) ( ) Good Morning Family! .-.,--^--. ( Come on in. . . \\|`----'| - The coffee pot's on. . . \| |// ...and we even have decaf, | |/ tea, and hot chocolate! \ / ------ Today's topics include: 1. Welcome to new cousins 2. Christmas around the world **** REMINDER: DEADLINE FOR FAMILY CHRISTMAS GIFTS IS TODAY **** If you've been with the family for at least three weeks, you'll probably want to skip the following paragraph… TO OUR NEWEST COUSINS ~~ On behalf of the entire family, I'd like to extend a most hearty welcome to those cousins who came into the family fold this past week. We are very glad to have you with us and hope you'll stay and remain a part of our online family. As soon as you're comfortable with us and the list, please send in your Bower[s]/Bauer or Baur lines so we can all see how we're related to you. We do not have a fancy format for sending in records or queries to the list. Post as many as you wish! If the data has anything to do with Bower[s]/Bauer or Baur ancestors or any of the 81+ variant spellings we research that might help someone, please feel free to post it. Every scrap of information is appreciated. If you haven't visited the homesite of this list yet, you are encouraged to do so. Our home is Bower Community, located at <http://bowercommunity.com>. There, we currently have two sites: The Bower Family Homestead [a.k.a., the Homestead] is our primary homesite and the gathering place for much of our information. It waits to join us all in welcoming you into the family at <http://bowercommunity.com/homestead>. Smaller and just opened this year, our sister site, the Bower Cottage, houses most of our projects including an online GEDCOM fed by quite a few cousins from our lists. The Cottage is still small as far as material goes, however give us time and we'll have it filled really soon. The Cottage is at <http://bowercommunity.com/cottage>. CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD Our international cousins already are quite familiar, I'm sure, with the American way of celebrating Christmas. However, are you American cousins familiar with any of the traditions celebrated in those countries our forefathers immigrated from ... those of our international cousins? No? Well, have a look at some of them below. You just might find out where one of your own family traditions have come from. Australia On Christmas Day, Australians are baking in summer heat ~ oftentimes well into the mid-30 degrees celsius, or near 100 degrees farenheit. A traditional meal includes a turkey dinner, with ham and pork. Mince pies or a flaming Christmas plum pudding is added for dessert. Some Australians have their Christmas dinner (midday) on a local beach. Other families enjoy their day on a picnic. If they are at home, the day is spent swimming in the pool, playing cricket in the backyard, and other outdoor activities. Carols by candlelight is held every year on Christmas Eve, where tens of thousands of people gather to sing their favorite Christmas songs. Australians surround themselves with Christmas Bush, a native plant which has little, red-flowered leaves. At many beaches Santa Claus arrives on a surfboard, or even on a surf lifesaving boat. Austria The feast of St. Nicholas marks the beginning of Christmas in Austria. The saint accompanied by the devil, asks children for a list of their good and bad deeds. Good children are given sweets, toys and nuts. Gifts which are placed under the tree are opened after dinner on Christmas Eve. Brass instruments play chorale music from church steeples, and carol singers, carrying blazing torches and a manger from house to house, gather on the church steps. Belgium A special meal is common on le réveillion de Noël (Christmas Eve). It starts with a drink (apéritif) and appetizers, followed by an entree' such as sea-food, and then stuffed turkey. The dessert is 'la bûche de Noël (Christmas log) - cake made with cream. On the evening of December 6th, St. Nicholas, dressed in his Bishop's robes, rides about on a horse. Children set their shoes at the fireplace and leave vegetables in them for the horse. In return, the saint leaves sweets and small gifts in the shoes. Small family presents are also given at Christmas ~ either under the tree or in stockings near the fireplace, to be found in the morning. Christmas breakfast is cougnolle, a special sweet bread. Another tradition continues in small villages where three men are chosen to portray the three kings. They move from house to house singing carols and are rewarded with small gifts of food. Canada Christmas celebrations are quite similar in the variety to America. In some provinces, a big winter festival, called Sinck tuck, is celebrated by the Eskimos, with dancing and a gift-giving party. In Labrador, children receive turnips with a lighted candle pushed into a hollowed out hole. In Nova Scotia, a country settled by Scottish highlanders, songs and carols brought from Britain two centuries ago are sung each Christmas morning. Czech Republic Christmas trees are lit on Christmas Eve following a meal of fish soup, salads, vegetables, potatoes, eggs and carp. Dessert is a special Christmas cake laden with currents and almonds. According to tradition, there must be an even number of people seated at the table. An old superstition says: if anyone leaves the table early, he will die the following year. As a result, everything is prepared and placed on the table before anyone is seated so that there is no need to get up before the meal is finished. Another sign-of-death superstition says that the flame of the candles on the dinner table should not be allowed to go out. After dinner, a bell will ring signaling that the Christ Child has visited the home and placed gifts under the tree. Some homes use traditional candles placed in clip-on holders at the tips of the tree's branches. In the evening, the family attends Midnight Mass whose music usually includes the traditional "Czech Christmas Mass" (1796) composed by Jan Jakub Ryba, and perhaps some traditional Czech carols such as "Nesem vám Noviny" (Come All Ye Shepherds) and "Silent Night." An ancient tradition shared by the Czech Republic and Poland involves cutting a branch from a cherry tree and putting it in water, indoors, to bloom. If the bloom opens in time for Christmas it's considered good luck, and a sign that the winter may be short. England The Christmas tree and the kissing bough (a mixture of evergreens and mistletoe) are central to England's holiday celebration. One of England's customs is mumming. In the Middle Ages, people called mummers put on masks and acted out Christmas plays. These plays are still performed in towns and villages. Father Christmas wears a long red or green robe, and leaves presents in stockings on Christmas Eve. However, the gifts are not usually opened until the following afternoon. France Christmas is called Noël. Everyone has a Christmas tree, sometimes decorated in the old way with red ribbons and real white wax candles. On Christmas Eve, children leave their shoes by the fireplace to be filled with gifts from Père Noël (Father Christmas). In the morning they also find sweets, fruit, nuts and small toys have been hung on the tree. In cathedral squares, the story of Christ's birth is re-enacted by players and puppets. In Southern France, a log is burned in people's homes from Christmas Eve until New Year's Day. Years ago, part of the log was used to make the wedge for the plow as good luck for the coming harvest. Germany Many homes have little wooden frames holding electric candles in their windows. During Advent, the 4-week period before Christmas, an Adventskranz (a wreath of leaves with four candles) is often seen. On each Sunday of Advent, another candle is lit. Most homes will also have a small model of the nativity. Spiced cakes, cookies and beautifully decorated gingerbread houses are traditional Christmas baked confections. Little dolls of fruit are traditional homemade toys. In parts of Germany, children leave letters on their window sills for Christkind, the Christ Child, who appears on Christmas Eve as an angel in a white robe and crown, bearing gifts. Sometimes the letters are decorated with glue and sprinkled with sugar to make them sparkle. Weihnachtsmann (Christmas Man), who looks like Santa Claus, also brings gifts on Christmas Eve after people have been to a church meeting. The presents are found under the Christmas tree. One person in the family will ring a bell and call everyone to come to the room. On Christmas Day, fish (carp) or goose will be cooked. Hungary The main Christmas celebrations take place on Szent-este (Holy Evening or, Christmas Eve). Before attending Midnight Mass, families gather around the Christmas tree to sing carols and open the presents left by Baby Jesus and the angels. On December 6th the children receive a visit from Mikulas (St. Nicholas) who arrives wearing the robes of a bishop, with a red mitre on his head, a staff in one hand and a sack full of small presents in the other. Accompanying Mikulas is a "devil" ~ a boy in a black costume complete with horns and a long tail. The devil holds a switch made of dry twigs, ready to smack any "naughty" children. Each child receives a small gift, usually a toy or sweets, from Mikulas. Presentation of nativity plays performed by groups of children or adults, often combined with puppets and accompanied by songs, musical instruments and sometimes dancing are an important tradition. Ireland Ireland's Christmas is more religious than a time of fun. Lighted candles are placed in windows on Chrismas Eve as a guide for Joseph and Mary who might be looking for shelter. The candles are usually red and decorated with sprigs of holly. Irish women bake a seed cake for each person in the house. They also make three puddings, one each for Christmas, New Year's Day and the Twelfth Night. After the Christmas evening meal, bread and milk are left out and the door unlatched as a symbol of hospitality. Italy A strict fast is observed for 24 hours before Christmas Eve, follwed by a celebration meal featuring panettone, a light Milanese cake. One gift per person is drawn from the Urn of Fate. By twilight, candles are lighted around the family Presipi (crib), prayers are said, and children recite poems. At noon on Christmas Day the pope gives his blessing to crowds gathered in the huge Vatican square. New Zealand The New Zealand Christmas tree is called Pohutokawa and its flowers are a brilliant scarlet throughout the Christmas season. Even though Christmas occurs in summer, Santa still visits the cities and towns dressed in his red and white suit. The holiday meal consists of turkey or chicken, pork roast, a leg of cold ham, a roast of NZ lamb, roast potato, kumera (sweet potato), cold salads, gravy, and pork crackling. Sometimes the traditional dinner is cooked on the barbecue outside. Dessert is usually a fluffy Pavlova ~ an airy meringue dessert decorated with fruit, such as kiwi and strawberries, then piled high with whipped cream. Since so many people from the Northern hemisphere live in New Zealand, it has become the tradition to have two Christmases ~ one on the 25th of December and the other in July (mid-winter) complete with tree, gifts and all the foods too heavy to serve in the heat of summer. After the meal, folks often sit around singing carols as it gets dark. Russia In the days of the Soviet Union, Christmas was not celebrated very much. New Year was the important time - when Father Frost brought presents to children. With the fall of Communism, Christmas is openly celebrated - either on December 25th or more often on January 7th. This unusual date is because the Russian Orthodox church uses the old Julian calendar for religious celebration days. On Christmas Day, hymns and carols are sung. People gather in churches which are decorated with Yelka (Christmas trees), flowers and coloured lights. Baboushka is a traditional Christmas figure who distributes presents to children. Hay is spread on floors and tables to encourage horse feed to grow. The role of Father Christmas is played by Dedushka Moroz (Grandfather Christmas). Special Christmas food includes cakes, pies and meat dumplings. Christmas dinner includes a variety of different meats - goose and suckling pig are favorites. Scotland Christmas had tradionally been celebrated very quietly, because the Church of Scotland - the Presbyterian Church - has never placed any great emphasis on the Christmas festival. However, the Scots who are members of the Church of England or other churches generally celebrate Christmas in the same way as the English. South Africa Christmas is midsummer in South Africa with temperatures averaging 30 degrees celsius, about 100 degree fahrenheit. Most families celebrate with an outside meal or braai along with plenty of swimming or a visit to the beach. Schools are closed for five weeks of summer holidays and many people head to the mountains or coast. Roman Catholics celebrate Christmas by attending Mass on Christmas Eve. fterwards, they gather around the tree to swap presents. Switzerland A tinkling of a silver bell heralds the arrival of Christkindli - a white-clad angel with a face veil held in place by a jewelled crown. The tree candles are lit as she enters each house and hands out presents from the basket held by her child helpers. The week before Christmas, children dress up and visit homes with small gifts. Bell ringing has become a tradition, and each village competes with the next when calling people to midnight mass. After the service, families gather to share ringli (huge homemade doughnuts) and hot chocolate. Ukraine Ukraine celebrates Nativity, a blend of Eastern Orthodox and age-old agrarian customs, beginning after sunset January 6th, according to the Civil or Papal (Gregorian) ~ corresponding with the morning of December 25th on the (Julian) ancient Apostolic Church Kalendar. Gift giving takes place in early December during the feast of St. Nicholas so that celebration of The Holy Nativity remains firmly focused on its spiritual origin. On the eve of the Nativity, a day of fasting is ended with Sviata Vechera, or Holy Supper. Twelve dishes are served which represent the twelve disciples, the cycles of the moon and the most valuable products of the field, garden, and orchard. There is no meat or milk served with the meal as a sign of respect for the farm animals that are depended upon all year long. Prior to the meal, didukh ~ a sheaf of wheat, is tied in the middle with beautifully embroidered ribbons and brought into the house by the father or head of the household. He walks around the inside of the home three times and then places the wheat in a corner of the kitchen or dining room near the family's holy icon. It remains there throughout the Nativity season. This sheaf represents the entire family, including departed ancestors and the generations to come. The souls of the family are believed to be in the sheaf. Hay is spread on the floor as a reminder of the manger. A special cloth covers a small table, on which is placed kolach (bread) with a lit candle. The Feast of Nativity lasts for six days. The holiday season concludes January 27 on the civil calendar (14 January on the Old Kalendar). Wales Eisteddfodde (caroling) is particularly popular in Wales and is often accompanied by a harp. Every village has its own choir of trained singers and everyone else joins in. In many areas a person is chosen as the Mari Lwyd ("Grey Mare") to lead a group of mummers around the city or town, in celebration of the arrival of the New Year. He is draped in gray-white and carries a ribbon bedecked horse's skull on a long pole. Anyone given "bitten" by the horse's jaws must pay a fine. The mummers visit previously selected houses where they bang loudly on the door with a stick and sing out impromptu verses. Eventually they are invited in for cakes and cider. In rural areas where old traditions remain steadfast, the main Christmas service is called Plygain and lasts from 4 a.m. until the rising of the sun on Christmas morning. One tradition is the annual "Christmas Swim" conducted by Porthcawl on the South Wales Coast. Family, and traditions rich from our heritage ... adds to what we're all about. Thank you for allowing me to spend this time with you. I hope your upcoming week is filled with health, productivity, fun, and above all, filled with love. ) ( ) _.-~~-. (@\'--'/. Colleen ('``.__.'`) `..____.'