CROSSROADS Language Studio’s Newsletter, December 2007
Last year, you will remember, we asked Nick, ourroving international reporter, to cover Christmas
festivities from around the world for our newsletter.
This year we have him on the job again, and, withthe help of an Associated Press photographer, here
are some of the impressions he has sent back to us:
In China, Christian children
decorate trees with colorful
ornaments. These ornaments are
made from paper in the shapes offlowers, chains and lanterns.
A family takes a photo
They also hang muslin stockings near a mythical lion
hoping that “Dun Che Lao Ren”, dressed in Santa Claus'
or “Christmas Old Man” (Santa Claus) will fill themwith gifts and treats. The Chinese Christmas trees
are called "Trees of Light."
In Peru, when priests firststarted to travel, they would carrysmall altars around with them tofestivals. These alters graduallydeveloped into portable boxes with Santa takes a break insaints above an altar and scenes a public park in Lima
from everyday life below it. Now-a-days, they are
more likely to depict Mary, Joseph and the baby
Jesus in scenes attended by local people.
In Russian, there are special
prayers at Christmas and people
fast, sometimes for 39 days, until
their January 6th Christmas Eve.
They then begin a twelve course People look at a Nativity
supper in honor of each of the 12
scene in Moscow
apostles - fish, beet soup or Borsch, cabbage stuffedwith millet, cooked dried fruit and much more. It is
not Father Christmas, or “Dedushka Moroz”(Grandfather Christmas), who gives out presents tochildren, but Babushka. The legend tells us that she
declined to go with the wise men to see Jesus becauseof the cold weather. However, she regretted not goingand set off after them to try and catch up, filling her
basket with presents. She never found Jesus, andthat is why she visits each house, leaving toys forgood children.

Julenissen (the Christmas elf),with his stocking cap and longwhite beard, brings presents toNorwegian children on Christmas
Eve. Families also exchange gifts Children sing X’mas
on Christmas Day. In the past, Nor- carols in church
wegian children would dress up in costumes andgo from house to house asking for treats, much as
North American children do for Halloween. The
leader of the group would be dressed as a bukk, orgoat, and the custom was known as "goingJulebukk (Christmas goat)." Children in rural
areas of Norway still go Julebukk today.
Christmas is one of the fourmost important festivals inVietnam; the others being thebirthday of Buddha, the New
Year and the mid-autumn A vendor in a Hanoi city
festival. It was introduced during street selling Santa hats
the period of French rule. On Christmas Eve,Vietnamese Christians attend a midnight Mass.
After Church they return to their homes for aChristmas supper. The dinner usually consists ofchicken soup, the more wealthy enjoying turkey
and Christmas Pudding.

Colored words are in the glossary on page 2

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You can find some of the world’s Christmas traditions
here: http://www.santas.net/aroundtheworld.htm
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Joshua Says: This year’s Christmas party will be remembered mostly for the terrificperformances we had from Iain, Michael and Kurt. Michael and Kurt were really “smoking”
with their guitars, and Iain outdid himself with his magic this time. Everyone present wastreated to really “professional-level” performances. Thanks guys! We all really appreciated
you sharing your talents with us. And, everyone there had a great time. Check out P3!
Junko Says: After the Christmas celebrations, we are now looking forward tothe New Year festivities. So, in Japan, the beautiful Christmas ornaments arequickly put away the day after Christmas day. After all, New Year events aremuch closer to the Japanese lifestyle. However, Christmas ornaments areusually enjoyed in Western cultures for a week or so after Christmas day.
Michael Says: So, I had many people tell me that Christmas isn’t a large event in Japan. Well,what I found was very different: It was hard to travel because hotels were full, private hot springs
were all reserved, and some of my favorite restaurants were also all reserved or only had
expensive special Christmas menus. Not only that, but I saw Santa everywhere, heard Christmas
music everywhere, and saw stores packed with Christmas shoppers! And then I learned I had tobuy a traditional Christmas cake? I had been fooled! Christmas actually is a big deal in Japan!

Iain Says: Happy Holidays everyone! It has been a pretty busy time for me this winter. On
Friday I went down to Okinawa. It was my first time there. Of course I got to try some
Champloo and some Orion beer. I flew back to Matsuyama the next day and immediately
started cooking for a Christmas party. The party was down in Usa, Kochi. We had a marvelous
dinner complete with turkey and stuffing. I hope you all get a chance to try a turkey dinner. Itis simply wonderful. When I see you next time tell me what you did for the holidays.
Sheri Says: Have you ever tried Green Tea flavoured chocolate? More than half of
my students tell me they have never tried it! I am surprised, because it is so delicious.
In my opinion, Japan has some of the best chocolate in the world and there are always
new kinds to try in the convenience stores. Some people say Belgian chocolate is thebest, but I disagree. Obviously, they haven’t tried chocolate flavoured with Green Tea!
Greg Says: Well here I am in Sunny Australia catching up with friends andfamily for Christmas. Every year I experience two summers…the Japanesesummer and the summer over here in Australia…needless to say, I hate
winter!!!!! I hope all the students and staff at Crossroads have a fun andrelaxing Christmas and New Year. May all your New Years resolutions last
longer than a week. I will see you all again in January. Cheers!!!!!!
(These words are in color in the story on page 1)

festivities 祭礼の催し事
ornaments 飾り
lanterns ちょうちん
altars 祭壇
portable 可動式の
now-a-days 現在ではdepict描写する
fast 断食する
stuffed詰め込んだ
millet 雑穀
declined 断った
elf 小妖精custom 風習
rural地方(の)G E N E R A L ( ジェネラル) コース
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