For Everybody
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Viet Nam
December 11, 2007
In streets and shops, “Christmas trees” (real or plastic evergreen “conifer” trees) will also be decorated with lights and Christmas ornaments.
Shoping centers become busier as December approaches and often stay open till late. Shoping center speaker system will play Christmas “carols”-the traditional Christmas songs, and groups of the people will often sing carols on the streets to raise money for charity. Most places of work will hold a short Christmas party about a week before Christmas. Although traditional Christmas foods may be eaten, drink (and plenty of it) means that little work will bw done after the party!
By mid-December, most homes will also be decorated with Christmas trees, coloured lights ans paper or plastic decorations around the rooms. These days, many more people also decorate garden trees or house walls with coloured electric lights, a habit which has long been popular in USA.
In many countries, most people post Christmas greeting cards to their friends and family, and these cards will be hung on the walls of their homes. In UK this years, the British Post Office expects to handle over 100 milion cards each day, in three weeks before Christmas.
THE OLD MAN WITH THE SACK
FATHER CHRISTMAS (or Santa Claus) has become the human face of Christmas. Pictures will be seen everywhere of the old man with long white beard, red coat, and bag of toys. Children are taught that he brings them presents the night before Christmas (or in some countries on December 6th-St. Nicholos Day), and many children up to the age of 7 or 8 really believ this is true. In most countries, it is said that he lives near the North Pole, and arrives through the sky on a sledge (snow-cart) puuled by reindeer. He comes into houses down the chimney at midnight and places presents for the children in socks or bags by their beds or in front of the family Christmas trees.
In shops or at childrens’ parties, someone will dress up as Father Christmas and give small presents tochildren, or ask them what gifts they want for Christmas. Christmas can be a time of magic and excitement for children.
More entries: LOVE AND MARRIAGE (2), READING BOOK – A GOOD HABIT, MEKONG DELTA, Ao Dai: The National Costume, TET - VIETNAMESE NEW YEAR, EMPEROR OF JADE TEMPLE (1), HISTORICAL MUSEUM, STREET SCENES and VINH NGHIEM TEMPLE, NOTRE-DEAM CATHERAL , BEN THANH MARKET (3)
