Comments on: C’est Noël! It’s Christmas!

By: beautifulcynic

beautifulcynic — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 00:00:56 +0000

Your service sounds lovely. Although I am not a religious person, my family is Ukrainian Catholic, and for the holidays we follow those traditions. Christmas Eve consists of a meal of 12 meatless dishes, followed by midnight mass and then carolling. Afterwards people return to their own homes; in my family, we have always each opened one gift before going to bed on Christmas Eve. Christmas morning always starts with opening the stockings first, followed by the rest of the gifts, and then the Christmas Day service at church. (However, I haven’t attended either of the services on Christmas eve or day in many years.) Even though I am not religious, I do enjoy the Christmas services; the singing and chanting is very beautiful and quite mesmerising.

By: jukebox

jukebox — Mon, 26 Dec 2005 06:44:28 +0000

What a thoughtful international card. Lovely Larissa!
I agree with what you write about people’s reaction to a smile from a stranger. I often observe a dubious look on their face and can almost hear them think “do I know her? ” Most of them smile back, though, perhaps to do the appropriate thing just in case! It’s like a game for me.
Yesterday I went to midnight mass in a small hill village near mine and after the service we gathered outdoors to share the traditionnal 13 desserts and wine. Visitors were of course happily surprised to find out that when we say that we share during mass, we do it afterwards. I really enjoy this and the custom to light a bright fire into which we deposit an alcool dipped log.
Do you have any special customs like this?