Merry Xmas! "Pretty Paper" of Roy Orbison to YOU, Lady Alyssa!

[RussianBat]

:) :) :) :) :) 1. Japan (Kurisumasu Omedeto!): The Japanese people borrowed Christmas and made it their own. Hoteiosho, a kind old man, carries a huge pack with gifts for children. (With eyes in the back of his head, he sees who is naughty or nice.) Many Japanese embrace the Western traditions that were introduced by Christian missionaries. Others take the secular festivities over the top with massive light displays, decorations seemingly everywhere, evergreens and mistletoe hanging and almost anyone and anything dressed for the season (as shown). Come Christmas, families present gifts and sing carols, and some people also enjoy turkey dinner.

2. New Zealand (Kia Orana e Kia Manuia Rava i Teia Kiritimeti e Te Mataiti Ou!): No snow? No problem! Maori and English traditions have blended to create new celebrations for New Zealand, which is the first country immediately west of the International Date Line. Thus, it is the first spot on earth where Christmas arrives. One of the area’s original traditions is using the pohutukawa, a red-blossomed tree that grows in coastal areas, as a Christmas tree.

3. Peru (Sumaj Kausay Kachun Navidad Ch'sisipi!): Quechua still is spoken in Peru, where Christmas rituals are heavily influenced by European ways. Holiday time is marked by bustling markets, where many families buy pieces for their Nativity scenes and tanta wawas (child bread). On Christmas Eve, musicians in masks stroll the streets, and groups of revelers and dancers mingle with religious processions. Many people attend midnight Mass, after which the celebrations continue.

4. Poland (Boze Narodzenie!): The annual Krakow Nativity Scene Competition shows off szopka, which are unlike any other Nativity scenes; these are based on historic buildings in the city, and often a manger scene lies on the second floor of the work. Tradition demands patience in this land: Polish people bring a cherry-tree branch inside, and if it blooms for Christmas, it means good luck and an early spring. Then, after a 24-hour fast, their Christmas feast can begin—but only when the first star of the night appears.

5. India (Shubh Bada Din!): Though Hindus and Muslims make up the population's majority, Christmas is a national holiday in India and is marked with great festivity. The British influence from the days before India gained independence brought the notion of gift exchanges and giving baksheesh (charitable gifts) to the poor. Sweets, with coconut predominating, preserve the idea of spreading joy and sweetness through the year.

6. China (Kung His Hsin Nien Bing Chu Shen Tan!): There's nothing like a gigantic ice sculpture to remind the Chinese that Christmas is coming. Chinese Christians have adopted traditions from the West—they light their homes with paper lanterns and decorate their Tree of Light with paper chains and paper flowers. Children hang stockings in anticipation of a visit by Dun Che Lao Ren (Old Man Christmas).

7. Brazil (Boas Festas!): Presépios (Nativity scenes) were introduced to Brazil in the 17th century in the city of Olinda, and they are proudly displayed in the northeast. This time of year the folk play Los Pastores (The Shepherds) is a big draw; the plot involves a gypsy trying to kidnap the Christ child. According to legend, Papai Noel (Father Noel) lives in Greenland, and when he visits Brazil to deliver gifts, he wears silk clothing to beat the heat; after all, the equator crosses Brazil.

8. Bethlehem (Edo Bri'cho o Rish d'Shato Brich'to!): Palestinian Christian girls and women light candles in the Church of the Nativity, marking the countdown to Christmas Eve. In this town, where Jesus is said to have been born, Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox Christians take part in Christmas processions and religious ceremonies, while mingling with Jews and Muslims. The town is alight with decorations, and often the residents crowd the rooftops to witness the rites.

9. Russia (Hristos Razdajetsja!): Through revolution, war and communist rule, Russians' Christmas traditions were never fully suppressed, and now they are joyful. The feast of St. Nicholas is celebrated, Babouschka brings gifts for the children, and the Eastern Orthodox Church is the focus of religious events. A sleigh ride on the frozen Yenisey River in Siberia is the perfect prelude to Christmas Eve dinner, which features a special porridge, kutya, which symbolizes hope, happiness and untroubled rest.

10. Australia (Merry Christmas!): Naturally, Santa Claus arrives on a surf rescue boat in Queensland, because he visits in high summer. Australians surround themselves with Christmas bush, a native plant that has little red flowers; some use gum-tree branches for decoration, rather than evergreens. In Melbourne, tens of thousands of people gather each Christmas Eve for Carols by Candlelight, a tradition since the early 20th century, which has caught on in other Australian cities.

11. England (Happy Christmas!): Drawing on traditions predating the Christian era, the British hang greens—a reminder that spring will return. Father Christmas leaves gifts under elaborately decorated trees and fills children's stockings. Boxing Day (Dec. 26), was traditionally the day that the alms boxes at churches were opened and the contents distributed to the poor; it remains a day for giving.


12. United States (Merry Christmas!): In such a diverse nation with many traditions and rituals, the season might begin with the Christmas tree and the corresponding generations-old outing to cut down or select the evergreen of your choice. Shoppers crowd city streets, where window displays and decorations of greens and lights are as much an attraction as crossing off the last gift on that shopping list. And on the night before Christmas, perhaps after a church service, the young sleep, as visions of Santa Claus dance in their heads.

Alyssa! The World Says "Merry Christmas to YOU"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[charmed_1_1999]

I'd like to take this oppertunity to wish you ALL a very Merry Christmas, not just Alyssa! ;)

http://www.geocities.com/nodoubt_rocksteady2002/mychristmascard.JPG

Hope you like my card! :D

[|ouch|UV|C-HS}]

Thanks for all that info russianbat!! it was realy intresting to see each countrys traditions:D

And Happy Christmas to everyone here you are all amazing and of course to alyssa and her family:Dxxx

[Light]

It's really very interesting info. Thank you for searching.
Have a great holydays.:)

[RussianBat]

:) :) :) :) :) 1. Sapporo, Japan: For seven days in February, the Sapporo Snow Festival hosts a frozen fantasy land of creatures, cartoons, temples and more—some several stories high. All are the legacy of high school students who in 1950 sculpted six snow statues in Odori Park.

2. Greenland: Building-sized bergs calved from the Kangerlua Glacier float peacefully near Ilulissat. Literally translated, Ilulissat means "the Icebergs." These massive hunks of ice are a popular tourist spectacle; the Ilulissat Icefjord was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site several years ago.

3. Oregon: A winter rhapsody in notes of ivory and blue, Portland's Multnomah Falls awes onlookers in every season. Its 620-foot cascades earned the admiration of famed explorers Lewis and Clark.

4. Germany: Once inside Dresden's Striezelmarkt Christmas market—the oldest of its kind in Germany—there’s no need to plot a course. A step in any direction leads to delicacies and delights. Sink your teeth into a slice of striezel or marvel at the world’s largest Christmas pyramid.

5. Lake Tahoe: When you tire of world-class skiing and golf, trade those poles or clubs for a sled. Race across Lake Tahoe's wilder side with a team of four-legged tour guides.

6. Sweden: If you think an igloo's impressive, then the Icehotel will astound you. Each winter, 200 kilometers inside the Arctic Circle, artists and a 10,000-year-old river create halls, suites and chapels of ice. In spring, the fairytale hotel melts away.

7. Antarctica: At more than 12,000 feet, Mount Erebus, the southernmost active volcano in the world, located on Ross Island, provides a spectacular view of the Ross Sea and mainland Antarctica. Just over the crater rim lies a lava lake, bubbling heat in this frozen land.

8. Seattle: Ballerina swans twirl beneath a moonlight snowfall as the Pacific Northwest Ballet breathes life into the storybook world of "The Nutcracker," with sets and costumes by illustrator Maurice Sendak ("Where the Wild Things Are").

9. Scotland: A crisp, clear winter day illuminates the mist hovering over Loch Morlich and the pristine snow dusting its banks. Located in the Cairngorms in the Eastern Scottish Highlands near Aviemore, Loch Morlich abuts the land grazed by a herd of reindeer that were reintroduced into Scotland more than 50 years ago.

10. Russia: Holiday lights and the candy-striped cupolas of St. Basil's Cathedral light up Red Square like fireworks. One of Moscow's most memorable symbols, the cupolas cap eight individual "churches"—each dedicated to a different saint.

11. Norway: The aurora borealis appears to erupt from the craggy peaks of Blåmann (Blue Man) Mountain on Norway's Kvaløya Island. The island—one of the largest in Norway—lies above the Arctic Circle in the Land of the Midnight Sun.

12. Canada: A quiet cabin and a string of lights on a blue night in Alberta's Great White North—there's magic in even the simplest winter scene.

13. Lake Louise, Canada: Deep in Banff's blue kingdom, Chateau Lake Louise beckons like an enchanted castle. Once an 1890 railway hotel, it still serves as a way station for travelers touring the breathtaking summits and ancient glaciers of the Canadian Rockies.


Thank you to http://travel.msn.com//Guides/MSNTravelSlideShow.aspx?cp-documentid=377673&imageindex=13 for such colorful Winter!

[RussianBat]

"Charmed 1 1999" - THANK YOU!!!!!!!! I adore the Fairytales "Neverending Story", "Snow Queen", and everything from Walt Disney!

[larry_h]

I was naughty the other night and had brandy spiked egg nog. I hope Santa doesn't find out before this Xmas.

-Larry

[RussianBat]

Christmas Trees Around the World!:) :) :)

Before the ball drops in Times Square, the Big Apple turns on its holiday charm with the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center. This snow-globe-worthy scene celebrates its 75th anniversary this season.

The 2007 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, the "People's Tree," is from Vermont’s Green Mountain National Forest, and will be decorated with more than 4,500 ornaments crafted by people from across Vermont.

Correction-Dec. 3, 2007: This caption previously stated, "The Capitol Christmas tree in Washington, D.C., is decorated with 3,000 ornaments that are the handiwork of U.S. schoolchildren. Encircling evergreens in the “Pathway of Peace” represent the 50 U.S. states." In actuality, the National Christmas tree on the Ellipse, just south of the White House grounds, is surrounded by the Pathway of Peace.

A token of gratitude for Britain’s aid during World War II, the Christmas tree in London's Trafalgar Square has been the annual gift of the people of Norway since 1947.

Drink a glass of gluhwein from the holiday market at the Romer—Frankfurt's city hall since 1405—and enjoy a taste of Christmas past.

Against a backdrop of tall, shadowy firs, a rainbow trio of Christmas trees lights up the night (location unknown).

The Christmas tree that greets revelers at the Puerta del Sol is dressed for a party. Madrid's two-week celebration makes millionaires along with merrymakers. On Dec. 22, a lucky citizen will win El Gordo (the fat one), the world's biggest lottery.

In addition to the Vatican's heavenly evergreen, St. Peter’s Square in Rome hosts a larger-than-life Nativity scene in front of the obelisk.

Ooh la la Galeries Lafayette! In Paris, even the Christmas trees are chic. With its monumental, baroque dome, plus 10 stories of lights and high fashion, it's no surprise this show-stopping department store draws more visitors than the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower.

"Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree…": Even in its humblest attire, aglow beside a tiny chapel in Germany's Karwendel mountains, a Christmas tree is a wondrous sight.

The largest Christmas tree in Europe (more than 230 feet tall) can be found in the Praça do Comércio in Lisbon, Portugal. Thousands of lights adorn the tree, adding to the special enchantment of the city during the holiday season.

Correction-Dec. 3, 2007: This caption erroneously identified the tree in the Praça do Comércio in Lisbon, Portugal, as the largest Christmas tree in Europe. This statement was accurate when the photo was taken in 2006.

Moscow celebrates Christmas according to the Russian Orthodox calendar on Jan. 7. For weeks beforehand, the city is alive with festivities in anticipation of Father Frost's arrival on his magical troika with the Snow Maiden. He and his helper deliver gifts under the New Year tree, or yolka, which is traditionally a fir.

Venice's Murano Island—renowned throughout the world for its quality glasswork—is home to the tallest glass tree in the world. Sculpted by master glass blower Simone Cenedese, the artistic Christmas tree is a modern reflection of the holiday season.


Illuminating the Gothic facades of Prague’s Old Town Square, and casting its glow over the manger display of the famous Christmas market, is a grand tree cut in the Sumava mountains in the southern Czech Republic.

A Christmas tree befitting Tokyo's nighttime neon display is projected onto the exterior of the Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka.
The world's largest Christmas tree display rises up the slopes of Monte Ingino outside of Gubbio, in Italy’s Umbria region. Composed of about 500 lights connected by 40,000 feet of wire, the “tree” is a modern marvel for an ancient city.

http://travel.msn.com//Guides/MSNTravelSlideShow.aspx?cp-documentid=377019&imageindex=15


Editor's Note: Translations of "Merry Christmas" are by Merry Christmas From FLW in 350+ Languages (http://www.flw.com/merry.htm).

http://travel.msn.com/Guides/article.aspx?cp-documentid=441164

10 Great Holiday Festivals:)

Mulled wine, radiant lights, Nativity scenes and celebratory songs are several ingredients of a warm and happy holiday season. Explore end-of-year festivities around the globe, from snow-blanketed villages to destinations in balmier climes.



Content Source:


Excerpted from the worldwide events guide at Whatsonwhen.com, published December, 2007. © Copyright 2007 Whatsonwhen Limited - All Rights Reserved.

Event details can change. Please check with the organizers that the event is happening before making travel arrangements.


Kitzbühel, Austria: Walkable Advent Calendar:)


Through Dec. 24

The inhabitants of Reith (near Kitzbühel) transform their village into an enormous Advent calendar during December. Each day, another decorated window in one of the beautiful old buildings is opened, developing a stunning composition of colors. The splendid illumination continues throughout the festive season until Jan. 6, when decorations are traditionally taken down.


Los Angeles: Griffith Park Holiday Light Festival


Through Dec. 30

More than 300,000 people attend the Griffith Park Holiday Light Festival, an annual, mile-long, holiday lights display in Los Angeles.

Many come in their cars to drive past the display, so expect a pleasant, but lengthy, traffic jam as you cruise up Crystal Springs Road. Alternatively, go on foot to admire this somewhat tacky but immensely popular spectacle.

If you go …

Where: Griffith Park, 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, CA, 90027
Festival Web site:


New York City: Vienna Boys' Choir


Dec. 16

One of the oldest and most renowned musical institutions in the world, the Vienna Boys' Choir plays an annual Christmas concert at New York's Carnegie Hall.

The December concert has become a staple on New York's festive calendar, along with Radio City's Christmas Spectacular and Handel's Messiah. The choir's program includes traditional sacred music and folk songs from around the world, based on a festive theme.

The Vienna Boys' Choir was founded by imperial decree of Hapsburg Emperor Maximilian I in 1498 to fulfill his wish to have choristers in the Imperial Chapel. Such luminaries as Mozart and Gluck composed music for the choirboys, Franz Schubert sang in the choir from 1808-1813 and Anton Bruckner became the organist in 1867.

Today, those who wish to join the choir attend a special preparatory school and must pass an exam when they are 9 years old. While in the choir, the boys range in age from 10 to 14 and number about 24 while on tour. They have made more than 20 Carnegie Hall appearances since 1937 and have performed annual holiday concerts since 1990.

If you go …

Where: Carnegie Hall, 881 Seventh Ave., New York, NY, 10019-3210
E-mail: boxoffice@carnegiehall.org
Phone: +1 212 247 7800


Niagara Falls, Canada: Winter Festival of Lights


Through Jan. 7

Niagara Falls is home to Canada's largest light festival, the Winter Festival of Lights. The Niagara Parks Winter Wonderland, a beautifully decorated five-kilometer route along the Niagara Parkway adjacent to the famous waterfalls, is decorated with nearly 2 million lights.

The illuminations include the ever-popular Enchantment of Disney animated displays, featuring many of your favorite characters, the Dufferin Islands display, which concentrates on Canadian wildlife (both modern and prehistoric), Candy Cane Lane and the Winter Wonderland.

Additional activities during the festival range from live music and fireworks to a charity fun run.


Oaxaca, Mexico: Radish Night


Dec. 23

The city of Oaxaca takes modern art to extremes with this unusually festive fiesta. Everything from flowers and animals to saints and Nativity scenes is carved from the local specialty—radishes. During the popular event the Zócalo (central square) is filled with stalls and there is music, traditional dancing and piñata (a Mexican children's game) prizes before the event ends with a huge fireworks display.

In addition to the radish-carving, judged by the governor, ready-to-eat food is the fiesta's strong point. The specialty of Radish Night is buñuelos, deep-fried doughnuts drenched in syrup. After munching your way through this starch-laden load, you are not expected to return your plate. Tradition dictates that you throw it over your shoulder—the number of pieces it falls into denotes your fortune for the coming year.



Paris: Les Fééries d'Auteuil


Through Dec. 24

More than 55,000 visitors make the pilgrimage to Paris' Fondation d'Auteuil each December to see its wonderful Nativity display (part of its Fééries d'Auteuil season).

Made up of five large scenes, the crèche tells the story of the Nativity, and is a delight for all ages. There's also a Christmas market, activities for the kids, a brasserie and a series of conferences and concerts aimed at raising awareness of the charity's work.

Proceeds help the Fondation d'Auteuil continue its work supporting French children in need.

If you go …

Where: Fondation d'Auteuil, 40 Rue Jean de La Fontaine, Paris, France, 75016
E-mail: contact@fondation-auteuil.org
Phone: +33 (0) 1 44 14 75 75


Philippines: Filipino Christmas


Through Jan. 8

The Philippines is a great place to be at Christmas. This intensely religious country takes the birth of Christ extremely seriously. A nearly month-long festival begins with the Misa de Gallo (Mass of the Rooster) at dawn on Dec. 16 and finishes on Jan. 6 with the Feast of Kings.

Every night in between, churches are full to bursting with the faithful praying at midnight Masses, never more so than on Christmas Eve itself.

The rich fusion of Christianity and paganism has produced myriad Philippine Christmas rituals and traditions. One of the most obvious is the lantern-making craft of parol. These star-shaped lampshades hang in every store and home, shedding their magical glow to herald the festive season.

Check out San Fernando's magnificent procession of star-shaped lanterns—the Giant Lantern Festival—and the concerts of carol singing and traditional dancing at the open-air auditorium in the park in central Manila. There is also the beautiful Maytinis Nativity Parade and magical Christmas festival, the Laoag City Lantern Parade, Pastores Bikol folk festival and wonderful New Year festivities all over the islands.




Quito, Ecuador: Christmas in Quito


Through Dec. 31

Enjoy a different kind of Christmas in Quito. Attend the Christmas Eve midnight Mass (Misa del Gallo), sing, pray, have cookies dipped in hot chocolate at the novenas and admire the Nativity scenes with traditional local costumes.

The Pesebre, or Nativity scene, is a fixture of Latin-American Christmas preparations. Often the figures that make up these exceptionally elaborate and evocative scenes are dressed in colorful local or national dress. You can catch live performances of the scene, or life-size public displays, but often the most beautiful ones are the small scenes that you find in every home.

Another Christmas tradition is the novenas, a type of pre-Christmas gathering, when the whole community gathers to sing seasonal songs, pray, dedicate poems to Christ, burn incense and drink hot chocolate with biscuits.

On Dec. 24, families celebrate the Cena de Nochebuena, the family Christmas dinner, which traditionally consists of stuffed turkey or chicken, grapes and raisins, salads, rice with cheese, sweet corn and, of course, wine. When the children have gone to bed presents are left at the foot of their beds, ready for when they wake up the next day. On Christmas Eve, the longest and most attended Mass of the year—the Misa del Gallo—takes place at midnight.

No sooner is Christmas over than the people begin to prepare the Fiesta de Año Viejo (Old Year party) when mannequins and dolls representing figures and events of the old year are stuffed with hay and fireworks in preparation for the public burning on New Year's Eve. Often the mannequins are easy to identify, as people literally make representations of whomever they don't like in order to burn them and make way for New Year without them. More often the mannequins represent figures like national and international politicians, characters from the media or folklore.



Seattle: Christmas Ship Festival


Through Dec. 23

The Christmas Ship Festival is a magical holiday celebration that has become a local Northwest tradition since its instigation in 1950.

It celebrates the season with a flotilla of brilliantly lit boats that cruise along Elliott Bay and the lakes of Seattle, booming out carols for all to hear. The ships run nightly from the beginning of December to just before Christmas.

From the official Christmas Ship, The Spirit of Seattle, local choirs sing cheery carols which are broadcast via speakers to bonfire sites on land and to other boats in the parade. For those who want to feel part of the occasion, tickets can be bought to sit on the boats, while for those who are already feeling the pinch of Christmas, grabbing a spot on the bank is just as good.

The flotilla cruises to more than 45 waterfront destinations, with nightly concerts during the first three weeks of December.

If you go …

Where: Argosy Cruises, Pier 55, 1101 Alaskan Way, Suite 201, Seattle, WA, 98101
E-mail: sales@argosycruises.com
Phone: +1 206 623 1445




Stockholm, Sweden: Glögg Days


Through Dec. 31

There's nothing better than a cup of heartening Swedish glögg to get the blood flowing when it's freezing outside. The kindly people at the Wine & Spirits Historical Museum prepare lots of it (together with hot brandy and wine) for visitors in December, as well as providing information about the drink's history.

Drinking spicy mulled wine (or glögg to its friends) is an old Swedish Christmas tradition that springs from the Middle Ages. You'll find the Swedes sipping it at every opportunity once the Advent calendars go up. Red wine, or red berry juice, is heated up and spiced with cinnamon, cloves and other ingredients before being served in mugs and sprinkled with raisins and almonds.

Visitors can discover all that there is to know about snaps, songs and aquavit at Stockholm's Wine & Spirits Historical Museum, devoted to all things alcoholic. For those who weren't aware, there is a technical and cultural history of spirits and alcoholic beverages—especially in Sweden where alcohol slips down readily. The Wine & Spirits Historical Museum tells you all about it in an unusually inventive fashion.

The museum experience allows you to smell spices used in the lethal Swedish aquavit and visit a "potato distillery" and a "wine merchant's shop" from the early 20th century. Also, learn the history of wines from Sweden and around the world (some of which you can also buy).

The highlight has to be the chance to tune in to 200 or so Swedish drinking songs; they hold a very important place in day-to-day Swedish life and tell many a tale. The Swedish toast skål means "bowl" or "goblet" and comes from the drinking vessels used in medieval guild drinking ceremonies. Why not learn how to drink like a Swede?

If you go …

Where: Wine & Spirits Historical Museum
Cost: SKr40
Hours: Tue-Fri 10am-4pm (until 7pm Tue); Sat & Sun 12pm-4pm
E-mail: vinosprithistoriska@museet.vinsprit.se
Phone: +46 (0) 8 744 7070



Happy HOLIDAYS! MERRY CHRISTMAS! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

[xBabyGx]

:eek: WOW

Thnks for all that info!!

P.S From the bottom of my heart I would like to say: MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE (FOR TOMORROW) AND I WISH THAT EVERYONE WILL HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY AND YOU ALL ENJOY IT AS MUCH AS I WILL :D

[RussianBat]

One more Christmas special info:

Have you heard of the story of the beginning of the XX century of Fedor Dostoevski "The boy with Christ for Christmas" about compassion to the "frozen":( poor boy who had seen the beautiful Christmas tree via the window in the rich home... He died while dreaming about that beautiful TREE...

It is my first Xmas I have read so much about it. Remember the story of O' Genry "The Xmas Present"??? About burning love and self-sacrifice:) to each other..

Merry Christmas!!!!!!! Of our hearts.. :)


Pope ushers in Christmas at Midnight Mass
Benedict urges faithful to make room for God:) , fellow man in modern world

updated 12:14 a.m. ET Dec. 25, 2007

VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI urged the faithful to set aside time in their lives for God and the needy, as he ushered in Christmas early Tuesday by celebrating Midnight Mass in St. Peter's Basilica.
Echoing a theme he has raised about an increasingly secular world, Benedict said that many people act as if there is no room for spiritual matters in their lives.
"Man is so preoccupied with himself, he has such urgent need of all the space and all the time for his own things, that nothing remains for others, for his neighbor, for the poor, for God," he said.
Benedict also used the homily to link the Christmas message to the church's growing environmental concerns, referring to early theologians who interpreted Christ's role as also a healer of the Earth and universe.
"He came to restore beauty and dignity to creation, to the universe: This is what began at Christmas and makes the angels rejoice. The Earth is restored to good order by virtue of the fact that it is opened up to God ... Thus Christmas is a feast of restored creation."
Under Benedict, the Vatican has been taking steps toward greater environmental action, a key element of which has been its involvement in reforestation project aimed at offsetting its carbon emissions.
‘Do we have time and space for God?’
In a homily delivered in Italian in front of thousands packing the basilica, Benedict asked the faithful to make room for God, as well as the less fortunate, in their lives.
"Do we have time for our neighbor who is in need of a word from us, from me, or in need of my affection? For the sufferer who is in need of help? For the fugitive or the refugee who is seeking asylum? Do we have time and space for God?"
Benedict drew parallels between what he perceives as modern society's refusal of God and the story of how Jesus was born in a manger because there was no space for his family at a nearby inn.
"In some way, mankind is awaiting God, waiting for him to draw near. But when the moment comes, there is no room for him," he said.
But the message of Jesus' birth, which is marked on Christmas, is also that "God does not allow himself to be shut out," Benedict said. "He finds a space, even if it means entering through the stable; there are people who see his light and pass it on."
Tradition meet digital age
Earlier, as Midnight Mass began, Benedict blessed the crowd of pilgrims, Romans and tourists, as he walked in a procession up the main aisle to the central altar, which was decorated with red poinsettia flowers.
As a choir sang, Benedict sprinkled incense on the altar under Bernini's massive bronze baldachin before opening the service with the traditional wish for peace in Latin: "Pax vobis" ("Peace be with you"). The faithful responded: "Et cum spiritu tuo." ("And also with you.")
Four children, some in native costume from their countries, brought flowers to the altar, placing them near a statue depicting baby Jesus as Benedict, dressed in white and gold-colored robes, joined a choir in a hymn.
For those unable to get into the midnight service there were giant screens set up in St. Peter's Square, which was made festive with a twinkling Christmas tree and the Vatican's Nativity scene.
Officials unveiled the life-size Nativity on Monday, revealing the statues of Mary and Joseph, Jesus' parents, in a huge house-like structure located next to the Vatican's giant, twinkling Christmas tree.
This year, the scene of Jesus' birth was depicted in a recreation of Joseph's Nazareth home rather than the traditional manger in Bethlehem. Officials at the unveiling said the shift underscored the idea that Jesus was born not just in a single place, but everywhere and for everyone.
Hours before Midnight Mass, Benedict briefly appeared at his studio window to light a candle as a symbol of peace, blessing the crowd with the light before leaving it on the sill.
At noon on Tuesday (5 a.m. ET), Benedict was to deliver his traditional Christmas Day "Urbi et Orbi" speech — Latin for "to the city and to the world" — from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, in which he often touches on current events and issues of concern to the Vatican. He then is expected to issue Christmas greetings to the faithful in more than 60 :) languages.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22390769/

[RussianBat]

A Letter from Madonna :) :) :) :) :)

From the moment I began my work on behalf of Malawi’s ONE MILLION orphans, people have asked, "Why did you choose Malawi?" I always answer “I didn’t. Malawi chose me.”

Malawi is one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

Unfortunately, it is also one of the poorest – suffering from famine, drought, extreme poverty, and deadly diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. All of which could be treated with proper health care and education, if it were available.

Through the Raising Malawi: Orphan Care Initiative, Michael Berg and I have committed to doing all that we can to help this small country in desperate need.

We have met with world experts in healthcare, economics, education, and international development – leaders like Dr. Jeffrey Sachs and Dr. Paul Farmer, who have given a voice to the most underprivileged sectors of society.

Together we are working to raise the quality of life for a generation of orphaned and vulnerable children.

Now I’m asking you to join us.

With one of the highest HIV/AIDS rates in the world and one of the lowest rankings in the Human Poverty Index, Malawi and her children are at the heart of the humanitarian crisis in sub-Saharan Africa.

The challenges facing these children are unimaginable. Everyday in Malawi, hundreds of children die from preventable illness, thousands are affected by abuse and neglect, and millions face a lonely struggle for survival without parents, or adult supervision.

At Raising Malawi, we believe in turning these challenges into stepping stones.

Malawi is country with incredible promise. Malawians possess resiliency and great spirit. If we give them a chance to achieve lasting sustainability through smart solutions and the proper support, we will in fact raise Malawi.

No matter who you are or where you are, you can join this cause and get involved. Volunteers of all ages and from every corner of the world are needed. Donations, no matter how large or small, can make a big difference: from buying a bed net to helping build a school or a clinic. Every little bit helps.

I urge you to please support Raising Malawi and remember: by committing a little bit of your time, talent, or treasures to these extraordinary children, you will help to save a life.

www.raisingmalawi.org

[RussianBat]

Xmas wish from AJM? Please!



She is celebrating Her Xmas, Boxing day (to think about the POOR not about buying for our own! BOX in church for the DONATIONS )- where? how? funny or serious? :) :(

For me my Xmas will be for 7 January, will I stand all night in church? It would be my birthday everning... And the day of not celebrating my birthday...but praying to God about my sins:( and about the spreading compassion for the rich and middle class people.


No, the more closer the New Year, the more sad I become, HEY! MAKE DONATION:) TO THE WWW.UNICEFUSA.ORG. Think about Russia. We has the more street children:) then during the WWII. And after all that someone wants to name V. Putin the person of the year. SAD.

No. I am not sad. I suffer. Xmas about COMPASSION.