SOME INFORMATION ABOUT CHRISTMAS

Hi guys, here I write some information for the project you have to do about Christmas, so it would be easier for you. Now you organize yourselves to do the work.
http://www.tourbymexico.com/tamps/tamps.htm

TAMAULIPAS

http://www.tourbymexico.com/tamps/mapatamp.jpg The State of Tamaulipas located to the northeast of Mexico, between the parallel 22º 12' 48'' and 27º 40' 47'' of north latitude and the meridian 1º 56' 55'' of length east and 1º 100' 46'' to the west. In Tamaulipas the Cancer Tropic crosses north of Bustamante, to the south Ciudad Victoria and Soto la Marina and north of Llera and of Aldama. Tamaulipas limits to the north, with USA; to the south with the State of Veracruz and with the State of San Luis Potosí; to the east with the Gulf of Mexico and to the west with the State of Nuevo Leon. Tamaulipas has a territorial extension of 79,829 km2., distributed in 43 municipalities with a population of approximately 2'753,222 inhabitants. They exist several versions on the meaning of Tamulipas name, that they are: " High Mountains", "Tribe of Olives" and "Place where is prayed much". For the vast of Tamulipas territory and geographical characteristics, it has several types of climate. The north central part where it is semi dry and semi warm, with scarce rains during all the year. The south zone and the southeast, they have warm climates sub wet, where rains in summer and by finishing, in the Mother Saw the climate varies of warm to temperate depending of the height. Places to visit in Tamaulipas State Aldama Matamoros Altamira Nuevo Laredo Ciudad Madero Presa Vicente Guerrero Ciudad Mante El Cielo Biosphere reserve Ciudad Ocampo Reynosa Ciudad Victoria ۞ Capital City Tampico http://www.tourbymexico.com/tamps/tampico/tampico.htm Congregacion Quintero ">[Map]
The State of Tamaulipas located to the northeast of Mexico, between the parallel 22º 12' 48'' and 27º 40' 47'' of north latitude and the meridian 1º 56' 55'' of length east and 1º 100' 46'' to the west.
In Tamaulipas the Cancer Tropic crosses north of Bustamante, to the south Ciudad Victoria and Soto la Marina and north of Llera and of Aldama.
Tamaulipas limits to the north, with USA; to the south with the State of Veracruz and with the State of San Luis Potosí; to the east with the Gulf of Mexico and to the west with the State of Nuevo Leon. Tamaulipas has a territorial extension of 79,829 km2., distributed in 43 municipalities with a population of approximately 2'753,222 inhabitants.
They exist several versions on the meaning of Tamulipas name, that they are: " High Mountains", "Tribe of Olives" and "Place where is prayed much".
For the vast of Tamulipas territory and geographical characteristics, it has several types of climate. The north central part where it is semi dry and semi warm, with scarce rains during all the year. The south zone and the southeast, they have warm climates sub wet, where rains in summer and by finishing, in the Mother Saw the climate varies of warm to temperate depending of the height.
Places to visit in Tamaulipas State
Aldama Matamoros Altamira Nuevo Laredo Ciudad Madero Presa Vicente Guerrero Ciudad Mante El Cielo Biosphere reserve Ciudad Ocampo Reynosa Ciudad Victoria ۞ Capital City Tampico Congregacion Quintero
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamaulipas
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Eve
In the Western Christian Churches, the Christmas season liturgically begins on Christmas Eve, and is preceded by a four-week fast called Advent. The Mass of the Vigil is said in the late afternoon or early evening hours of December 24th. The Christmastide season continues through until the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord on the Sunday following the Solemnity of the Epiphany.
Many Roman Catholics and Anglicans traditionally celebrate a midnight Mass (Eucharist) which begins sometime before midnight on Christmas Day; this ceremony, which is held in churches throughout the world, marks the beginning of Christmas Day. A popular joke is to ask what time Midnight Mass starts, but in recent years some churches have scheduled their "Midnight" Mass as early as 7 p.m. In Spanish-speaking areas, the Midnight Mass is sometimes referred to as Misa de Gallo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misa_del_Gallo
Meals


Traditional Polish Christmas Eve meal.
Large meals are common, often with turkey http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domesticated_turkey#Turkeys_as_food or ham as the main item. In traditional Orthodox and Catholic countries, Christmas Eve continues to be observed as a fast day, and the meal, though fasting has developed a rich symbolism. The Christmas Eve supper is usually held in candle light, in the evening after the first star appears in the sky. The star symbolizes the birth of Jesus in Christian tradition. Sometimes the meal takes place outside under the stars. Hay may be spread on the floor to recreate the experience of that first Christmas Eve in Bethlehem. Foods are often chosen for their symbolic meaning.
Gift giving
It is also seen as the night when Santa Claus http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus or his international variants make their rounds giving gifts to good children. In the Czech Republic and Hungary, where St. Nicholas (sveti Mikuláš) gives his sweet gifts on December 6, the Christmas gift-giver is the Child Jesus (Ježíšek in Czech and Jézuska in Hungarian), also known to most as Christkind. In Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Norway, Iceland, Argentina, Poland, Portugal and Quebec, Christmas presents are opened mostly on the evening of the 24th, - this is also the tradition among the Royal Family, due to their mainly German ancestry [5] - while in Italy, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, English Canada, South Africa, and Australia mostly on the morning of Christmas Day. In Finland Joulupukki personally meets children and gives presents in the evening of Christmas Eve. In most parts of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland Christmas presents are opened in the evening of December 24th ('Bescherung') and are brought by Christkind or Christchild (or alternatively by the Weihnachtsmann), who leaves the gifts but is never seen doing so. In Spain gifts are traditionally opened on the morning of January 6, Epiphany day ("Día de Los Tres Reyes Magos"), though in some other countries, like Argentina and Uruguay people received presents both around Christmas and on the morning of Epiphany day; there are also some countries, like the rest of Latin America, where people stay awake until midnight, when they open the presents.
South America
In South America Christmas Eve, known as La Noche Buena (English - The Good Night), is celebrated by staying up until midnight. At midnight, gifts and presents are opened. Fireworks are also shot off. Fireworks are the main focus of the celebration. It is not a silent night, with families coming together exchanging presents and going to church. After Christmas the children often play with their new presents or go to church with their parents and grandparents.
[edit] Spain
As in South America, Christmas Eve is also known as Nochebuena in Spain. There are two important traditions: attending Christmas Mass and enjoying a meal with friends and family[6].
There is a wide variety of typical foods one might find on plates across Spain on this particular night, and each region has its own distinct specialties. It is particularly common, however, to start the meal with a seafood dish such as prawns or salmon, followed by a bowl of hot, homemade soup. The main meal will commonly consist of roast lamb, or seafood, such as cod or shellfish. For dessert, there is quite a spread of delicacies, among them are turrón, a dessert made of honey, egg and almonds that is Arabic in origin.
North America
Most families circulate wrapped gifts in the two weeks before Christmas Day. In North America, gifts are most commonly opened on the morning of Christmas Day; however, families may also choose to open all or some of their presents on Christmas Eve, depending on evolving family traditions, logistics, and the age of the children involved. E.g., minor children might open their presents on Christmas Eve and the adults their presents on Christmas morning, or everyone might open their gifts on Christmas morning. In Quebec and among many francophone families living in other provinces, the Réveillon is held on Christmas Eve with traditional food such as tourtière, attendance at church, and the opening of gifts. It is also common tradition throughout North America for children to leave milk and cookies for Santa Claus the night before on a plate before the fireplace[7]. Similar traditions occur in Mexico; however, the name given is, as in Spain, Nochebuena.
http://www.elbalero.gob.mx/kids/explora/html/home.html
TAMAULIPAS

The coat-of-arms of Tamaulipas depicts the agricultural and livestock wealth of the state, as well as the mechanization of the countryside, industrial development and the exploitation of fishery resources.
The Bernal de Horcasitas Hill is also shown, as is the coat-of-arms of José Escandón y Helguera, Count of Sierra Gorda, who colonized the state.
The name of the state of Tamaulipas comes from the Huasteca word, Tamaholipa. Tam means in or place of. Although those who have studied the meaning of this word have varying opinions, the most common definitions are the Place where people pray a lot and the Place of the high mountains.


The state of Tamaulipas has 43 municipalities.



http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/mexico/Michoac-n-Zacatecas/Tamaulipas.html

2 Climate
The warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico contribute to the climate, which is generally warm and humid. The average temperatures is 24°c to 28°c (76°f to 82°f). The highest monthly average rainfall occurs in August and September. In Ciudad Victoria, the average year-round temperature is 24°c (75°f). The average rainfall in this city is 70 centimeters (28 inches) per year.
3 Plants and Animals
Trees found in the state include mesquite, pine, and oak forests. Cacti, orchids, and bromeliads are found in some areas. Large mammals found in the state include white-tailed deer, wildcats, jaguars, and bears.
Smaller mammals include hares, moles, and armadillos. Birds found in the state include turkeys, roadrunners, cockatoos, and pelicans. Tarantulas, chameleons, and several species of snakes and lizards are also found.

http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/christmas.html
LAS PASTORELAS
Pastorelas (Shepherds Plays) are staged throughout the holiday season by both amateur and professional groups. These traditional, often improvised, theatrical presentations date back to Mexico's Colonial period when Roman Catholic missionaries wooed converts and taught doctrine through dramatizations of Biblical stories.
The light, humor-filled Pastorelas tell of the shepherds' adoration of the Christ Child. First they are visited in the fields by an angel who announces the holy birth. As the shepherds attempt to
follow the great star leading them to Bethlehem they are plagued by a series of evils and misadventures provoked by the Devil. But in the proverbial all's-well-that-ends-well finale, good triumphs over evil and the shepherd's reach their intended destination.
EL NACIMIENTO
In most Mexican homes the principal holiday adornment is el Nacimiento (Nativity scene). The focal point, naturally, is a stable where clay or plaster figurines of the Holy Family are sheltered. The scene may be further populated by an angel, Los Reyes Magos (the Magi), the ox and the ass, shepherds and their flocks, and assorted other people and livestock. It is not unusual to also find the forces of evil represented by a serpent and a grotesque Lucifer lurking in the shadows. The figures may be simply positioned in a bed of heno (Spanish moss), or scattered throughout an elaborate landscape.
A major masterpiece may occupy an entire room, often near the front of the house for convenient viewing by neighbors and passersby. The creation of the basic landscape begins with papel roca (paper painted in earth tones) draped over tables, taped onto boxes, crushed and shaped to form a multi-leveled, natural looking terrain that frequently includes a series of hills and dales, a cellophane waterfall, a mirror pond, artificial trees, cacti, palm trees, and little houses set to form an entire village scene. Colored sawdust and a variety of natural mosses may be spread out as ground cover before the addition of strings of Christmas lights and the assorted human and animal figures. The scene will not be completed until Christmas Eve when the newborn Baby Jesus is finally laid in the manger bed.
Nowadays a decorated Christmas tree may be incorporated in the Nacimiento or set up elsewhere in the home. As purchase of a natural pine represents a luxury commodity to most Mexican families, the typical arbolito (little tree) is often an artificial one, a bare branch cut from a copal tree (Bursera microphylla) or some type of shrub collected from the countryside.