ITALIAN HOLYDAYS: From the immaculate Conception to the j *
 Epiphany, the fusion of sacred and profane during Christmas
 (Continued from page 9) will bring good luck through- and the burial of an immortal
have a glass of fine wine. On out the New Year. At midnight, martyr.
Christmas day, a typical game the New Year is celebrated by Along with the Christian
that involves- the whole family drinking spumante, the sweet tradition, a pagan tradition is
is the Tombola, similar to the Italian champagne, lighting also associated with the Epiph-
game Bingo. A very popular bangers in the streets and any's day. In fact, January 6 is
card game among teenagers is fireworks. According to an old also the "Befana's day." Befana
Bacara', in which one person Italian tradition, families used is an old ugly witch related to
is a central banker and two to throw old objects out of their Santa Claus. Because she is
other groups bet on the high- windows. Today, for safety very unpleasant, the Italians
est card. reasons; this tradition doesn't use the expression "as ugly
 December 26 is also a na- exist anymore. as the Befana" to indicate an
tional holiday. On this day Young people go dancing all oldhag. However, she is not a
Saint Stephen, who was the night long in clubs and in the bad witch. She brings sweets
first Christian martyr, is cel- morning, before they go back and candies to good kids and
ebrated. A typical Italian ex- home, they usually stop in a a lump of coal to bad kids.
pression is: "This thing will caf' to have a croissant and a The Befana puts her presents
last from Christmas to Saint cappuccino. inside the stockings that she
Stephen's day," which means On New Years day, families finds in the houses, hanging
that the thing will last for a gather again to eat and often from the walls.
very short time. Another tra- watch the "New Year Concert."
ditional Italian proverb of this live from Vienna on TV. With this day, the holiday
time of the year is: "Christmas Italian holidays end on Jan- season ends. Italians go back
with your parents and the New uary 6, the Epiphany's day. to work, kids go back to school.
Year with whom you want." The rumor is that this is the They start to live a new year,
During Christmas everybody day during which the three hoping that it will be even
usually spends the day with Wise Men, representatives of a better than the last one. The .
their families, during the New far away land, arrived in front sweetness of Christmas and
Year it is common to spend the of the Baby Jesus' cave. These the craze of NewYear are re-
eve also with friends. kings, guided by the Comet, placed with the usual routine.
 offered symbolic gifts to Jesus: However, in everybody's heart,.
 On New Years Eve, families gold, which is an indication of there is still the memory of the
usually hav another big din- God's power, incense, which past, the warmth of the fam-
ner where they eat lentil and has to burn only in the hands ily love, and the dream of a
pork sausage because it is a of a high priest, and myrrh, renewed happiness.
popular belief that:this, food which represents the death GiusyAndo'


 S1 I The tradition of having an evergreen tree become a symbol
 The Druids in ancient England and Gaul and the Romans in
 Europe both used evergreen branches to decorate their homes
 n d st e s and publicbuildings to celebrate the Winter Solstice. Over the
 an est w ishes years, these traditions were adopted by Christians, who incor-
 porated them as part of their Christmas holiday celebration.
 STrees used specifically to celebrate Christmas are mentioned
 o v:a .in the early 1600s in Germany and surrounding countries. The
 families would set up these trees in aprominent location of their
 r p r ") home and decorate them with colored paper, small toys, food,
 p oDpe r Us ) and sometimes candles. As these people moved or immigrated
 to other countries, they brought this tradition with them.
 N ew Y 1V!N Through the years many different things were used to deco-
 .W(SIR rate Christmas trees. As the world moved into the 1900s, many
 ) j trees were decorated with strings of popcorn, homemade cards
 Sand pictures, cotton to look like snow, candy in all shapes and
 sizes, and occasionally, fancy store made glass balls and hand
 SE blown glass figurines. Candles were sometimes used, but often
 B EY R E E D caused devastating fires, and many different types of candle
 holders were devised: to try to prevent tree fires. Electric tree
 State Representative District 59 lights were first used just three years after Thomas Edison
 ae epr erict had his first mass public demonstration of electric lights back
 in 1879. The early Christmas tree lights were handmade and
 quite expensive.
 Today, Christmas tree ornaments can be found in nearly
 every size, color, and shape imaginable, and they are used to
 decorate the millions of Christmas trees used throughout the
 world.









 Luis T. Menendez, M.D., P.A.
 $Is Diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology
 Vce President rDisease of the Skin Skin Cancer
 Mike sk dw DvSkin Surgery Laser Hair Removal
 Asbestos Telephone 879-8436
 No.l DNbLcal No. 678
 Tampa 985-3067 3 3011 Swann Ave. Tampa, Florida 33609


 T pa 626-4105 "536



 Laborerr
 Local No. 517
 OrTampa lando 800469-4 8ADRIAN FERNANDEZ
 1 i : Mi,,wrig hts
 n an30 8Loca, No. 1000 nLoral INSURANCE INC.
 Tampa 626-1119
 Oetasperating Engi neers Teamsters Commerca, Auto, Home, Lzfe
 LOC 9:5 .ampa 626-4161 Loal No. 79 9Call for a FREE Quote
 Tam 6216451 TanTampa 621-1391
 S6115 N: Armenia Tampa, FL 33604
 813-872-8481 Fax 813-879-3505

 Iage 10 JlSection B/Fpiday,.pece.mbe ~22, 2006,