Hello Everybody it’s me again, this time the exercice is to listen a new Learnex Video, and transfer the text to this site, therefore, before anything else, I want to thank Learnex for its extraordinary work and the oportunity to improve my own skill.
So, let’s go with the activity and the important information on the video. This time, the subject is: The Ten Most Curious Christmas Traditions Part I
The 10 Most Courious Christmas Video
The 10 Most Curiosus Christmas Text
The ten most curious tratidions of Christmas in Europe.
In Ireland they prefer beer to celebrate Christmas, while in Portugal they light a bonfire, there are better known Customs such as the New Year’s concert in Austria, and some stranger one such as the ritual of single women in the Czech Republic.
We know spanish customs at Christmas such as greaps on New Year’s Eve, the Bethlehem portal, Christmas carols, the Roscón de Reyes Magos or the Caganer in Catalonia.
But there are many traditions around Europe, there are large unknown to most, large family meals and parties with friends are essential aspects during these dates in all parts of the world. However, each contry has its own way of celebrating them that, today we are looking at five of the ten most interesting or curious traditions in Europe.
Number One - The Befana in Italy
The Befana in Italy, similar to the three wise men, although very different in appearance in Italy it is the Befana who brings the gifts at Chrismas, its tradition also goes back to the bird of Crist according to the legend the three wise men met the Befana when they went to Bethlehem to bring offerings to a new born baby Jesus, the old woman provided food and shelter to the three kings, altough she didn’t want to accompany them on their journey, however she regretted her decision and went out to meet them provided sweets and candies, the old woman was asking house to house for them, while she left some of the sweets to children.
According to tradition the Befana goes down the chimney to leave toys, sweets or fruits for the good children, while the bad ones recieve cole, onions or garlic, like Santa Claus, she doesn’t like to be seen and hits any child who discovers her with the broom.
Number Two - The New Year's concert in Austria
The New Year’s concert in Austria.
One of the most characteristic events of Christmas in Europe is the New Year’s concert by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchesta, the performance takes place every year in Austrian City on the morning of January 1st, the concert is broadcast throughout the world to an estimated audiance of one billion people in seventy different countries, ticket prices range between thirty five (35) and one thousand ninty (1090) euros and due to the great demand of them the organization conducts a raffle, at the beginning of year through its web site.
How since 1941 the concert program has made up for most part music from the Strauss family, afterwards several encores are offered among wich are the waltz: El Danubio Azul and the Radetzky March, wich is accompanied by clapping hands by the audience and closes the event until next year.
This year Andris Nelsons will conduct the 79th edition of the concert.
For more information about the New Year’s concert in Austria clic below link
Number Three - The bonfire and raisins in Portugal
The bonfire and raisins in Portugal.
On Christmas Eve the portuguese light a bonefire with firewood or christmas dumps, it is the centuries old tradition that represents the triumph of light over the darkness. In the contry, there is a belief that the large the log and the longer it lasts the greater the good luck for the following year it will be, at the time they say good bye to the year, in Portugal they change the bells and grapes for fireworks and raisins.
The Madeira region entered the Guinness book of records for performing the larggest fireworks show in the world at 9 from 2006 to 2007.
For more information about the Madeira Record clic below link
Number Four - The ritual of a single women in the Czech Republic
The ritual of a single women in the Czech Republic.
On Christmas Eve all checks single women have to follow a curious ceremony, the ritual consist of turning their to the door of their house and throwing a shoe over the right shoulder, if the front of the shoe points the door when it falls, the check woman will married the next year, on the contrary, if it is the part of the heel that faces the door, you will have to wait another year, a courious way of knowing what love will bring them in the following year.
Number Five - The three FM radio fundraiser in the Nederlands
The three FM radio fundraiser in the Nederlands.
Since 2004 three FM radio DJ’s lock themselves in a glass studio, the week before Christmas to raise money for the Red Cross, They do not eat for a whole week and are responsable for broadcasting, for 24 hours, sevent days a week. This tradition wich is repited every year in a different Dutch City aims to raise awerness and collaborate with a charitable cause, in addition it is another the European countries where gifts are opened on January 5th, during what they call Santa Claus and not on December 24th or 25th like the tipical spanish Christmas basket the Dutch recieve the Krista pocket, tradition says that this package should include all kinds of food and seets.
For additional information clic below links:
The International Student’s Guide to Dutch Christmas Traditions.
The secret Dutch side of Santa Claus.
What happens during Christmas in the Netherlands? A guide to the winter holidays.
That’s it for this week’s edition at feedback Learnex, stay tuned next week thursday night at 9:15 pm, we will take a look at the last five of these ten curious traditions on Christmas in Europe
Finally,
A little reminder, the goal of this post was to practice my listening, and due to the text should have been exactly the same that in the video, if you detect something is different please help me to improve and tell me, thanks in advance.
