Bryan's Blog

Christmast

Christmas in Ecuador is a purely family and religious festival, it is the most important celebration of the year, as all families try to meet at dinner on December 24 where it is usual to eat turkey or pork main course and dessert pristine which rings are fried wheat flour dough, topped with brown sugar syrup.

Christmas night, at 24h00, the gifts previously brought "Santa Claus" for children and adults are divided, they generally found under the Christmas tree and delivered by one of those present.

In some houses one of the adults is disguised as Santa Claus and comes with gifts in a sack and distributed. That tradition was common in the sixties and seventies.

For being a Catholic country Ecuador, a very special activity is the development of births or Bethlehem, and Prayer Novena of Baby Jesus that takes place every night from December 16.

This is a deeply rooted and families pray at their respective homes the eight days preceding the Noche Buena (24). That day, corresponding to the last of the ninth, they pray at home where they are to celebrate the dinner.

Another custom is still kept some families have blocked the Child Jesus, during the days before the Dec. 24, thereby simulating birth, which is what is celebrated.

Groups are also organized to pray the novena, performing every day in a different group home, the children sing Christmas carols accompanied by small musical instruments.

One popular children's activity is the "letter to the Child Jesus, to be written by children at least a month before Christmas and where they report having behaved properly, so include a list of things they would like Christmas Day.

Food 

Ecuador

On 24 December at twelve o'clock is the traditional stuffed turkey or chicken with sauces, prunes, salad and some rice with cheese and corn and of course, wine.

Other countries 

Spain

Three meals in the Spanish culinary celebration of Christmas, and are held on the day Eve (dinner), the New Year's Eve (dinner) and Kings (snack). It is characterized by all Christian traditions. Notable nougat (mainly traditional soft nougat or Jijona and hard nougat or Alicante), polvorones, dates, marzipan (in its many varieties as figurines, cake Gloria, bread Cádiz), sweets (You famed elaborate in the Valencian town of Casinos, which is also traditional crafts production of nougat), alfajores, or almond soup (Madrid)

Traditions

Some of the elements common to several countries are the Christmas tree, Advent wreaths, socks hung on the chimney, candy canes and nativity scenes depicting the birth of Jesus. Carols are sung and stories about figures like the child Jesus, San Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle or Father Frost counted. Christmas cards are sent greetings are exchanged, fasting and other religious rules as Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve or the eve seen, the Yule log is ignited and offer and receive gifts. Along with Easter, Christmas is one of the most important periods of the Christian calendar, and is closely related to other festivities that time of year, such as Advent, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, the day of St. Nicholas, of Boxing Day, New Year and Epiphany.

Activitis

1. Send gifts to children overseas through Operation Christmas Child.

2. Organize an evening of carols with neighbors.

3. Create memories to film the children talking about their favorite family activity that year.

4. Share the holidays with a family with different customs, religion or country.

5. Low hills on sleds or ice skating on Christmas Eve.

6. Offer to decorate for the holidays a nursing home or a pediatric hospital.

7. Create a new family tradition, like watching a Christmas movie together or family preparing Christmas dinner.

8. Armen together the manger nacimento reading the story of Jesus.

9. Meet with friends one afternoon to make cookies together and then swap them.

10. It answers one of the letters children write to Santa Claus fewer resources.

11. Ask them to younger children draw pictures and díctales letters to Santa Claus or the Three Kings, write them down and then frame them as such.

12. Dona family time to a charity. For a popular dining opportunities, for example, searches Feeding America.

13. Buy gifts in charity fairs.

14. If they are Catholic, hear the Pope's message together.

15. Make a snowman and dress him party.

16. Ask the children to put on stage a play.

17. Organize contests among children, such as who can create the best hat with gift bows.

18. Sal to play with the neighborhood kids and share the new toys.

19. Instead of making personal gifts, make donations to charities.

20. Share the habit of making jokes of April Fool's Day, December 28.

21. Walk the streets to admire the Christmas lights and decorations.

22. Calls on the friends who share a traditional dish and meet to celebrate.

23. Save a few minutes of silence together to pray, to thank or. . . catch my breath.

Christmas games with family

the Christmas songs