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12 Holiday Gift Guide Supplement of The Canadian Statesman, Wednesday, November 21,1990 Christmas Customs in Southern Climates One of the easiest of all imaginative exercises is to paint a picture of a "greeting card " Cnristmas. The first ingredient is snow, blanketing rolling hills and gracefully draping the boughs of trees. The sun shines, of course, but on a scene sculpted out of the elements elements of winter. Then, moving indoors, there are roaring fires, festoons festoons of evergreens around doorways and along banisters, banisters, cups of steaming wassail wassail or hot toddies, as everyone everyone gathers around the grandest evergreen of all, the Christmas tree, with its ropes of cranberries and popcorn, its glittering lights and its myriad of ornaments. ornaments. However, turn the world upside down, for a moment, and travel' to southern climes, where snow is re- pilaced by an occasional tropical tropical shower and evergreens are replaced by palms. Yet, it is still Christmas because of the spirit which pervades the season In Australia and the rest of the southern hemisphere, Christmas occurs not in winter, winter, but during thè sultry summer months, which means that the events which make up Christmas Day are likely to shape up somewhat differently. Christmas dinner dinner is likely to be a picnic and rather than dressing up in layers of finery, Australians Australians are as likely to be wearing wearing bathing suits on Christmas Christmas Day, at least after church services are over. Many of the Australian Christmas customs have roots in the Yuletide celebrations celebrations of Britain .. but with a difference. The weather decrees that the pleasures of winter -- which for so many of us are synonymous with the celebration celebration of Christmas -- be foregone. Hence, there are no Yule logs, no sleigh rides, no reindeer. reindeer. Instead, there are the Christmas bell and the Christmas bush, enjoyed, of course, with that same sense of community and family feeling which characterizes Christmas celebrations around the world. In many Latin countries, too, the scene is different from what we imagine. It's not simply that the seasons are reversed; rather, in many they do not experience winter, as we know it, at all. Generally, Christmas celebrations celebrations reflect the local climate as well as the local culture. The celebrations occurring occurring on the island of Jamaica, Jamaica, for instance, are colorful, and perfectly characterstic of that island's heritage, a fascinating blend of European European and African traditions. On that island, bands of roving entertainers, the Jan- kannus, have set the stage for Christmas festivities tor almost 200 years, combining evocative dancing with mysterious, mysterious, mesmerizing music. The singers, dancers and musicians usually are brightly attired and the faces faces of many are hidden by fearsome masks. One of the central figures in these performances is John Canoe, who, masked and bewigged, wears an enormous and elaborate headpiece which depicts a boat teeming with dolls representing representing individuals typical of Jamaican life, among them workers and military men. In Chile, the warmth of the climate creates a signifi cant inconvenience for Viejo Pascuero, the jolly old gent who distributes presents and whose mien and behaviour behaviour strongly resemble Santa's. Santa's. Because chimneys, where they exist, are of minimal proportions, Viejo Pascuero is unable to fit in them. His solution? To climb in a window, window, which provides the same results although less colorfully. In Brazil, boat rides and picnics are the order of the day on Christmas and fireworks fireworks are a popular form of entertainment. Some European customs are observed in Brazil: Among them is the setting up of the nativity scene, in Brazil called a presebre, as well as a Christmas tree, though in Brazil this is adorned with glimmering candles. On Christmas Eve, Midnight Midnight Mass is followed by a festive supper and on Christmas morning, the children children of each household open their gifts, left by Papa Noel in shoes which they had left out the night before, as well as hidden about the house for them to find. And, red and green are the colors of the season in Brazil just as they are in so many other, colder countries; countries; however, it is not holly but eucalyptus and red tropical tropical flowers which provide the brightness. In Costa Rica, too, tropical tropical flowers in a myriad of brilliant hues are a central part of Christmas decorating- decorating- A , Because the country s jungle areas are rich in exquisite exquisite orchids, people make trips to pick their own. They do this in the same way as many North Americans head to the forests to cut down their own Christmas trees. Costa Ricans use the armfuls of flowers they have culled to embellish the manger manger scene which is called a portal. And, they form wreaths from available greenery -- in their case, cypress cypress boughs ornamented with red coffee berries. In Ecuador, mountain Indians, Indians, garbed in finery, mount llamas on Christmas day and ride down to the ranches where they work, carrying with them presents of fresh fruit and vegetables for the Christ child who is the centre of attention where he lies in the presebre, presebre, or creche. The Indians present their gifts, and at the same time ask His blessing on their family and animals for the years to come. During the day, the ranch owner mounts a fiesta for his employees, and provides provides them with a festive dinner of roast lamb and - accompaniments. accompaniments. In the eve ning, he sends his workers back home laden with gifts. In Lima, the capital of Peru, along with more traditional^ traditional^ Christmas celebrations celebrations are a parade in honor of the Virgin Mary and a bullfight. And, in Puerto Rico, Spanish, American and indigenous indigenous island customs mix for a celebration which incorporates incorporates the best of all worlds, with caroling before Christmas and gifts on Christmas and Epiphany too. Ancient Christmas Roots Historians believe that celebrations took place around December 25 long before the birth of Christ. Traditional Christmas customs have grown from several sources, according to religion scholars like E.O. James. Many of the customs have resulted from the coincidence coincidence of Christ's birth with ancient mid-winter agricultural agricultural and solar observances. observances. From the beginning of recorded recorded history, the turn of the year in mid-winter was considered an occasion to mark as a precaution against supernatural forces thought to be rampant and to ensure renewal of the sun's waning power. In Scandanavia, Iceland and Germany, the Yule feast extended from the middle of November to the beginning of January. German and Celtic Yule rights were added to these observances when Teutonic tribes penetrated in Gaul, Britain and Central Europe. Food and fellowship, gifts and greetings, commemorat ed various aspects of this festive season. Since the Middle Ages, evergreens, as symbols of survival, have been associated with Christmas. Christmas. Fires and light -- symbols of warmth and everlasting light during the darkest and coldest time of year -- have always been connected with pagan and Christian winter festivals. Many customs have stood the test of time. On the Roman new Year, January 1, houses were adorned with greenery and lights and gifts were bestowed bestowed on children and the poor. Sound familiar? Christmas was not associated associated with the birth of Christ until toward the end of the fourth century. By then, the church was confronted confronted with some firmly established established and highly developed developed rituals. In the Roman world, the feast of Saturnalia, originally originally held on December 13 and later extended for seven more days, was a time of merrymaking and exchange of gifts. ' Saturnalia was observed in honor of the god Satur- nus, who watched over the sowing and seeding of com. He was honored after completion completion of the fall planting when the coldest season was beginning. Saturnus was also regarded as the first king of Latium and credited with introducing agriculture in the Golden Age. Social distinctions and public business were suspended suspended during the feast of Saturnalia. Courts and schools were closed and the community immersed itself in feasting, gambling with dice and and reversal of society's society's established order. Slaves were served by their masters. They donned their masters' clothes, sat at tables with them, mocked their bosses and wore the pileus -- the badge of freedom. freedom. Soldiers also got in on the fun. No war was declared during the festival, just as all commercial activities, legal legal business and household chores ground to a halt. The Ideal Christmas Gift SOLID WOOD ROCKERS 1065-487 7060-487 6605-485 6505-401 1060-400 PP BBImi if ç v HR. Reg. $438. Reg. $490. Reg. $510. Sale $ 329°° Sale $ 369 00 Sale $ 379°° (Blanket Included)* * Other styles are available. Reg. $420. Reg. $279. Sale $ 315°° Sale $ 199°° (4 only-cherry) Available in white Come in and browse through our complete display of room settings on two floors, filled with beautiful gift ideas. Ondtaàd PaàJz fywuùtuAe 28 King St. W. (Beside Shomey's Optical) 623-1131 Bowmanville We're open Thurs. 9 - 5; Fn. 9 - 9; Sat. 9-5