CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

Today I’d like to give you some information how Christmas is celebrated in other countries.

Christmas in America
Early European settlers brought many traditions to the United States. Many settled in the early days in the South, these settlers would send Christmas greetings to their distant neighbors by shooting firearms and letting off fireworks.
In Hawaii this practice is still in use as under the sunny skies, Santa Claus arrives by boat and Christmas dinner is eaten outdoors.
In Alaska, a star on a pole is taken from door to door, followed by Herod's Men, who try to capture the star. Colonial doorways are often decorated with pineapple, a symbol of hospitality.
In Alaska, boys and girls with lanterns on poles carry a large figure of a star from door to door. They sing carols and are invited in for supper.


Christmas in Italy
The Christmas season in Italy goes for three weeks, starting 8 days before Christmas known as the Novena. During this period, children go from house to house reciting Christmas poems and singing.
In some parts shepherds bring musical instruments into the villages, play and sing Christmas songs.
A strict feast is observed for 24 hours before Christmas Eve, and is followed by a celebration meal, in which a light Milanese cake called panettone features as well as chocolate.


Christmas in France
On Christmas Eve, children leave their shoes by the fireplace to be filled with gifts from Pere Noel. In the morning they also find that sweets, fruit, nuts and small toys have been hung on the tree.
In France it is a time for the whole family to come together at Christmas time to holiday and worship. On the eve of Christmas beautifully lit churches and cathedrals, ring out Christmas carols with the church bells.
Once dinner is over and the family has retired to bed, they leave a fire burning and food and drink on the table in case the Virgin Mary calls in.
In the north of France, children are given gifts on December 6, which is St. Nicholas' Day, instead of Christmas Day. The adults give each others presents on New Year's Day.

Press Review

I read an article the other day at the online version of „www.austriantimes.at“ and it talks about a campaign to encourage skiers to wear helmets.

Basically what it says is that the People’s Party said that there is no legislation forcing skiers to wear helmets would get through the provincial parliament.

It is also mentioned that Christian Raschner from the Institute for Sport Science said that 68 per cent of the Tyrol told that helmets were no disadvantage for them. Even more than 50 per cent already used them. In Upper Austria children aged 15 and under must wear helmets to go skiing or snowboarding. As far for me is that the parents are responsible for their children.
The Committee for Traffic Safety announced that 56,000 of nine or ten million people skiing or snowboarding on Austrian slopes will end up in hospital.

In my opinion it is good to wear helmets especially for the children because there happen so many accidents on the slopes.

Vocabulary:
legislation (Gesetzgebung) = There are different legislations to tell the people what they mustn’t do.
to force (zwingen) = For example you force somebody to help you with the housework.

you can read the full article here:

http://www.austriantimes.at/news/General_News/2009-12-10/18754/Winter-sports_helmets_still_not_mandatory_in_Tyrol