TODAY - December 25

 NIELS’ MORNING GREETINGS

ON: DECEMBER 25

New edition

TODAY’s LENGTH:

This day is here in Belgium 1 minute shorter than December 21. Its length is 7 hours and 58 minutes – from 08.44 to 16.42.

See more – also in English – about where you are on:  www.dagenslaengde.dk

TODAY’s NAME:

Today is CHRISTMAS DAY.  The birthday of Jesus. So it has no special saint attached to it.

In Belgium the day’s name is the same:  NOËL  - coming from Latin Natalis, which means Birth.

TODAY’s EVENT:

1991:  Michail Gorbachev steps down as president of the Soviet Union, which is then dissolved the following day. 

__________________________________________________________________________

TODAY’s QUESTION:

Christmas traditions in Ireland – what are they?

In Ireland today, Christmas is a time for families coming together and
with the recently acquired wealth, this coming together is a great
excuse for a boom in buying (expensive) consumer goods especially for
children who normally are at the centre of most of the festivities.  We are
very much in the mainstream of Western European customs, taking the
Christmas Tree from Germany, the turkey and plum pudding from
England - although there was a tradition, especially in rural areas, to
have a goose, rather than a turkey.

 

For the main meal on Christmas Day.


Ireland is very much a religious country and even with growing
secularism, Christmas is very much a religious festival, with carol
singing, live cribs, and decorated windows in the main stores. This also
brings out little quirks in our attitude towards religious feast days.


In Britain, the day after Christmas, is known as 'boxing day' a name I
always have some confusion with. Many Irish people also use the term
'boxing day', but over recent it is usual to refer to this day as St
Stephen's Day, which is the proper name listed in the Church Calendar.


Going back to pagan times there is an old tradition, particularly in the
Dingle Peninsula, of hunting the 'wren', whereby a group, mostly young
men, dress up as wren boys in rather garish costumes, featuring straw as
a large element of the dress, gathering on St. Stephen's Day and move
around the community receiving sustenance from the neighbours, which may
be the whole point of the exercise.  The tradition has remained in
Dingle for many decades but within the last 20 years it has spread to
Dublin, to Sandymount, near Donnybrook and Dublin Bay and a large number
of people, young and old, male and female, famous and not so famous,
gather to follow in the hunt for the wren.

 

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW:

Christmas traditions in Portugal – what are they ?

47 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT EUROPE:

EUROPE AT WORK     www.europe-at-work.be

 

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE :

1.  Yesterday’s quote:

I am not superstitious, but there are several things, which do not bring me happiness – such as men.

            This was said by the American actress Ava Gardner.

2.  Today’s quote:

Following a political coup the journalists ask the politician:  Are you now going home to lick your wounds?   No, the politician replies, I can’t, because they are all in my back!

Which of today’s politicians has said that?

3.  Famous people born on this day:

1642:  Isaac Newton  ( died 1727 )

1870:  Helena Rubinstein  ( died 1965 )

1887:  Conrad Hilton  ( died 1979 )

1899:  Humphray Bogart  ( died 1957 )

1915:  Per Hækkerup  ( died 1979 )

1918:  Anwar Sadat  ( died 1981 )

 

4.  Famous people died on this day:

1946:  W.C. Fields  ( 66 years )

1977:  Charlie Chaplin  ( 88 years )

1983:  Juan Miro  ( 90 years )

1989:  Nicolae Ceaucescu  ( 71 years )

1995:  Dean Martin  ( original name:  Dino Paul Crocetti ) ( 78 years )

2005:  Birgit Nilsson  ( 87 years )

2008:  Eartha Kitt ( 81 years )

 

Niels Jørgen Thøgersen

niels4europe@gmail.com  

www.simplesite.com/kimbrer   +  EUROPE-AT-WORK  www.europe-at-work.be

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