ChristmasinChileHowChristmasis

celebrated

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usWhere

isChile?ChileislocatedintheSouthHemispheremostspecificallyinSouthAmerica.DuringChristmastimeweareapproachingsummertimeanddaysgethotter.ChristmasinChileInChile,mostpeoplecelebrateChristmas,speciallythosewhoareCatholic.ChristmasDay(December25th)isadayoff,soeveryschool,bank,office,supermarketareclosedonthisday;onlystoresthatareattendedbytheirownerscanbeopen.TheSchoolyearhadendedforstudentsandtheyarestartingtheirSummerHolidaysthatlasttwomonths.SettingupChristmasOnthelasthalfofNovemberorthefirstweekinDecember,familiesdecoratetheirhousesandthecentraldecorationisthe“PinodePascua”(Christmaspine)whichisdecoratedwithornaments,lights,sweetsandmostofthemhaveastaronthetop.Myhouseat2014Christmas(lastyear)WealsousedChristmasdecorationinspiredbyChristmasintheNorthHemisphere,wehaveteddysnowmen,SantasorReindeers,plasticsnowflakesandwaterglobesthatshowussnowyChristmasscenes.Myhouseat2014Christmas(lastyear)ChristmasEveOnDecember24thisChristmasEve.CatholicandsomeotherChristianchurchespreparespecialmassesorservicesatevening.Athome,familiesprepareadinnerwiththefamily’straditionaldishesforthisnight.Wehavedinneraround10atnight.Christmasdinner2014(lastyear)atmyparent’shouseAsitishotandpeopledon’thavetogotoworkthenextday,childrenstayupwaitingfor“ViejitoPascuero”(OldmanChristmas)tobringtheirpresentsandfillwithsweetstheir“botasdenavidad”(Christmasboots)thatarehungonwallsbecausemosthousesdon’thavefireplace.Sochildrengotoatheirparent’sbedroomortheirownstowatchTV.LotsofChristmasmoviecanbewatchedonpublicTVchannels.Mydaughterandmylittleniece(lastyear)atmyparent’shouseforChristmasEveNearmidnight“ViejitoPascuero”arrivesandthe“PinodePascua”isfullofpresents.Childrenopentheirpresentsandthengoouttoplaywiththeirnewtoystogethertotheirneighbours.Mydaughter(lastyear)atmyparent’shouseforChristmasEveSorryaboutthequality,mydaughterwassoexcitedthatshecouldnotstandstill.Adultsdrink“colademono”(Monkey’stale)whichisanalcoholicdrinkmadewithmilk,coffee,cinnamon,liquorandsugar.Thereisalsoaversionwithoutliquorthatchildrencandrink.Everybodyeats“pandepascua”(gingerbread).Familiesgotobedlateaftercleaningandordering.ChristmasDayOnDecember25thisChristmasDay.Asmostpeoplestayuplatethenightbefore,familieswakeuparound10inthemorning.Childrengoouttoplaywiththeirnewtoys.Itistimetogotovisitotherrelativesorgototheriver,beachorlake.MostofthetimefamilieshavelunchwithwhatwasleftfromChristmasEve’sdinner.ChristmasinChileisatimeof