Ecological Succession. ( ECOSYSTEM, B. Pharmacy, 1st Year, Sem-II, Environmen...
Ipilia issue 5
1. nd
istmas a
M erry Chr
Year!
Ha ppy New Issue 5
24 December 2009
I.P.I.L.I.A.net Inside this issue:
Christmas 1
Decorations
Christmas 2
in Italy (Old
traditions)
Christmas Decorations
Christmas in 2
Bulgaria (Old 3
All excited to indulge your- To get the best result out it shall surely be appreci- traditions)
self in the festive spirit of of Christmas decorations, ated and pleasing to every-
Christmas? 25th December – try to remain simple in one’s eyes. As previously Christmas in 3
the day marked as Christmas whatever you choose as stated, try to remain soft Poland (Old
all over the globe, is a day of and subtle with the colors traditions)
utmost fun and frolic, and elements that are used 4
Christmas in
strengthening the bondage for the decoration of Spain (Old
with closed ones, exchanging Christmas. The basic aim traditions)
gifts and decorating the for this celebration around
house with the varied Christ- this time of the year are Christmas in 5
mas décor items. One can joy and prosperity. Thus, Greece (Old
really get creative with conveying the same feeling traditions)
Christmas decorations, fol- to the near and dear ones
lowing the age-old tradition and also to the guests is
as well. Everybody wants to absolutely important. Make Christmas in 6
feel the warmth of the cele- Christmas décor items. Sim- sure that Christmas cele- Romania (Old
bration and the indulgence ple homemade Christmas brations do turn out to be traditions)
reaches its peak a week be- decorations are still consid- the best this year by fol-
fore the actual celebration ered to be the best of the lowing the few useful
starts. It gives you immense lot. A personalized touch Christmas decoration tips.
pleasure when you involve all can always be given to the Remember to stick to origi-
your near and dear ones in decorating items that are nal Christmas decoration
the process of decorating brought from the market. ideas and not imitate oth-
the house during Christmas. Put in your best efforts and ers.
The traditional
Christmas
decorations colors
Special points of
interest:
est time of the year so across the walls, stair-
Typical decorations
The traditional Christ- you can use all the case and windows. Put in
Interesting old
mas decorations colors bright colors from the a special festive feeling
Christmas tradi-
are red and green. But color palette. Be crea- in every corner of the tions
it doesn’t imply that you tive enough to make house. Make sure that
Beautiful drawings
have to stick on to bows from ribbons of every corner of the
and decorations
these two colors. various bright colors house is painted with from partners
Christmas is the bright- and place them all Christmas Colors. schools
2. Christmas in Italy (Old traditions)
Christmas season prior to Christmas, many starting giving is Epiphany, the 12th day
in Italy is tradi- on December 8, the Feast Day of of Christmas when the three
tionally cele- the Immaculate Conception. Wise Men gave Baby Jesus their
brated December Italian Christmas Traditions gifts. In Italy, presents are
24 - January 6, brought by La Befana, who ar-
or Christmas Eve through Epiph- rives in the night to fill chil-
any. This follows the pagan sea- dren's stockings.
son of celebrations that started Although
with Saturnalia, a winter solstice Babbo Natale
festival, and ended with the Ro- ( F a t h e r
man New Year, the Calends. How- Christmas) and giving presents on
ever there are lots of Christmas Christmas are becoming more
things to see during December common, the main day for gift Popular Christmas Dish
Research about Christmas Decorations in DIREZIONE DIDATTICA STATALE-1° CIRCOLO-“MIMMO BENEVENTANO”
We asked our grandparents how preparing the manger scenes rivers, angels,
they decorated the house during with figurines, in clay or plaster, shepherds,
Christmas time and they an- of the infant Jesus, Mary and animals and
swered that in the past in our Joseph. An ox and ass are people doing
area there wasn’t decorations nearby because legend says that old jobs.
but the “Presepe”. All the family they warmed the child with their The Magi may also appear, and
participated to build the pre- breath. All around you can cre- are sometimes not place in the
sepe: children looked for the ate intricate landscapes. There scene until the week following
moss and bark of trees, parents may be Christmas to account for their
made houses and rivers with wa- c a v e s , travel time to the event. The
ter and using brown paper they houses, small most beautiful Cribs are set up
made mountains. It is an artisti- trees, lakes, in churches, especially in Naples.
cand elaborate crib: you start
Christmas Decorations in DIREZIONE DIDATTICA STATALE-1° CIRCOLO-“MIMMO BENEVENTANO”
Christmas Ball Cut with the cutter a Italy Christmas
When the Christmas lot of stars or flowers. Ornament—
tree comes from the Put them on a radiator Glass Ball
North Europe decorated and left them dry. The Christmas
with oranges and Then put the pins in the centre season is filled
pine cones. and enter them in with much singing and music. The
Materials: 3-4 big the balls of poly- streets, shops and homes are
oranges, a cutter, styrene. decorated. Fruit shaped decora-
pins, a ribbon, thin cord, styro- Decorate the ball tions are seen everywhere. Once
foam balls. with ribbon and the glass is hand -blown, it
is intricately decorated with
Working process: Cut the skin of hang the ball on the
paint and glitter. Italian children
the oranges and take tree with the thin
believe they get a visit from La
off the white part . cord.
Befana, a kind but ugly witch.
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I.P.I.L.I.A.net
3. Christmas in Bulgaria (Old traditions)
In Bulgaria, Christ- ering of all the family members. c ar r y lo ng s tic k s c alled
mas Eve is equivalent During the dinner, everybody 'Rkoledaris', on which round
to Christmas itself. eats on straw and it is necessary bread with holes known as
On this day, tradi- that all members get off the ta- 'kravai' were stuck. There were
tionally a special fes- ble at the same time. In the family gatherings and people
tive dinners is pre- past, there were tradition of used to eat seven or twelve
pare, which consists of at least boys and unmarried young men course meatless meal, sitting on
12 dishes to represent twelve visiting all the houses of the ground or straw. Christmas food
months of the year. These dishes neighborhood. They used to sing included wine and dishes such as
do not have any meat content. Christmas songs that Rakia and Sarmy. The
The ingredients consist of beans, wish good wealth and main dish was a huge
different kinds of nuts, dried health for hosts and round bread on which
plums, cakes and a traditional received treats in re- things that indicated
cake called Banitza. This is the turn such as money or wealth like house and
time when there is family gath- food. They used to cattle were carved.
Christmas Decorations in Bulgaria (Old traditions)
The decoration of the house Garlands made from strung pop- are placed in luck - steam-being,
creates a large part of the corn. An important element of the health cornel bud. Typical Bul-
festive mood. Initially, the Bulgarian Christmas traditions is garian custom and production of
tree was dry fruit decora- the Christmas tree which is deco- survachkite - from cornel twig
tion and handmade toys. rated on Christmas Eve, but a gift decorated with strings of pop-
These are entirely natural to open on Christmas morning. An- corn, dried fruit,
Christmas decoration - other important ele- garlic, colored yarn
Christmas tree toys are ment is the ornamen- to congratulate
in natural wood or fruit - tation of cakes and their children for
nuts, small apples, onions. round loaves, which adult health.
Christmas Decorations in Foreign Language School, Pleven
Following the theme of cre- Using the spatula smear cone
ating eco toys for Christmas. by filling all empty spaces.
This is an easy project to do Cone and rolled in a pre-
with your children, and cre- prepared shallow vessel with
ate a nice gift for your a small bird nuts or nuts that
neighbors - birds, such as you like sunflower seeds,
toys hang from trees in the wheat, millet, lentils, sesame
Еco toys for
yard. Necessary materials: After you repeat this proce-
Dozen cones, Peanut butter, Christmas dure with other cones and
Spatula, Small kernel, Ribbon let them spend the night in
If your cones are not much order to tightening a little
"bloom" you can put them peanut butter. Put these
briefly in the oven at 250°. toys rich seed of a tree with
Already finished cones you strong branches, tie them
can tie a ribbon, cord or yarn with ribbons.
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Issue 5
4. Christmas in Poland (Old traditions)
24th December was in a pa- One of the earliest deco- Another very old
gan slavic calendar All Souls’ r a t i o n s w a s tradition is to put
Day and 25th December, the ‘podlazniczka’. It was a a sheaf of wheat,
day of solstice, was the be- pice of wire formed into a or more often a sheaf of rye, bar-
ginning of a New Year. A lot hoop and decorated with ley or millet in the corners of the
of mystery and tradition pine, spruce or fir twigs room. We also put some hay under
surrounding Christmas is con- or a top of such tree hanging up- the tablecloth prepared for
nected with these old beliefs and side down from the ceiling above Christmas supper called ‘wigilia’ on
celebrations. Apples and nuts, a table. It was decorated with 24th December. Decorating a
considered souls’ food, are on our everything that symbolised life: Christmas tree is not a very old
Christmas trees. We still put one apples, sweets, ginger tradition in our country. A
more plate on the Christmas Eve cakes, biscuits, nuts, small Christmas tree appeared in
table – for a beggar who may ‘worlds’ made of non con- our houses in the 19th century
knock at the door? Or for a lost secrated wafer and one and it was brought from Ger-
soul that needs consolation? big in the centre. many and now it is present
Christmas activities and dishes in Poland
everywhere. Decorations change– also a night of magic: grievances. At the
there are little candles and spar- Animals are said to talk Christmas Eve sup-
klers but we have blinking lights. in a human voice and per, each dish had
We get presents from Santa people have the power to be sampled, and
Claus in the evening. In some re- to tell the future. The belief was a traditional meal would consist of
gions in Poland children get pre- born with our ancestors who 12 dishes. The more you ate, the
sents from Gwiazdor – a Star- claimed that Dec. 24 was a day to more pleasure would await you in
man. We also make nativity mark the beginning of a new era. the future. The more daring diners
scenes and the most famous and It was bolstered by sayings such would pull out blades of straw
unique tradition developed in as, "As goes Christmas Eve, goes from underneath the table cloth. A
Cracow where there are the year." Hoping green one foretold
competitions and exhibitions for a good 12 marriage; a withered
in the market square every months, everyone one-waiting; a yellow
year. For Poles, Christmas was polite and gen- one-spinsterhood; a
Eve is a time of family gath- erous to one another very short one-an
ering and reconciliation. It’s and forgave past early grave.
Christmas Decorations in SZKOŁA PODSTAWOWA NR 171 im. STANISŁAWA STASZICA, POLAND
Nativity Play, there are some and sing carols. There are many
competitions connected with different characters in these
Christmas decorations (last groups and it depends on regions.
year ‘Christmas Tree’ or this The most characteristic are
year ‘Angel’ ) and we have meetings ‘turon” – a kind of bull with a yap-
In our school we have some
similar to ‘wigilia’ with students, ping jaw, death, angel, devil,
annual celebrations con-
parents and students and teachers three Magis. There is always a
nected with Christmas. We
and school staff. In our town there star which can turn
decorate our classrooms
are big carol singing competitions. round. The group
and school corridors, we
After Christmas there are groups uses rattles and
prepare a performance
called ‘kolednicy’ that visit houses other instruments.
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5. Christmas in Spain (Old traditions)
DECORATIONS: ered in Mediterranean cultures a sym- “aguinaldos”.
From a religious point of view, the bol of luck and protection. - HOLY INNOCENTS: Celebrated on
Christmas tree reminds the paradise OTHER TRADITIONS: December 28th. It is a custom to make
tree whose fruit Adam and Eve ate. jokes to people, knock on the door and
- AGUINALDO: It is a gift to cele- go running, paste paper dolls on their
The balls, stars, horseshoes hanging brate Christmas. It is the custom of
today in the Christmas trees represent backs. - 12 GRAPES: The tradition of
giving a Christmas bonus. Traditionally eating 12 grapes dates back to early
the ancient stones, apples and other it is given to public and private serv-
things that adorned before the oak. twentieth century. The implementation
ers: scavengers, carriers, guards, ser- of this custom, which incidentally, is
Each of these objects has a meaning: vants,… ... unique to our country not because of
Apples or Christmas balls represent - BASKET OF CHRISTMAS: The religion or culture, but rather to eco-
the abundance. Christmas shopping, extra payment, nomic interests. New Year's Eve in
Light bulbs that have replaced candles lotteries and raffles are more modern 1909, the grape pickers had a great
representation of traditional Christ- production of this fruit and to get rid
symbolize the Light of the World.
mas “aguinaldo”. Christmas shopping of such an amount of grapes they in-
The bells are holiday cheer. has its roots in the baskets the coun- vented the ritual of taking the grapes
The horseshoe has always been consid- try people used to deliver the of luck on the last night of the year.
A CHRISTMAS INSTRUMENT: THE “ZAMBOMBA”
The “zambomba” is a percussion instru- provide a container with water, a damp size, shape and materials.
ment, a friction drum. In Spain, the cloth or, more traditional form, spit- MATERIALS.- container (tin, pot, clay
“zambomba” is usually played during ting in your hand. pot), papery skin, reed, string lists,
the Christmas holidays, often accompa-
How to make: rod, bolts or pins and paper to deco-
nied by singing carols and popular
rate the can. TOOLS.- Cutter, files.
songs. The way of playing the It consists of a bottomless receptacle
“zambomba” is placing it under the left elongated in whose mouth tightens skin
arm with the rod forward or sideways membrane with a
and rub the rod rod at its centre.
up and down As with other
rhythmically with folk instruments,
wet hands, so it there is tremen-
is necessary to dous variety in
Workshop
1. The container may be clay pot or an 3. The skin about 25 cm diameter with a few pins.
old vase or other material as a tin can. (bigger than the mouth of the con- 5.Stretch the still
From about 15 to 20 cm. mouth. We tainer). We can get from buying a wet skin over the
stave carefully, especially if it's clay, Christmas tambourines patch of skin mouth of the con-
but enough with some holes. It is bet- and dismounting. Some musical instru- tainer and fastened with a strong rub-
ter to have more space for sound out- ments stores also sell them but are ber (someone can help us as we tie two
put. In the case of the can it is not usually more expensive. or three turns of rope around his
necessary, just place inside a circle of 4. We introduce the skin in cold water mouth) and pull the skin on its ends to
cardboard. for two hours when it is soft, place the achieve the greatest tension to remove
2. Cane (dried, peeled and sanded bottom end of the rod in the centre wrinkles as possible (no matter if there
joints) of about 0.8 cm wide by 20 - and tie tightly with a thin rope through is any). There are several more rounds
30cm long, and just cut a knot, leaving the bottom skin thickening around the of rope until it is tightly bound.
the bottom closed down hubs, these knot so that it is well fixed but without 6. We remove the rubber and cut the
rods are found piercing the skin with the cane. After remains of two or three cm skin. below
abundantly that it is necessary to cross it with a the bond and let it dry. The next day
along rivers and pin (in this case must be made in ad- we can play the zambomba rubbing the
streams. vance a very fine hole with a drill) or
rod with wet hands.
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I.P.I.L.I.A.net
6. Christmas in Greece (Old Customs)
They got a real In the old days, they An old horse-
tree and they didn’t decorate the shoe and a
decorated it houses with lots of new horse-
with whatever lights like now. The shoe. A tradition that is
they could find. people were poor then. still continued nowadays.
For ornaments they used cotton They cut a Christmas tree from Vasilopita is a lucky custom for
as snow. They also used balloons. the mountain and they put a whoever finds the coin. It is a
They wrapped with alu- pomegranate near sweet, like a kind of cake, which
minium cypress cones the door to bring is made by the ladies of the
and sometimes they them happiness, house. They make it on New
used small flowers that prosperity and many Year’s Eve and put a coin in it
smelled nice. They used goods. They also wrapped in alumin-
thick threads as hung a horseshoe to ium foil which is
streamers, too. bring them good called flouri.
Καλά Χριστούγεννα luck and health.
The Christmas Tree in Greece
The Christmas Tree is a custom On Kefalonia every house is
that was brought to Greece from decorated with a tree with
abroad. It started in Alsatia 500 streamers, lights, colourful balls
years ago and was established as and a golden star on the top of
the symbol of Christmas in Ger- the tree. The cultural association
many. The first Christmas trees of the village places a Christmas
started being decorated after tree in the middle of the village
the first world war. The people square, too. On many islands,
were influenced after the second people decorate ships with a lot
world war. of lights.
New Year’s Eve and Carols in Kefallonia
New Year’s Eve under the Christmas tree. It is Jesus Christ is born today
A man is dressed said that Santa Claus comes from In the city of Bethleem
like Santa Claus. He Finland on a sleigh pulled by fly-
The sky rejoices
wears a red cos- ing deer.
Christmas Carols The whole nature is joyful.
tume, a white beard and a white
wig. He also wears a red cap with From Kefallonia He is born in a cave
a white pompon. All children look Good afternoon my lords In a manger for the horses
forward to New Year’s Eve so If you want
The king of heaven
they can have their presents. I will sing for you about
Santa Claus comes through the The birth of Jesus Christ. And creator of everything.
chimney and we find the presents
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