Jody Victor : The song, "Auld Lang Syne," is sung at the stroke of midnight in almost every English-speaking country in the world to bring in the new year. At least partially written by Robert Burns in the 1700's, it was first published in 1796 after Burns' death. Early variations of the song were sung prior to 1700 and inspired Burns to produce the modern rendition. An old Scotch tune, "Auld Lang Syne" literally means "old long ago," or simply, "the good old days."

                                     Auld Lang Syne

Should auld acquaintance be forgot 

     and never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot  

     and days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear, 

     for auld lang syne,

We'll take a cup of kindness yet,  

     for auld lang syne.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot  

     and never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

     and days of auld lang syne?

And here's a hand, my trusty friend 

     and gie's a hand o' thine.

We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet

     for auld land syne.

Happy New Year!

Jody Victor

Jody Victor: In Bethlehem, the town where Jesus is said to have been born, is the site of the Church of the Nativity. Every Christmas the church is decorated with flags and many other decorations. On Christmas Eve natives and visitors alike crowd the church's doorways and stand on the rooftops to watch for the dramatic annual procession. Galloping horsemen and police mounted on Arabian horses lead the parade. They are followed by a solitary horseman carrying a cross and sitting astride a coal-black steed, then come the churchmen and government officials. The procession solemnly enters the doors and places an ancient effigy of the Holy Child in the church.

Inside the church, deep winding stairs lead to a grotto where visitors find a silver star marking the site of the birth of Jesus.

Christian homes in Bethlehem are decorated with a cross painted over the door, each home displays a homemade manger scene, and a star is set up on a pole in the village square.

Merry Christmas!

Jody Victor

Jody Victor: In Canada, Christmas celebrations are similar to ours and yet, they have their own unique traditions. In some provinces, a big winter festival, called Sinck tuck, is celebrated by the Eskimos, with dancing and a present-giving party. In Labrador, turnips are saved from the summer harvest and are given to children, with a lighted candle pushed into a hollowed out hole as part of their celebration.

In Nova Scotia, a country settled by Scottish highlanders, songs and carols brought from Britain two centuries ago are sung on Christmas morning. Also in Nova Scotia, during the twelve days of Christmas small groups of belsnicklers, or masked mummers, appear in neighborhoods, ringing bells and making noise, seeking candy or other treats. The hosts may try to guess who the mummers are and if they guess right the mummer removes his or her disguise and stops making noises. Children may be quizzed by the mummrs on their behavior and if they say they have been good they are rewarded with candy.

In Quebec they display Creches or nativity scenes in their homes as Christmas decorations. After attending midnight mass, families may be served tourtiere or pork pie. Another favorite food is Boulettes or small meatballs. A Christmas banquet is called a reveillon.

In British Columbia, Christmas turkey may be accompanied by either fresh or smoked salmon.

The traditional Christmas dinner in Canada is roast turkey with vegetables and sauces. For dessert it's rich, fruity Christmas pudding with brandy sauce, mince pies, and pastry cases filled with a mixture of chopped dried fruit.

Jody Victor

Jody Victor : Brazilians are a mix of different ethnic people, and as a former Portuguese colony, they have many Christmas customs which originate from this heritage.

One tradition is to create a nativity scene or Presepio. The word originates from the Hebrew word "presepium" which means the bed of straw upon which Jesus first slept in Bethlehem. Presepios are set up in December and displayed in churches, homes, and stores. Other decorations include fresh flowers picked from the garden, fireworks are set off in the skies over the cities and huge Christmas "trees" of electric lights can be seen against the night skies in major cities such as Brasilia, San Paolo, and Rio de Janeiro.

Papai Noel or Father Noel is the gift-bringer in Brazil. According to legend, he lives in Greenland but when he arrives in brazil, he changes into silk clothing due to the summer heat.

On Christmas eve devout Catholics often attend Midnight Mass or Missa do Galo. On Christmas day Catholics go to church, but the masses are motly late afternoon because people enjoy sleeping late after their Christmas eve dinner called Ceia de Natal (going to the beach). There is also a large meal on Christmas day which includes turkey, ham, colored rice, amd wonderful vegetable and fruit dishes.

In Brazil festivities, including folk dancing and singing, go on until January 6th, which Brazilians refer to as Three Kings Day (our Epiphany).

Jody Victor

Jody Victor : The Christmas season in Itlay goes for three weeks, starting 8 days before Christmas known as the Novena. In the week before Christmas children go from house to house dressed as shepherds, playing pipes, singing and reciting Christmas poems. They are given money to buy presents. In some areas actual shepherds bring musical instruments into villages to play and sing Christmas songs.

A strict fast is observed for 24 hours before Christmas Eve, and is followed by a celebration meal, in which a light Milanese cake called panettone is featured as well as chocolate. Another featured cake is pandoro which originated from Verona. The Christmas Eve dinner is called cenone which is a traditional dish of eel.

Presents are drawn fro the Urn of Fate, which always contains one gift per person. By twilight, candles are lighted around the family crib known as the Presepio, prayers are said, and children recite poems.

At noon on Christmas Day the pope gives his blessing to crowds gathered in the huge Vatican square. Christmas lunch is Tortellini in Brodo which is filled pasta parcels in broth, also served is cappone which is boiled capon, or roasts.

In Italy the children wait until Epiphany, January 6, for their presents. According to tradition, the presents are delivered by a kind ugly witch called Befana on a broomstick. It was said that she was told by the three kings that the baby Jesus was born, but she was busy and delayed visiting the baby. She missed the Star, lost her way and has been flying around ever since, leaving presents at every house with children in case he is there. She slides down chimneys, and fills stockings and shoes with wonderful things for good chiildren and, it is said, she leaves coal for children who are not so good. Sounds familiar!

Jody Victor