December 23, 2012
(Romereports.com) Thousands of
people celebrate Christmas around the world. The streets light up with
colorful lights, city squares fill with shopping booths, families
reunite to celebrate the birth of Baby Jesus and the end of the year.
But not everybody celebrates it the same, each country has their own
different way.
In Germany, the Advent wreath is a popular
tradition dating back to the 19th Century. Children light up a candle
for each day of Advent, until Christmas Eve, with the birth of Jesus
Christ. In this country, Baby Jesus arrives with gifts for each child.
MSGR. THOMAS FRAUENLOB
Teutonic College (Vatican City)
“Christkind,
Baby Jesus, is represented as a small child, with golden hair and white
garments which symbolize him being free of sin. The white garments that
this child, which bring the gifts, wears is very important. It's these
images, these drawings of a snow-filled Christmas, with these Christkind
that brings light in such a dark time of the year.”
One of the busiest figures during these festivities is Santa Claus, who lives in Lapland, in northern Finland.
AINO HUXLEY
Ambassador to the Holy See (Finland)
“So
Santa Claus is a very, very very old man who lives up in the North of
Finland in the region of the Polar Circle, in Lapland. He is a magical
figure who gives to kids and adults dream Christmas. Father Christmas is
a very hug-able figure, is very, very big and he has this fluffy red
cloth and with always a belt because his stomach is so big so it is
hard keeping on his pant.”
In Guatemala, Christmas begins
December 7 with the “Burning of the Devil.” This tradition involved
burning the oldest items in the house. The celebration of the Immaculate
Conception also takes place around this time.
ALFONSO MATA
Ambassador to the Holy See (Guatemala)
“It
commemorates Mary and Joseph's search for shelter for their journey to
Jerusalem. From one house to another, comes the figures representing
Mary and Joseph. Their processions for families and friend, who go from
house to house seeking shelter. Commemorating this, they are denied
until they are finally welcomed, they come in, and there we drink punch,
eat tamales and drink rum with coffee.”
As in every year,
the Christmas spirit takes over thousands of people's lives, as they
celebrate in various ways the arrival of Baby Jesus. But each one
celebrates in their own way, according to where they are from.
VIC/RCarr
AA/MG
VM
- PR
|
