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“Stress Free Holidays” by Rose Marie Rideout
“Cultural Christmas” by Ted L Glines
“Christmas Through the Eyes of a Nurse” by Toni D. Helfrick
"Sress Free Holidays"
by Rose Marie Rideout
Yes, stress free holidays are so much more enjoyable. Here are a few simple steps to take for next year. This is how I handle things:
#1.... I take a Christmas picture this year to print off our Cards for next year. I then make the list of all those I will be sending cards to.
#2.....I make a list of all those I will be purchasing gifts for next year. I figure out how much I will spend on each and I will stick to that. While taking advantage of the many sales throughout the year.
#3....I start shopping on Boxing Day and buy any bargains throughout the year.
#4....When I come home, I wrap and tag it right away because I have stocked up on wrapping paper, bows and boxes and keep a list of who I buy for and what I’ve purchased for them. Some people are easier then others.
#5....When my cards are ready, I sit and address them and put them aside. My next trip to Costco’s I buy my stamps and bingo they are ready to post.
#6....My rule is, it’s not the cost of a gift but the thought behind it.
#7.... I shop all year round to fill stockings for the family and anyone who will be spending Christmas with us. The Dollar stores are great for this.
#8....I plan Our Christmas party ahead, the guest, the food and the entertainment. Because people are not likely to drink when driving, I supply a punch.
#9.....I decorate ahead of time so I have plenty of time to refresh our home, vacuuming, dusting and cleaning the washrooms.
#10.... I make a list of all the baking I want to have done for Christmas and the month before I spend a few days in the kitchen, and before I know it, I have more then I could possibly need, so I share with the family.
#11... I try very hard to spread good cheer to all who surround me, making sure everyone has something under their tree come Christmas morning and pray they don’t forget why we are celebrating this Blessed Birthday.
#12....Now my Christmas will be stress free.
© Rose Marie Rideout
“Cultural Christmas”
by Ted L Glines
Christmas is celebrated in many nations, and in many different and charming ways. If a vision of "the golden pig" appears on your wall before Christmas dinner, you will have good luck. You may meet 'Sheng Dan Kuai Le' if you are fortunate. Compiling this has been an adventure for me, and I hope you enjoy reading about the ways that people celebrate Christmas around the world.
Christmas in Sri Lanka:
Although Sri Lanka is a mostly Buddhist country (only 7% of people are Christians) Christmas is celebrated, as a public holiday, by everyone. Most Christians in Sri Lanka are Catholics. There have been influences from several different European countries. Sri Lanka (it was also called Ceylon) was ruled by the Portuguese from 1505 to 1650, the Dutch from 1658 to 1796 and the British from 1815 to 1948. For Christians in Sri Lanka, the Christmas season starts on 1st December when people let off fire crackers at dawn! The streets are decorated and the shopping centers have large Christmas Trees in them. Big companies have Christmas parties and large hotels have Christmas dinner dances. The Christians go to Midnight Mass services all over the country. They also invite friends, both Christian and non Christian to their homes for parties. New Year is also widely celebrated with more fire crackers! There are also Midnight Mass services for New Year. In Sri Lanka Santa is called Naththal Seeya.
Christmas in Belgium:
In Belgium there are two main languages, Flemish and Walloon (a version of French) and the two languages are spoken in different regions. In Flemish Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Vrolijk Kerstfeest' and in Walloon 'djoyeus Noyé'. On Christmas Eve ('Kerstavond' in Flemish and 'le réveillion de Noël' in Walloon), a special meal is eaten by most families. It starts with a drink (apéritif) and 'nibbles', followed by a 'starter' course such as seafood, and then stuffed turkey. The dessert is 'Kerststronk' (Flemish) or 'la bûche de Noël' (Walloon) a chocolate Christmas Log made of sponge roll layered with cream. The outside is covered with chocolate butter cream and made to resemble a bark-covered log. As in Holland, children in Belgium have two Christmas visitors! On December 6th, St. Nicholas' Day, 'Sinterklaas/St. Niklaas' (Flemish) or 'Saint Nicholas' (Walloon) is believed to bring presents to children. This is quite a long time before Christmas. Different regions of Belgium have different customs and traditions about St. Nicholas. On Christmas day (25th), Santa Claus might bring some more presents if you're really lucky! Small family Christmas presents are also given at Christmas, too, under the tree, or in stockings near the fireplace, to be found in the morning or opened on Christmas Eve. The traditional Christmas breakfast is the same as the normal Sunday breakfast eaten throughout the year. This is freshly baked crusty rolls (bakeries do their best trade on Sundays in the Flanders region) with butter and cold meats and/or jam, followed by pastries (like Danish pastries) called "koffiekoek(en)" (meaning coffee cake(s) as they are normally eaten with a cup of coffee!). In Walloon districts (the south of Belgium), a special sweet bread called 'cougnou' or 'cougnolle' made in a shape that is supposed to be like baby Jesus is eaten for Christmas breakfast. Some families have Advent Crowns made from fir or leylandii greenery.
Christmas in Ghana:
People in Ghana celebrate Christmas from the 20th of December to the first week in January with lots of different activities. Many people travel to visit their relatives and friends in other parts of the country. Over 66 languages are spoken in Ghana and all these language groups have their own traditions and customs! December is also the start of the cocoa harvest (the bean that makes chocolate) in Ghana. Ghana is the second biggest cocoa producer! Christmas Eve night is the time when the celebrations really start with Church services that have drumming and dancing. Children often put on a Nativity Play or other drama. Then choirs come out to sing and people come out in front of the priests to dance. Songs are mostly sung in the languages that the people understand best. This makes them feel that God speaks their language. Sometimes these services and dancing go on all night long! Other people celebrate Christmas Eve with fireworks and parties. On Christmas day the Churches are very full. People come out dressed in their colorful traditional clothes. After the Church service on Christmas morning, people quickly go back to their houses to start giving and receiving gifts. Traditional food includes stew or okra soup, porridge and meats, rice and a yam paste called 'fufu'. During the Christmas period children's parties, employees' end of year parties, etc. are mostly celebrated in the hotels, at the beaches, school parks and community centers with good wishes for all people on earth. Some Ghanaians also go to Church on the 31st of December to praise God for sending Jesus.
Christmas in Jamaica:
Christmas is a very special time in Jamaica and, like a lot of other countries, radio stations play carols all through the Christmas period. Lots of people paint their houses and hang new curtains and decorations for Christmas. Most families spend Christmas Day at home with friends and family members. The Christmas day meal is usually prepared on Christmas Eve. The traditional Jamaican Christmas meal includes fresh fruits, sorrel, meat and rum punch. The Christmas Day breakfast includes ackee and sailfish, breadfruit, fried plantains, boiled bananas, freshly squeezed fruit juice and tea. Dinner is usually served in the late afternoon and this may include chicken, curry goat, stewed oxtail, rice and peas. Jamaican red wine and rum fruitcake is traditional and is eaten in most homes. The fruits in the cake are soaked in red wine and white rum for months before Christmas.
Christmas in Palestine:
Christmas is very important in Palestine as it is where Bethlehem is located. Bethlehem is in the 'West Bank' and is about six miles (10 kilometers) south of Jerusalem. Bethlehem means 'house of bread' and back in history was famous for growing wheat for making into bread. Only about 20% of Palestinians are Christian, but many Muslim Palestinians are also proud that Jesus was born in Palestine. On Christmas Eve there is a parade through the town. This is very important to the Christian part of the population. There are bagpipe bands in the parade, which you might not expect! Playing the bagpipes is a tradition left over from when the British army occupied the area between 1920 and 1948. People also dress up as Santa Claus and give out sweets. The streets and main square are decorated with lights. Perhaps the most famous part of Christmas in Bethlehem is the church service of the Mass of the Nativity. It is held on Christmas Eve afternoon/evening/midnight in the Church of the Nativity. The Church is built over the place where it's traditionally thought that Jesus was born. There's a small door into the Church called the door of humility. The church was built, by the Romans, about 500 years after Jesus was born. The most holy part of the church is the Grotto of the Nativity, which is under the main altar. A silver star marks the place where Jesus was thought to have been born. It had been prophesied in the Bible that the Jewish Messiah or Savior would be born in Bethlehem. The Church is administered by three churches, the Roman Catholic Church, the Greek Orthodox Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church. The Mass service is led by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Jerusalem. Many local political people go to the service, Christians, Muslims and Jews. The church is crowded and lots of frankincense, one of the gifts bought to the baby Jesus, is burnt. People also sing Christmas Carols on Christmas Eve evening in Manger Square, a large paved courtyard in front of the Church. The Greek Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic Churches don't celebrate Christmas on December 25th, but rather on January 6th and 7th. They hold services on those days.
Christmas in Zimbabwe:
For most people in Zimbabwe, Christmas day starts with a Church service. After the Church service, everyone has a party in their homes and people go from house to house, visiting all of their family and friends on the way home! Sometimes, this can take all of the rest of the day! At every house you have something to eat, exchange presents and enjoy the party! A lot of people get their biggest stereo speakers out and put them outside the front of the house and play their favorite music very loudly! It is not only Christmas music that is played, but also the latest pop tunes and old African favorites! Everyone wears their best clothes for Christmas, as for some families the only new clothes they get every year are for Christmas. The parties are a good place to show off their new clothes! Children in Zimbabwe believe that Santa Claus brings them their presents early on Christmas Day, ready to show their friends at Church and at the parties. Only the main room in the house is often decorated in Zimbabwe. Some Zimbabweans have a traditional 'European' Christmas Tree, but they decorate the room with plants like ivy. This is draped round the whole of the top of room. Christmas Carols are sung during the Christmas Day morning service and in services leading up to Christmas. There are also sometimes Carols by Candlelight Services in city parks. The Christmas Cards that are used in Zimbabwe sometimes have African pictures on them, such as wild animals, but most are imported so they have the traditional 'snow scenes' pictures of the Christmas story on them. The special food eaten at Christmas in Zimbabwe is Chicken with rice. Chicken is a very expensive food in Zimbabwe and is a special treat for Christmas. This is often eaten at the Christmas Day parties. Santa might sometimes arrive at big stores in a Fire Engine. The streets in the big cities also can have colorful Christmas lights
Christmas in the Czech Republic:
During the evening of the 5th December, children are very excited and watch for St. Nicholas (Svatý Mikuláš) to arrive. He normally is accompanied by one or more angels and one or more devils. He asks the children if they've been good all year and also asks them to sing a song or recite a poem, and gives them a basket of presents. The basket normally contains small present similar to the stockings that children receive in the U.K. on Christmas day. The main presents are often opened on Christmas eve, in the evening! In the Czech language Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce'. The main celebrations are on Christmas Eve. Some people fast during Christmas Eve in the hope that they will see a vision of 'the golden pig' appear on the wall before dinner! This is meant to be a sign of good luck! The Czech traditional Christmas dinner is eaten during the evening of Christmas Eve. The meal often consists of fish soup (made of carp), and fried carp with potato salad. 'Little Jesus' (the Czech version of Santa Claus) brings presents during dinner and leaves them under the Christmas Tree. He rings a bell right before he leaves. The presents are normally opened right after dinner. Religious families also usually sing Christmas carols by the tree, and go to church either at midnight or on Christmas Day.
Christmas in New Zealand:
In New Zealand, Christmas comes in the middle of the summer holidays. Many towns have a Santa parade with decorated floats, bands and marching girls. This can be any time from mid November onwards and is really a commercial event but much enjoyed by all. Many people have a Christmas Tree in their homes and decorate it like people in the USA or Britain. Many New Zealanders have a barbecue for Christmas lunch and this is becoming more popular. The food cooked on the barbecue is often ham slices or even venison or some other kind of exotic meat. Shrimps and other fish are also barbecued! Desserts are also very popular! Many still have a hot fruit pudding with custard and ice cream but cold desserts are popular. These including pavlova and whipped cream, meringues, cold fruit salad, jelly and ice cream. Drinks will include a range of soft drinks. Those who like it often over do the alcoholic drinks too. They open their presents on Christmas day once the whole family is all together. This is usually before the Christmas lunch. In the Maori language Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Meri irihimete'.
Christmas in China:
In China, only about one percent of people are Christians, so most people only know a few things about Christmas. Because of this, Christmas is only often celebrated in major cities such as Shanghai and Beijing. In these big cities there are Christmas Trees, lights and other decorations on the streets and in department stores. Santa Claus is called 'Shen Dan Lao Ren' and has grottos in shops like in Europe and America. In Chinese Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Sheng Dan Kuai Le' in Mandarin and 'Seng Dan Fai Lok' in Cantonese. In China, Santa is known as 'Sheng dan lao ren'. Certainly not every home will have a Christmas Tree (or celebrate Christmas at all!). If people do have a tree it is normally a plastic one and might be decorated with paper chains, paper flowers, and paper lanterns (they might also call it a tree of light). The Christmas Trees that most people would see would be in shopping malls! Most people from the Chinese countryside don't celebrate Christmas (or they might not have even heard of Christmas!). The strange thing is that most of the world's plastic Christmas Trees and Christmas decorations are made in China, but the people making them might not know what they are for! Some people go Carol singing, although not many people understand them or know about the Christmas Story. Jingle Bells is a popular Carol in China! People who are Christians in China go to special services. Going to Midnight Mass services has become very popular.
Christmas in India:
Compared to other religious festivals, Christmas is quite a small festival in India due to the number that are Christians (2.3%) compared to people who belong to other religions. Having said this, the population of India is over 1 Billion, so there are over 25 million Christians in India!One of the largest Christian Communities, in India, is in Bombay. A lot of the Christians in Mumbai (previously known as Bombay) are Roman Catholics. Midnight mass is a very important service for Christians in India, especially Catholics. The whole family will walk to the mass and this will be followed by a massive feast of different delicacies, (mostly curries) and the giving and receiving of presents. Churches in India are decorated with Poinsettia flowers and candles for the Christmas Eve Midnight Mass service. Many different languages are spoken in India. In Hindi and Urdu Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Bade Din ki Mubarak'; in Sanskrit it's 'Krismasasya shubhkaamnaa'; in Bengali 'Barodiner shubhechha janai'; in Tamil it's 'Christhu Jayanthi Nalvaalthukal' and in Konkani it's 'Khushal Borit Natala'. Instead of having traditional Christmas Trees, a banana or mango tree is decorated. Sometimes people use mango leaves to decorate their homes. In Southern India, Christians often put small oil burning clay lamps on the flat roofs of their homes to show their neighbors that Jesus is the light of the world. Christians in Mumbai often display a manger in a front window, (there's great competition in making the nativity scene). Also families go to great lengths to hang giant paper lanterns, in the shape of stars, between the houses so that the stars float above you as you walk down the road. Every household also makes sure that they have a stock of home made sweets ready for visitors. In northwest India, the tribal Christians of the Bhil folk, go out night after night for a week at Christmas to sing their own carols the whole night through. They go to surrounding villages singing to people and telling the Christmas story. In India, Father Christmas, or Santa Claus, delivers presents to children from a horse and cart. He's known as 'Christmas Baba' in Hindi, 'Baba Christmas' in Urdu (both of those mean Father Christmas); 'Christmas Thaathaa' in Tamil and 'Christmas Thatha' in Telugu (both of those mean Christmas old man); and 'Natal Bua' (Christmas Elder Man) in Marathi.
Christmas in Armenia:
The Armenian Apostolic Church still uses the old Julian Calendar, Christmas is celebrated on January 6th. The Christmas holiday season starts on New Year's Eve (December 31st) and continues until the old Julian calendar's New Year's Eve on January 13th. Some people do celebrate on December 25th; not Christmas but Soorb Stepanos Day (St. Steven's day). Santa Claus (Gaghant Baba/Kaghand Papa traditionally) comes on New Year's Eve (December 31st) because Christmas Day itself is thought of as more of a religious holiday in Armenia. In Armenian Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Shnorhavor Soorb Tsnund' (which means 'Congratulations for the Holy Birth'). At the beginning of December, a big Christmas Tree (Tonatsar) is put up in Republic Square in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. Favorite and traditional Holiday foods in Armenia include Anooshaboor (Armenian Christmas Pudding), Khozee bood (glazed ham) and dried fruits. Every house is ready with lots of sweets because anyone might knock on the door and come in for a party!
Christmas in the United States:
The United States of America has many different traditions and ways that people in celebrate Christmas, because of its multicultural nature. Many customs are similar to ones in the U.K., France, Italy, Holland, Poland and Mexico. The traditional meal for Western European families is turkey or ham with cranberry sauce. Families from Eastern European origins favor turkey with trimmings, kielbasa (a Polish sausage), cabbage dishes, and soups; and some Italian families prefer lasagna! Some Americans use popcorn threaded on string to help decorate their Christmas Tree! In New England (the American States of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine), there are shops called 'Christmas Shops' that only sell Christmas decorations and toys, all the year round! People in America like to decorate the outsides of their houses with lights and sometimes even statues of Santa Claus, Snowmen and Reindeer. Customs such as Mumming take place in some communities. On New Years Day in Philadelphia, there is a Mummers Day parade which lasts over six hours! Clubs called "New Years Associations" perform in amazing costumes which take months to make. There are four categories (Comics, Fancies, String Bands, and Fancy Brigades) which are judged.
In Hawaii:
Santa is called Kanakaloka. "Mele Kalikimaka" is commonly used to say "Merry Christmas" although it literally means "Christmas song." "Aloha Kalikimaka" is another way to spread glad Christmas tidings. The people purchase gifts for just about everyone they know. Christmas leis are made for everyone to wear. Hawaiians seem to be more generous than most people at Christmas time. It's a tradition to make sure that everyone is included. Instead of the quintessential evergreen tree, covered in lights and decorations, palm trees are decorated with lights outdoors. Poinsettas, a plant long associated with Christmas, is native to Hawaii and blooms there in December, Christmas is celebrated aloha style. Santa wears a Hawaiian shirt, and the Christmas meal is often a luau instead of a formal indoor meal. Expect Santa to arrive with presents in his Christmas tree boat, or red canoe, pulled by dolphins. He’ll be dressed for the mild weather in shorts and a Hawaiian shirt. His elves are said to paddle the boat to shore.
Christmas in Costa Rica:
During Christmas in Costa Rica, people like to decorate their houses with beautiful tropical flowers. A model of the nativity scene, called the Pasito or Portal, is the center of the display. It's also decorated with flowers and sometimes fruit. Some of the scenes take a long time to make and all the family is involved. As well as the traditional figures, people add other models including houses and lots of different sorts of animals. Christmas wreaths are made of cypress branches and are decorated with red coffee berries and ribbons. Most homes, shops and important buildings are decorated with Christmas lights. In Costa Rica, the gift bringer is often 'Niño dios' (Child God, meaning Jesus) or 'Colacho' (another name for St. Nicholas). On Christmas Eve, everyone puts on their best clothes and goes to Midnight Mass. In Costa Rica it's called the 'Misa de Gallo (Mass of the Rooster); it's also called that in Spain. After Midnight Mass the main Christmas meal is eaten. It normally includes chicken and pork tamales that have been wrapped for cooking in plantain leaves. To drink, there's lots of eggnog and rum punch! After Christmas, and into January, there are lots of fiestas, parades, rodeos, street parties, bull runs and choral and dance festivals. On the 26th of December (Boxing Day), there is an important horseback parade called the Tope. On the 27th, many towns and cities have 'Carnival' with a big parade featuring dancing and big floats.
Christmas in Madagascar:
Madagascar is an Island off the east coast of Africa, so it is very warm at Christmas time in Madagascar! Even though it's hot, common decorations include holly, robins and snow even though none of them exist in Madagascar! The official language of Madagascar is Malagasy. 'Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year' in Malagasy is 'Mirary Krismasy sambatra sy Taona vaovao tonga lafatra ho anao'. Most Madagascan's only exchange small presents. In Madagascar, Santa Claus is called 'Dadabe Noely'. Most people go to Church on Christmas Eve in Madagascar. The services starts about 5:00 pm and lasts until after midnight! Different groups in the Church, especially children, perform songs and plays celebrating the birth of Jesus. People also go to Church on Christmas Day as well. After the Christmas Eve or Christmas Day service, churches give out sweets or biscuits to the people in the Church. Sambasamba Zanahary (Which means 'It's a big opportunity Lord that you send your only Son to save us from our sin') This poem is very popular with all Malagasy Children:
Krismasy re no tonga (Christmas is coming)
Falifaly ny kilonga (Children are happy)
Krismasy tena fety (Christmas is really a feast)
Ho an'ny kely sy vaventy (For littles and for adults)
On Christmas Day people (even strangers) greet each by saying 'Arahaba tratry ny Noely' which means 'Merry Christmas'. Madagascan families like to eat Christmas dinner together in large groups and dress up in the best (or new) clothes. The meal is normally Chicken or Pork with rice followed by a special cake. Some rich people go to restaurants for Christmas dinner, but most people stay at home with their families. A special Christmas food in Madagascar are fresh lychees, which are bought from shops and street sellers, fresh from the trees. The streets get covered in lychee skins! Poinsettias also grow as large outdoor shrubs in Madagascar and don't just flower at Christmas! They are also the national emblem of Madagascar.
Christmas in Venezuela:
Christmas in Venezuela is one of the most colourful in Latin America and the whole world! Firework shows are very popular. Some traditional Christmas music in Venezuela is 'Gaita' music. This is a type of folk music from the Zulia state. It's played on several instruments including the 'Cuatro' (a guitar with four strings) a 'Tambora' (a Venezuelan drum), the 'Furro' (a type of drum but it has a stick coming up through the middle of the skin of the drum - this can make it have some different sounds) and the 'Charrasca' (a ribbed tube that you rub a stick up and down). The singers are known as 'Gaiteros'. Another type of music in Venezuela is called 'Aguinaldos y Parrandas'. This style is also popular at Christmas as the songs are like carols. Main presents are given at the midnight on Christmas Eve. Santa Claus (he's also sometimes known as Papa Noel or San Nicolas in Venezuela) and the Baby Jesus bring the gifts to children. Some homes will have a Christmas Tree, but they're normally artificial ones as pine and fir trees aren't common in Venezuela. Nativity Scenes (Nacimiento) are very popular and in some regions they are more common than Christmas Trees. Going to Midnight Mass (Misas de Aguinaldo) is very popular and there many other masses and church services in the days before Christmas. Traditional Venezuelan Christmas foods include 'Hallacas' - a mixture of beef, pork, chicken, capers, raisins, and olives that is wrapped in maize and plantain leaves and tied up with string into a parcel and then boiled or steamed afterwards; the Pan de Jamón - a type of bread that's made with puff pastry, filled up with ham, raisins, olives and bacon and shaped like a 'swiss roll'! Chicken Salad and Pernil (a leg of pork). Some people also celebrate Santa Barbara's day on 4th December. The real Christmas celebrations start on December 21st. Another important day, is Epiphany or 'El Dia de los Reyes Magos' (the day of The Three Kings) on January 6th. In Venezuela presents are brought by 'San Nicolás' (St. Nicholas) and 'Niño Jesús' (Baby Jesus). It is also a tradition for people to paint their houses two to four weeks before Christmas, so it is all nice and smart and ready to be decorated for Christmas. Many people have new clothes for Christmas and New Year's Eve. Many people believe that if you wear yellow on New Year's Eve you will have good luck next year.
Christmas in Australia:
In Australia, Christmas comes in the middle of the summer holidays! Children have their summer holidays from early to mid-December to early February, so some people might even be camping at Christmas! Because it's so hot at Christmas time in Australia, there are quite often massive bush fires across the country. Many volunteer bush fire fighters are involved in saving people and property and travel from all over Australia to help in other states. Australians hang wreaths on their front doors and sometimes go out Christmas carol singing on Christmas eve. People also decorate their houses and gardens with Christmas Trees and Christmas lights. Neighbours sometimes have little competitions as to who has the best light display. The neighbours often visit each other to look at the light displays at night. Sometimes the displays are put out as early as December 1st! One street in Sydney raises over $(AUS)35,000 every year for charity with their co-ordinated street display! Australians also decorate their houses with bunches of 'Christmas Bush', a native Australian tree with small green leaves and cream coloured flowers. In summer the flowers turn a deep shiny red over a period of weeks (generally by the week of Christmas in Sydney). In each State capital city there is a large Carols by Candlelight service. Famous Australian singers like The Wiggles, John Farnham, Anthony Warlow, Colin Gery, Niki Webster and many more help to sing the carols. These carol services, held in different cities, are broadcast on TV across Australia. There are also huge Christmas pageants in each state capital city, that are also broadcast across the country. Most towns and cities have festivals and parades. In some places, at the local park there is a fireworks display. Many towns, cities and schools also hold their own Carols by Candlelight services, with local bands and choirs sometimes helping to perform the Christmas Carols and songs. As it is the middle of Summer in Australia at Christmas time, the words to the Carols about snow and the cold winter are sometimes changed to special Australian words! There are also some original Australian Carols. When he gets to Australia, Santa gives the reindeer a rest and uses kangaroos or 'six white boomers' (a popular Australian Christmas song!). He also changes his clothes for less 'hot' ones! On Boxing Day most people go and visit their friends and often have BBQs at the beach. A famous Yacht race from Sydney to Hobart in Tasmania is also held on Boxing Day. The Flying Doctor Service has to work all though-out Christmas and on Christmas Day all the people in the outback send Christmas greetings to each other over the radio network. Most families try to be home together for Christmas and the main meal is eaten at lunch time. Most people now have a cold Christmas dinner, or a BBQ with seafood, like prawns and lobsters, along with the 'traditional english' food. On Christmas Eve, fish markets are often full of people queuing to buy their fresh seafood for the big day. Australians often have Christmas Crackers at Christmas meal times.
Christmas in Ireland:
In Ireland, people celebrate Christmas in much the same way as people in the U.K. and the U.S.A., but they also have many of their own Christmas traditions and customs. Christmas for Irish people, who are Catholics, lasts from Christmas Eve to the feast of Epiphany on January 6th, which some Irish people call 'Little Christmas'. In some Irish houses (although now not many), people put a tall, thick candle on the sill of the largest window after sunset on Christmas Eve. The candle is left to burn all night and represents a welcoming light for Mary and Joseph. In Irish (or Gaelic) Christmas is 'Nollaig', Santa Claus is known as 'San Nioclás' (Saint Nicholas) or 'Daidí na Nollag' (Father Christmas) and Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Nollaig Shona Dhuit'. The day after Christmas Day, St. Stephen's Day (Boxing Day), is also very important in Ireland. Like in the UK, Football matches and Horse racing meetings are traditionally held on St. Stephen's Day. One very old tradition is the Wren Boys Procession that takes place on St. Stephen's Day. This goes back to ancient times when a real wren was killed and carried round in a holly bush. Some processions still take place, but no wren is hunted or used. Young men and women dress up in home-made costumes and go from house to house carrying a long pole with a holly bush tied to its top and singing a rhyme about a wren bird. Sometimes they are accompanied by violins, accordions, harmonicas and horns.The rhyme that is often used is:
'The wren, the wren, the king of all birds
On St. Stephen's day was caught in the furze.'
People also ask for money 'for the starving wren'! The wren is one of the smallest birds in the UK and Ireland, but a has a very loud song and is sometimes called the 'king of all birds'. This is because of the legend of a little wren who rode on the top of an eagle's head and boasted he had 'flown higher than an eagle'. Wren's were hunted for many years throughout Europe in medieval times. The Feast of the Epiphany (January 6th) is also celebrated as 'Nollaig na mBean' or Women's Christmas. Traditionally the women get the day off and the men do the housework and cooking! The Women meet in each other's homes to sew and chat. It is becoming more popular and many Irish women now get together on the Sunday nearest Epiphany, to have tea and cakes, to gossip and to enjoy each other's company! Traditional Christmas food in Ireland includes a round cake, full of caraway seeds. One is traditionally made for each person in the house. And in addition to turkey for Christmas dinner, sometimes spiced beef (spiced over several days, cooked, and then pressed) is eaten. This can be served hot or cold.
Christmas in Zambia:
Many churches in Zambia have nativity plays and a crib in the church. One or two days before Christmas, Zambians like to go carol singing around the local streets for charity. On Christmas day, children are encouraged to bring a present to church for children who are in a hospital or might not get a present because they are less fortunate. After church, on Christmas day, it is a custom that all the children go to one house and all the adults go to another house to have a party and to eat!
Christmas in Brazil:
In Brazil, Santa Claus is called Papai Noel. Many Christmas customs are similar to ones in the U.S.A. or U.K. Favourite Christmas foods in Brazil include chicken, turkey, ham, rice, salad, pork and fresh and dried fruits. Many people start the Christmas celebrations on Christmas Eve with fireworks and a big churrasco (BBQ). Sometimes children leave a sock near a window. If Santa, known as Papai Noel (Father Christmas) and Bom Velhinho (Good Old Man), finds your sock, he'll exchange it for a present!
© Ted L Glines
"Christmas Through the Eyes of a Nurse"
by Toni D. Helfrick, R.N.
…Having to work the night shift in the Emergency Room, seeing fear, anxiety and trepidation in the eyes of those in the waiting room, as you come in, and to summon one of them to see a relative or friend who is being cared for. When someone comes into the waiting rooms who snap to attention, removing the glazed, sleepy-eyed look of a long, boring wait they must endure; arms filled with babies, hands gripping vending machine coffee, and each wanting YOU to announce his or her name, and also, simultaneously fearing you might be summoning him or her to hear bad news about the person for whom they wait.
…Comforting the woman who has heard that her husband will not recover from his illness, and helping her find the stoicism she will need to stand at his bedside and comfort him.
…Putting a little smile and a giggle onto the face of a dying child, who may know of his terminal sentence purely by intuition, and who elicits your help in making it easier on ‘Mom and Dad’, after the son has passed.
…Helping a mother in labor bring a new life into the world, holding her hand during the pains, and teaching her to relax between them. Hearing that first cry- the first breath of life and seeing the beautiful smile on the mother’s face, and knowing it was all well worth the pain.
…Caring for the persons of the street, forgotten by society, unloved, unwanted and uncared for by anyone, and helping them to learn again what they fear the most- to trust again.
…Comforting a family who has lost a loved one in a Code- a sudden, unexpected death that they were wholly unprepared for. Nurses comfort other people who have many questions, and we always help them. Sometimes, we need to give more attention to those who are scared and worried about their beloved patient, regardless of age. It is room with a few chairs and sofas, and we give them coffee, or juice or whatever is needed. The patients and also relatives and friends also are invited to have them come to our lounge, and the patient, family, loved ones, children or anyone connected with the patient will assist them.
…Going on when your arms are tired, your legs ache and your throat is parched, when you are so tired you think you cannot work, until you hear a voice, “Help me, Nurse!”, and suddenly, filled with unexplainable energy and a new vitality, knowing not from whence it came, rushing to the voice and being there for them.
…Assisting the senior citizens, as they are not used to being in the Emergency Room, and we help them understand and make them comfortable. They are a little scared, and don’t know what might occur before the patient’s spouse. We are all senior citizens when we know we are getting older, and we have a cameraderie with patients and seniors, too.
In many parts of the hospital, and in many other hospitals who also help others are all connected with other towns and states, and we often can find a couple who are on vacation, and we can find their families, and their family doctor. This is a part of our help as either a nurse or an aide. We are all here to help all of them, and also we spend a lot of time with those who are here with a reason, but they do not have other friends or relatives. This is what we do, as nurses, doctors and aides and orderlies. These persons work long and hard, and the aides and the nurses spend lots of time for patients, as these people are possibly very frightened, and they wonder whether they or their spouse might have been brought here by an ambulance. Regardless of their situation, we will do all that we can, even remaining when our shift ends. If one person who cares for the patient will be sitting with a new nurse, we will spend time with him or her, until they are comfortable.
These are the Christmases that I remember most- those during which I worked, and helped, made the holidays just a little softer, gentler, kinder or easier for those who were afraid, in pain or lonely, being away from their own memories of Christmases past, or far from the loved ones who remain in their reverie.
The essence of nursing lies here, for all of us who wear white, on Christmas Day.
© Toni D. Helfrick, R.N.
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