[Copy]The World Says Merry Christmas

Enjoy the holiday, copy from MSN._'^"v+Y8`?i8O.j Y

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QtSq8?+U.Pm Japan (Kurisumasu Omedeto!): The Japanese people borrowed Christmas and made it their own. Hoteiosho, a kind old man, carries a huge pack with gifts for children. (With eyes in the back of his head, he sees who is naughty or nice.) Many Japanese embrace the Western traditions that were introduced by Christian missionaries. Others take the secular festivities over the top with massive light displays, decorations seemingly everywhere, evergreens and mistletoe hanging and almost anyone and anything dressed for the season (as shown). Come Christmas, families present gifts and sing carols, and some people also enjoy turkey dinner.

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Australia (Merry Christmas!): Naturally, Santa Claus arrives on a surf rescue boat in Queensland, because he visits in high summer. Australians surround themselves with Christmas bush, a native plant that has little red flowers; some use gum-tree branches for decoration, rather than evergreens. In Melbourne, tens of thousands of people gather each Christmas Eve for Carols by Candlelight, a tradition since the early 20th century, which has caught on in other Australian cities.

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Bethlehem (Edo Bri'cho o Rish d'Shato Brich'to!): Palestinian Christian girls and women light candles in the Church of the Nativity, marking the countdown to Christmas Eve. In this town, where Jesus is said to have been born, Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox Christians take part in Christmas processions and religious ceremonies, while mingling with Jews and Muslims. The town is alight with decorations, and often the residents crowd the rooftops to witness the rites.

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D7v+SQ_FcF,N China (Kung His Hsin Nien Bing Chu Shen Tan!): There's nothing like a gigantic ice sculpture to remind the Chinese that Christmas is coming. Chinese Christians have adopted traditions from the West??they light their homes with paper lanterns and decorate their Tree of Light with paper chains and paper flowers. Children hang stockings in anticipation of a visit by Dun Che Lao Ren (Old Man Christmas).

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New Zealand (Kia Orana e Kia Manuia Rava i Teia Kiritimeti e Te Mataiti Ou!): No snow? No problem! Maori and English traditions have blended to create new celebrations for New Zealand, which is the first country immediately west of the International Date Line. Thus, it is the first spot on earth where Christmas arrives. One of the area??s original traditions is using the pohutukawa, a red-blossomed tree that grows in coastal areas, as a Christmas tree.

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T6JP3L;T1B Brazil (Boas Festas!): Pres¡§?pios (Nativity scenes) were introduced to Brazil in the 17th century in the city of Olinda, and they are proudly displayed in the northeast. This time of year the folk play Los Pastores (The Shepherds) is a big draw; the plot involves a gypsy trying to kidnap the Christ child. According to legend, Papai Noel (Father Noel) lives in Greenland, and when he visits Brazil to deliver gifts, he wears silk clothing to beat the heat; after all, the equator crosses Brazil.

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India (Shubh Bada Din!): Though Hindus and Muslims make up the population's majority, Christmas is a national holiday in India and is marked with great festivity. The British influence from the days before India gained independence brought the notion of gift exchanges and giving baksheesh (charitable gifts) to the poor. Sweets, with coconut predominating, preserve the idea of spreading joy and sweetness through the year.

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Poland (Boze Narodzenie!): The annual Krakow Nativity Scene Competition shows off szopka, which are unlike any other Nativity scenes; these are based on historic buildings in the city, and often a manger scene lies on the second floor of the work. Tradition demands patience in this land: Polish people bring a cherry-tree branch inside, and if it blooms for Christmas, it means good luck and an early spring. Then, after a 24-hour fast, their Christmas feast can begin??but only when the first star of the night appears.

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Russia (Hristos Razdajetsja!): Through revolution, war and communist rule, Russians' Christmas traditions were never fully suppressed, and now they are joyful. The feast of St. Nicholas is celebrated, Babouschka brings gifts for the children, and the Eastern Orthodox Church is the focus of religious events. A sleigh ride on the frozen Yenisey River in Siberia is the perfect prelude to Christmas Eve dinner, which features a special porridge, kutya, which symbolizes hope, happiness and untroubled rest.

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Peru (Sumaj Kausay Kachun Navidad Ch'sisipi!): Quechua still is spoken in Peru, where Christmas rituals are heavily influenced by European ways. Holiday time is marked by bustling markets, where many families buy pieces for their Nativity scenes and tanta wawas (child bread). On Christmas Eve, musicians in masks stroll the streets, and groups of revelers and dancers mingle with religious processions. Many people attend midnight Mass, after which the celebrations continue.

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England (Happy Christmas!): Drawing on traditions predating the Christian era, the British hang greens??a reminder that spring will return. Father Christmas leaves gifts under elaborately decorated trees and fills children's stockings. Boxing Day (Dec. 26), was traditionally the day that the alms boxes at churches were opened and the contents distributed to the poor; it remains a day for giving.

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United States (Merry Christmas!): In such a diverse nation with many traditions and rituals, the season might begin with the Christmas tree and the corresponding generations-old outing to cut down or select the evergreen of your choice. Shoppers crowd city streets, where window displays and decorations of greens and lights are as much an attraction as crossing off the last gift on that shopping list. And on the night before Christmas, perhaps after a church service, the young sleep, as visions of Santa Claus dance in their heads.

[size=5]Have finished?
6m+v$Qd+k-K#C [size=7][color=Magenta][b]Merry Christmas to you all!
*glw$C?'Lv5@8G 圣誕快樂！:victory: :lol[/b] [/color][/size][/size]

[quote]Originally posted by [i]vip[/i] at 2007-12-12 11:26 [url=http://forum.fobshanghai.com/redirect.php?goto=findpost&pid=3173007&ptid=315038][img]http://forum.fobshanghai.com/images/common/back.gif[/img][/url]
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F O:K[e(_(~,l/J India (Shubh Bada Din!): Though Hindus and Muslims make up the population's majority, Christmas is a national holiday in India and is m ... [/quote]@;@r8s]lt
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[color=Purple][size=4]I like this picture so much.. so great .[/size][/color]

Merry Christmas!:)

[quote]Originally posted by [i]vip[/i] at 2007-12-12 11:27 [url=http://forum.fobshanghai.com/redirect.php?goto=findpost&pid=3173016&ptid=315038][img]http://forum.fobshanghai.com/images/common/back.gif[/img][/url]De^tI|~%]
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Russia (Hristos Razdajetsja!): Through revolution, war and communist rule, Russians' Christmas traditions were never fully suppressed ... [/quote]
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9WBC4ue Q5JH`+~h i like this one!~

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Wow,:lol :lol Awesome

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!:)

[quote]Originally posted by [i]vip[/i] at 2007-12-12 11:26 [url=http://forum.fobshanghai.com/redirect.php?goto=findpost&pid=3173007&ptid=315038][img]http://forum.fobshanghai.com/images/common/back.gif[/img][/url]
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&\ ]fb9i India (Shubh Bada Din!): Though Hindus and Muslims make up the population's majority, Christmas is a national holiday in India and is m ... [/quote]
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RXhl;o;Yaop that is nice if I can see so big a Santa Claus!

Reply #17 mazy's post

:o wow!qRkn4h?"c2G
a big man!
/d+if.lC$r7{I| what an amazing show!:victory: :lol

Merry Christmas:victory:

Merry very Christmas to everybody.:P