Santa Claus in Georgia, USA, lives in the Christmas spirit all year long. If you ask which song is most associated with the Christmas season, Jingle Bells will surely top the list. Salted cod on the Portuguese table is like turkey in America.
Santa Claus in Georgia, USA - Jingle Bells will top the Christmas song list - salted cod on the Portuguese table
Founded in the 1940s, the town is located about 190 miles (306km) from Atlanta, with a population of just about 200 people.
Santa Claus - where Christmas is present all year round
Mayor Donita Bowen, a lifelong resident, has known many of the town's residents since childhood, which she believes is key to fostering strong community ties.
"I grew up with them, so I know their families. It's helpful for people to understand each other's circumstances and thoughts," said Ms. Bowen. She said this helps a lot in solving problems in the community when always putting the interests of the people first.
In recent years, the town has become more popular thanks to social media campaigns promoting Christmas-themed events.
Although many people in the state of Georgia do not know about the existence of Santa Claus Town, this town has attracted many tourists from other states, even from Canada, Australia and Europe.
Most of the streets in town are named after Christmas-themed symbols, such as Noel Street, Sleigh Street and Rudolph Street, creating a festive atmosphere all year round.
The town holds its annual tree lighting ceremony in November, which is free and open to everyone, Bowen said.
Children receive small gifts for participating in prize games.
Afterwards, everyone enjoyed Greek-style appetizers, desserts and mixed drinks. She said everyone enjoyed participating in these activities.
She also said the town is always open to families from different cultures, and tries to organize activities with their own traditions.
Santa Claus Town believes that Christmas is a special holiday for everyone.
In addition to traditional activities, the town also encourages people to give gifts and share joy during the holiday season.
In a small town with the special name of Santa Claus in the state of Georgia, USA, residents here are very happy to live in the Christmas atmosphere all year round, and they consider this the pride of their community.
Mayor Bowen also said that there are groups of young people visiting nursing homes, bringing joy to both adults and children. "For me, it's something touching, and if I can do something like that, it's wonderful," she said emotionally.
With the Christmas atmosphere filling the air, Santa Claus is not only a special town but also a symbol of joy and sharing throughout the year.
Surprising facts about the Christmas song Jingle Bells
If you ask which song is most associated with the Christmas season, "Jingle Bells" will surely top the list.
However, the surprising truth is that the song was not originally written for this holiday. Daily Dose of Music, a popular TikTok channel, recently revealed the surprising truth: "Jingle Bells" was originally a song for Thanksgiving.
Composed by James Lord Pierpont in 1857, "Jingle Bell" was originally titled "One Horse Open Sleigh".
The lyrics describe a sleigh ride on snowy roads, bringing a feeling of warmth and joy in the winter. However, the original purpose of the song was to serve the Thanksgiving ceremony.
"Jingle Bells" quickly became popular at family gatherings and winter holidays. However, no one expected the song to become an indispensable musical symbol of Christmas.
So what transformed “Jingle Bells” from a Thanksgiving tune to a signature Christmas song? Over time, the song became widely performed at winter events, from schools to churches to community concerts.
Although the lyrics don't directly refer to Christmas, the upbeat melody and snowy imagery make it the perfect choice for the holiday season.
A special milestone in the history of "Jingle Bells" was on December 16, 1965, when the song became the first song to be played in space. The crew of the Gemini 6 spacecraft played the song with bells and harmonica during their historic flight, making the song an icon that transcends both space and time.
Today, although not originally written for Christmas, "Jingle Bells" has become an indispensable song for this holiday season all over the world . The song's cheerful melody not only brings joy but also reminds of the connection between family and community.
Salted Cod - The Soul of Portuguese Cuisine at Christmas
Salted cod (Bacalhau) has long been a national dish of Portugal, where it is said that there are 365 ways to prepare the fish – enough for every day of the year.
Especially at Christmas, salted cod plays a central role on every family's dinner table, just like turkey on American Thanksgiving.
The most traditional way to prepare salted cod is to bake it in the oven and serve it with boiled potatoes.
But creativity in Portuguese cuisine knows no bounds, with cod being grilled, fried into fritters, or even replacing meat in lasagna - a pasta dish imported from Italy.
At Federico restaurant in central Lisbon, chef Ricardo Simoes shares that salted cod is always on the Christmas menu.
“We have a very rich culinary culture around this dish,” he says. This year, he created a confit cod dish with prawns and coriander sauce, bringing a modern flair to the traditional dish.
Interestingly, this species of cod does not exist in Portuguese waters. Salted cod appeared in Portugal in the 16th century as a nutritious, easily preserved food source for long sea voyages.
Initially, this was a luxury dish for the nobility, but with the increase in supply and the gradual decrease in price, salted cod became a popular dish in this country.
Today, it is not only a favorite dish of the Portuguese people but also attracts tourists from all over the world.
"Going to Portugal without trying salted cod is like going to Brazil without visiting Rio de Janeiro," commented Brazilian tourist Jessica Baptista.
Meanwhile, at D'Bacalhau restaurant in Lisbon, owner Julio Fernandes revealed: "We cook at least eight tons of cod every month."
Portugal accounts for nearly 20% of the world's salted cod consumption, with consumption reaching nearly 55,000 tonnes last year, equivalent to an average of 6kg per capita.
However, the 500 million euro (about 550 million USD) industry is facing many challenges.
The price of salted cod has increased by 15% this year, reaching nearly 14 euros/kg, with young people gradually losing interest due to the complicated processing.
“Attracting the younger generation is our big challenge,” said Vera Xavier, production manager at the Riberalves cod processing plant. She said the need to soak salted cod several times before cooking was a process that many young people hesitated to do.
Despite current difficulties, salted cod remains an enduring symbol of Portuguese culinary culture.
From cozy Christmas tables to fine dining restaurants, this cod dish is not just a dish but also a story of history, tradition and national pride.
With innovative efforts, salted cod is sure to continue to conquer the hearts of both young generations and international tourists.
Eating Christmas réveillon in VietnamSource: https://tuoitre.vn/giang-sinh-muon-phuong-tu-thi-tran-santa-claus-ca-khuc-jingle-bells-den-mon-ca-tuyet-muoi-xu-bo-20241224152429851.htm
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