CHRIST

MAS
EDITION
Let' s see how well you know the holidays!

What are the names of the reindeer said to pull a sleigh through the
night sky to help Santa Claus deliver gifts to children on Christmas
Eve.?
Their names are:

 Dasher

 Dancer

 Prancer

 Vixen

 Comet

 Cupid

 Donner

 Blitzen

 And, of course, Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer

Do you know how to wish " Merry Christmas " in different languages?
How to say “Merry Christmas” in 10 different languages
1. French: Joyeux Noël.
2. German: Frohe Weinachten.
3. Spanish: Feliz Navidad.
4. Italian: Buon Natale.
 5. Portuguese: Feliz Natal.
6. Dutch: Vrolijk kerstfeest.
7. Romanian: Crăciun fericit.
8. Polish: Wesołych świąt Bożego Narodzenia.

What do you know about the etymology of " Christmas"?

The word Christmas comes from Middle English Cristemasse, which in turn comes
from Old English Cristes-messe, literally meaning Christ's Mass. Of course, we are not
talking about the physical mass of Christ's body. The origin of mass, in the Christian
sense of the word, is not entirely clear.

What type of a tree is the Christmas tree?

A Christmas tree is a decorated tree, usually an evergreen conifer, such as
a spruce,pine or fir, or an artificial tree of similar appearance, associated with the
celebration of Christmas, originating in Northern Europe.

What do you know about the origin of Christmas' carols?

Carols were first sung in Europe thousands of years ago, but these were
notChristmas Carols. They were pagan songs, sung at the Winter Solstice
celebrations as people danced round stone circles. ... In 129, a Roman Bishop said
that a song called "Angel's Hymn" should be sung at a Christmas service in Rome.

Choose one of your favourite Christmas' recipes and write about it!
YIELDS:10 - 12 servings
TOTAL TIME:2 hours 30 mins
INGREDIENTS
For the Cake:
Baking spray with flour

1 1/2 c. 
all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled

2 tsp. 
baking powder

1/2 tsp. 
kosher salt
 1/2 c. 
(1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 c. 
granulated sugar

2 
large eggs, at room temperature

1 tsp. 
pure vanilla extract

2/3 c. 
whole milk, at room temperature

For the Buttercream:

2 c. 
(1/2 pound) confectioner's sugar, sifted

1/2 c. 
(1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/2 tsp. 
salt

2 tbsp. 
milk

1 tsp. 
pure vanilla extract

Orange, red, green, blue, and yellow fondant

 
DIRECTIONS

1. Make cake: Preheat oven to 325°F. Coat a 14-by-10-inch Christmas

tree–shaped cake pan with baking spray. Whisk together flour, baking
powder, and salt in a bowl.
2. Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until
light and fluffy, 2 to 4 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until
incorporated after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to low and add
flour mixture and milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture, just until
incorporated.
3. Spread batter into prepared pan and bake until a wooden pick inserted
into the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool in the pan on a wire
rack for 10 minutes, then invert onto rack to cool completely.
4. Make frosting and decorate: Beat sugar, butter, and salt with an
electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in milk until
fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Frost top and sides of cake.
5. Shape fondant into Christmas lights using a light bulb–shaped silicon
food mold. Place on cake.

How do people all over the world celebrate Christmas?

Christmas Traditions Around The World: How 5 Different Countries Celebrate
Christmas
Often hailed “the most wonderful time of the year,” Christmas is a season of unity.
This doesn’t just extend to family; Christmas is one of those rare occasions which
truly unites people world-wide.
Universally recognised, it is an event which language, and international borders,
bringing people together through Christmas games, presents, food, and traditions.
What is fascinating is the different ways in which we see Christmas around the
world.
1.   England
English Christmas traditions in England begin early in December, and are preceded
by the very English complaining that the holiday starts earlier every year.
Advent calendars and candles count down the days to Christmas Eve, trees are
dressed and houses decorated, and on the 24th, Father Christmas visits down
chimneys to leave presents for children on the ‘Good’ list.
Children will leave out snacks for him and his reindeer – traditionally a mince pie and
biscuit, washed down with beer and whisky. Church plays an important role, with
Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, and a service on Christmas morning.
Dinner is the next priority, with turkey traditionally the centrepiece, next to the
equally important roast potatoes, veg, gravy, stuffing and, most importantly,
Yorkshire puddings. This is usually followed by the Queens Speech at 3pm, along
with games, fun, and usually some snoozing!
2.   Malta
As Malta has a large Catholic population, the tradition of Midnight Mass on
Christmas Eve is popular.
Churches will be filled with lights and nativity cribs (or Presepiu), and decorated with
important figures.

Christmas night will be celebrated by placing a figure of Jesus on the main altar, to
act as a central focus for the event, and this tradition continues with three Magi
figures being placed in the crib at Epiphany.
Many enjoy the run up to Christmas by visiting local Presepiu, and carol singers can
be found everywhere.
The Maltese will also enjoy a traditional Christmas lunch, famous for the sheer
amount of food! Consisting of the largest capon, which has been roasted at the local
bakery with vegetables and potatoes, followed by the Treacle Ring and washed
down with a delicious hot Chestnut and Chocolate beverage, the dinner is a
wonderful time to spend with family and indulge!
3.   France
The French have their own unique Christmas traditions; the main Christmas meal,
Réveillon, is eaten on Christmas Eve, following the midnight Church service, and
usually includes turkey stuffed with chestnuts, goose, oysters and foie grad.This is
also when families will exchange gifts, though they may also be given on December
6th, the feast of St Nicholas, or January 6th for those who can wait that long; the
Feast of the Kings, meaning that French Christmas’s keep the magic alive for a while!
Leading up to Christmas, children will write letters to Pére Noel, and it has been
French law since 1962 that all letters must receive a postcard in reply!

In return, they will leave shoes by the fire, in the hope that he will fill them with
presents and sweets, in a contrast to the stockings found elsewhere.
Cribs and crèches are also part of the Christmas build up, and comprise not only of
biblical figures, but bakers, merchants and other random characters!
4.   Spain
Spanish Christmas traditions are focused closely on religion, with most people
attending ‘La Mis Del Gallo,’ – The Mass of the Rooster.
This is based on a belief that a rooster crowed on the night of Jesus’s birth! On
Christmas Eve, families will sit down to ‘Pavo Trufado de Navidad,’ a traditional
Christmas dinner consisting of turkey stuffed with mushroom truffles.
The celebrations continue as people celebrate in the streets with guitars, drums and
singing. A favourite phrase on this evening is ‘Esta noche es Noche-Buena, Y no Es
noche de dormir’ – “Tonight is a good night and it is not for sleeping!”
Following Christmas, the Christmas Story occurs on Epiphany (January 6th), which
celebrates the Three Wise Men bringing gifts to the baby Jesus.
This is the day on which stockings and shoes are left out, presents are exchanged,
and a traditional ‘Christmas Day’ is celebrated, with more good food, fun, and coal
for naughty children!
5.   Japan
Japanese Christmas traditions are very unique.

Still not seen as a religious holiday, there is more of a focus on spreading happiness,
and Christmas Eve, is seen as a romantic day for young couples to exchange gifts and
tokens, look at the Christmas lights, and eat a romantic meal; unlike many countries,
the Japanese pick fried chicken as their Christmas dinner!
There is a gift giver, which translates as ‘Mr Santa’, but the focus is Hoteiosho, a
figure more closely associated with Buddhism. While the Japanese Christmas may be
unusual, their New Year is closer to a Western Christmas, with a focus on family,
prayer, greeting cards, and special meals.
What is the tradition of exchanging gifts at Christmas based on?
Christmas Presents
One of the main reasons we have the custom of giving and receiving presents at
Christmas, is to remind us of the presents given to Jesus by the Wise Men:
Frankincense, Gold and Myrrh.

 Gold: is associated with Kings and Christians believe that Jesus is the King of
Kings.

 Frankincense: is sometimes used in worship in Churches and showed that

people would worship Jesus.

 Myrrh: is a perfume that is put on dead bodies to make them smell nice;
Christian believe that it showed that Jesus would suffer and die.

Do you know the lyrics of the" Silent Night ?" or any other song?
I know the lyrics of the" Silent Night " and Ι know other christmas songs like Jingle
Bells, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Deck the Halls, Little Drummer Boy, We
Wish You a Merry Christmas and Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.