are legumes are transformed into coins, that is, into prosperity.

Red lingerie.- Almost no one forgets to wear red underwear for the occasion, garments that are usually given at Christmas and that, in this case, guarantees a new year full of love. This custom is somewhat more modern but originally from Italy, although it has already spread to the rest of the world.

Throw the house out the window.- Another deeply rooted tradition, especially in Rome and Naples, is to throw old objects out the window before midnight. It is about starting the year by letting go of what does not work for us.

Ox.- In the city of Bologna the day of San Silvestro is celebrated: the Fiera del Bue Grasso, in which an ox is adorned with flowers and bows to be raffled just before dinner. The winner takes the animal home.
  • Typical Dishes
The New Year's Eve dinner in Italy is known as "La notte de San Silvestro". In this, people usually dine as a family, with typical dishes of the region. The best known are: the cotechino, ground pork with lentils; panettone or pandoro, bread chosen by each one; the spumante, inevitable in the dinner and the toast.
  • Traditional Costumes
The Italian clothing that the man wears denotes comfort and serenity, for that reason he uses a completely black trousers that will be covered almost to the knees by white socks. It is accompanied by a vest, inside a white shirt and a tie of the same color of the belt that will go in the waist, between the union of the shirt and the trousers. Moccasin-type shoes are also important in this typical Italian costume.
The typical Italian clothes that the woman wears show elegance. It consists of a skirt with pleats that is lifted internally by a petticoat. The skirt is surrounded by ribbons at the ends and below it, white stockings that cover from the feet to the knees. In the upper part, she wears a short sleeved blouse that shrinks at the ends and, above it, a corset fitted by straps. The shoes are classic loafers.
  • Special Activities
The New Year's Eve in Italy is represented in the fireworks, since they are shot all over the country, without exception. In addition, there are festivals of lights in the sky, free concerts in the squares, waiting for crowds by the chimes. The streets are filled with joy and joy, to welcome the new year, with the characteristic Italian traditions.

Bibliography
El Comercio. «El Comercio.» http://www.elcomercio.com/sabores/paises-anonuevo-tradicion-memoria-comerfuera.html.

LaHora. «LaHora.» December 31, 2012. https://lahora.com.ec/noticia/1101445142/tradiciones-de-fin-de-ac3b1o-en-ecuador.

Más Edimburgo. «MásEdimburgo.» https://masedimburgo.com/2013/12/27/tradiciones-del-hogmanay-la-nochevieja-en-escocia/.

Pujol, Layla. «Las Recetas de Laylita.» https://www.laylita.com/recetas/tradiciones-para-celebrar-ano-nuevo-y-pisco-sour-con-uvas/.

Roldán, María. «Actualidad Viajes.» May 13, 2016. https://www.actualidadviajes.com/escocia-y-sus-atuendos-peculiares/.

Terrasa, Daniel. «Canal Viajes.» December 19, 2011. http://canalviajes.com/tradiciones-de-fin-de-ano-en-italia/.

jueves, 21 de diciembre de 2017

Christmas


NAME: Daniel Erazo
CLASS: 2nd "A"
TOPIC: CHRISTMAS IN ECUADOR, ITALY AND NORWAY

CHRISTMAS IN ECUADOR

  • Custom
Christmas in Ecuador is a distinctly family and religious holiday, it is the most important celebration of the year, as all families try to meet at the dinner on December 24 where the usual is to eat turkey or pork as a main course and as dessert the pristinos , which are fried rings of wheat flour dough, bathed in panela syrup.

On Christmas night, the gifts that have previously brought "Santa Claus" are distributed to children and adults, the same ones that are usually under the Christmas tree and are delivered by one of the presents. 
  • Typical Food
Food is a main element to celebrate the birth of Jesus in Ecuador. All families try to meet at the dinner on December 24, where the usual is to eat turkey or pork as a main course; with the filling that characterizes it. In addition, as a dessert you can eat pristiños, cakes, fruit salads, rice pudding, morocho, molo, among others.
  • Traditional Costumes
Nativity scene contests, novena, exchange of gifts, Misa de Gallo; every family has a Christmas tree that decorates and revives the Christmas spirit.

Christmas tree.- Every house must have one, it is decorated with light bulbs, gifts, bows, candles, representative dolls or lights to light the night.

The Birth or Cribs.-The Birth of the baby Jesus is made with moss, stones, earth, water sources to give it a very natural touch and the animals and figures are made of porcelain or the most rustic ones that are made of wood and are precious. Those who represent our country who have the typical costumes of each province.

Exchange of Gifts.- It is known as the "secret friend", many Ecuadorians play it before the Christmas date. It is a very popular and traditional game in Ecuador, involving several people who give each other gifts without knowing who has been.

The Novena.- The novena to the child Jesus opens the way to the celebration of Christmas Eve and Christmas, on December 24 several families gather in their homes to share with their families the Christmas dinner. In the avenues you can see the colorful lights that are cast on the Christmas tree as a symbol of hope and love.

Misa de Gallo.- On December 25, the Misa del Gallo is celebrated in all the churches. It is the busiest mass of the year and later Masses are held to the Baby Jesus until January 6. It is popularly called Misa del Gallo, so it is received on Christmas day as the commemoration of the birth of Jesus. This Holy Mass is popularly known as the "Mass of the shepherds".
  • Dance
In the Christmas dances, different national groups are presented, in some cases, characteristic of the cultures or ethnic groups of Ecuador. Also, in the Christmas programs; made in different educational institutions, youth groups present choreographies related to the holiday. Also, in Christmas treats you can see a variety of dances, allusive to date.
  • Music
The music is very varied in the Christmas season, however, it is characterized by the Christmas carols; popular religious songs, whose central theme is the birth of Jesus. These are usually interpreted by different choirs and groups of national and international artists, in programs and special entertainment at Christmas.

CHRISTMAS IN ITALY

  • Custom
For the Italians, Christmas is a party that you have to spend in the company of the family, tasting the dishes of the "cenone" and opening the gifts of "Babbo Natale" - "Christmas with yours, Easter with who you want", this motto, well known in Italy, may well explain the importance for the Italians of spending with their families the most important day of the year.
A tradition that Italians (particularly in the south of the country) cannot give up, is to spend next to their loved ones on Christmas Eve, on December 24, when families gather to enjoy the famous "Christmas cenone", the dinner that precedes midnight.
  • Typical Food
The Italian "cenone" has its rules, the first of which is to eat exclusively fish. Remember that the menus are not the same in all Italian regions, but there are some typical dishes such as fried vegetables (a Roman tradition), tartines and fish salad, to start with the entries. Speaking of Italy you can not miss a pasta dish, among the most typical are the pasta with tomato sauce and tuna, spaghetti with clams or other seafood.

On the 25th you can eat meat. The main course is undoubtedly the baked pasta, a kettledrum with tomato sauce, meat, pieces of mozzarella and parmigiano (cheese) on top. A plate of meat very appreciated is the arrosto, the roasted meat and the roast beef.
Both the 24th and the 25th and the following days, there is no lack of typical Christmas sweets. The most famous in the whole world is the panettone (Christmas cake), whose traditional version was born in the city of Milan. Over the years have been created different types of both panettone and Pandoro, much like panettone but without canditi (candy).
  • Traditional Costumes
Christmas Tree and Cribs.- According to tradition, the Christmas tree appears in Italian houses from December 8, the day of the celebration of the Imaculada, when families begin to prepare both the tree and the manger.
Putting the birth is a tradition much appreciated in the country, the Italians always seek to give a very personal touch to the crib that they mount in their home.
Tree and manger stay in the Italian houses until the day of Kings, January 6, the party called "Epiphany" or better known as the "Befana".


Befana.- The children wait for the "Befana", an old woman who flies on a broom and enters the chimneys to leave the sweets and gifts for everyone. All but those who have not behaved well, for them the "Befana" will only carry coal.


Bambinillo.- In the city of Rome there is a very strong tradition and loved by the Romans, which is to take the children in front of the famous "Bambinello" so that they can dedicate their letters and their poetry. We are talking about the statue of the Holy Child, kept in the church of Santa Maria in Ara Coeli, located next to the "Campidoglio" (headquarters of the City of Rome, next to Piazza Venezia), which according to legend would have miraculous powers and in front of which the little ones line up to read their works and ask for protection and blessings for their families.

Babbo Natale.- The most anticipated moment for all children is Christmas Eve, when "Babbo Natale" (the Italian name of Santa Claus) arrives and will bring the desired gifts with them throughout the year.

  • Dance
Christmas in Italy is celebrated with several typical dances, traditional Genoese music and fireworks. The squares are transformed into a place full of choirs, medieval demonstrations and music. The Christmas decorations accompany the sound of the Italian streets.
  • Music
In Italy the carols are characteristic, which are interpreted in Christmas programs or with family and friends. The sound of bagpipes roam the city, accompanied by Christmas trees, sweets and fireworks.

Music, entertainment and shows are the main components for a typical Italian Christmas celebration.


CHRISTMAS IN NORWAY

  • Custom

From the end of November, throughout the city you will find Christmas preparations and stalls. On the first weekend of Advent, the firs and the streets of the center are lit decorated with Christmas decorations. During this period, you will have the possibility to attend a Christmas concert or a Christmas market.

During the advent period, it is usual for companies, businesses and groups of friends to celebrate a julebord, a holiday before Christmas with Christmas products. The streets of the city are full of people during the weekends, it is the moment when the restaurants and places of leisure of the city are filled with people celebrating julebord.
  • Typical Food
The most common Christmas food is the pork ribs, but you also eat cured lamb ribs, cooked cod, roast pork and turkey. Most fish restaurants and Norwegian specialty restaurants serve Christmas specialties in November and December. You can accompany the meal with a Christmas beer.
Rice pudding is a dish of great tradition. In the villages, many take out a plate of pudding for Santa. If you have pudding left over, you can make a creamy rice dessert. Served with red sauce, it is a regular dessert of the Christmas meal. You can find traditional Christmas sweets like toasted almonds in the Christmas markets.
During the advent, a spicy drink served hot is also served. It is made with red wine, although you can also make the variant without alcohol. The cookies are sold and eaten in huge quantities throughout Christmas.
Christmas is the time when you eat more snacks and sweets. Large quantities of marzipan are also sold before Christmas. It is also easy to find chocolate and nuts in almost every dining room.
  • Traditional Costumes
Christmas Decorations.- Before Christmas, the houses are decorated with Santa Claus dolls, angels, hearts, pine trees with pineapples, stars and perhaps a nativity scene or cookie house. There are many who decorate their houses on the outside with lights and garlands. It is usual to put a Christmas tree in the room. The tree will carry a star on top and will be decorated with tinsel and other Christmas decorations.

The Little "Christmas Eve".- Many families have their own traditions for tonight, such as decorating the Christmas tree or making a gingerbread house. Many eat rice pudding with sugar, cinnamon and butter. Almonds are hidden in the dough, and anyone who finds the almond on his plate will win a marzipan pig.

Fireworks.- The whole country becomes a huge festival of lights that continues to shine for two weeks after New Year's Eve, to preserve the spirit of Christmas stories.

Christmas Tree.- The tradition of the Christmas tree did not arrive in Norway until the beginning of the 19th century, from Germany. Today the tree occupies a central place in the Norwegian Christmas celebration. The home tree is decorated every year with some ornaments purchased and with homemade decorations and can not be lit until Christmas Eve. That day the party starts at 5 pm with bells in all the churches of the country, full of Norwegians of all ages.
  • Dance
Christmas in Norway presents parades and festivals of lights and colors throughout the city. In these, you can see different dance groups that roam the streets, in some cases disguised as trolls, goblins; to accompany Santa Claus.
  • Music
Music on the eve of Christmas is predominant in the Nordic streets. You can listen to blues, jazz, pop, folk and ethnic music. A Norwegian classic is: "Mitt hjerte alltid vanker" (My heart always wanders), is a psalm that, in 1732, composed the Lutheran bishop of Danish origin Hans Adolph Brorson. Over the centuries it has become one of the most important carols of the traditional repertoire in both Denmark and Norway.


Bibliography

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Cuasar. «CuNavidad.» 2007. http://www.cunavidad.com/tradiciones-navidad-noruega.php

Ecuavisa. «Ecuavisa.» December 13, 2017. http://www.ecuavisa.com/articulo/especial-navideno-ecuavisa/nota-destacada/345896-tradiciones-navidad-ecuador

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Ibérica Languages. «Ibérica Languages.» December 6, 2017. http://ibericalanguages.com/es/como-se-vive-la-navidad-en-italia-tradiciones-navidenas/ 

La Hora. «La Hora.» December 17, 2007. https://lahora.com.ec/noticia/656374/la-navidad-tambic3a9n-tiene-su-historia-en-el-ecuador 

«Ministerio de Turismo.» December 24, 2015. http://www.turismo.gob.ec/navidad-en-ecuador-una-amalgama-de-tradiciones/ 

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