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

C.A. El Universo. «El Universo.» December 17, 2011. https://www.eluniverso.com/2011/12/17/1/1445/villancicos-bailes-actuaciones-destacan-agasajos-navidenos.html 

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

EDUINA, CM CBG. «CBG.» December 21, 2012. http://www.cbg.es/blog/2012/12/21/2232/

Guía Blog Italia. «Blog-Italia.» 2011. https://blog-italia.com/descubre-italia/fiestas-y-tradiciones-italianas/navidades-en-italia

Hemisferio Global. «Hemisferio Global.» December 23, 2013. https://hemisferioboreal.com/2013/12/23/ho-ho-ho-las-mejores-canciones-nordicas-de-navidad/

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/ 

Rodari, Gianni. «Historias y Rincones.» January 8, 2016. http://www.historiasyrincones.com/navidad-y-ano-nuevo-a-la-italiana/ 

Valentina, V. «Magix Magazine.» December 25, 2010. http://magazine.magix.com/es/tradiciones-navidenas-la-navidad-en-italia/ 

Visit Oslo. «Visit Oslo.» (s.f.) https://www.visitoslo.com/es/articulos/tradiciones-navidenas/