@Purebeauty 24 December 2020 more from that month

Christmas is a celebration of life

The most beautiful time of the year is coming. This year’s holidays will be different.While this year may come with its social distancing challenges, I hope you find a way to catch up with friends and family and enjoy the festive season! A child will be born, a small child, a great God. It gives us the fullness of life, it remains with us in the sacraments, in the Holy Eucharist. He comes as a helpless child so that no one will be afraid of him. Let us embrace the word that became man in order to become God to me.

Christmas is a Christian holiday and is celebrated around the world as such. But as much as there are people in the world, there are so many differences between us. In some countries, Christmas traditions are quite common, which we would not even think of in our wildest dreams.Here I will introduce you some: **Iceland - watch out for huge cats** One of the most unusual and perhaps even weird Christmas-related stories is definitely the one in Iceland. It is said that a huge cat roams the snowy countryside at Christmas time. She is supposed to attack mainly naughty children, but you are supposedly not safe from her, regardless of age. To avoid a cat, you need to get a new piece of clothing before Christmas. One sock is enough and a huge cat will just shower against you if they happen to meet. **Norway - hide all brooms** In Norway, it is common for people to hide brooms on Christmas Eve. The tradition dates back to a time when people believed that witches came to the surface this evening looking for brooms to fly on. Although this superstition appeared centuries ago, many Norwegians still hide brooms in the safest place in the house. Just in case. **Venezuela - all on roller skates** You love Christmas very much, but do you think the holidays could be even more beautiful if you added roller skates to them? Yes, roller skates. In Caracas, Venezuela, many residents go to church on roller skates the morning before Christmas. The unique tradition is so popular that quite a few roads are closed at that time to ensure safety. Why they actually do this is not entirely clear. **Finland - sauna with ancestors** In Finland, a home sauna is commonplace. At Christmas time, a very special tradition is associated with it, as the sauna then becomes a place associated with deceased ancestors. On Christmas Eve, the Finns first sit naked in the sauna, but when they go to the evening celebrations, the deceased ancestors are supposed to take their place in a heated room. **Japan - festive fried chicken** In the 1970s, the American fast food chain KFC promoted its food in a marketing campaign in Japan with the slogan "Kentucky for Christmas!". Christmas there is not related to religion, and the impact of this advertising is so strong that many families there still go to the nearby KFC for a "holiday" meal for Christmas. If you find yourself there just at this time, expect to deduct a little more money for the fried chicken. **South Africa - guest caterpillars** When you think of holiday food, you definitely smell like cookies, roasted turkey and cakes. Well, in South Africa they look forward to fried caterpillars. **Netherlands - carrots in shoes** In early December, children in the Netherlands place their shoes next to the stove and hope to find a gift in them in the morning. Tradition dictates that a few carrots should be left in the shoes before going to bed. They are a delicacy for a white horse named Amerigo, who accompanies Sinterklaas - the patron saint of children, whose appearance is based on the idea of St. Nicholas. **CHRISTMAS SONG:** **There stands a stable**, there stands a stable, a beautiful stable Bethlehem, a beautiful stable Bethlehem. Inside is Mary, the Infant Child, the holy Child Jesus. There stands by the side of St. Joseph the old, he has a beautiful gray head. He bends with his foot, The child sways, the holy Child of Jesus. There the shepherds rush, There the shepherds rush, to the beautiful stable of Bethlehem. Behold, three kings in beautiful golden robes, on camels ride. They bring gifts: sweet incense, myrrh, pure gold. How you celebrating Christmas? Has your country any Christmas tradition? Thank you for reading my article. I wish you peace and fullness of life from the bottom of my heart for this holy holiday, and an abundance of God's blessing.

From @Purebeauty.