Christmas traditions of European countries.
Every year, interest in European countries from foreigners is growing at a tremendous speed. In most cases, this attraction is of a tourist nature. To conquer impregnable mountain peaks, soak up the sun on the resort beaches, plunge into the blue abyss of the seas and oceans, see the beauty of majestic architectural structures or just relax in luxurious apartments - these are the main goals pursued by tourists from all over the world. The question involuntarily arises: “But what about acquaintance with the cultural traditions European countries? After all, they are the layer of culture of the peoples of Europe. Let's take a look at the most popular of them.
The origin of the traditions and customs of the peoples of Europe. European etiquette
Rules and norms of behavior have existed since ancient times, but the very word "etiquette" appeared in France and became widespread throughout Europe, and then throughout the world, only in the 17th century. It all started with receptions in the royal courts, which were accompanied by the distribution of so-called "labels" - cards with certain rules of conduct for guests.
The modern etiquette of Western European states was greatly influenced by well-established folk traditions and customs passed down from generation to generation. These include various kinds of legends, legends, religious rites and beliefs. Communication among themselves for political, commercial or other purposes led to a mixture of cultural traditions in European countries, which, in turn, made it possible to identify the basic rules of good manners for the peoples of Europe. Among them - a delicate attitude and respect for the customs and traditions of each country without comparison or criticism on their part, knowledge and skillful use of the titles of interlocutors, addressing by name to persons participating in a conversation with you, and others. The most popular European cultural traditions today are wedding customs and culinary arts.
European wedding traditions
Most of the customs associated with the preparation and holding of a wedding celebration are well known to us, but there are some that can be a real discovery for you.
For example, in Portugal and Hungary there is certain rule invitation to the bride to dance. Those who want to dance with the young woman need to get a coin into one of her shoes, previously placed in the center of the wedding hall.
The custom of sprinkling newlyweds with rose petals, which is a symbol of an easy and happy life, appeared in the UK and joined the wedding culture of almost all countries of the world. Trying to make this tradition more unique, each of the countries has added its own “zest” to it. So, in Romanian wedding ceremonies, along with rose petals, there are also millet and nuts.
In the Slovak Republic, there is a tradition of exchanging gifts between future spouses. The bride gives her lover a ring and a silk shirt embroidered with gold threads. The groom's answer should be silver ring, fur hat, rosary and chastity belt with three keys.
At Norwegian and Swiss weddings, a mandatory custom is the planting of trees: two spruces and one pine, respectively.
The beginning of the ceremony in Germany is accompanied by the beating of dishes by friends and relatives of the bride in her house, in the Netherlands - by a festive banquet, and in France - by the newlyweds drinking wine from goblets, symbolizing happiness and love.
In addition to the traditions directly related to the marriage procedure, great attention is paid to complementing the wedding images of future spouses. So, for English brides, it is very important to have wedding dress horseshoes or pins, which is a sign of a happy marriage, and a crown should be present on the heads of Finnish young people.
The peculiarity of the wedding traditions of European society lies in the uniqueness of each of them, as well as their popularity among modern Europeans.
European culinary traditions
Traditional European cuisine is assembled from amazing culinary recipes of national dishes of the peoples of Europe. At the same time, each European state can boast of individual culinary masterpieces.
On the territory of Central Europe, the most popular dishes are Polish and Hungarian cuisine, the crown recipes of which are goulash, strudel, vegetable soup with dill.
Eastern European cuisine evolved under the influence of the cooking customs of the nomadic peoples inhabiting this territory in the old days. The most famous among culinary specialties Eastern Europe - borscht, dumplings, pies.
A special place in the culinary arena of Western Europe is occupied by French cuisine, which is an example to follow in many countries around the world. A feature of the culinary masterpieces of France is the use of wines and spices in almost any dish. Unlike the French, their neighbors - the Germans - prefer to eat potatoes, meat and beer.
The culinary traditions of Northern Europe are extremely diverse. The most common dishes of the cuisine of European northerners are creme brulee, chocolate fudge, duck in orange sauce and chicken huntsman.
Southern European cuisine is in many ways similar to Western European, especially French. It is also popular here to add wine to most dishes, but at the same time, it is also mandatory to serve it separately on the table before the start of the meal.
Introduction to modern European culture
In addition to wedding and culinary customs, modern European culture contains great amount diverse traditions associated with all spheres of human activity. Any foreigner who has received a European Union passport can get to know them better, join or even become an integral part of them. Romania is in the greatest demand for European citizenship. Obtaining Romanian citizenship is the fastest and cheapest way to integrate into European society today.
Christmas and New Years are the perfect time to visit Europe. German Christmas markets, a papal performance, grand New Year's Eve parties, a visit to Santa's residence in Lapland - each of the European countries can make your Christmas special.
In European countries greater value give Christmas Eve, which must be spent with the family. Therefore, even at Christmas, many restaurants, bars, cafes and shops are open here. Often New Year's festivities begin only with midnight bells, and after that everyone has fun until dawn.
This itinerary is based solely on what can be seen in different countries. You will have to travel by plane to these wonderful places, but low cost airlines usually offer fantastic discounts during the winter months. So, such a trip will not cost fabulous money.
In late November/early December, head to Salzburg for the Advent Singing Festival. Christmas markets in Germany usually close on Christmas Eve. So hurry up to get your portion of spicy mulled wine. Paris and London are also great for the Christmas holidays. In these European capitals, many illuminated displays are installed every year - come and see for yourself!
Visit Santa in Lapland and then head to Finland to see the Northern Lights. On New Year's Eve, make your way to Scotland to take part in the traditional Hogmanay celebration. In early January, visit Spain for the Day of the Three Kings or, as it is otherwise called, the Day of the Three Wise Men. It is on January 5 that a ship with three travelers arrives in the cities of Spain, and the streets are filled with artists, buffoons and circus performers.
And although December is very traditionally considered the low season, the Christmas holidays are an exception. Therefore, we recommend booking hotel rooms in advance.
Italy
What is it like to be in Italy for Christmas? To imagine, you should learn more about the Christmas traditions of this country.
It will surprise you that Italian children do not write letters to Santa Claus to ask for gifts. These touching messages contain declarations of love for parents. The Christmas dinner here is called "The Feast of the Seven Fishes" because each table should have seven different seafood dishes. Meat is not served at Christmas. Also, be sure to wear red underwear on New Year's Eve. This should bring good luck in the new year.
Germany
Many German Christmas traditions are now spread all over the world. It was here that they began to decorate Christmas trees and hang wreaths of coniferous branches on the doors. Festive markets run all over Germany until Christmas Eve. Here you can buy souvenirs, fragrant mulled wine, traditional pastries: vanilla crescents with hazelnuts, cinnamon stars, macaroons and gingerbread. For dinner, it is customary to bake a goose, and dumplings and cabbage are served as a side dish.
In Austria, in the South of Bavaria, as well as in Munich, an unusual Krampus procession takes place on two Sundays in December. Krampus is the evil counterpart of Saint Nicholas. Instead of a bag of gifts, Krampus has chains in his hands, a bunch of birch twigs and a bag in which he will carry naughty children to hell. In recent years this interesting tradition is becoming more and more popular. Germans and tourists dress up as Krampus, who looks like a goat, and go for a walk through the streets of the city.
If you are traveling with children, then we recommend that you visit the Christmas markets, see the performances of artists, jugglers and gymnasts. Be sure to try the German stollen. This is a traditional candied fruit cake that will win you over with its magical taste!
Switzerland
Whether there is a the best place for Christmas than the Swiss Alps? The Christmas markets in Switzerland are not as nostalgic as those in Germany, but are nonetheless very popular.
Basel has the largest open-air Christmas market in all of Switzerland. Here you will find charming handicrafts and lots of sweets. Zurich has four Christmas markets every year. The largest indoor market in all of Switzerland starts on December 8th. And on December 17, the annual festival of floating lights will be held here.
In Bern, the largest Christmas market is located among the houses built in the 15th-17th century. You will be able to make pleasant purchases and admire the medieval architecture. The Bernese Christmas market at Waisenhausplatz is open until December 29, which means it stays open longer than most and will keep you warm with mulled wine almost until New Year's Eve.
Portugal
In this country, the obligatory attribute of Christmas is the so-called Janeiras. These are small groups of people who go from house to house, singing traditional songs and sometimes accompanying themselves on musical instruments. It is more customary for us to call this phenomenon “carols”. Usually groups of friends or neighbors carol in Portugal.
The Portuguese attach great importance to nativity scenes. In the village of Penela, up to five different nativity scenes are installed annually, some even use 3D technology. There is also a Christmas train running here, and an amazingly detailed model of the railway with 10 trains. There are daily themed crafting workshops. New Year's toys. The Christmas market will delight you with souvenirs and treats, and magicians, jugglers and clowns will not let you get bored.
Austria
One of the world's favorite Christmas songs was born in Austria. "Silent Night" or Stille Nacht is performed all over the world, although in a slightly different way than Franz Gruber's original version sounded.
If you are lucky enough to be in Salzburg in early December, be sure to visit the Advent Singing Festival. In 2017, the Salzberg Advent Singing Festival will be held for the 70th anniversary. For the first time performers from all over the world came here in 1946. AT next year the festival will return to its roots, its theme will again be the revival of the post-war world. Visit this touching event and you will never forget this encounter with art.
France
Did you know that since 1962, every child in France who sent a letter to Santa, or Noel as they call him here, got a reply? As in all of Europe, December 25 is a non-working day that all French people tend to spend with their families. And children find gifts under a festively decorated spruce. The doors of houses are traditionally decorated with pine wreaths. And in Alsace, it is customary to richly decorate the house with garlands and luminous figures.
Young French people often spend New Year's Eve in the clubs of Paris or other major cities. But France offers unique alternatives for celebrating the New Year. You can enjoy a romantic cruise on the River Seine, admire the torchlight procession or go on a tour of the city of Avignon, which will enchant you with festive illuminations.
UK and Scotland
The main attribute of New Year's Eve in London is fantastically beautiful fireworks. Most clubs in London organize special parties on New Year's Eve. And restaurants arrange a gala dinner with a show program on New Year's Eve. You can also take a cruise on the River Thames or attend a New Year's Eve themed ball at the famous Torture Garden.
Nowhere do they celebrate the New Year as cheerfully as in Scotland they celebrate the traditional Hogmanay (Hogmanay). The Scots adopted this custom from the Varangians, who had fun on the shortest day of the year. Immediately after midnight, it is supposed to go to friends and family to congratulate everyone, moving from house to house.
It is considered a good omen if an attractive brunette crosses the threshold of the house first in the new year, in whose hands there should be coal, whiskey, shortbread cookies and a chocolate muffin. In return, such a visitor receives a full glass of excellent whiskey, because the guest portends good luck, prosperity and prosperity. It is believed that this belief appeared at a time when the blond Vikings made their raids on the homes of the Scots. So it turns out that a brunette on the threshold of the house is a harbinger of happiness.
Climate in Italy
Italy is called sunny, but the weather here is very capricious. The country is located on the Apennine Peninsula. Despite the small area, the terrain varies significantly between regions. It is because of this, and also because of the significant length from north to south, that the climate in Italy has a number of features that cannot be ignored when planning a trip.Transport in Italy
No trip is complete without transportation. Trains and planes, buses and sea connections - all this is an integral part of travel. In order to visit the best corners of sunny Italy, it is better to get to know the culture of the country, it is worth not only making a route, but also getting acquainted with all the intricacies of local public transport and traffic.What to bring from Italy
When we hear “shopping in Italy”, we most often think of fashion boutiques, then we think of olive oil, pasta, cheese; someone may have associations with Venetian glass or carnival masks. So? Next - we bring to your attention a list of popular, original and simply interesting souvenirs and other products that may interest you, and some even turn out to be very useful.They try to make the wedding magnificent, but elegant, without vulgarity and unnecessary fuss. Many European wedding traditions are adopted by other countries to make the celebration just as elegant and stylish.
Many beautiful wedding traditions were borrowed from European countries. For people in England, Germany, France, Spain and other countries, marriage is a reverent and romantic event, which is intertwined with many customs and memorable moments.
The essence of the rites
Peoples with a rich history have accumulated a whole storehouse of different traditions, signs and superstitions, some of which relate specifically to the wedding. Whatever the culture of the country, marriage is given special role, and since ancient times there have been special procedures for its preparation and conduct.
Many of the wedding traditions in Europe have been forgotten, others have changed, and only a small part has survived to this day in its original state. With the advent of Christianity, the separate features of peoples began to be forgotten, and common patterns began to appear in the customs of different cultures. This does not mean that people have lost their individuality - they only interpreted the same faith.
Now even those wedding ceremonies in Europe that have been preserved since ancient times are rarely seen at holidays. Including conservative Europeans began to give preference to the celebration.
Old customs can be found only in those cases when the bride and groom want to pay tribute to their ancestors, and even then such rites are only a formality and do not carry a sacred meaning.
Most often, the observance of wedding traditions can be found if the future newlyweds decide to organize their marriage in a particular style. For example, popular, French, and. 
What and where exist
Among all European countries, the most rich in customs associated with marriage are England, Greece, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Ireland and Sweden. Most often, stylized weddings are arranged in accordance with these concepts.
In England, for example, the bride must wear four obligatory things to the wedding - something new (the dress itself, underwear), something old (family jewelry, shoes), something borrowed from a friend or relative (clutch, bracelet) and something blue (garter, hairpin). It is believed that in this case the girl will attract good luck and favor. higher powers. For one more English tradition a little girl from among those invited to the wedding walks ahead of the bride and strews her path with rose petals.
In Greece, there is a wonderful custom to present gifts to guests, and they are purchased with the money of the groom's family. Another wedding tradition in Europe is the wedding, which takes place on Sunday, and on Friday they bake bread, while showering flour on everyone who wants to get a little happiness and good luck. The kids invited to the celebration have a special role - they are allowed to jump on the bed of the newlyweds so that they have many strong and healthy children.
In Germany, there is a wonderful custom: when newlyweds get married, they drink a glass of wine together. First, the groom drinks, and then the bride, after which she throws the glass behind her back. If it breaks, the spouses will have a long and happy life. According to another tradition, any of the male guests can try to “steal” the hero of the occasion during a banquet. If he succeeds, he is entitled to three whole dances with the bride.
wedding planner
In order to create an unusual and bright atmosphere at the wedding, in addition to the outward resemblance to the style, you can also adopt some of the wedding traditions of European countries.
Elena Sokolova
Reader
Most European traditions are aimed at attracting happiness, good luck, financial well-being and healthy children.
Karina
In France, they are very sensitive to pre-wedding preparations. Literally every detail of the newlyweds' outfits, including even a belt or a tie, is hand-sewn to individual measurements, and there are practically no bridal salons in this country. The whole French wedding is divided into three stages: a wedding in a church, a cocktail party and the main banquet. Not all guests are invited to each of these events, instructions for this are placed in the envelope with the invitation.
Many Italian customs are followed to this day. For example, the custom of carrying the bride across the threshold of the family home in her arms originated in this country. The name of the honeymoon was also invented by the Italians - back in Ancient Rome newlyweds used honey for 30 days after the wedding to make life together sweet and pleasant.
Interesting! An Italian groom asks for the hand of his beloved from her mother, not from her father. If you are planning european wedding, the tradition can be observed.
In Spain, despite the ardor of the nature of its inhabitants, young people who decided to get married were treated strictly. After the engagement, the bride and groom were vigilantly monitored, the maximum that they were allowed to do was hold hands, and then not in public.
The Spaniards created their male and female communities, one might say, according to their interests. Then such groups intersected with each other, and the girls could get acquainted with the boys, and the main criterion for choosing the second half on both sides was housekeeping.
The Irish are accustomed to celebrating a wedding on a royal scale. It is noteworthy that in most cases, matchmaking takes place in early January, as lovers try to get married before Shrovetide. Then Lent begins, and it is impossible to play a wedding according to the laws of this country.
An interesting tradition in Ireland is the Aitin Gander ritual. On the appointed day, the groom comes to the house of the bride's parents, where the young man is treated to a baked goose. Everyone who is involved in the organization of the wedding, up to the priest, is invited to the party, and all together they discuss the pressing issues of preparing the celebration.
Sweden has quite free wedding traditions. Girls and boys met at dances on weekends, after which the latter accompanied their chosen ones home and did not hesitate to stay the night. Because of this, often weddings took place when the bride was already pregnant, or even after the birth of a child. Interestingly, society did not condemn this, but, on the contrary, supported it, because this served as proof that the girl was healthy and capable of giving her husband heirs.
Interesting! Find out what are. This can be a nightmare...
Other countries
There are no less interesting and funny traditions in the rest of Europe. If desired, such customs can be observed on own wedding to surprise guests and make the celebration individual.
For example, there are the following traditions associated with marriage.
Such customs do not carry anything bad, therefore, if you want to bring them to life, you can safely experiment.
Intersections with Russian customs
In each culture, the wedding will acquire new details and customs borrowed from other peoples. The clearest confirmation of this is that it is believed that unmarried girl whoever catches him will be the next to marry.
Previously, there was no such tradition in Russia, although it was similar in meaning. All the girls who had not yet started a family danced around the newlywed, and she closed her eyes and circled in circles. reverse side. Whom she will show when she stops, she will marry next. And, by the way, Russian girls didn’t give the bouquet to anyone at all, keeping it in the family for good luck.
It is interesting that in many European countries and in Russia there is a similar The parents of the newlyweds bring fire from their home to help the newlyweds light their own. In the modern interpretation, the hearth is replaced by ordinary candles, since not everyone even has a fireplace.
If a European wedding is organized, traditions and customs make the celebration elegant and romantic. Many couples seek to plan their marriage in a Western manner, avoiding vulgar ransom, dirty contests and other inappropriate activities. Such customs will not only diversify the celebration, but also make it memorable for guests.
16. Peoples of Western Europe
AT Western Europe there are many various peoples. The largest of them: Germans, French, Greeks, British, Spaniards, Italians. What they have in common is social structure: a small family with 1-2 children, although large families have also survived. In urban families, several years sometimes passed between the engagement and the wedding, until the young people acquired their own housing. The clothes are also very similar: women wear sweaters, pleated skirts, an apron, dresses, a shoulder scarf. Hats were distinguished by a special variety - scarves, tied in different ways, hats. Footwear: leather shoes, ankle boots, clogs. Men's suit consisted of a shirt, short (to the knees) or long pants, a sleeveless jacket, a neckerchief, shoes or boots.
Germans: Total number 86 million people. They speak the German language of the Germanic group of the Indo-European family. The basis of the economy has traditionally been agriculture. A three-field tillage system was used, the main grain crop was wheat. Potatoes are grown from garden crops. Animal husbandry plays an important role; poultry farming, pig breeding, horse breeding, and cattle breeding are widespread. In the construction of houses, frame construction equipment was used. The houses are one- or two-storey. A fireplace is a must. Food: potatoes and various dishes from it, rye and wheat bread, flour products; dairy and meat dishes. The most common drink is beer. From non-alcoholic drinks, they prefer coffee with cream, tea. Festive food: pork head (or pork) with sauerkraut stew, goose, carp. They bake a lot of confectionery flour products. Religion: Protestantism and Catholicism. Oral folk art is dominated by short comic stories, fairy tales, very popular folk dances and songs. Singing plays a significant role in the upbringing of the younger generation. Applied art continues to develop: processing wood, metal, glass, weaving, embroidery and pottery.
Italians: Total number 66.5 million. They speak Italian Romance group of the Indo-European family, there are many dialects. Religion: Catholicism. Traditional branches of agriculture: arable farming, viticulture, horticulture, breeding of cattle and small cattle. The main material for building a rural house is stone. Dwelling: two- or three-storey stone building, rectangular in plan. The food of the Italians is distinguished by its variety, an abundance of vegetables and fruits. They eat bread and cheese, various pastas with sauces, pizza, fish or meat dishes. Dry wine is popular among drinks.
French: Total population 59.4 million. They speak the French language of the Romance group of the Indo-European family. Religion: Catholicism, there is Calvinism. Occupations: in agriculture - animal husbandry, cattle, pigs, sheep, poultry are bred); agriculture. The main crops are wheat, barley, corn, sugar beets, tobacco, etc. Traditional viticulture and winemaking are also developed. Traditional crafts (wood carving, painted pottery, lace making) are losing their importance. However, some of them, such as perfumery, have developed into industrial sectors and acquired world fame. The layout of the settlements is mostly linear. Dwelling: One-story stone or adobe wooden-framed buildings, where living quarters and adjoining stables, a stall, a barn and a wine cellar are combined under one roof. Steep gable roofs are covered with slate, tiles, etc. Traditional food is characterized by vegetable and onion soups, beef and pork steaks, fried potatoes, lamb stew with various sauces, omelettes with ham, mushrooms and other seasonings, fish dishes; widely used. A lot of vegetables, fruits, oysters, lobsters, crabs are consumed, sea urchins, shellfish.
18. The peoples of the Volga and Kama regions. Peoples of the European North of Russia
Many different peoples live on this territory, such as Russians, Kalyks, Udmurts, Mari, Komi, Karelians, etc. Characteristics of some of them:
Udmurts: Total number 747 thousand people. They speak Udmurt language Finno-Ugric group of the Ural family, there are various dialects. Traditional forms of economy: arable farming (rye, wheat, oats, barley, buckwheat, peas, millet, spelt, hemp, flax) and animal husbandry (draft cattle, cows, pigs, sheep, poultry). Occupations: hunting, fishing, beekeeping, gathering. Crafts and crafts were developed. Traditional dwelling: a ground log hut with a gabled plank roof. Traditional clothing: women wore a white linen tunic shirt, a robe. Outerwear: semi-woolen and woolen caftans and fur coats. Shoes: patterned stockings, knitted or sewn canvas socks, bast shoes, shoes, felt boots. A wide variety of headwear: kokoshnik, headband, high birch bark hat. Traditional food: mushrooms, berries, various herbs, bread products, meat dishes, soups, cereals, dairy products. The main social unit of the traditional Udmurt society was the landed neighborhood community. It usually consisted of several associations of kindred families.
Kalmyks: Number 180 thousand people. They speak Kalmyk language Mongolian group of the Altai family. The Kalmyks used to be a nomadic people. Main occupations: pasture-transhumant cattle breeding, fishing, agriculture, gardening. Sheep, horses, cattle, goats, camels, and pigs were bred. Kalmyks sowed rye, wheat, millet, buckwheat, oats and industrial crops: mustard, tobacco and flax. Artistic crafts are developed: embroidery, processing, embossing on leather, woodcarving. The traditional settlement had a circular layout - the most convenient in terms of defense in a nomadic way of life. Three types of traditional dwellings are known: wagon, dugout and semi-dugout. Men's clothing: fitted caftan, shirt, pants, soft leather boots. Women's clothing: a long to-toe dress with a sleeveless jacket, under them a long shirt and trousers, boots. There were a variety of headdresses for men and women, depending on the season, the wealth of the family, etc. Various ornaments (bracelets, earrings ..) were common. The traditional hairstyle for men and women is braids: for men and girls - one, for women - two. The basis of nutrition is meat and dairy products. Religion: Buddhism, shamanism, fetishism, cult of fire and hearth.
Komi: The total number is 345 thousand people. Most of the believers are Orthodox, there are Old Believers. They speak the Komi language of the Finno-Ugric group of the Ural family. Main occupations: agriculture, cattle breeding, hunting. The most widespread grain crop was barley, then rye. Bred mainly cattle, sheep, horses, deer. Komi hunted birds, wild ungulates, fur-bearing animals. Great importance had gathering, collected all kinds of berries: lingonberries, raspberries, blueberries, bird cherry, mountain ash. Crafts were developed: sewing clothes, shoes, pottery, weaving, etc. Means of transportation: sledges, skis, boats. Traditional dwelling: ground, rectangular building. The residential part consisted of two huts (winter and summer), connected by a vestibule, and is integral with the household yard. A characteristic feature of the dwelling is the sloping roof, covered with a hemp. Among the decorations of the dwelling, carving is common, the ornament is geometric. Traditional clothing: the basis of the women's costume was a shirt and a sundress, short swing sweaters, a sheepskin coat. As a headdress, girls usually wore multi-colored ribbons, a kokoshnik. Men's clothing: loose canvas shirt, girded with a belt, canvas pants, woolen socks. Outerwear: caftan, fur coat. Men's hats: felt cap or sheepskin hat. Men's and women's shoes differed little: shoe covers or boots. Traditional food: vegetable, meat and fish products. Sour soups, cold, cereals are common. A significant place in the diet is occupied by pastries: bread, juicy, pancakes, pies, etc. Of the traditional drinks, in addition to tea, decoctions of berries and herbs are common, bread kvass, Birch juice. folk beliefs and rituals: cosmogonic myths, reflecting the early ideas of the people about the world around and the place of man in it; epic tales and legends; fairy tales and songs; Proverbs and sayings; ritual poetry. Pre-Christian beliefs in goblin, witchcraft, fortune-telling, conspiracies, damage, there were cults of trees, game animals, fire, etc.
Theoretical and methodological research. 2. THE SUBJECT OF ETHNOLOGY ethnology ethnic science behavior The peculiarity of each science is determined, as is known, by its own subject of study and methods of studying this subject. From the moment of formation of ethnology as a science to the present, the genesis of ethnic cultures and interethnic relations has been a cross-cutting theme of its research. ...
and methodological research. The subject of ethnology The originality of each science, as is well known, is determined by its own subject of study and methods of study of this subject. From the beginning of the formation of ethnology as a science to the present, a cross-cutting theme of its research has been the genesis of ethnic cultures and interethnic relations. Initially, on the basis of an extremely limited and fragmented ...
The Christmas wreath is of Lutheran origin. This is an evergreen wreath with four candles. The first candle is lit on the Sunday four weeks before Christmas as a symbol of the light that will come into the world with the birth of Christ. Every following Sunday, another candle is lit. On the last Sunday before Christmas, all four candles are lit to illuminate the place where the wreath is located (this may be the altar of the church or the dining table).The ringing of bells at Christmas time came to us from winter pagan holidays.
When the Earth was cold, it was believed that the sun died and the evil spirit was very strong. To exorcise the evil spirit, it was necessary to make a lot of noise. The Christmas tradition of ringing bells, singing and shouting at the same time has survived to this day. Church bells ring out at Christmas time in churches all over the world. But not to drive out evil spirits. Thus people welcome the coming of Christ. In Scandinavia, the ringing of bells means the end of work and the beginning of the holiday, in England - the death knell at the funeral of the devil and the greeting of Christ.
The bird Christmas tree is a Scandinavian tradition. People try to share their joy on Christmas with other living beings.
Immediately on Christmas or the day before, seeds or bread crumbs are taken out to the birds. This is a sign that the new year will be successful. A party outside adds to the fun of a party at home.
Brass singing Christmas carols is one of the delightfully noisy Christmas traditions. She probably came from paganism, because. to exorcise evil spirits it was necessary to make noise. It is currently followed in Germany and the Scandinavian countries. A musical quartet sings four Christmas carols near a bell tower or church.
The Christmas carols end with a joyful chime that marks the beginning of Christmas.
Light was an important component of winter pagan holidays. With the help of candles and bonfires, the forces of darkness and cold were expelled. Wax candles were distributed to the Romans on the feast of Saturnalia. In Christianity, candles are considered an additional symbol of the significance of Jesus as the Light of the world.
In Victorian England, merchants gave candles to their regular customers every year.
In many countries, Christmas candles signify the victory of light over darkness.
Candles on the tree of paradise gave rise to our all-time favorite Christmas tree.
In the Scandinavian countries and Germany, on December 24th, Santa Claus knocks on the door, while in England and America his visit is secret. Santa Claus allegedly enters the house through the chimney.
In 1843, the Englishman Horsley drew the first Christmas card. 1,000 copies of the postcard were sold that year in London. Publisher Louis Prang popularized Christmas cards in 1875. He held a nationwide competition in America for the best Christmas card design.
Improving the postal system and reducing the cost postal items made it possible to send Christmas cards to many friends all over the world.
It is assumed that the first Christmas song appeared in the 4th century AD, but it was somewhat gloomy. In Renaissance Italy, lighter and more joyful Christmas carols appeared. They were already beginning to justify their name (Christmas carols - carols (English) - from the French "caroler" - dance to the sound).
Saint Nicholas is traditionally considered the giver of gifts. In Rome, it was a tradition to give gifts to children on the feast of Saturnalia. Jesus himself, Santa Claus, Befana (Italian female Santa Claus), Christmas gnomes, various saints can act as a gift giver. According to an old Finnish tradition, gifts are scattered around the houses by an invisible man.
It is believed that the first undecorated Christmas trees appeared in Germany in the 8th century. The first mention of spruce is associated with the monk Saint Boniface. Boniface preached to the Druids a sermon on the Nativity. To convince the idolaters that the oak was not a sacred and inviolable tree, he cut down one of the oaks. When the felled oak fell, it knocked down all the trees in its path except the young spruce. Boniface presented the survival of the spruce as a miracle and exclaimed: "Let this tree be the tree of Christ."
In the future, Christmas in Germany was celebrated by planting young fir trees.
In a German source dated 1561, it says that no more than one Christmas tree can stand in the house at Christmas. In the 17th century, the Christmas tree was already a common Christmas decoration in Germany and the Scandinavian countries. At that time, the Christmas tree was decorated with figurines and flowers cut out of colored paper, apples, waffles, gilded gizmos, and sugar.
The tradition of decorating a Christmas tree is associated with a paradise tree hung with apples.
The success of the Christmas tree in Protestant countries was even greater thanks to the legend that Martin Luther himself was the first to come up with the idea of lighting candles on a Christmas tree. One evening he was walking home, writing a sermon. The glitter of the stars twinkling among the fir trees filled him with awe.
To demonstrate this magnificent picture to the family, he put up a Christmas tree in the main room, fixed candles on its branches and lit them.
The Christmas tree owes its popularity in England to the German Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria. In the 17th century, German immigrants brought the Christmas tree tradition to America.
The first outdoor Christmas trees with electric garlands appeared in Finland in 1906.
Every year in Wales, a festival of Christmas carols is held.
Choirs across the country are vying to have their anthem chosen as the official Christmas carol. These church choirs travel around the cities of Wales and sing Christmas carols past and present.
The tradition of choosing a national Christmas carol dates back to the 10th century.
The first guest is the first person who enters the house and "lets in" Christmas (in some countries this tradition does not refer to Christmas, but to the New Year). Sometimes such a person is even specially hired to ensure that everything is done properly, as there is a superstition associated with the first guest. The first guest should hold a spruce branch in his hand. He enters the front door, walks through the house, and exits through the back door. He is presented with bread and salt or some small gift as a symbol of hospitality. The first guest must be a dark-haired man. If a woman became the first guest, this is a bad omen.
Holly is an evergreen shrub with red poisonous berries, dark green foliage and thorns. The brilliance of this plant has made it a natural symbol of the rebirth of life in the winter whiteness of northern Europe. It is believed that the holly drives away the winter cold and evil spirits. In England, a holly with thorns is called "he", without thorns - "she". Which holly (with or without thorns) is brought into the house first at Christmas depends on who will manage the household in the coming year.
Before the appearance of the Christmas tree in the middle of the nineteenth century, there was a so-called "kissing branch" in England. It was in the form of a double ring decorated with garlands, green branches, holly, ivy, apples, pears, lit candles and mistletoe. If a girl accidentally found herself under this branch, she was allowed to kiss.
Previously, during the celebration of Christmas, one of the main dangers was Christmas candles. Therefore, buckets of water were kept in the living rooms in case of fire. The idea is to use electric garlands instead wax candles belongs to the English telephone operator Ralph Morris. By that time, the filaments of electric light bulbs were already used in telephone switchboards, it only occurred to Morris to hang them on a Christmas tree.
The ancient Druids considered mistletoe to be a sacred plant, a symbol of eternal life. The Romans valued her as a symbol of peace. Kissing under the mistletoe is also a Roman tradition.
The first Christmas trees were decorated with fresh flowers and fruits. Later, sweets, nuts, and other foods were added. Then - Christmas candles.
Such a load was certainly too heavy for the tree. German glassblowers began producing hollow glass Christmas ornaments to replace fruit and other heavy ornaments.
The first plum puddings were made in the 17th century. The pudding was prepared in large copper cauldrons a few weeks before Christmas by the whole family. When cooking, each member of the family made a wish. Four items were placed in the pudding: a coin, a thimble, a button and a ring. Later, when the pudding was eaten, every item found in the pudding had a meaning. A coin meant wealth in the new year, a button meant a bachelor life, a thimble for a girl meant an unmarried life, a ring meant marriage (marriage).
Before the advent of the Christmas tree, the Christmas pyramid was considered the main Christmas decoration in Germany and northern Europe. It was a wooden structure in the shape of a pyramid, hung with vegetation and ornaments. Gifts or sweets were placed on the shelves of the pyramid. With the growing popularity of the Christmas tree, the functions of the Christmas pyramid have been taken over by the Christmas tree.
The Christmas log should be cut down by the head of the family, not bought from someone else. It should burn in the fireplace along with the remains of last year's Christmas log. The log must burn all twelve days of Christmas. There is a superstition that if a person sees his shadow cast from a fireplace where a log is burning, without a head, he will die next year. The ashes of the Christmas log heal diseases and protect the home from lightning strikes.
In the Middle Ages, religious holidays were actually the only holidays. Therefore, people sought to extend these holidays as long as possible. Over time, instead of one day, Christmas turned into 12 - from Christmas to Epiphany. In wealthy families, it was customary to give each other gifts for each of the twelve days. This made the Christmas hymn "The Twelve Holy Days" very popular. Presumably, the appearance of this hymn dates back to the 16th century.
In England The most pleasant part of the Christmas celebration is considered to be a festive family dinner on December 25, which is preceded by a church service. The head of the Christmas table in Britain is a baked turkey stuffed with a mixture of breadcrumbs and spices or chestnuts. A special redcurrant or cranberry sauce is prepared for the bird. As an addition to the Christmas feast, ham, bacon, small sausages and various vegetables (boiled or baked) are served. Well, the favorite dessert is, of course, Christmas pudding - a steamed cake made of dense dough with dried fruits. Before serving, the pudding is doused with cognac and set on fire - it looks very impressive!
Christmas is a great holiday established in remembrance of the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. Christmas is one of the most important Christian holidays, a public holiday in more than 100 countries of the world.
The first information about the celebration of Christmas by Christians dates back to the 4th century. The question of the real date of the birth of Jesus Christ is controversial and ambiguously resolved among church authors. Perhaps the choice of December 25 is associated with the pagan solar holiday “Birth of the Invincible Sun” that fell on that day, which, with the adoption of Christianity in Rome, was filled with new content.
According to one of the modern hypotheses, the choice of the date of Christmas occurred due to the simultaneous celebration by the early Christians of the Incarnation (the conception of Christ) and Easter; accordingly, as a result of adding 9 months to this date (March 25), Christmas fell on the day of the winter solstice.
The feast of the Nativity of Christ has five days of forefeast (from December 20 to 24) and six days of afterfeast. On the eve, or on the eve of the holiday (December 24), a particularly strict fast is observed, called Christmas Eve, since on this day juicy is eaten - wheat or barley grains boiled with honey. According to tradition, the Christmas Eve fast ends with the appearance of the first evening star in the sky. On the eve of the holiday, Old Testament prophecies and events related to the Nativity of the Savior are remembered.
Christmas services are performed three times: at midnight, at dawn and during the day, which symbolizes the Nativity of Christ in the bosom of God the Father, in the womb of the Mother of God and in the soul of every Christian.
In the 13th century, during the time of St. Francis of Assisi, a custom arose to exhibit mangers in churches for worship, in which the figure of the Infant Jesus is placed. Over time, mangers began to be set up not only in the temple, but also in houses before Christmas. Home santons - models in glazed boxes depict a grotto, baby Jesus lies in a manger, next to the Mother of God, Joseph, an angel, shepherds who came to worship, as well as animals - a bull, a donkey. Whole scenes from folk life: peasants are placed next to the holy family in folk costumes etc.
Church and folk customs harmoniously intertwined in the celebration of Christmas. In Catholic countries, the custom is well known caroling- walking around the houses of children and youth with songs and good wishes. In response, carolers receive gifts: sausage, roasted chestnuts, fruits, eggs, pies, sweets, etc. Stingy owners are ridiculed and threatened with troubles. The processions involve various masks dressed in animal skins, this action is accompanied by noisy fun. This custom was repeatedly condemned by church authorities as pagan, and gradually they began to go with carols only to relatives, neighbors and close friends.
The tradition of lighting a ritual fire in the hearth testifies to the remnants of the pagan cult of the sun in Christmas time - "Christmas log". The log solemnly, observing various ceremonies, was brought into the house, set on fire, at the same time praying and carving a cross on it (an attempt to reconcile the pagan rite with christian religion). They sprinkled the log with grain, poured it with honey, wine and oil, put pieces of food on it, addressed it as a living being, raised glasses of wine in his honor.
During the celebration of Christmas, a custom was established to break "Christmas bread"- special unleavened wafers consecrated in churches during Advent - and eat it both before the festive meal and during greetings and congratulations to each other on the holiday.
A characteristic element of the Christmas holiday is the custom to install in houses decorated spruce tree. This pagan tradition originated among the Germanic peoples, in whose rituals spruce was a symbol of life and fertility. With the spread of Christianity among the peoples of Central and Northern Europe, the decorated colorful balls spruce acquires a new symbolism: they began to install it in houses on December 24, as a symbol of the tree of paradise with abundant fruits.
Christmas customs and traditions in Great Britain
At Christmas, all the windows of rural houses in the UK are lit with candles, so among the locals, the night before Christmas is called "candle night". In England today, on Christmas Eve, instead of the traditional Christmas log, a thick Christmas candle is lit. In Wales, lit candles on the Christmas holiday decorated not only private houses in rural areas, but also rural churches and chapels. Candles for decorating the church were made and presented to the priest by the inhabitants of the parish.
In many villages, shortly before the holiday, women held competitions for the best decoration of Christmas candles. These decorations were made from strips of colored paper, foil, gold and silver threads, bright ribbons, etc. In some areas of Wales, with the same decorated and lit candles in their hands, the inhabitants of the parish went to the morning mass, which began at 2-3 in the morning. Many similar candles were lit that night in private houses.
Ever since the Middle Ages, the church began to use the old rites of disguise in order to give the people a more vivid impression of biblical stories. Thus arose "mysteries"- dramatic performances of such religious scenes as the annunciation, the visit of the baby Christ by the three wise men of the East, etc. The participants in the dramatic versions of biblical stories were usually masked or with a face covered with a scarf, like the performers of ancient pagan rites. Among the representations of this kind, the dramatic game-pantomime about St. George and the Dragon, widely known in many other countries.
O masquerades and pantomimes for Christmas, there is evidence already from the XIV-XV centuries. So, in one of the sources it is reported that in 1377 a Christmas pantomime was arranged at the Scottish royal court for entertainment little prince Richard. In the treasury registers of Scotland in the 15th century. the funds spent on the arrangement of court masquerades for Christmas are often transferred.
Another one was connected with the arrangement of masquerades. interesting custom in Britain: for 12 days of Christmas time in each palace or castle, the manager of the entire festival was chosen, called in England "Lord of Chaos"(Lord Misrule), and in Scotland - "imaginary abbot"(Abbot of Mock). The lord of disorder was chosen by the one who could joke well, arrange various entertainments, carnivals. He himself selected his retinue, the members of which were dressed up in a bright dress, decorated with ribbons and bells.
In Scotland, in the retinue of the "imaginary abbot" such characters, characteristic of folk processions of mummers, as Hobbie-horse - "Hobbie-horse" - a guy who portrayed a horse, participated. Such a noisy company, and especially its leader, was allowed to do whatever they want - break into any house to play some kind of joke on their inhabitants, arrange games, dances and other entertainment. This custom was banned by Henry VIII.
In many villages in Scotland, on Christmas Day, men and boys, led by pipers and accompanied by many people, went outside the village and played football, balls on some lawn, organized various sports competitions: running, hammer throwing exercises, etc. The winner in all games he received a beret decorated with feathers and ribbons; after the competition, the youth sang and danced, and in the evening, with the winner at the head, they returned to the village. In the evening, the winner of the competition presided over the ball.
All these old traditional customs were attacked with great force by the new Protestant church in the 17th century. The feast of Christmas was especially persecuted in Puritan Scotland. Every pagan rite and custom, even the most innocent, was ruthlessly cursed by the church. So, according to the records of the church session in 1574, several people were accused of playing, dancing and singing Christmas songs on this holiday.
Even baking Christmas bread was considered a crime by Protestant clergy. In December 1583 Glasgow bakers were required to name those for whom they baked Christmas bread. In 1605, five people were called to court in Aberdeen for walking around town at Christmas wearing masks and dancing. Finally, in 1644, the celebration of Christmas was banned throughout England by a special Act of Parliament.
After such persecution in Scotland, the celebration of Christmas never reached its former popularity, only a few rites survived, most of them began to coincide with the New Year. And now December 24-25 there are working days, and the New Year is considered a holiday - January 1-2.
In England, already at the end of the 17th century. Christmas began to be celebrated again, but during the 19th century the rites that accompanied it changed, and by the beginning of the 20th century. From a great social event throughout the community, Christmas has become a purely family holiday, only some of its old customs have survived to this day. Everywhere, for example, the custom is observed among the British to exchange gifts on Christmas Day. With the introduction of Christianity, this custom was associated with the bringing of gifts to the baby Jesus by three magicians of the East. In memory of this, gifts are given first of all to children.
Good old gentleman carrying gifts to children Santa Claus, red-cheeked, with a long white beard, dressed in a red fur coat and a high red cap. Some identify Santa Claus with the creatures of the underworld - gnomes, which, in their opinion, confirms his appearance. Usually at Christmas gifts are received not only by children, but also by adults, before dinner they are presented to everyone by the youngest member of the family.
Since the 19th century it has become customary to exchange greeting cards - instead of obligatory once personal congratulations on the holiday. In 1843, the first Christmas card was printed in the printing house, and soon their production became a special branch of printing production. In the design of postcards, motifs of old traditional Christmas customs are often found: a robin, which since the 18th century. often replaces the wren in rituals, branches of eternal green - holly, ivy, mistletoe, and on Scottish postcards the image of heather twigs intertwined with tartan ribbons is the national symbol of Scotland. Such postcards are sent in large numbers to Scottish emigrants around the world for Christmas as a reminder of the Motherland they left.
Christmas dinner and today includes such traditional dishes as stuffed turkey (in the British) or roast goose (in Wales, Ireland) and an indispensable plum pudding. The old custom of decorating the house for Christmas with branches of eternal greenery - ivy, holly, etc. is still preserved. As before, they strengthen a sprig of white mistletoe above the door. According to custom, once a year, on Christmas Eve, men have the right to kiss any girl who stops under a decoration from this plant. This does not happen often, and in order not to waste time in vain, one person decided to decorate a mirror with amela branches so that he could kiss all the girls who stopped to admire themselves.
Apparently, the late transformation of the custom of decorating houses with evergreens was
Christmas Tree, as a symbol of undying nature. The custom of decorating spruce appeared in England relatively recently, in the middle of the 19th century, and was brought here from Germany. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert hosted the first Christmas tree for their children at Windsor, and the trend quickly spread. Now in almost every English house for Christmas they decorate the Christmas tree with multi-colored shiny toys and sweets, at the top of it they usually strengthen the Christmas fairy or a large silver star. During the Second World War, England, where the Norwegian king and government were at that time, was first smuggled out of occupied Norway by a huge fir tree, which was installed in Trafalgar Square. Since then, such a spruce tree has been annually presented by the city of Oslo to the British capital, and it is installed on the same square. It is decorated with Christmas toys, multi-colored electric bulbs.
Finally, from the once widespread processions of mummers and dramatic performances, those arranged in all theaters originate, concert halls during Christmas time Christmas pantomimes, masquerade balls. The second day of Christmas in the church calendar is dedicated to St. Stephen. In England this day is called boxing day(Boxing day). This name comes from the custom to install special piggy bank boxes in churches before Christmas, where offerings for the poor were lowered.
On the day of St. Stephen, the pastor distributed the collected money among his parishioners. Later, the boxes were no longer installed in the church, but the poor of the parish gathered in groups on St. Stefan with a box-piggy bank went around the houses, receiving small coins. Such groups consisted of apprentices, apprentices, messengers, etc. And now the tradition has still been preserved to present small amounts of money to clerks, messengers and servants on this day.
In England and Scotland, an essential part of the Christmas holiday is ritual food- dinner on Christmas Eve and lunch on the first day of Christmas. The British and the Scottish nobility, descended from the Scandinavians or Normans, throughout the Middle Ages, the traditional Christmas dish was a boar's head.
However, among the Celtic peoples, this dish never appeared on holiday tables. Perhaps the reason for this was the ancient Celtic ban on eating pork. Such a ban persisted for a long time in some remote corners of the Highlands.
In Scotland, Ireland and Wales, a piece of roast beef or goat meat was usually prepared for Christmas dinner - the Christmas bull (Yule bull) or the Christmas goat (Yule goat). But gradually traditional meat dish for Christmas there was roasted (in Ireland, Wales) or smoked (in Scotland) goose. It has remained the main Christmas dish to this day in Wales and Scotland (Highland). In England, since the XVIII century. its place was taken by fried or stuffed turkey.
had ritual significance drinks and foods made from cereals. In Aberdeenshire and the north-east of Scotland it was customary to place on the table on Christmas Eve a large goblet of a special Christmas drink called sowans. It was prepared from fermented and fermented barley grain, with the addition of honey and cream. The drink was poured into small wooden cups, at the bottom of which some object was placed: if the drinker saw a ring at the bottom, this is for a wedding, a coin for wealth, a button for celibacy, etc.
For many centuries, among all the inhabitants of the British Isles, a special dish was a common food at Christmas. plum porridge oatmeal(plum-porridge), cooked in meat broth, bread crumbs, raisins, almonds, prunes and honey were also added to it and served very hot. During the XVIII century. plum-porridge is gradually being replaced plum pudding(plum-pudding), and by the middle of the XIX century. the latter becomes the main dish of the Christmas table. Plum pudding is made from bread crumbs with the addition of various spices, fruits, poured with rum and lit before serving. It remains the custom to hide small silver coins and jewelry in the Christmas pudding - "for good luck".
In the past it was customary for the Scots, Irish and Welsh to bake for Christmas special bread. It was supposed to be baked only on Christmas Eve, between sunset and sunrise. Christmas bread was a large round cake, on which a cross was cut with a knife before baking. They also baked Christmas oatmeal cakes - round, with jagged edges and a hole in the middle; judging by the shape, they were supposed to symbolize the sun. It was the custom in the Highlands to invite every passer-by to the house at Christmas. The guest was offered a piece of such a cake with cheese and a sip of alcohol.
In all wealthy houses, baking was carried out and beer was brewed not only for themselves, but also for distribution to the poor, watchmen, workers, and shepherds. On the eve of Christmas Eve, on the so-called "small christmas eve"(Swedish - lille ju-lafton, Norwegian - julaften, Danish - ju-leaften), rich alms were distributed, especially in the houses of priests, to each house included in the parish. The gifts consisted of bread, meat, porridge, beer, candles.
On Christmas Eve before sunset, all the villagers gathered in the church. Upon returning home, everyone sat down for a festive treat. With Christmas comes the general celebration; there is not even a single poor house where this event would not be celebrated. The smallest loaf of bread is always kept hidden from one Christmas to the next, or even longer. Often there were cases that an 80-90-year-old woman kept a bread cake baked in her youth.
And now in the UK they are still preparing for the New Year special traditional dishes. Breakfast is usually served with oatmeal, pudding, a special kind of cheese - kebben (Kebben), for lunch - roast goose or steak, pie, apples baked in dough. New Year's oat cakes among the Celtic peoples had a special shape - round with a hole in the middle. We tried not to break them during baking, as this would be a bad omen.
The table decoration is christmas cake. According to an old recipe, it should be stuffed with the following items, which allegedly predict fate for the coming year: a ring - for a wedding, a coin - for wealth, a small horseshoe - for good luck.
At present, in Scotland, a large round sand cake is baked for the New Year's table, with tucks around the edges, decorated with sugar-boiled almonds, nuts, sweets, sugar and marzipan figurines. Every year a huge number of these cakes are sent to all corners of the globe to Scots who are in exile. They are usually decorated national emblems- heather, Scottish cross, arms crossed over the sea, mountains, etc.
In the UK you will be met Christmas carols, church mass and pudding and turkey typical of English cuisine. On Christmas Eve, crowds of people gather in Trafalgar Square, England's main Christmas tree, where charitable organizations put on performances for adults and children with carol singing. Approximately the same thing happens in Leicester Square, where a fun fair takes place. Residents and tourists can have fun at carnivals and festivities in Coven Garden, warm up at the traditional Christmas swimming competition for the Peter Pan Prize, and then relax in Hyde Park and the Serpentine Pond.
There are especially many people in Edinburgh on New Year's Eve on Princes Street. New Year's services are going on in the churches. Fruit and confectionery shops are open all night. The onset of the New Year is heralded by the ringing of bells, whistles and sirens of factories. After 12 o'clock everyone congratulates each other and goes home to the festive tables.
Christmas in England loomed as early as October, when most of them sat down at home at the table and, sticking out the tip of the tongue in diligence, wrote Christmas Lists to the Father of Christmas with the most serious look. Shopkeepers in England, don't be fools, have been in a hurry to sell various thematic junk just from that moment ... In general, all this is an established age-old Tradition. In the United Kingdom, there are probably more traditions, rituals, omens, jumps, bziks and other things associated with the winter festivities than in the rest of Europe. Moreover, there are old traditions, and there are relatively young ones, but they have already managed to firmly cement themselves in the bowels of the British mentality. Here, for example: with late XIX century, Advent Calendars came to England from Germany. Initially, they had a purely religious "adult" purpose, but soon children began to use them. And now every year, starting from the first of December, the whole of underage Britain is "counting down to the Advent", and the calendars themselves can be crazy: flashing, chocolate, waffle, in the form of Martian heads ... In fairness, we note that most of the buildings here are only beginning to be decorated two weeks before Christmas. Trees, many of which still have leaves, are entangled with tinsel (glitter), wires with light bulbs (flicker), tartan ribbons (curl and rustle), and more. other manifestations of the British sense of beauty. The lawns in front of the houses are usually completely hidden by statues of the Father of Christmas, wreaths of holly and ivy, and in the windows - so that no one else seems to be enough - they turn on the welcoming Scandinavian lights! All this, in fact, is called Tradition. The kids are really good here. On Christmas Eve, they go to bed after prayers and Christmas stories are read to them. Before that, they always leave a mince pie and milk for Father Christmas "and (and a carrot for a certain Rudolph) - otherwise you won’t see gifts! In the morning, at dawn, children with greedy eyes burst into the bedrooms of their sleepy ancestors and drive them quickly down to the living room , where under the Christmas tree, in stockings or in special socks, lies “what they have been waiting for so long.” At lunchtime (one in the afternoon), relatives and friends come to the house, everyone kisses, squeezes, gives Presents, enthusiastically discusses some some nonsense and, finally, they sit down for a Christmas dinner. Actually, some holidays the British, with their dull insipid cuisine, still somehow manage not to spoil it from a gastronomic point of view - Christmas is one of them. shrimp appetizers, then the main thing - turkey in currant sauce, and for dessert - Christmas Pudding or Christmas Cake ... But usually it's much worse! ny speech to british m-m... people, then they still stare at the box for some time, in which they prepared "all the best and funny", and then, if the family is absolutely right, they play charades or board games that require ingenuity. The true home of Christmas and the Cradle of most traditions is undoubtedly London. These days the atmosphere in the metropolis is just electric. The streets sparkle under the influence of the magic of thousands of magic light bulbs and other design ideas. The fresh air tingles cheeks and nose, and the frost transforms the city into the Christmas Wonderland described by Dickens - the British, by the way, love to make this comparison ... But for all that, London allows you to experience all the shades of the "holiday atmosphere". The most luxurious junk is thrown into the windows, choirs of all stripes sing in the corners, in the passages and in churches, all drinking and eating establishments offer special menus and some special entertainment, and the streets, theaters (open and closed) and squares are flooded with entertainers , pop groups and even clowns.
But, for both ours and the London man, X-mas is first and foremost, of course, Phaser Shopping. Despite the generally poorly disguised high prices, Christmas sales in London usually do not let you get bored. Sales are officially announced on the twentieth of December, but it is important to know that a really serious price reduction occurs after Christmas, when people no longer need to buy gifts from people. The largest discounts are provided by department stores - stores department (this year, mostly on December 27). The most shopping slaughter can be observed in the West End and in the Oxford Street area. The most luxurious place is Selfridges dear to the Russian heart (and in general the center of Russian culture in London!) Each time it is somehow thematically decorated according to some one plan, and it is always done, of course, with great taste. In another no less pleasant place, Liberty's (true English fabrics for the production of women's clothing are found here), prices are reduced by up to 50% during the sales period. In addition, the store is located in a 16th-century building and its showcases are among the most beautiful showcases in London A store named Simpson's is interesting in that on all its five floors they sell almost exclusively goods for gentlemen. It is doubtful that anyone other than the British would have ventured into such a rigid specialization. Harrod's is considered the flagship of London, and indeed British supermarkets - they say there are people who just spent several days looking at its windows ... This is where everything your heart desires is really sold! And that's all at exorbitant schizophrenic prices. But what is here what makes me really happy is that "the staff works until the last whim of the last customer is satisfied"... Discounts in this store are also "the best" and in crazy waste reach up to 75%! common sense, these discounts are about the same as if we reduced 75 cm from the height of a skyscraper ... In London, it is customary to start sales on Saturday, but Harrod's announces them half a week later, on Wednesday, without any doubt in their own superiority. And it does, as they say, on the first day of the sale, a turnover equal to a month. And they probably don't lie. Here it is - the power of habits and traditions. For the Christmas sale (with the most significant discounts for the year), all stores are preparing in advance, from about mid-October. The windows are populated by angels, snowmen, reindeer broods and cohorts of Santa Clauses. By the way, keep in mind that you can give everything in the world for Christmas in England, from Adam to Potsdam, depending on your tastes and capabilities. The latest trend is to cut down on time and stress when shopping, and to get perverted and buy something SO-THAT that no one dares to call junk! For example, a ticket for a helicopter ride (the whole fashion now). In this regard, the Internet, which distributes such things, is stepping on the tail of traditional shopping centers. For people with less quirks, the opportunity to pervert materializes in a more modest disease - in the choice of 100,000 varieties of festive wrapping paper ... Have you bought gifts? And what did they turn into? And here we are - look - what a nice little piece of paper ... etc., etc. ...
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