How do you celebrate Christmas and New Year in Europe?
Olivier salad, tangerines and champagne are integral attributes of the Russian New Year's table. Abroad prepare churros with chocolate, glog, potato salad and other unusual for us dishes. We decided to find out what other traditions exist in other saranas.
Denmark
Danes have a tradition of lighting one candle every Sunday in December, and on Christmas Eve, they light four candles. On St. Lucia Day, which is celebrated on December 13, children walk with candles in schools and churches. For families not living together, there is a special little Christmas that is celebrated on December 23rd. On this day, they can gather and celebrate the holiday with those who have not seen for a long time.
But on the real Christmas, the people of Denmark go to church, then set the festive table. Where there is always duck, turkey or pork. Rice pudding is served for dessert and watered with cherry syrup. Everyone is washed down with glieg, or as it is called in Russia - mulled wine. After dinner, they dance around a decorated Christmas tree, under which they put gifts.
New Year is celebrated as in Russia. In the evening, Queen Margaret II of Denmark congratulates. They drink champagne, sing the national anthem and set off fireworks. At midnight, everyone watches the chimes on Copenhagen’s main street. On the festive New Year's table at the Danes wine and fish.
Czech Republic
On Christmas Eve, Czechs decorate a Christmas tree and prepare a festive lunch, usually including carp and potato salad. There are Christmas stories on TV. In the evening, some families go out for walks, skating. The door to the room with the tree is closed tightly so that the baby Jesus brings gifts. During the festive supper, a bell rings to announce that Jesus has come. Then friends congratulate each other, family members wish health, hug, and go to see gifts.
New Year is not celebrated like Christmas. But some clubs organize New Year parties, which are willing to attend the company of friends.
Finland
Finns celebrate Christmas with their family. During the day they visit the sauna, and in the evening they bake potatoes, carrots or trout for dinner. Their table is full of diverse fish. For sweets make plum pie and ginger biscuits, which in stores can be bought only at Christmas.
During the holidays, they visit the cemetery. Of course, they decorate the Christmas tree.
The New Year is celebrated with fireworks. On the table is what is left of the Christmas dinner. Nightlife during the holidays is diverse. Bars and clubs organize parties where young people spend time.
Spain
The Spanish Christmas table is probably the sweetest. They bake churros (bakes made from custard) with chocolate and turron from honey, nuts, egg white and sugar. Celebrate like other Europeans and their families.
But here they decorate the house in a special way. Along with tinsel and garland, be sure to hang figures showing the scene of the birth of Jesus.
To congratulate them comes not Santa Claus, and not even Santa Claus, but three Magi, whom all call the Magic Kings. According to legend, they were the first to come to the newborn Jesus. To those who have behaved well, the Magi leave gifts, and the bad children leave coal.
Germany
German traditions are similar to those of Denmark. The Germans light candles and gather together. Streets and houses in this winter sparkle with decorations and lights.
But they have an interesting tradition. Children in early December are given calendars where they celebrate the days before the holidays. And to alleviate the pain of waiting, clearly according to the calendar, children eat candy a day.
The German Santa Claus is St. Nicholas. It comes to the children as early as December 6. The good are rewarded with candy, and the bad are punished with rods. He puts his gifts in a baby shoe.
On December 24, on Christmas Eve, the family gathers at the table. For the festive table, potato salad is prepared, roasted from pork or roasted goose. Sweet marzipan and cookies. They wash it down with mulled wine.
On the New Year, fireworks are launched and cheer from the heart.
In most countries, Christmas is a quiet and family holiday, although in Russia and Europe it is celebrated at different times. But the New Year is celebrated everywhere the same with fireworks and noisy parties. The variety of dishes depends on the geographical location of the country and its traditions. But everywhere the New Year and Christmas bring only bright and wonderful, and adults wait and enjoy these holidays like children.
Text by Vika Lisitsna
Photo: pexels.com, the-village.ru