Christmas

Hi, I'm going to speak about Christmas traditions in some parts of the world. Almost all the countries have their own christmas traditions, but I will try to compare christmas traditions in the Basque country and in China.

In the Basque Country, they decorate streets and trees with ligths  in most towns and cities. Olentzero is king on Christmas eve, not Santa Claus. The olentzero, brings the presents to the Basque children but in order to get presents you have to be a good child. If you are not, the olentzero will bring you coal. The olentzero will leave the presents you asked for in the shoe that you put near the christmas tree. Olentzero is a old miner man who spends his free time making toys for the chlidren. 



The olentzero legend says that one day while a house was burning olentzero saw it and, very bravely, tried to  rescue the kids that were inside. During the rescue olentzero lost his life but he recued all the children that were inside the burning house.
Another Basque tradition is for the chlidren to go from house to house singing carols in exchange  for money or food on the 24th of December. Also, on the 24th, people gather to  welcome  the Olentzero. In Tolosa the olentzero comes from the mountain but in other places, it comes from the sea or the river. They  welcome olentzero on the 24th. In that welcome, the olentzero speaks with the children and they tell the olentzero what they want for Christmas. On Christmas Eve  in most cases,  families get together to have dinner in the evening. On the 25th all the children open their presents and  go to the street to play with them. Some Basque children also believe in the Three Magi as the characters that bring them presents during the holidays.

But, what about a Country like China?

Not everybody celebrates Christmas in China. China is a Communist country and because of that religious festivities are not celebrated. The people that do celebrate Christmas celebrate it by lighting their houses with beautiful paper lanterns and decorating their Christmas trees,which they call them "Trees of Light." Chinese children, hang muslim stokings in the chimney or in the trees hopping that Santa Claus will bring them presents. They call Santa: Dun Che Lao Ren (dwyn-chuh-lau-oh-run) which means "Christmas Old Man."  But, as I said
 before, most  Chinese people are not Christian. That is the reason why  the most important festivity is the Chinese new year that takes place  the end of January. Nowadays, it is called "Spring Festival". During this festivity  the children receive new clothes, eat luxurious meals and  receive new toys.





Have a happy new year! And enjoy your holidays the best that you can!
See you soon!