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The Huron Expositor, 1978-11-30, Page 32,%.101.07° TIME" v SAVINGS _00 THESE SAYINGS ARE MADE POSSIBLE BY AN UNUSUAL PURCHASE BY OUR BUYERS OR A MANUFACTURER'S TEMPORARY REDUCTION. zehrs BA - THE HURON EXPOSITro NOVEriEr 80, 1978 I • .Canadians celebrate Christmas differently By Lelia LeCOrra , Much like Ancient Rome •, Canada forms an interesting ethnic mosaic. The Romans were very tolerant of the beliefs and traditions of the peoples they conquered, and even adopted some of the gods and traditions as their own. They left everyone free to choose his own gods and feast days. Canada is a vast country which has welcomed immigrants from all over the world.- Christmas celebra- tions are therefore as varied as the people themselves, as Canadians celebrate Christmas in the traditional ways of their ancestors. In Quebec, for example, French traditions are upheld. Preparation for Christmas begin weeks, sometimes months, in advance. Mothers draw up lists of presents, so that ."baby Jesus" or Father Christmas can fulfill everyone's fondest hopes. A great deal of time is spent thinking about the holiday season menus, since Christmas is a time of celebration and joy, when much visiting is done to exchange gifts, and the celebrating never stops. The house must also be decorated, the Christmas tree timmed, and •the miniature nativity scene or creche set up, usually under the tree which is loaded down with balls, streamers angel's hair and lights. A star is usually placed at the top of the tree as a symbol of the star which guided the three Magi. On Christmas Eve, French Canadian mothers servo carefully prepared seafood dinners and then put the finishing touches on th pre- paration for the "reveillon", the feast which follows mid- night mass. Guests arrive either before or after mid- night mass, which is attend-, ed by the entire family and their friends. If the children atle too young and are aliready asleep, they *open their gifts under the tree the fnllowitig morning, but gifts are usually distributed after the family returns from mid- night mass. There are gifts for young and old alike, and bugging, suprises and good Wishes abound. The Christmas "reveillon" usually begins at about 2 a.m. It is really a lively reunion of family and fri- ends, where the delights of a heavily laden table are en- joyed in good company. This Christmas feast, like the New Year's feast to follow, far surpasses any meal prepared during the remainder of the year. The menu usually includes aperitifs and hors d' oeuvres, "tourtiere" (meat pie), stuf- fed turkey or goose, vege- tables and .a salad, with fruit cake or a "Yule log" for dessert. Wine flows abundantly. After the meal, parlor games and dancing prolong festivities till the wee 'hours of the morning. Celebrations by the Metis, descendants of French and Indian mixed marriages, evoke memories of pioneer -days, and the buffalo still play an important role in their feasts. December 24, Christmas Eve, marks the beginning of a two-week period of celebration, as it does for French-Canadians. Usually there are religious ceremonies, but always huge family reunions. The men fire their guns in the meadows to signal the begin- ning of the festivities. Gifts are exchanged around the fire, and every* wears his .finest attire, with moccasins and arrow-figured belts do: minating, Their traditional meal re- calls the Christmases of "Coureurs de Bois" long ago. The main fare is wild game: the choicest cuts of buffalo, deer and moose are served with berries, potatoes and wild rice. Many Indians were vegetarians. After the meal, everyone sings, some play fiddles and other dance:'- -The celebrations are punctuated with winter games, sleigh rides and horseback riding. For Canadians of Italian origin, family traditions are still strong, whether they come from northern or sourthern Italy. Families from southern Italy wait until Christmas Day. Since Dec. 24 is trad - itionally a day of fasting, the menu does not include meat. Fish, and especially eel, is served in its place. Like the families of French origin, everyone goes to midnight mass and then returns home to celebrate. Christmas day belongs to the children. Presents are exchanged in the morning. Although there are no Christ- mas 'trees in southern Italy, families living in Canada have adopted it as part of the North American tradition. Families from northern Italy serve "pannetone", a type of raisin loaf which is eaten .as n treat during the 'day. ' he Greeks have a similar tradition. The children receive gifts on Jan. 6 called "Befana" '• (the Epiphany). According to Italian legend, good children are brought gifts not by the Magi, Father Cristmas or Saint Nick, but by an old woman carrying a bag on her, back. A piece of coal is supposedly left for children who have not been good. Families , of German ancestry usually celebrate Christmas by going to visit their grandmothers, if they are still living. The grand- mother has a tree decorated with so many goodies that it reminds one of Hansel and Gretel, the difference being that the grandmother isn't trying to attract the children to eat them. On the contrary, gifts have been placed under the tree which is decorated with hand-made ornaments, marzipan treats, chocolate and other candies, just waiting 'to be picked, - • Christmas dinner, usually includes goose, duck or roast suckling pig, served with sauerkraut and potato dumplings. Black Forest cake, • raisin bread and cookies .baked especially for the occasion are served for dessert. Canadians of Dutch origin celebrate Christmas in a quiet fashion, with' a dinner of Canadian fare. , Gifts are exchanged two weeks before Christmas, on Dec. 6, the feast day of Saint. Nicholas, patron saint of school children. Indeed, "Santa Claus", is derived from the Dutch name for Saint Nicholas. Saint Nicholas also brings presents to families of Polish and Ukrainian* background on Dec. 6. In the Polish tradition, Christmas celebrations begin when-the first star appears in the sky. The whole family gathers around the table and shares unleavened bread that has been blessed by a priest. Best wishes are showered on everyone pre- sent. Straw is placed under the white tablecloth to re- mind those' present that Jesus was born in a stable. An exlia 'place is always set at the table so that any weary traveller who stops at the house can be made welcome. A picture or statuette of Jesus is also placed on the table. The Christmas dinner con- sists of 12 dishes, commemorating the twelve Apostles. Set a pretty Christmas table this year, by adding lit- tle ornaments judiciously to your spread, and by making your food so pretty and or- namental in itself that it will look almost too good to eat. A sprinkling of little gold balls, red ribbons and red plaster "holly" berries adds a festive touch to bowls of potato chips and pretzels, no less to the large platters that are to hold a sumptuous roast Borsch, a beet soup, is served as the first course. It is followed by jellied fish and " pirogi" (potato and cheese or cabbage croquettes). No meat is served. Fancy cakes and other sweets complete the meal. The presents are then distributed by the youngest child able to do so. The tree is loaded down, with hand- made decorations. Conver- sation is lively. Everyone then attends midnight mass. Ukrainian-Canadian cele- brations are very similar, biit are two weeks later, since the Julian calendar places their Christmas on Jan. 6. ''Kutia'', a delicious cake made from wheat germ and whole wheat coated with honey, is prepared on that day. The father solemly serves the kutia to each family' member as he wishes him or her a Merry Christmas. Among the most origins' Christmas celebrations in or succulent skewers of meat and vegetables. A red or' green tablecloth helps set the mood, as do red and green candles placed at different points. Icing a loaf cake and neatly striping it with red and green sugar is a sure-fire success, as are a bowl full of brightly wrapped chocolate candies and a pretty glass filled with candy canes. Canada are those native to Newfoundland. There is, of course, the traditional Christmas tree and, midnight mass, but in addition, children wearing costumes or masks go from door to door and through old, peoples' and nursing homes. They play music and sing in the streets. They are referred to asa "mummers" or "jannies" and the custom is called "mummering" or "janning" depending on the region of Newfoundland in question. This-tradition of carolling is said to have originated with the wanbdering minstrels of the Middle Ages. SinCe New- foundland is more isolated ,rthan the other provinces, it has: had more success in prdserving the European itraclitions it inherited, Many of the inhabitants are of British descent and the "mummers", who are re- miniscent of the troubadours also remind us of the customs surrounding our Hallowe'en. Christmas traditions in Canada are many and varied, but always feS06. For general information on travel in Canada, contact the Canadian Government Office of Tourism, Ottawa, K1A OH6, Canada. Make gifts all year-long _ BRINGING BACK ."D 4T-YOURSELF" for Christ- mas. This. Christotas_,. give kids a gift they can use to make gifts all year long, the "Button Factory." Chil- dren drsign their own personalized buttons to wear, collect and give away by using magazine pictures, car- toons, their own drawings or the colorful assortment of designs and slogans that come with the "factory." Kids can operate Schaper's button maker "whomper" by sandwiching the picture between a clear plastic .cover- itig and 'a clip-on plastic backing. And when the but- toeslavor fades, the re-usable assembly can be opened and the button message changed as often as a child's creative mind desires. Ills THE SEASON TO BE JOLEY S 0 DECK THE HALLS WITH BOUGHS OF HOLLY From HILDEBRAND PAINT-8t PAPER Seaforth Complete lines of: *Dried and Silk Floral . . Arrangements *H011y, Corsages Xmas Arrangements ,1,,,1,.,z,i. ,,„*:.:'I3..oinsettas & trims ll liif. ikifi ,,,:,' ' ';71k Candle Rings ,, ll; il 1..1 41: 11:' ' ' 111111'4Methte ehfilitiS With Automatic Temperature Probe • -Cuts cooking, time up to 75%- Interior oven lite • Compact - fits under kitchen cabinets • Built-In Browning Element puts the' pe'rfect finishing touch on steaks, haMburgers, casseroles. • Seven cooking functions selector including defrost ' • Two-speed timer - See-thru oven door Come in for a demonstration! Have a taste of food prepared by our demonatratot In en Electrohome oven. See how fast, easy it IS to cook the EfettrohoMe Way. 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