Christmas Traditions Around the World at Epcot

In Japan, a street peddler shows us his wares, Daruma dolls which you buy at O-Shogatsu (New Year's) and put on your front door step. You paint the pupil of the left eye when you make a wish for the New Year, and when it comes true, you paint in the other pupil, and your friends and neighbors know your wish has come true. He also told of family get togethers and other O-Shogatsu traditions like the 108 tolls of the gong at the Shinto shrine, which remind folks of the 108 earthly desires to overcome. Once you have all that under your belt, you have got it made.

Christmas Traditions Around the World at Epcot

The Targee Drummer / Storyteller leads us in dance and tells us of Moroccan holiday traditions like the great feast after the fasting of Ramadan, and the holiday of Ashura, when families get together to give gifts and have a festive bonfire in the evening.

Christmas Traditions Around the World at Epcot

Father Christmas leads us in caroling and tells us about British Christmas traditions of wassailing, sending Christmas cards, and kissing under the mistletoe.

Christmas Traditions Around the World at Epcot

Pere Noel tells us about French Christmas traditions like Nativity Scenes and Letters to Santa.

Christmas Traditions Around the World at Epcot

Papa Noel is traveling somewhat incognito through Canada. His assistants, the Belsnickles are everywhere watching to see who is naughty and who is nice.

The Return of the Peacocks

We awoke this morning to some thunks on the roof. Closer investigation revealed this...

The Christmas Tree is up...

And it's feeling more like winter now that the cold weather has arrived!