CHRISTMAS SYMBOLS. CHRISTMAS FOOD

CHRISTMAS SYMBOLS

http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=vqDnT2yj3Hw

Christmas is supposed to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. But it is not the image of the nativity that most British people associate with the festival. One of the most symbols of Xmas is holly. Holly is an evergreen. Evergreens were a very important part of pagan religion and are still used in Christmas celebrations. Mistletoe is a plant that is important in Christmas. Like holly mistletoe bears fruit during the Xmas season. Today mistletoe is hung up in many houses and offices. Any two people who meet under the mistletoe are obliged to kiss. This is a Scandinavian tradition. Around the middle of the 19^th century the tradition of the Xmas tree became popular in Britain. It is under the highly decorated Christmas tree that the presents are placed. Presents are another important symbol of Xmas. They are normally opened by the family on the Christmas day. The giving of presents comes from the festival of Yule, the Roman Saturnalia and the Christian tradition. The seeds of commercially obsessed Christmas were in sown 1822. American, Clark Moore (1779-1863), wrote the poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” It was this poem that helped popularize the exchanging of gifts. Complaints of the commercial pressure of Xmas destroying its true meaning were heard as early as in 1850. The symbol of Xmas that has been most used by business to encourage people to spend money is of course Santa Claus.

CHRISTMAS FOOD

Just like the festivals of saturnalia and Yule from which it sprang Xmas is the time of feasting. Everyone eats much too much. The main meal, Christmas dinner is eaten after midday on Christmas day. The typical Christmas dinner in Britain consists of roast turkey with stuffy and a cranberry sauce served with a variety of vegetables including roast potatoes, carrots and Brussels sprouts, small sausages wrapped in beacon and gravy. This is followed by Xmas pudding with brandy butter. Xmas cake is also normally available. This is a rich fruit cake covered with marzipan and icing.

⇐ Предыдущая 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 2122