Portland observer., December 15, 1982, Christmas Around the World, Page 20, Image 20

Page 8 Section II Portland Observer, December 15.1982
Celebrating Christmas around the world
Mexico
T h e M e x ic a n p o s a d a b eg ins on
D e c e m b e r 6 th a n d s y m b o lize s the
hardships experienced by M a ry and
Joseph when they attem pted to find
shelter in B e th le h e m . T h e hom e is
decorated w ith Spanish moss, ever­
green b ra n c h e s a n d c o lo re d p ap er
la n te rn s . O n an a lt a r o f p in e
branches and moss is a representa­
tio n o f th e N a t iv i t y scene, w ith
M a ry and Joseph and an em pty cra­
dle.
As guests a rriv e they are d ivid ed
in to tw o groups— the cruel innkeep-
pers and the holy pilgram agers. T he
procession o f pilgrim s, w ith burning
c a n d le s , goes th ro u g h the h alls o f
the hom e, asking shelter:
••W h o knocks at my d o o r? "
" W e are pilgrim s. W e only want
a place to rest "
• ‘ G o s o m e w h e re else a n d d o n 't
bother m e ."
“ It is cold and w e've come a long
way. W e are very t ir e d ."
• • W h o a re y o u ? I d o n 't k n o w
y o u ."
* ' l a m Josep h o f N a z a re th and
this is my w ife M a ry w ho w ill be the
m other o f the Son o f G o d ."
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T h e procession enters the liv in g
ro o m , p ra y in g a n d singing caro ls.
T h e prayers b rin g the religious p o r­
tions o f the evening to a close
T h e guests th e n g a th e r in the
p atio fo r the p in a ta . O rig in a lly , the
p in a ta s w ere m a d e o f p o tte ry and
m ade in the shape o f anim als, birds
or other objects. N o w often made o f
p a p e r m a c h e the p in a ta is h un g
fro m the c e ilin g and c h ild re n take
tu rn s t r y in g to b re a k the p in a ta s
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a lly a lucky ch ild b reaks the p in a ta
and the candy and fru it fa ll out on
the flo o r.
T h e last p o s a d a , th a t on C h r is t­
mas Eve, is the most solemn. A t the
end o f the songs a n d p ra y e rs , a
s m a ll lin a g e o f th e B a b y Jesus is
placed in the m a n g e r. T h e candles
are lit around the altar and the peo­
ple say. " A lle lu ia ! A lle lu ia ! Let us
re jo ic e because the L o r d has com e
to his p eo ple!” A fte r the celebration
the fa m ily goes to M id n ig h t M ass.
T h e c h ild re n receive th e ir g ifts on
E p ip h a n y , January 6th.
Vanazuala
Mexican worshippers seek a resting place for the Holy Family.
Nicaragua
C h ris tm a s in N ic a ra g u a is som e­
tim es c a lled the F es tiv al o f C h ild ­
hood. B efore the end o f N o vem ber
the child ren begin to ca rry fragrant
bouquets to the a lta r o f the V irg in
and to sing ca ro ls to the Q ueen o f
H e a v e n . These p re -C h ris tm a s cele­
b ra tio n s end on D ecem ber 8 th , the
Feast o f the Im m a c u la te C o n c e p ­
As in all o f the Spanish speaking
w o r ld , e v e ry h o m e d is p la y s a
N a c im ie n lo , o r crib . A m ore a m b i­
tio u s N a c im ie n lo is the p es e b re
which represents the entire region o f
B eth le h e m w ith its fo c a l p o in t the
m anger. Some pesebres are works o f
a rt, w hile others are a hodge podge
o f ancient and m odern scenes.
In Venezuela the m ain celebration
takes place on N o cb e Buena (C h ris t­
mas Eve), when everyone goes home
a fte r M id n ig h t M a s s to h ave b a l-
locas and dulce de lechoza H a llo c a
is made o f corn m eal, w ith pork and
chicken stu ffin g and other delicacies
and w ra p p e d in p la n ta in leaves to
m ake a type o f pie. D u lce de lechoza
tion.
O n D e c e m b e r 16th th e f a i t h f u l
b eg in th e ir a n n u a l n o v e n a to th e
C hrist C h ild , and on December 24th
it ends w ith M id n ig h t Mass.
T h e hom e is decorated w ith palm
trees, green sawdust, tinsel, and col­
o red lig h ts . T h e e m p ty m an ger re ­
ceives the C hrist C h ild on Christm as
Eve.
A C h ristm as Eve feast o f tu rk e y ,
s tu ffe d hen o r ta m a li is c o m m o n .
W in e , c o ffee o r cho c o la te is served
w ith a plain cake made o f corn meal
or rice flo u r, covered w ith ru m -fla ­
vored syrup.
France
is a dessert m a d e o f green p ap a y a
and b ro w n sugar.
C hristm as customs, originating in
the O r ie n t , w e re in tro d u c e d to
France by the Romans Rheims was
the scene o f the First French celebra­
tion w hen, in 49 6 , C lo vis and three
thousand w arriors were baptized.
Christm as became a religious and
secular h o lid a y . T o d a y , C h ristm as
is a fam ily a ffa ir and a religious cel­
e b r a tio n , w h ile N e w Y e a rs is r e ­
served fo r m e rry m a k in g and g ift
giving.
F a m ily c e le b ra tio n s b eg in w ith
the decoration o f the Christm as tree
w ith candles and lig h ts , tinsel and
stars. O n C h ris tm a s E ve. when the
ch ild ren are asleep, »m ail gifts and
candy are hung on the tree.
T h e m an ger scene— la c r e c h e -
originated in 12th C entu ry France as
a liturgical dram a. A t First the m an ­
ger re s e m b le d an a lta r a n d was
placed inside the church. St. Francis
o f Assissi in tro d u c e d the p o p u la r
manger scene between 1316 o f 1)3 4 .
T o d a y the f a m ily a rra n g e s the
m anger scene in a p ro m in e n t place
in the h o m e . C h ild r e n fin d ro cks
and small branches fo r the manger.
C la y fig u re s re p re s e n t th e H o ly
F a m ily , the w ise m e n , the shep-
herds, the ox and d o n ke y are close
to the Baby Jesus.
A t m id n ig h t e v e ry o n e a tte n d s
Christm as Mass in the cathedrals lit
w ith c a n d le s , b ells p e a lin g . W h e n
the fa m ily re tu rn s hom e the fea s t,
the " r é v e illo n ,” is ready. T h e m ain
d ish v a rie s in d if f e r e n t p a rts o f
F ra n c e — goose in A ls a c e , tu r k e y
and chestnuts in B urgundy, oysters
in Paris.
In som e p laces th e r é v e illo n is
h eld in th e s n o w y m o u n ta in s , in
o th ers the e n tire v illa g e gathers to
break bread.
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shoes in front o f the Fireplace so d u r­
ing the night tb e p ere N o el or le p etit
Jesus w ill f ill them w ith g ifts . F o r ­
m erly wooden shoes— sabots - were
used, and tod ay chocolate w ooden
shoes are Filled w ith candy.
C arols and the creche com bine to
p ro d u c e d ra m a p re s e n te d in the
cathedral squares. Puppet shows are
also popular at Christm as tim e.
O n e o f F ra n c e ’ s fa m ilia r C h ris t­
mas stories is the L ittle M a tc h g irl,
w h o , s ittin g in th e snow s e llin g
m atches, struck a ll her m atches to
im agine Christm as in a house w ith a
lo v in g f a m ily . S t r ik in g h er last
m a tc h , th e litt le g ir l was ta k e n to
Paradise by a host o f angels.
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Carol o f the Brown King
f the three Wise M en
W h o came to the King,
O ne was a b row n m an,
So they sing.
O f the three W ise M en
W h o follow ed the Star,
O ne was a brow n king
From afar.
They brought fine gifts
O f spices and gold
In jeweled boxes
O f beauty untold.
U n to his humble
M anger they came
A nd bowed their heads
In Jesus' name.
egos»
T hree Wise M en
O ne dark like m e—
Part o f H is
N a tiv ity .
A creche la found In moat home» In Latin countriee.
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— Langston Hughes
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PORTLAND
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