intheTRAVEL
intheTRAVEL
Panetonne and Stollen
Christmas at Bondi Beach
Christmas in Australia
Christmas in Italy
Christmas in Australia is not your usual winter wonderland where snowflakes glitter the window and a decorated fireplace keeps you warm. As it
falls in the middle of summer, Australians spend the festive holiday baking in the summer heat and it is not unusual to have Christmas Day well
into the mid 30 degrees Celsius, or near 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Christmas season in Italy goes for three weeks, starting 8 days before Christmas. During this time, a special Novena of prayers and church
services begins, and end on Christmas Day itself. Around the 23rd of December, children dress up as shepherds, wearing sandals, leggings and
hats, and go from house to house reciting Christmas poems and singing.
As a reward, they are given money to buy Christmas treats. In some cities
such as Rome, real shepherds carry out the same proceedings! A strict
fast is observed for 24 hours before Christmas Eve, whereby no meat is to
be served. Instead, the dinner is made up of spaghetti, anchovies, an assortment of fish, fresh broccoli, tossed salad, fruits and sweets. However
on the actual day, the celebration meal, consists of a real feast as big as
the family can afford.
As such, some Australians and even tourists often have their Christmas
feast at midday on a local beach. Bondi Beach in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs for example, attracts thousands of people on Christmas Day. Other
families enjoy their day by having a picnic. If they are at home, the day is
punctuated by swimming in a pool, playing cricket out the backyard, and
other outdoor activities
Nevertheless, Australians too practice the traditional Christmas meal
which includes a turkey with ham and pork, as well as a flaming Christmas plum pudding or Mince Pies for dessert. In the Australian gold rushes, Christmas puddings often contain a gold nugget and this practice
continues today! A small favour is baked inside these puddings, and it is
said that whoever finds this will enjoy good luck.
Christmas Bush
The warm weather allows Australians to enjoy a tradition, which commenced in 1937. Carols by Candlelight is held every year on Christmas
Eve, where tens of thousands of people gather in the city of Melbourne
to sing their favourite Christmas songs. The evening is lit by candles, and
singing voices fill the quiet night sky which seems almost like a mirror of
the activities below. Sydney and the other capital cities also enjoy carols
in the weeks leading up to Christmas
Australians surround themselves with Christmas Bush, a native plant
which has little red flowered leaves. Christmas is celebrated and prepared
for in true Aussie-style; shopping is often done in shorts and t-shirts, and
even Santa Claus arrives at the beaches on a surfboard, or on a lifesaving
boat.
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Unlike the western practice where specific presents are bought for individuals, present giving in Italy, or at least those who practice the old
tradition, takes on more of a lucky-draw concept. The Urn of Fate which
is a large ornamental bowl holding wrapped gifts, is passed around so
that each member of the family takes turn drawing out a gift. By twilight,
candles are lit around the Presepio, which is the miniature manger representing the Holy Family in the stable. Here, prayers are said and children
recite poems.
Presepio, a miniature manger
Most interestingly, the children in Italy wait until January 6 (or the Feast
of the Epiphany), for their presents. According to a legend, the presents
are delivered by a witch called Befana on a broomstick. It is said that she
was told by the Three Kings that the baby Jesus was born, but she was
preoccupied and delayed visiting the baby. She missed the Star, lost her
way, and has been flying around ever since leaving presents at every
house with children in case he is there. She slides down chimneys, and
fills stockings and shoes with good things for good children, while leaving behind coal for those who are not so well behaved.
Carols by Candlelight
Christmas in Italy
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