The MAG Vietnam Vol 4 Dec 2016 | Page 20

Merry Christmas in Vietnamese is “ Chúc Mừng Giáng Sinh ”!
Culture

Merry Christmas in Vietnamese is “ Chúc Mừng Giáng Sinh ”!

Christmas is one of the four most important festivals of the Vietnamese year , along with the Buddha ’ s birthday , Tet ( the lunar New Year ), and the Mid-Autumn Festival . It is celebrated as the birthday of Jesus Christ , known here as " Kito ". The festival is observed here with great gusto despite the fact that Buddhism is the dominant religion in Vietnam and Christians form only a minority . On Christmas Eve , Vietnamese people , especially young people , like to go into the city centre , where there is a Catholic Cathedral . The streets are crowded with people on Christmas Eve . Vietnam used to be part of the French Empire and there are still French influences in the Christmas traditions . Many Catholic churches have a big nativity crib scene or

Typical Scene at Catholic Churches In Vietnam ' crèche ' with nearly life size statues of Mary , Joseph , baby Jesus , the shepherds , and animals . Also like in France , the special Christmas Eve meal is called ' reveillon ' and has a ' bûche de Noël ' ( a chocolate cake in the shape of a log ) for desert . Vietnamese people like to give presents of food and at Christmas a bûche de Noël is a popular gift . Other Christmas presents are not very common , although some young people like to exchange Christmas cards . The Yuletide spirit of giving and sharing has been embraced with an earnest by the Vietnamese . Generous as they are , the Vietnamese give out gifts and presents in plenty during the Christmas celebrations in Vietnam . However , the children are more keen to have their stockings and shoes stuffed in with goodies from Santa ’ s bulging sack . The European customs of Santa Claus and the Christmas tree were popular and children would leave their shoes out on Christmas Eve .

BELLY ’ S WATERING HOLE

Sunday 25th December 2016 - 11.30am onwards 380,000vnd Adult *** 250,000vnd Children under 12yrs
No more Christmas Lunch hassles , let Belly and his staff look after you this Christmas .
Appetizer : Shrimp Cocktail - Spring Rolls - Mix Salad Main Course
Traditional Roast Turkey - Roast Lamb with gravy Onion Sauce - Honey glazed ham - Seafood Fried Rice - Baked Vegetables - Peas
Desserts : Christmas Pudding - Fresh Fruits .
Tickets now available at Belly ’ s Watering Hole 43 Phan Chu Trinh , Vung Tau
20 The MAG Vung Tau