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Posts published in “Peru”

Weihnachten: Christmas in Germany

Weihnachten: Christmas in Germany

March 5, 2020

By Lucas Irmisch, ESAN University (University of Heilbronn in Germany)

Today I will tell you about my favorite holiday of the year and one of the greatest seasons of the whole year in Germany: Weihnachten, which is Christmas.

Germany features a century old tradition and has some specific customs for Christmas and the whole month of December as preparation:

Advent Calendar (Adventskalender)

The Advent Calendar counts down the four weeks leading up to Christmas Eve and is one of my childhood’s greatest memories. Every day during the Advent season a new door on the Advent calendar is opened. Each opened door proceeds to reveal a chocolate or other treat. You always see where you are and the excitement is growing each day!

Advent wreath (Adventskranz)

Many families in Germany put an Advent wreath on the living room table the fourth Sunday before Christmas. Our wreaths have four large candles and, traditionally, pinecones and berries. The candles provide a very cozy atmosphere in dimmed light and are enjoyed by my whole family.

St. Nicholas Day (Sankt Nikolaus Tag) on the night from the 5th tot he 6th of December you put your cleaned shoes outside the door of your house and if you behaved well in the year St. Nicholas will leave a little gift in the boots, such as chocolate, nuts or fruits, or a bag of gummy bears

Christmas Markets (Weihnachtsmärkte)

During Advent season the historic city centers of every German city light up with Christmas markets, known as Weihnachtsmärkte. Thousands of lights and decorations captivate you, and invite you to stroll around the vendors of local arts and crafts. We also have plenty of food! The Christmas market tradition dates back to the 15th century in Germany. Famous there:

Mulled Wine (Glühwein), hot mulled red wine, with an optional shot of brandy (Glühwein mit Schuss).

Traditional Christmas Foods

One of the most anticipated German Christmas traditions is the Christmas dinner! The traditional Christmas meal features duck, goose, rabbit or a roast. This main dish is ac companied by German delicacies such as apple and sausage stuffing, red cabbage and potato dumplings. Dessert typically includes Christmas Stollen, considered one of the best Christmas pastries in the world!

So these are the main customs and traditions we have and that I found only in Germany in this form. For me the month of December is a very special month full of togetherness and family time. The days are getting short and you make it cozy with candles, Glühwein and all the good pastries. On the evening of the 24th you have the delicious meal and then enjoy your presents under the Christmas tree and the time with your beloved ones.

Photo from:

https://www.trierer-weihnachtsmarkt.de/media/press/weihnachtsmarkt_023.jpg

Fun events in France

Fun events in France

March 5, 2020

By Tania, Universidad ESAN

There are a lot of interesting events in France. First of all, the most important national holiday is on the 14th of July. On this day, French people celebrate the day that people stormed the Bastille Prison on July 14 in 1789, which lead the French Revolution. On this holiday, many parades and processions are held while all the shops are closed. Fireworks adorn the night sky at various places. The streets are decorated with French flags.

 A well-known and highly covered event in France is the Tour de France, where many cyclists race through France over the span of a few weeks. Many spectators go to see these athletes compete live.

Most of the time, during the summer, young people participate in some of the numerous music festivals that are organized all over France. Since we were 16 years old, my friends and I usually go each summer to one or more music festivals. On average, they last three to four days each, and there are a lot of different ones which play all kinds of music. Normally, they take place near campsites where festival-goers can sleep or, for some of them, party all night long.

Finally, a big sporting event will take place in 2024, as Paris will host the Summer Olympic Games.

Photo from: https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/b5857b69-b077-4d76-be1f-b2034f1b5c09

Regional differences of Christmas in Peru

March 5, 2020

By Jhanpierre Adriano Cárdenas (ESAN University)

For many Peruvians Christmas represents a beautiful occasion in which all family members meet and share happy moments remembering the birth of Jesus, our Savior.

Peru, as a Catholic country, has many different religious holidays, but I think Christmas is the most prominent of all. Peru is a multicultural country, and each geographical area has different customs and traditions. I would like to show how Christmas is celebrated in the three geographical regions: the jungle, the mountains, and the coast.

Christmas in the Jungle

In the jungle, children have an important role in Christmas. Many of them participate in different nativity plays dressed as shepherds at the time of Jesus. The best performing group receives sweets as a prize. In addition, there are also performances by the locals as characters from the Bible who are guided by the Star of Bethlehem.

Christmas in the Mountains

In this part of Peru, the image of the child “Manuelito” is revered. “Manuelito” was the name the first Catholics in the mountains of South America gave to Baby Jesus to distinguish him from adult Jesus. Each part of the mountains has its own traditional Christmas celebrations, but most of them include special dances and celebrations leading up to Christmas.

The local “Santuranrikuy” Christmas Market takes place on December 24 in Cusco. Different handmade souvenirs are offered by different artisans, peasants and shepherds of the region who come together to offer their best products to tourists. In this market, we can find crafts made of wood, metal, cloth, etc. Especially popular are figurines of Baby Jesus, the “Manuelito Child.” 

Christmas on the Coast

In this part of the country the celebrations for Christmas date back to the arrival of the first Spanish conquerors, and therefore different European cultural aspects are preserved. Despite this, in Afro-Peruvian areas such as Ica or Chincha, the “Niño Negrito,” or Black Baby Jesus, is celebrated, and he is honored with numerous dances of African origin. The Virgin of Carmen is also celebrated at this time.

However, in Lima, Peru’s capital, most of the excitement centers around the purchases of gifts for children, of the decoration of the house with Western-style Christmas trees, lights and Christmas ornaments.

The most important moment of the Christmas holiday for Peruvians is Christmas Eve night. Most of us eat Christmas turkey, accompanied by panetón, a traditional Christmas bread filled with sweet fruits and raisins, and hot chocolate. When midnight finally arrives, families celebrate together the birth of Lord Jesus and share beautiful moments. They set off fireworks and open presents, and everyone is happy. Many families celebrate until 2 or 3 in the morning.

Missing Life in Germany

Missing Life in Germany

July 25, 2019

Universidad ESAN; Lima Peru

My name is Lorena, I am 21 years old and I am originally from the south of Germany. My home University is University of Pforzheim and it is close to the Black Forest.

I am currently taking part in a double degree program which brought me to ESAN in Lima. My major is marketing and this is my fourth semester.

I love Peru, it’s delicious food and the cheerful Salsa rhythm but from time to time I really miss German traditional music and food.

Maybe you have heard of the Oktoberfest which is originally from Munich, the capital of Bavaria, a state in the south of Germany.

I live close to this city and I will introduce you to our traditions, one example is Oktoberfest party. Even though it is called Oktoberfest, it starts in September and lasts three weeks.

This event already existed since 1820 and was first celebrated on the occasion of the wedding of the Bavarian prince Ludwig. People from all around the world visit Munich just to see this traditional German party with their own eyes.

In the pictures you can see the traditional dresses girls wear that we call Dirndl. On the right you can see boys wearing leather pants, jackets and a traditional shirt with squares.

This is also a famous Oktoberfest outfit. In the background you can see roller coasters and a Ferris wheel. This is part of the fair and people go their with the whole family to have a good time.

The main activity during the day is walking around the huge fair, eat a lot of delicious food like sausages, different kinds of bread and of course: beer, but be careful if you ever go there because the beer at Oktoberfest contains more alcohol than normal beer.

My favourite food is Brezel, which is a special bread with a lot of salt. The atmosphere during the party is very relaxed, friendly and everything is connected to our traditions.

People also dance in big tents, there is always live music. They usually play music which I enjoy a lot.

Real Reporter Online
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