Chatbug Karen

Today will be a day to keep busy. I am finishing up laundry and hope to sew a little. Tonight we will attend our Christmas Eve service at church.

Our church is beautifully decorated and even more so when you see it in the evening light. The white lights entwined in the greenery sparkle and glow. The Christmas tree was decorated by the children of our church and is also very pretty.

Perhaps, after Christmas, we will check into Myrtle beach vacation packages but for now, I am enjoying the snow and the festivities of the holiday.

There is a house near us that has a splendid Christmas display every year. They have a circular driveway that affords everyone the chance to drive up, look into their windows and see the beautiful decorations. They have a snow village that is quite large. It even has a train that runs through it. Their yard has large nutcracker men and carolers. We always roll down our windows so we can hear the carolers sing. It is fun and amazing.

Here are a few traditions followed in different parts of the world.

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The idea that animals have the power of speech at midnight on Christmas Eve. This superstition exists in various parts of Europe, and no one can hear the beasts talk with impunity.
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There is also a French belief that on Christmas Eve, while the genealogy of Christ is being chanted at the Midnight Mass, hidden treasures are revealed.
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In Russia all sorts of buried treasures are supposed to be revealed on the evenings between Christmas and the Epiphany, and on the eves of these festivals the heavens are opened, and the waters of springs and rivers turn into wine.
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Christians in China call Christmas Sheng Dan Jieh, which means Holy Birth Festival. They decorate their homes with evergreens, posters, and bright paper chains. The family puts up a Christmas tree, called “tree of light,” and decorates it with beautiful lanterns, flowers, and red paper chains that symbolize happiness. They cut out red pagodas to paste on the windows, and they light their houses with paper lanterns, too.
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Christmas in Iceland is an interesting experience as this country has many old traditions for celebrating Christmas. Expect no fewer than 13 Icelandic Santa Clauses! In Iceland, they are called jólasveinar (“Yuletide Lads”; singular: jólasveinn). Their parents are Grýla, a mean old woman who drags off naughty children, and Leppalúði, who is not as mean. The origin of these “Santas” is centuries old, and each has its own name, character and role.
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In Congo in Africa, a group is designated just to prepare the annual Christmas pageant. In the Christmas morning, African people and groups of carolers walk around the village and sing Christmas carols. They then go to home to wear festive clothes and take love offerings for Jesus to the special service that is held at the house of worship. In the church, the birthday of Jesus is celebrated and people keep their gifts upon the raised platform near the Communion table. After the service, people invite friends to Christmas dinners arranged in front of their homes.

Tags: Christmas Eve, church, decorations