Christmas, a questionnaire*

What is the weather like in your native country at Christmas?
The weather here is cold and damp.

Are you a religious person? What religion do you have?
I'm a christian person.

Does your religion celebrate Christmas?
Yes, we celebrate the day in wich Jesus was born, the came of Los Tres Reyes magos...

Do you celebrate Christmas in your native town? What does your town do for this holiday?
Yes I do, we decorate our houses with Christmas lights, Christmas trees... and the streets are often decorate with Christmas lights.

Do you like this celebration?
No too much...

Is it a family celebration for you?
Yes it is, I often go to visit my relatives.

Do you celebrate Christmas Eve, lunch or dinner?
I celebrate a Christmas lunch.

Do you attend any special religious ceremonies?
No, I don't

Which are the main Christmas dates in your Country?
The 24th December,the 31th December and the 5th of January.

Do you buy presents at Christmas?
Yes, I buy presents for my cousins and my best friends.

Traditionally, who brings the presents in your country?
Los Reyes Magos.

What kind of presents do you usually get at Christmas?
I usually get clothes, books, perfums and sport material.

Does your town get decorated at Christmas?
Yes, it get decorated.

Do you usually decorate your home?
My parents decorate it.

Do you put up a Christmas tree or a Nativity?
When I was little, yes, but now we don't put it.

Do you have any traditional meals for this celebration?
NO, I don't

Do you have any special food and cakes?
No, I don't

Do you drink any special drinks at Christmas?
No, I don't

Do you celebrate New Year's Eve?
Yes, I do.

What do you usually do on New Year's Eve?
I have dinner with my family, and after I meet friends.

Do you have any special customs in your country on this day?
No, we haven't

Tell us about anything that you think is special or different in you country or region at Christmas time?
Spanish people often put a belen in our houses.

What special things are you doing this Christmas?
I'll visit my relatives in Palencia, and I'll meet friends.

Make a wish for something you really want this Christmas
I wish health and happiness for all people I know.

Do you think Christmas is still a traditional holiday?
Yes, I do

Do you think Christmas has changed a lot since you were a child?
Just a little bit.

In what sense? Do you miss anything?
No, but when I was younger I waited Santa Claus and Los reyes magos with great ilusion, and now I don't like this celebrations.

Christmas around the world*

In India, what type of tree is decorated for Christmas?
Instead of having traditional Christmas Trees, a banana or mango tree is decorated. Sometimes people use mango leaves to decorate their homes.

Russians celebrate Christmas eating kutya. What is it and what does it symbolize?
This plate is done of berries of wheat and other grains,and symbolize the hope and the life talks, and the honey and the seeds of poppy that assure the happiness, the success, and the rest without worries.
The celebration of the New Year must will include a toast with champagne and revelry with the family and the friends.


Mexicans celebrate Christmas with posadas. What is a posada?
It's a nine-day celebration with origins in Mexico (beginning in December 16th and ending in December 24th).
It is a yearly tradition for many Catholic Mexicans and some other Latin Americans and symbolizes the trials which Mary and Joseph endured before finding a place to stay where Jesus could be born, based on the passage in the New Testament

In Rome, Italy, capitone is served on Christmas Eve. What is capitone?
Is a large female eel, roasted, baked or fried. Fish dishes are also popular throughout Italy on Christmas Eve.

In Venezuela people listen to aguinaldos. What are aguinaldos?
Music plays an important role in the celebration of Christmas in Venezuela.
The traditional songs of Christmas are known as Aguinaldos. Aguinalderos go from home to home singing their songs and playing traditional instruments such as the cuatro (a small, four strings guitar), the maracas (rattle) and the furruco.

In Provence, France, people put santons in a crèche. What are santons and what is a crèche?
Literally it means the "little saints," colourful carved wooden or clay figures of the Christmas story.
It means a three-dimensional commercial or folk art depiction of the birth or birthplace of Jesus


In Japan, people are visited by Hoteiosho. Who is he, and why is he special? They have a Buddhist monk called Hotei-osho who acts like Santa Claus. He brings presents to each house and leaves them for the children.
Some people think he has eyes in the back of his head, so children try to behave like he is nearby.

In Greece people have to protect themselves from Killantzaroi. What are Killantzaroi and how can you keep them away?
Killantzaroi are like goblins or sprites who appears only during the 12-day period from Christmas to the Epiphany (January 6). T
hese creatures are believed to emerge from the center of the earth and to sleep into people's house through the chimney.
More mischievous than actually evil, the Killantzaroi do things like extinguish fires, ride astride people's backs, braid horses' tails, and sour the milk.
To further repel the undesirable sprites, the hearth is kept burning day and night throughout the twelve days.

Germans call Christmas Eve Dickbauch. Why is Christmas Eve called Dickbauch?“Dickbauch" means "fat stomach" and is a name given to the Christmas Eve because of the tradition that those who do'nt eat well on Christmas Eve will be haunted by demons during the night

In China, a very important person is named Dun Che Lao Ren. Who is it?
Santa Claus in China is called Dun Che Lao Ren which means "Christmas Old Man”. The Christian children of China hang muslin stockings hoping that Christmas Old Man will fill them with gifts and treats.