CHRISTMAS IN SANT'ELIA

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Aubrey McDaniel
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CHRISTMAS IN SANT'ELIA Christmas time in Italy and so also in Sant'Elia a Pianisi begins on December 8, the day when we celebrate the Immaculate Conception of our Mother, which celebrates the Virgin

The main streets of the villages, of the towns, of the cities with their balconies, windows, plants placed in front of the houses, the windows of the shops are all decorated with lights, streamers,

1 CHRISTMAS IN SANT'ELIA Christmas time in Italy and so also in Sant'Elia a Pianisi begins on December 8, the day when we celebrate the Immaculate Conception of our Mother, which celebrates the Virgin Mary's conception lacking of the original sin. On this day Christmas trees and Christmas crib are made at homes, and along the streets Christmas decorations, prepared the previous days, light up. The main streets of the villages, of the towns, of the cities with their balconies, windows, plants placed in front of the houses, the windows of the shops are all decorated with lights, streamers, beads and bright neon lights. On the square Piazza Municipio, the square that marks the centre of the village, in front of the monument that commemorates the fallen of the First and Second World War, a large and big Christmas Crib is prepared with a hut tall more than five feet high and made of dried leaves, reeds and straw. Large statues performing the Holy Family, the shepherds, the ox and the donkey are placed inside. The day of the Immaculate Conception is a holiday for the whole national territory and therefore the School, like all public offices, remain closed with great joy of all the students. On this day in our village a statue of our Mother, blessed by Pope Pius IX in the second half of the nineteenth century, is carried in solemn procession. The statue is very big and heavy and has a wooden base, in Baroque style, decorated on its sides with four magnificent angels. This statue is carried in procession by eight men who are part of the congregation consecrated to the Immaculate Conception. Along the main street and in the most characteristic corners, in addition to the lights there are also music boxes that spread around Christmas melodies that carry pedestrians in an enchanted and fairy world. Wherever you are, you breathe an air of festivity. Str. 36

They are present at the various religious rites provided by the Catholic liturgy, and during this procession, and other religious events which are particularly important, they wear a white tunic, a

2 They are present at the various religious rites provided by the Catholic liturgy, and during this procession, and other religious events which are particularly important, they wear a white tunic, a rosary around their waists and on their shoulders a short blue cape on which there is a large brooch with a picture of our Mother Madonna. The colors white and blue are the colors of the the Virgin clothes. In Sant'Elia a Pianisi during the four weeks preceding Christmas, churches change their appearance because in every church are set up beautiful Christmas Cribs to remember the Nativity of the Infant Jesus. The cribs which are prepared in the churches are usually traditioinal, made of moss, stones, straw and ancient and fine plaster shepherds of valuable workmanship. The changing of lights, simulating the alternation of night and day and, as a result of particular mechanisms and engines, the flowing streams, the gushing fountains and the running mills attract the admiration of people, especially children. In Sant'Elia a Pianisi there are three churches: the main Parish Church, the Convent and the Church of San Rocco. At Christmas they seem to take a different appearance from what they are all the year. The main altar and the altars that are in front of the niches where there are the statues of various saints are adorned with flowers and plants found only in this period as: red and white poinsettia, holly, and mistletoe. Priests wear special vestments and during these four weeks, near the main altar four candles one red, one blue, one gold and one silver are placed on the candelabrum, they are lit by a child during the celebration of Holy Mass on every Sunday. During the last nine days of Advent time the Christmas novena is celebrated at different hours: at the Capuchin monastery it is celebrated in the morning at six, while in the Parish Church it is celebrated at six pm. During these celebrations traditional Christmas carols like "Silent Night", "You come down from the stars" are sung. This last is a traditional song whose text was written by the saint De Liguori Alfonso. The song is about the Child Jesus who came to the cold and frost earth to save and redeem mankind. The novena ends with the Christmas Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. During this solemn Mass, the Church is full of people and there are many acolytes who help the priest during the Eucharistic celebration. The most exciting feature is the commemoration of the birth of baby Jesus, at midnight the priest, starting from the main altar, followed by a procession of acolytes, walks across the whole Church to go and place the Divine Child in the cave between the statues of the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph. Str. 37

This moment is made even more solemn by the sound of the bells, which announce to the whole country, even to those who have not gone to mass, that the Redeemer was born.

3 This moment is made even more solemn by the sound of the bells, which announce to the whole country, even to those who have not gone to mass, that the Redeemer was born. After the Mass, outside the church all the people kiss and wish each other Happy Christmas. The whole village seems l i ke a w ide f amily! Eucharistic celebrations culminate on January 6, Epiphany of the Lord. The word Epiphany comes from a Greek word and means "manifestation", on this day Christians remember the visit of the Three Magi to baby Jesus. In Sant'Elia this important event for Catholics, is commemorated by a group of people, richly dressed in eastern clothes and riding magnificent blacks horses, go through the village streets to get the lively Crib set in the historic centre of the village, called "Casale". The borough dating back to the fifteenth century, preserves houses that have the original appearance with rooms carved into the rock. Once they were used as stables and cellars. In this place on December 24, 25 and on January 6 is performed this living Crib with over one hundred actors of all age. The actors wearing period costumes, play the daily activities that were carried out at the time of the birth of Jesus, the Bible's most famous episodes related to the birth of Jesus and of course the most important scene which is the Nativity. The Child is played every year by a child a few months. Until a few years ago, on this day in the convent, a lady called The delegata, whose name derived from the role she played in the Franciscan Third Order, organized a representation of the nativity involving children, teenagers and adults. This representation has been made for about 40 years, until the death of all the "delegates". Today the performing is carried out by a group called Araldini. They organize a concert too on this day whose actors are the so many boys and girls of the village. They sing Italian and English songs including "Jingle Bells," "White Christmas" "Happy Christmas" and "Let it snow. The concert is made in collaboration with the Youth musicians group of the Convent and it is very appreciated by parents and grandparents. Epiphany also has a religious and laic meaning, in fact on this day children believe that an old "witch" flying on a broom, falls down chimneys and brings gifts and candies to children who have been good students and respectful of people. Around Christmas time among families and friends there is the custom of exchanging visits, presents and wishes for a Merry Christmas. People give presents of various kinds such as panettoni, pandori, sparkling wine, traditional sweets, household items and candles about Christmas. Str. 38

make sweets of various kind and shape and put them on their counters to sell. On Christmas Eve in Sant'Elia a Pianisi, there is a particular tradition.

4 make sweets of various kind and shape and put them on their counters to sell. On Christmas Eve in Sant'Elia a Pianisi, there is a particular tradition. At lunch people eat very little, because particular attention is devoted to the dinner that must be based on fish. Christmas time is also a game time. At home people play tombola, bingo or with cards, or go to bingo clubs especially young people. Tombola is similar to "Bingo". There is folder to complete with called numbers. The winner is the one who complete first all the folder. Christmas for our community is a traditionally holiday spent at home. An ancient proverb says, "Christmas must be spent with own relatives while Easter can be spent with whoever you are or whenever you are". During this time, those who lives far from their families turn back home: students, attending university studies in large cities such as Rome, Naples and Milan, migrants living in Germany, Switzerland, France, other parts of Italy and even from America. During the Christmas time the tables are dressed in red, silver or blue tablecloths and napkins all commonly with golden decorations. people prepare sweets and special dishes such as the "Mostaccioli" which are covered of dark or white chocolate, the "pepatelli", which are roasted almonds mixed with honey and "canestrelli, cakes made with a puff pastry rolled up in rings and are fried in hot oil. Our three bakers People cook spaghetti with tomato sauce flavored with salt cod and eels cooked in it. The cod is cooked in different ways in the oven, with potatoes and bread, boiled and dressed with garlic, parsley and olive oil and fried. There are other seafood such as mussels, prawns, squid and cuttlefish cooked in various ways and eaten in the evening. Dinner ends eating seasonal fruits such as mandarins, apples, oranges, pears, nuts like walnuts, almonds, peanuts, dried figs. Finally there are the sweets: panettoni, nougat and other Christmas cakes and champagne. At midnight, in many families, there is also the tradition of opening the presents that have been put under the Christmas Tree and brought by Santa Claus, in most cases, however, these presents are opened on Christmas morning to give children the sensation they have been brought by Santa Claus. The magical atmosphere of Christmas, is also felt at school. Students read passages about Christmas and its symbols, religious or not, study poems about the Child Jesus, solidarity, peace and love, learn Italian, Str. 39

5 English and French carols, make posters and Christmas cards. Christmas cards are given to all the people who works at school. Once children put a Christmas card under the father s plate so when he discovered it they received a nice gift but only after said a Christmas poem. At school in almost all classes students and teachers make a crib. They are made of different materials: plexiglass, transparent paper, cans, the loaves of bread, branches of trees, powdered glass and pieces of mirror. Two years ago a group of students of our school won the first prize on an exhibition made in Campobasso. It represented the Nativity made of transparent plastic boxes within there were a lot of coloured lights. At school every year we make a Christmas concert singing famous traditional Christmas songs. Our school orchestra is called Selia Band. This year's concert will be performed at the Parish Church, dedicated to Saint Elijah the prophet, our patron saint. During the concert there will be the performance of melodies, but also the acting of poems related to Christmas. In Sant'Elia a Pianisi people wait for Christmas holiday even to enjoy and have the time to kill the pig. It is used to make the salumi for which our village is famous, they are sausages, sopressata, capocolli and hams. Almost every family does it which preserve in oil, fat and vacuum. But Christmas also brings something that is particularly pleasant for students: the Christmas holidays. They are usually from December 24 to January 6. It is a period of rest from school activities, although we have some homework to do. Young people have great fun because they can go out for a walk, visit far friends, organize dance parties, organize games like tombola or bingo or p l a y i n g c a r d s. Christmas is a period that can be considered a metaphor for life: it is a time of deep spirituality and recreation mind. Besides, and that's more beautiful because God became a man to teach our hearts to recognize and experience the true love among each other. Str. 40

S Let s research traditional Maltese feasts and identify characteristics that are still present today.

S Let s research traditional Maltese feasts and identify characteristics that are still present today. S4.3 WORK, LEISURE and CELEBRATIONS S4.3.4 - Let s research traditional Maltese feasts and identify characteristics that are still present today. Maltese Feasts and Traditions In Malta and Gozo we celebrate