Christmas

  Christmas trees have become a worldwide symbol of Christmas.That's why every year we decorate theme as a reminder of light and happiness.Some greetings we use at Christmas are Merry Christmas! Joyeux Noël, or Joyous Christmas. In  Canada, cities and towns    sparkle with bright lights     and festive decorations,  Christmas time especially downtown St.Johns. Shoppers fill the streets bright store windows hold shining displays of toys and other merriment's, people are generally busy and very happy. Like the United States, Canada observes the festive season in diversified forms in its various provinces.

     From 1875 and up, Christmas lost its religious character,for Anglophones and the upper middle class at least. Since then it became a community festival were we gave rise to much family merry-making. We buy or make each other presents that get wrapped in wrapping paper to be put under the tree so they can be opened on Christmas Day, but in a lot of families children get to open one gift the night before.

   On Christmas Eve, December 24th, there is usually a turkey dinner and in the middle of the night, Santa Claus is said reported to come down the chimney and put your presents under the tree if you were being good all year. However, if you were being bad you'd get a little lump of coal in your stocking. Then he goes back up the chimney (he's magic after all) and rides to the next house in his sleigh with eight reindeer pulling it through the air (Rudolph at the lead). On Christmas Day, the presents are all opened.

  In Nova Scotia, during the twelve days of Christmas, small groups of mummers,  appear in neighborhoods, ringing bells, making noise,looking for candy and other sweats. Their host may provide Christmas cake for a drink made from a mixture of water and thick, sweet syrup. Costumes may include Grandma's nightgown or Dad's long underwear. The host attempts to identify the masked visitors. Once identified, the mummer removes their mask and ceases making noise. These are just some of the traditions in Canada that we do for Christmas

Christmas traditions done by Whitney and Ellen

picture and background  by Bruce Lane (www.http://www.mqp.k12.nf.ca/)