Unit 7. Celebrations

CHRISTMAS DAY
ORIGIN

Christian’s tradition.

MEANING

To mark and honor the birth of
Jesus of Nazareth.

DATE

December 25

TRADITIONS

 Gift – giving
 Church celebrations
 Display of various decorations

SYMBOL

Santa Claus and Christmas tree



GIFT - GIVING

Originating from Western culture, where the holiday is

characterized by the exchange of gifts among friends and family
members, some of the gifts are attributed to a character called
Santa Claus


A Christmas tree, is one of the most
popular traditions associated with
the celebration of Christmas. It is
normally an evergreen coniferous
tree that is brought into a home or
used in the open, and is decorated
with Christmas lights and colorful
ornaments during the days around
Christmas

EVERGREEN TREE

In Romanian traditions, mistletoe is
considered a source of good
fortune. The tradition has spread
throughout the English-speaking
world but is largely unknown in the
rest of Europe. According to a
custom of Christmas cheer, any two
people who meet under a hanging of
mistletoe are obliged to kiss.

MISTLETOE

A Christmas tree of
poinsettias in San Diego


CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

Christmas lights (also
sometimes called fairy lights,
twinkle lights or holiday lights
in the United States) are
strands of electric lights used
to decorate homes,
public/commercial buildings
and Christmas trees during
the Christmas season.
Christmas lights come in a
dazzling array of
configurations and colors.
The small "midget" bulbs
commonly known as fairy
lights are also called Italian
lights in some parts of the
U.S., such as Chicago.


 

                                                                                                                       

RED

AMARYLLIS

HOLLY


CHRISTMAS CACTUS


NATIVITY SCENES

A nativity scene is a depiction of the birth or birthplace of
Jesus, either sculpted or using two-dimensional (cut-out)
figures arranged in a three-dimensional setting.


ILLUMINATED SLEIGHS

In Australia, North and South America, and to a lesser extent
Europe, it is traditional to decorate the outside of houses with
lights and sometimes with illuminated sleighs:


Snowmen at Sapporo,
Japan Snow Festival

16-foot-high snowman.


CHRISTMAS VILLAGES

In the Western world, rolls of brightly-colored paper with
secular or religious Christmas motifs are manufactured for
the purpose of wrapping gifts. The display of Christmas
villages has also become a tradition in many homes during
this season.


Other traditional decorations include

CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS

CHRISTMAS WREATHS

CANDY CANES


CHRISTMAS CAKE
A Bolo-Rei. This
size, approx. 50 cm
diameter,
usually
serves 8 people.
This pastry is just
one of the many
types
baked
around the world
for
celebrations
during the Twelve

Days of Christmas
and Twelfth Night.



The Piazza San Marco is the focus of the world’s bestknown fantasy dress party


Masks were also allowed during Ascension
and from October 5 to Christmas


Carnival Die Venetia was first recorded
in 1268


But when the Austrians took control of the city on January
18, 1798 it fell into a decline which effectively brought
carnival celebrations to a halt for nearly 2 centuries.


Carnival was outlawed by the fascist government in
the 1930’s


It wasn’t until a modern mask shop was
founded in the 1980’s that Carnival enjoyed a
revival

Most masks today are made with the application of
gesso and gold leaf, all hand-painted using natural
feathers and gems to decorate them


The original Venetian masks were rather simple in
design and decoration, frequently bearing a symbolic
and practical function