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G RISTMAS AND TIDBITS RE-CHRISTMAS TRADITIONAL FROM OVERSEAS by Andrea Winterbottom In anticipation o f Christmas, many European countries celebrate Advent on the four Sundays preceding Christmas. In almost every home i n Germany you w i l l find a wreath constructed o f twigs and decorated with red ribbons, wooden apples and pine cones as w e l l as four candles. Each Sunday one candle is lit while special Advent carols are sung. Christmas i n most European countries is celebrated on the evening of the 24th of December. Especially for the children, this evening is filled with magical surprises like the arrival o f Santa Claus or as this figure is known in a region of the Black Forest in Germany, Nikolaus. This "Santa C l a u s " doesn't fly through the air on a sleigh pulled by reindeers, instead he tells the children that he comes from deep within the woods. Quite often Nikolaus is accompanied by his helper, a person dressed as an angel. In small villages, this "duo" w i l l knock on each door handing out presents to the children of the house. In order to keep warm, Nikolaus and his helper receive a small glass of Schnaps at almost every house they visit. In other parts o f Germany, Santa Claus is seen on December 6 w h i c h is c o m m o n l y celebrated as N i k o l a u s t a g (meaning Santa Claus Day). In Holland, Santa Claus arrives on December 5. There he fills not stockings hung by the fireplace but leaves tokens for the children in their wooden shoes. Christmas festivities in Sweden are preceded by the Festival of Lights which is always held on December 1.3. This day is called L u c i a and was originally dedicated to St. L u c i a of Syracuse. A c c o r d i n g to folk tradition, this date marked the longest night of the year. In former times, only men celebrated this festival but documents from the late eighteenth century tell of young girls dressed in white with crowns of candles in their hair, serving the master and mistress. Then in the 1920's a Stockholm newspaper arranged a contest to choose a Lucia-girl to represent the city and the custom was launched. L u c i a morning is celebrated in practically every Swedish home, and every community, office, factory, school and club chooses their own L u c i a . She dresses in a white g o w n wearing a crown o f candles i n her hair and she brings a tray o f coffee, traditionally shaped saffron rolls and ginger biscuits. Sometimes she serves G l o e g g , a mulled wine. A number of white clad followers accompany her, girls wearing glitter in their hair and boys wearing tall paper cones with stars on them. They all sing traditional L u c i a carols. In Vancouver this year L u c i a night or, as we know it, the Swedish Festival of Lights, w i l l be celebrated at the Bayshore Inn on the Saturday in December which falls closest to December 13. For ticket information, please contact Elizabeth Allander at 921-7748 between 10 and 12 noon only. CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIRS Unique gift items hand-crafted by B.C. craftspeople. WEST V A N C O U V E R R E C REATION C E N T R E : Sunday, November 18 from 11-4 in the Rec Centre at 22nd Street, West Vancouver. WEST V A N C O U V E R SECONDARY S C H O O L : Saturday, November 3 from 10-4 at 1750 Mathers, West Vancouver. VANCOUVER WALDORF SCHOOL: Saturday, November 24 from 10-3 at 2725 St. Christophers Road, North Vancouver. ST. T H O M A S ACQUINAS HIGH S C H O O L : Sunday, November 4 from 10-4 at 541 West Keith Road, North Vancouver. 80 professional craftspeople. Country Crafts, Christmas Baking, Ethnic Food Raffles and FREE Babysitting WESTJ^ANCOUVER LITTLE THEATRE will be presenting three one-act plays entitled Comedy Tonight - Nov 7-17 at Presentation House, North Vancouver. Friday evenings are social evenings at 1564 Argyle Avenue, West Vancouver and newcomers are welcome to take part in play readings and improvisation. Ideas and suggestions are always welcome. For further information call Dorothy Jenkins at 922-7735. 9