An In-between: Christmas Past Around the World.

I happened to find a website about Christmas around the world. Each blurb appears to be written by a native author. It's very interesting, so I thought I'd share some of the neat, different things that we here in America don't really think about.

For instance, in Australia, (written by a very tongue-in-cheek author) there is no such thing as a 'white' Christmas. For them, Christmas is more like our Fourth of July. Not because it's an Independence Day, but rather it's the biggest summer holiday. And who ever in America would have ice-cream and seafood! Santa Claus is just as big Down Under as it is Up Over Here, but 'Swag Man' is almost as big. The Aussies felt they had to come up with something other than Santa, because they're afraid of Santa 'suffering from heat stroke.' Swag Man does not ride in a sleigh. Instead, he drives a very large four-wheel drive. Christmas is made up of picnics, midnight mass, food, 'mateys', and swimming.

Likewise, in Brazil, Santa Claus is really "Father Noel." Father Noel lives in Greenland, and wears silk when he's visiting Brazil; because of the heat. Instead of Dickens's classic Christmas Carol, a folk play called The Shepherds is featured in which all the shepherds are female and the baby Jesus is kidnapped by a gypsy. The traditional Christmas tree has no greenery, but is rather made of electric lights. Other decorations are usually fresh flowers.

In Czechoslovakia, home of the 'Good King Wenceslas,' Christmas is celebrated by putting a cherry tree in water indoors. The hope is that it will bloom on Christmas thus giving 'good luck' and the 'hope of a short winter.' St. Nicolas lives in Heaven and climbs down on a golden rope with his companions; an angel and a whip-carrying devil. (For the good and bad little boys and girls of course)

In France, Christmas trees are rarely in evidence, and the same goes for a real Yule Log. Instead, a Yule log cake is made. The biggest thing is a nativity scene found in nearly every home. Along with the traditional nativity scene pieces, figures of local dignitaries are made, (called little santons, or saints.) These are also a part of the nativity scene. As in Brazil, it is Father Noel who distributes gifts. Except, he's accompanied only by the 'stern disciplinarian' Pre Fouetarrd, who reminds the forgetful Noel who was good and who was not. Gifts among adults are exchanged on New Years' Day.

I considered making a German joke in favor or France, but, well, perhaps I'd better not, especially since their traditions happen to be rather more 'Christian' than any other country so far. The Germans were those who began the tradition of the Christmas tree. It is especially exciting to the children since they are not allowed to see it until Christmas Eve. Christmas Carols are usually sung, the Christmas Story is read, and sometimes sparklers are lit. Only then are the presents opened. St. Nicholas visits with his little 'book of sins.' if the child has been good, delicious things are placed in the shoe or boot near the fire. If not, the shoe is filled with twigs.

In Japan, Christmas is very American, having been introduced by missionaries. It is the only time that the children ever see a cradle, (in the Nativity scene) since Japanese babies are not put in a cradle. Hoteiosho, a priest or 'god' is the 'all-seeing' Santa Claus.

Christmas in Russia, was once a largely-celebrated holiday. During the Communist regime however, many traditions were crushed. St. Nicholas for instance, became 'godfather frost.' St. Nicholas in former times was not the gift bringer, but rather the miracle worker. Baboushka was the gift bringer, and was also crushed during the Cold War. Baboushka has returned however and the tradition has nearly grown to it's former size. Christmas Trees were banned, but Russians continue to decorate their 'New Year's Tree.'

In Iraq, 'Christians' light a bonfire of thorns on Christmas Eve. When the fire dies, each person jumps over it and makes a wish. Another bonfire is lit in the public square on Christmas. The bishop carries a figurine of the baby Jesus, and touches the person next to him. The touch is passed among all the people until all have received the 'touch of peace.'

In Sweden, a fourth century Sicilian saint, Lucia, is revered. During early Christian persecution, she allegedly brought food to hiding Christians. She has become known as the 'queen of light.' On Christmas, the eldest girl in the household wears a white dress and a wreath on her head with seven lighted candles. She brings coffee and buns to each member of the household in symbolism of Lucia's visit. The Tomte is the gift-bringer.

In Bethlehem, the city is ablaze every year with flags and other decorations. The annual Christmas Eve parade is made up of horsemen and mounted police on Arabian horses, followed by a solitary horseman on a black horse carrying a cross. Other officials and churchmen follow until the procession passes through the doors of the Church of the Nativity. Dark winding stairs lead to a grotto. In the grotto, a silver star marks the place where Jesus was born. Another star is located in the center of town. Christians celebrate by decorating their doors with a cross and each home houses a home-made manger scene.

Merry Christmas!

(This has been: An In-between. Look in next time to read: Snippets of:__)

An In-between: God Grants Wishes, so be Careful What you Wish

"Lord, we're planning on going to South Dakota in a couple of months. We know some of our cars aren't running quite right. We pray, Lord, that if one of the cars we're planning to take is going to break down, that it would do so before we leave." Thus prayed Dad one morning a few weeks ago.

Yesterday, we all got ready to go to a wedding located close to three hours away. The wedding began at 4 P.M., and Dad intended to leave in time to get there thirty minutes early; just in case.

My sister mentioned to me before we left that she "disliked being way early like that." I mean,"
she said, "I don't like being late either, but not whole thirty minutes early. I like to be on time or maybe just a little bit early," she said.

"Man," one of my brothers said before we left, "I don't see why we have to drive three hours in the hot sun to go to a wedding for people we don't really know that well, and when there probably wouldn't be anybody we know there!" (These were his words, although he was slightly exxagerating since we did know quite a few people).

The hot sun was a big deal for the rest of us, particularly myself and Mom. Our car didn't have airconditioning, and a three hour drive in the sun did not sound particularly fun. I think I did my share of complaining as well; and we all wished for airconditioning.

Our van had been repaired only the day before, so when we got on the road to go to the wedding, Dad was alert for how the van was driving.

"Wow!" he said after a few minutes, "this is driving better than ever before! If the airconditioning was fixed, I'd say we could take this to South Dakota!"

We suffered two hours in the hot car. It was probably close to a hundred in there. Traffic was extremely slow, and that did not help anything at all. At 2:30, we had only just passed Olympia. Traffic finally lightened up a bit then and Dad started to accelarate a little. That is when it the car showed that it had a voice all it's own.

"CLUNK!" it said. (Dad lost power). And then, ..."clunk...clunk...clunkclunkclunketyclunketyclunketyclunk." Of course, we had just passed an exit. We couldn't get off for several more minutes and with each passing moment the car voiced its grievances with more and more vigor. We pulled off into a gas station and we all seven of us got out of the car. The car was smoking. It was however about ten degrees cooler outside of the car and there was a slight breeze which actually made it pretty nice.

We were able to find a towtruck, but, as luck would have it, all of the rental car dealers closed at 1 p.m. Thankfully, the tow truck wasn't that far away. It arrived in about ten minutes with a very nice driver. If you ever have an emergency in Olympia, call William at Great Northwest Towing! William had found a rental car dealer that closed at three. He offered to take us there.
We all thought he meant that he would take Dad to the dealer and dad would get a van and drive back to the gas station and pick us up. However, William had a different plan.

"You all get in the van now and I'll put the van on the tow truck and take you all there at once." So we did, and he did. We rode in our broken van on the tow truck and waved at the top of all the buses passing beneath us. William and our tow truck ride almost made up for not seeing the groom at the wedding ride in on a horse.

When we arrived at the car dealer on top of the tow truck, the people inside the building were startled. The expression on their faces to see us all there in our fancy wedding clothes was well worth it. We were able to get a minivan after fifteen minutes and we all piled in. The car dealer closed up while we were doing so. We had just barely made it before they closed.

The first thing we all noticed was that our rented van had...duh, Duh, DUH, AIRCONDITIONING!! YAY! We arrived at the wedding just as they were being prounounced "husband and wife," so, we didn't miss all of it; only, like, the first 45 minutes.

So, we all got our wishes: The car broke down before we went to South Dakota, just as Dad desired, my sister wasn't half an hour early, my brother didn't have to see a wedding that he didn't know the people, and everyone else got airconditioning. Praise the Lord!

Oh, and one other thing, on the way home the traffic was very light. The trip should have only taken two and a half hours. We had to make a stop to drop someone off. Just as we reached the second to the correct exit on the freeway, the cars in front of us came to a dead stop in all five lanes. We could see flashing lates at the curve in the road just ahead. The accident, a serious one, blocked three lanes. Thankfully, we had come upon it only shortly after it had happened. It only took us thirty to forty-five minutes to get past it!

In case you didn't notice, yesterday was a very adventurous day. I recommend all of you, if you don't want something similar, to be careful what you say and wish for. God just might show you tangibly that He is listening to you all the time!

(This has been: An In-between. Look in for real next time if you want to see what I promised before: Snippets of__)