"its centre; others will simply put it in a candlestick. It is usually burned at the family evening meal each day. Advent candles are traditionally white, though other Christmas-themed colors have become popular. The custom of having an Advent candle seems to have started in Germany, where children traditionally insert a small candle into a decorated orange. This candle is called the ""Christingle"". It is now widespread in some other European countries such as the United Kingdom. Advent candle An Advent candle is a candle marked with the days of December up to Christmas Eve. It is typically used in"
"Christingle A Christingle is a symbolic object used in the Advent, Christmas and Epiphany services of many Christian denominations. , a word of German origin, means 'Christ Child' and is used to celebrate Jesus Christ as the ""Light of the World"". The authentic origins of the Christingle can be found on the website of the Moravian Church in the British Province. The history of the Christingle can be traced back to Bishop Johannes de Watteville, who started the tradition in Germany in 1747. At that time it was just a red ruff wrapped around a candle. It was popularized in"
"Chrismon tree A Chrismon tree is an evergreen tree often found in the chancel or nave of a church during Advent and Christmastide. The Chrismon tree was first used by North American Lutherans in 1957, although the practice has spread to other Christian denominations, including Anglicans, Catholics, Methodists, and the Reformed. As with the Christmas tree, the evergreen tree itself, for Christians, ""symbolizes the eternal life Jesus Christ provides"". However, the Chrismon tree differs from the traditional Christmas tree in that it ""is decorated only with clear lights and Chrismons made from white and gold material"", the latter two being"
"Kerststol Kerststol is a traditional Dutch oval-shaped fruited Christmas bread. It is a yeast-based bread, with dried fruits, raisins and currants, lemon and orange zest, water, milk, butter, sugar, vanilla, brandy and cinnamon. A more luxurious variety may include chopped walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts. Ginger powder or grated crystallized ginger, dried cherries and cranberries, apple, kiwi or cardamom may also be added to this pastry dough. The dough, after resting, is filled with an almond paste (""amandelspijs"") log which is placed in the middle of the cake. The dough is folded over the almond paste lengthways and gently pinched to"
"white berries, one of which was traditionally removed whenever someone was kissed under it. This is probably a fertility ritual. The mistletoe berry juice resembles semen. Other traditional decorations include bells, candles, candy canes, stockings, wreaths, and angels. Both the displaying of wreaths and candles in each window are a more traditional Christmas display. The concentric assortment of leaves, usually from an evergreen, make up Christmas wreaths and are designed to prepare Christians for the Advent season. Candles in each window are meant to demonstrate the fact that Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the ultimate light of the world."
"in-between and is also served as a dessert during the New Year and Christmas celebrations. Churchkhela Churchkhela (, ) is a traditional Georgian and Anatolian candle-shaped candy. The main ingredients are grape must, nuts and flour. Almonds, walnuts, hazelnut and chocolate and sometimes raisins are threaded onto a string, dipped in thickened grape juice or fruit juices and dried in the shape of a sausage. The traditional technology of churchkhela in the Kakheti region was inscribed on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Georgia list in 2015. Churchkhela and its varieties are popular in several countries besides Georgia, such as Iran,"
"spirals and stuffing it with salt. The pickle is usually consumed with yoghurt rice called ""thayir sadam"". The fresh fruit is also used frequently in ""pachadis"". The Belgian ""Witbier"" (white beer) is made from wheat beer spiced with the peel of the bitter orange. The Finnish and Swedish use bitter orange peel in gingerbread (""pepparkakor""), some Christmas bread and in ""mämmi"". It is also used in the Nordic ""glögi"". In Greece and Cyprus, the ""nerántzi"" or ""kitrómilon"", respectively, is one of the most prized fruits used for spoon sweets, and the ""C. aurantium"" tree (""nerantziá"" or ""kitromiliá"") is a popular"
"Christmastide, sometimes known as the ""Christ candle."" It is lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. The Christ candle is coloured white because this is the traditional festal colour in the Western Church. In many Catholic and Protestant churches, the most popular colours for the four surrounding Advent candles are violet and rose, corresponding with the colors of the liturgical vestments for the Sundays of Advent. For denominations of the Western Christian Church, violet is the historic liturgical color for three of the four Sundays of Advent: Violet is the traditional color of penitential seasons. Blue is also a popular"
"also common, they are made up of fir and pine tree branches for the first Sunday of Advent. The Advent wreath is topped by four candles, symbolising the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. Each candle is lit on each of the Sundays before Christmas. Trees can either be elaborately decorated or can have a simple homely and traditional décor. Instead of putting up ornamental Christmas decorations on the trees, often red ribbons are used for decorating the trees. Glass or plastic ornaments that resemble the apples that were traditionally hung from Christmas trees in France are also used for"
"Churchkhela Churchkhela (, ) is a traditional Georgian and Anatolian candle-shaped candy. The main ingredients are grape must, nuts and flour. Almonds, walnuts, hazelnut and chocolate and sometimes raisins are threaded onto a string, dipped in thickened grape juice or fruit juices and dried in the shape of a sausage. The traditional technology of churchkhela in the Kakheti region was inscribed on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Georgia list in 2015. Churchkhela and its varieties are popular in several countries besides Georgia, such as Iran, Armenia, Cyprus, Greece, Russia, Ukraine, and Turkey. In Persian, it's known as ""Lævascæck Adjili"" (لواشک"
"and given out between the Christmas season and New Years'. The fruit, wine and rum is prepared weeks sometimes months ahead, and has its origin in the English Christmas pudding, and can be quite expensive. It is very different from a North American fruitcake. In Guyana, South America, the same cake with icing, as in the U.K becomes a wedding cake. In the UK, fruitcakes come in many varieties, from extremely light to rich and moist. The traditional Christmas cake is a round fruitcake covered in marzipan and then in white royal icing or fondant icing. They are often further"
"would put a white candle in the wreath and for every day in between he would use a red candle. The use of the Advent wreath has since spread from the Lutheran Church to many Christian denominations, and some of these traditions, such as the Catholic Church and Moravian Church, have introduced unique variations to it. All of the Advent wreaths, however, have four candles, and many of them have a white candle in the centre, the Christ candle, which is lit on Christmas Day. Advent and Christmas wreaths are constructed of evergreens to represent everlasting life brought through Jesus"
"Tangelo The tangelo ( , ; ""C. reticulata × C. maxima"" or ""x C. paradisi""), ""Citrus × tangelo"", is a citrus fruit hybrid of a tangerine and a grapefruit. Sometimes referred to as honeybells, they are the size of an adult fist, have a tart, tangy, tangerine taste, and are juicy at the expense of flesh. They generally have loose skin and are easier to peel than oranges, readily distinguished from them by a characteristic ""nipple"" at the stem. Tangelos can be used as a substitute for mandarin oranges or sweet oranges. The early maturing Orlando tangelo is noted for"
"is often referred to by the name ""Christ's thorn"". In many Western Christian cultures, holly is a traditional Christmas decoration, used especially in wreaths and illustrations, for instance on Christmas cards. Since medieval times the plant has carried a Christian symbolism, as expressed in the well-known Christian Christmas carol ""The Holly and the Ivy"", in which the holly represents Jesus and the ivy represents the Virgin Mary. Angie Mostellar discusses the Christian use of holly at Christmas, stating that: In heraldry, holly is used to symbolize truth. The Norwegian municipality of Stord has a yellow twig of holly in its"
"wafers, tinsel, [and] sweetmeats"". In the 18th century, it began to be illuminated by candles, which were ultimately replaced by Christmas lights after the advent of electrification. Today, there is a wide variety of traditional ornaments, such as garlands, baubles, tinsel, and candy canes. An angel or star might be placed at the top of the tree to represent the Angel Gabriel or the Star of Bethlehem, respectively, from the Nativity. Edible items such as gingerbread, chocolate and other sweets are also popular and are tied to or hung from the tree's branches with ribbons. In the Western Christian tradition,"
"Frangipane is one of France's many traditional foods associated with Christmas celebration. Today it is normally made of butter, sugar, eggs, and ground almonds. In some anecdotes it was the kind of sweet that the noblewoman Jacopa da Settesoli brought to St. Francis of Assisi in 1226, when he was dying. On Epiphany, the French cut the King Cake, a round cake made of frangipane layers into slices to be distributed by a child known as le petit roi (the little king) who is usually hiding under the dining table. The cake is decorated with stars, a crown, flowers and"
"Christmas pudding Christmas pudding is a type of pudding traditionally served as part of the Christmas dinner in the UK, Ireland and in other countries where it has been brought by British emigrants. It has its origins in medieval England, and is sometimes known as plum pudding or just ""pud"", though this can also refer to other kinds of boiled pudding involving dried fruit. Despite the name ""plum pudding,"" the pudding contains no actual plums due to the pre-Victorian use of the word ""plums"" as a term for raisins. The pudding is composed of many dried fruits held together by"
"of lengthening its shelf life. A 106-year-old fruitcake discovered in 2017 by the Antarctic Heritage Trust was described as in ""excellent condition"" and ""almost"" edible. Fruitcake Fruitcake (or fruit cake or fruit bread) is a cake made with candied or dried fruit, nuts, and spices, and optionally soaked in spirits. In the United Kingdom, certain rich versions may be iced and decorated. Fruitcakes are typically served in celebration of weddings and Christmas. Given their rich nature, fruitcakes are most often consumed on their own, as opposed to with condiments (such as butter or cream). The earliest recipe from ancient Rome"
"or purple and one pink, the pink candle being lit on the Third Sunday of Advent, called Gaudete Sunday after the opening word, ""Gaudete"", meaning ""Rejoice"", of the entrance antiphon at Mass. Some add a fifth candle (white), known as the Christ Candle, in the middle of the wreath, to be lit on Christmas Eve or Day. The candles added to the wreath crown symbolise, in one interpretation, the great stages of salvation before the coming of the Messiah; the first is the symbol of the forgiveness granted to Adam and Eve, the second is the symbol of the faith"
"used for distillation, despite remaining in season for almost eight months of the year. By comparison with the large varieties, their juice content is low. Tungi Spirit Tungi Spirit is the name given to a distilled product made in Saint Helena from the fruit of the prickly or cactus pear (""Opuntia ficus-indica""). Tungi is the local Saint Helenian name for the prickly or cactus pear. Three principal varieties of tungi grow on Saint Helena, but only two are used in the production of Tungi spirit. These are both examples of the largest fruit grown – the 'English' (or yellow) fruit"
"seal it. When ready, the cake is dusted with icing sugar before it is served in thick slices, spread with butter. There is a cake of this type also for Easter. Then it is called ""paasstol"" or ""paasbrood"". Kerststol Kerststol is a traditional Dutch oval-shaped fruited Christmas bread. It is a yeast-based bread, with dried fruits, raisins and currants, lemon and orange zest, water, milk, butter, sugar, vanilla, brandy and cinnamon. A more luxurious variety may include chopped walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts. Ginger powder or grated crystallized ginger, dried cherries and cranberries, apple, kiwi or cardamom may also be added"
"erecting a Christmas tree or a Chrismon tree, lighting a Christingle, as well as other ways of preparing for Christmas, such as setting up Christmas decorations, a custom that is sometimes done liturgically through a hanging of the greens ceremony. The equivalent of Advent in Eastern Christianity is called the Nativity Fast, but it differs in length and observances, and does not begin the liturgical church year as it does in the West. The Eastern Nativity Fast does not use the equivalent ""parousia"" in its preparatory services. It is not known when the period of preparation for Christmas that is"
"the liturgical colours of the Christmas season. The Chrismon tree is adorned with Chrismons, ""ancient symbols for Christ or some part of Christ's ministry: the crow, descending down, fish, Celtic cross, Jerusalem cross, shepherd's crook, chalice, shell, and others."" Laurence Hull Stookey writes that ""because many symbols of the Chrismon tree direct our attention to the nature and ultimate work of Christ, they can be helpful in calling attention to Advent themes."" Chrismon tree A Chrismon tree is an evergreen tree often found in the chancel or nave of a church during Advent and Christmastide. The Chrismon tree was first"
"the Sunday before Advent in the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer begins with the words """"Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works..."""". This led to the custom of preparing Christmas puddings on that day which became known as Stir-up Sunday. Christmas pudding's possible ancestors include savoury puddings such as those in Harleian MS 279, crustades, malaches whyte, creme boiled (a kind of stirred custard), and sippets. Various ingredients and methods of these older recipes appear in early plum puddings. Pudding predecessors often"
"ingredients she includes a pound of each of a variety of dried fruits and sugar, plus 1/2lb each of candied peel (citron, orange and lemon). She also adds 1 pint of brandy & 12 eggs. In the late Victorian period a tradition grew up that Christmas puddings should be made on or immediately after the Sunday ""next before Advent"", i.e. four to five weeks before Christmas. The collect for that Sunday in the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England, as it was used from the 16th century (and still is in traditional churches), reads: Initially probably a"
"given sweets by the adults. The Alilo carols vary across the provinces of Georgia. In most songs these words are used: ""ოცდახუთსა დეკემბერსა, ქრისტე იშვა ბეთლემსაო'"" (""otsdakhutsa dekembersa qriste ishva betlemsao"") – ""on 25th December Christ was born in Bethlehem"". A local variant of the Christmas tree, called Chichilaki, is made of soft wooden material with curled branches. Sometimes it is hazelnut branch which is carved into a Tree of Life-like shape and decorated with fruits and sweets. The Western custom of a Christmas tree (""nadzvis khe"") is also popular and has been imported through Russia. The Georgian equivalent of"
"as Laetare Sunday), Easter Sunday, Sunday of the Five Loaves, and Simnel Sunday – named after the cake. Conventionally eleven, or occasionally twelve, marzipan balls are used to decorate the cake, with a story that the balls represent the twelve apostles, minus Judas Simnel cake is a light fruit cake, generally made from these ingredients: white flour, sugar, butter, eggs, fragrant spices, dried fruits, zest and candied peel. Sometimes orange flower water or brandy is used, either in the cake batter or to flavour the almond paste. In most modern versions marzipan or almond paste is used as a filling"
"cake during the Victorian era. In the United States, some people give fruitcakes as gifts at Christmas time, but they are not called Christmas cakes. In the neighbouring country of Canada, however, such an item is labelled a Christmas cake, at least among the English-speaking majority. In India, Christmas cakes are traditionally a fruit cake with many variants. Allahabadi cake is famous for its rich taste and texture. Many smaller and more traditional Christian bakeries add alcohol, usually rum, in the cake. In Sri Lanka, Christmas cakes use treacle instead of cane sugar and include spices like nutmeg, cinnamon and"
"on any good occasion. In engagement ceremonies, small particles of it are mixed with coriander seeds (ધાણા). Hence, in many Gujarati communities, engagement is commonly known as ""gol-dhana"" (ગોળ-ધાણા), literally ""jaggery and coriander seeds"". In Sri Lanka, jaggery is made using the treacle of the kithul tree. Jaggery is used extensively in South India to balance the pungency of spicy foods. In Andhra Pradesh, it is used for sweets like ""chakkara pongal"", ""milk pongal"" (prepared with rice, milk, jaggery). During Sankranti they prepare 'Arisalu' which is an authentic Andhra Pradesh dish. In Kerala, it is considered auspicious and is widely"
"Fruitcake Fruitcake (or fruit cake or fruit bread) is a cake made with candied or dried fruit, nuts, and spices, and optionally soaked in spirits. In the United Kingdom, certain rich versions may be iced and decorated. Fruitcakes are typically served in celebration of weddings and Christmas. Given their rich nature, fruitcakes are most often consumed on their own, as opposed to with condiments (such as butter or cream). The earliest recipe from ancient Rome lists pomegranate seeds, pine nuts, and raisins that were mixed into barley mash. In the Middle Ages, honey, spices, and preserved fruits were added. Fruitcakes"
"of foods. This includes jelly with toast, or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Marmalade is a fruit preserve made from the juice and peel of citrus fruits boiled with sugar and water. It can be produced from lemons, limes, grapefruits, mandarins, sweet oranges, bergamots and other citrus fruits, or any combination thereof. Marmalade is generally distinguished from jam by its fruit peel. The benchmark citrus fruit for marmalade production in Britain is the Spanish Seville orange, ""Citrus aurantium"" var. ""aurantium"", prized for its high pectin content, which gives a good set. The peel has a distinctive bitter taste which"
"Tungi Spirit Tungi Spirit is the name given to a distilled product made in Saint Helena from the fruit of the prickly or cactus pear (""Opuntia ficus-indica""). Tungi is the local Saint Helenian name for the prickly or cactus pear. Three principal varieties of tungi grow on Saint Helena, but only two are used in the production of Tungi spirit. These are both examples of the largest fruit grown – the 'English' (or yellow) fruit and the 'Madeira' (or large red) fruit. These are cultivars of ""Opuntia ficus indica"". The small 'spiny red' tungi fruits (""O. elatior"") are not normally"
"smoked eel are offered as well. Pickled herring comes in many varieties, with white, red, curried and fried pickled herrings as the most common options, and it is served exclusively on rugbrød, a special Danish rye bread, based on sourdough and whole grains. Next will be a variety of warm and cold meats, such as fried sausages, fried meatballs, boiled ham, liver pâté and fried pork, served with red or green braised cabbage dishes. Desserts are usually cheeses, fruit (mostly orange, clementine and mandarin) and risalamande, a special rice dessert associated with Christmas. From time to time, someone calls out"