1. Winter Holiday Season Traditions around the World
ICAN Club,
Minsk, Belarus,
December 2015
CC Valentina Holubeva, writespeakenglish.com

2. Why are candles usually four and of different height?
Four candles are used to make an Advent Crown, a wreath of greenery with four candles round the outside and one in the middle or in a separate place. It’s a kind of Christmas Countdown. Advent means 'Coming' in Latin. Advent is the period of four Sundays and weeks before Christmas.
The tallest candle is lit on the first Sunday of Advent, the second tall is lit on the second Sunday and so on. Each candle has a different meaning in Christianity:
1st : Isaiah and other prophets in the bible that predicted the coming of Jesus.
2st : the Bible.
3d : Mary, the mother of Jesus.
4st : John the Baptist, Jesus' cousin, who told the people in Israel to get ready for Jesus' teaching.

3. What is the meaning of the Star?
The STAR reminds of the star that appeared in the sky when Jesus Christ was born.
The shining hope of mankind.

4. Why do we have Bells on Christmas trees?
The BELL: Rings out to guide lost sheep back to the fold, signifying that all are precious in His eyes.

5. What is a “Candy Cane” and why do we have them at Christmas?
The Candy Cane: Represents the shape of the shepherd's crook, used to bring lost lambs back to the fold.

6. What does the Wreath symbolise?
The Wreath: A symbol of the never ending eternal value of love… having no end.

7. What country is this custom from?
The festive delicacy is deep-fried Emperor Moth caterpillars.
South Africa

8. What country is this custom from?
You cannot sweep the floor on Christmas Eve as all brooms are hidden away, not to be stolen by witches.
Norway

9. What country is this custom from?
Before Christmas people sweep their homes clean and make a pile of dirt in front of their houses. Why do they do it?
Later they put an effigy of
the devil on top of it and burn it.
Guatemala

10. How do the Belarusians call this thing and why do they hang it in their homes?
The Spider
It is believed to collect the negative energy and evil spirits,
At Christmas the old spider is burned together with all the evil it has collected and is replaced with a new one.

11. Happy Winter Holiday Season!
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