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Christmas Traditions: Children
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Traditions in Italy are based heavily on the religion of Christianity. Christmas starts eight days before Christmas and lasts till after the Feast of Epiphany. Musical salutes are made at the shrine of the Virgin Mary and songs are played at the homes of carpenters in honor of St. Joseph. Eight days before Christmas, a special Novena of prayers and church services begin. It all ends on Christmas Day. On December 23rd, sometimes earlier, children dressed as shepherds with sandals, leggings tied with crossing thongs, and wearing shepherds’ hats, go from house to house playing songs on shepherds’ pipes and giving recitations.
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Author traces origin of the many traditions celebrated each year at Christmas. She has included legends for children and traditional Christmas classics. More than 100 beautiful full-color illustrations illuminate the history of the holiday season.
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This is celebrated on Christmas Eve, beginning around 11 or 11.30pm and is a very traditional service incorporating Christmas carols to herald the arrival of Christmas Day. Often there is an earlier service which is aimed more towards children and features a dramatization of the Nativity (sometimes complete with wildlife!).
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