december2019

DECEMBER 2019 -

SEXY GLAM

MAGAZINE -

mas tree, a trip that their grandfa-

thers probably did not make. The

Christmas tree was not introduced

into Norway from Germany until the

latter half of the 19th century; to the

country districts it came even later.

When Christmas Eve arrives, there

is the decorating of the tree, usually

done by the parents behind the closed

doors of the living room, while the

children wait with excitement out-

side. A Norwegian ritual known as

“circling the Christmas tree” follows,

where everyone joins hands to form

a ring around the tree and then walk

around it singing carols. Afterwards,

gifts are distributed.

Christmas Trees in Ukraine

Celebrated on December 25th by

Catholics and on January 7th by Or-

thodox Christians, Christmas is the

most popular holiday in the Ukraine.

During the Christmas season, which

also includes New Year’s Day, people

decorate fir trees and have parties.

Christmas Trees in Spain

A popular Christmas custom is Catal-

onia, a lucky strike game. A tree trunk

is filled with goodies and children hit

at the trunk trying to knock out the

hazel nuts, almonds, toffee, and other

treats.

Christmas Trees in Italy

In Italy, the presepio (manger or crib)

represents in miniature the Holy Fam-

ily in the stable and is the center of

Christmas for families. Guests kneel

before it and musicians sing before it.

The presepio figures are usually hand-

carved and very detailed in features

and dress. The scene is often set out

in the shape of a triangle. It provides

the base of a pyramid-like structure

called the ceppo. This is a wooden

frame arranged to make a pyramid

several feet high. Several tiers of thin

shelves are supported by this frame.

It is entirely decorated with colored

paper, gilt pine cones, and miniature

colored pennants. Small candles are

fastened to the tapering sides. A star

or small doll is hung at the apex of the

triangular sides. The shelves above

the manger scene have small gifts of

fruit, candy, and presents. The ceppo

is in the old Tree of Light tradition

which became the Christmas tree in

other countries. Some houses even

have a ceppo for each child in the

family.

Christmas Trees in Germany

Many Christmas traditions practiced

around the world today started in

Germany.

It has long been thought that Martin

Luther began the tradition of bringing

a fir tree into the home. According to

one legend, late one evening, Martin

Luther was walking home through

the woods and noticed how beautiful-

ly the stars shone through the trees.

He wanted to share the beauty with

his wife, so he cut down a fir tree and

took it home. Once inside, he placed

small, lighted candles on the branch-

es and said that it would be a symbol

of the beautiful Christmas sky. The

Christmas tree was born.

Another legend says that in the ear-

ly 16th century, people in Germany

combined two customs that had been

practiced in different countries around

the globe. The Paradise tree (a fir tree

decorated with apples) represented

the Tree of Knowledge in the Gar-

den of Eden. The Christmas Light,

a small, pyramid-like frame, usual-

ly decorated with glass balls, tinsel

and a candle on top, was a symbol of

the birth of Christ as the Light of the

World. Changing the tree’s apples to

tinsel balls and cookies and combin-

ing this new tree with the light placed

on top, the Germans created the tree

that many of us know today.

Modern Tannenbaum (Christmas

trees) are traditionally decorated in

secret with lights, tinsel and orna-

ments by parents and then lit and re-

vealed on Christmas Eve with cook-

ies, nuts and gifts under its branches.

Christmas Trees in South Africa

Christmas is a summer holiday in

South Africa. Although Christmas

trees are not common, windows are

often draped with sparkling cotton

wool and tinsel.

Christmas Trees in Saudi Arabia

Christian Americans, Europeans, In-

dians, Filipinos, and others living

here have to celebrate Christmas

privately in their homes. Christmas

lights are generally not tolerated.

Most families place their Christmas

trees somewhere inconspicuous.

Christmas Trees in Philippines

Fresh pine trees are too expensive for

many Filipinos, so handmade trees in

an array of colors and sizes are often

used. Star lanterns, or parol, appear

everywhere in December. They are

made from bamboo sticks, covered

with brightly colored rice paper or

cellophane, and usually feature a tas-

sel on each point. There is usually

one in every window, each represent-

ing the Star of Bethlehem.

Christmas Trees in China

Of the small percentage of Chinese

who do celebrate Christmas, most

erect artificial trees decorated with

spangles and paper chains, flowers,

and lanterns. Christmas trees are

called “trees of light.”

Christmas Trees in Japan

For most of the Japanese who cele-

brate Christmas, it’s purely a secular

holiday devoted to the love of their

children. Christmas trees are decorat-

ed with small toys, dolls, paper orna-

ments, gold paper fans and lanterns,

and wind chimes. Miniature candles

are also put among the tree branches.

One of the most popular ornaments is

the origami swan. Japanese children

have exchanged thousands of folded

paper “birds of peace” with young

people all over the world as a pledge

that war must not happen again.