Hirodai Ambassador Activity Report
Faculty of Education, 4th year (I.e. Spring San
[Study abroad destination]University of Turin (Italy)
[Study abroad period] August 2023 to January 9.
[Type of study abroad] Long-term study abroad at a partner university
This time, I would like to introduce you to the Christmas and New Year holidays I celebrated in Turin.
11Illuminations and decorations appeared everywhere in the city, giving the whole city a Christmas atmosphere.
In particular, one of the things I saw for the first time was a church decoration called "Presepe". This is a Christian-related decoration that uses small dolls to represent the life of the town and its people, coinciding with the birth of Jesus Christ.
If you go to church during Christmas time, you can see the Presepe. Even if you are not at a church, you can also see individual presentations in store windows.
In some ways, it resembles playing with dolls, something we used to play with when we were children, and the dolls that recreate labor and daily life move in small movements, making them an exciting decoration.
Each church and store is different, and you can see their own specialties.
On the night of the 24th,I went to a midnight mas (ceremony) with a friend who is also an international student from Poland.
I didn't know much about Christianity, but Poland is known as a Catholic country, and the girls were knowledgeable about Christianity, so after becoming friends with them, I learned more about religion. .
Before Christmas, various events were held at churches every day, but especially on the night of the 24th, midnight mass was held at every church, and many people visited the churches. Until I came to study abroad in Turin, I had never been familiar with Christian churches, so everything from the architecture to the music to the people's clothing was completely different from the Japan I had lived in. I can feel the culture and atmosphere.
The photo above is the exterior of the church I visited on the night of the 24th.
This is an introspection. The high ceilings and luxurious decorations were impressive.
In Japan, I feel like Christmas is more of a time for couples and friends than a family time.
But here, Christmas is spent relaxing and getting together with the family.
Basically from dinner on the 24thLunch on the 25thSince this is an important time for Christmas, I was invited to a local friend's house for lunch on the 25th.
There is a stereotype that ``Italian people eat a lot,'' but as far as I can see, that's true. All of the dishes my friend's grandmother makes are delicious, and we enjoyed a leisurely lunch while chatting a lot. Ta.
I also felt that the New Year was very different from the Japanese New Year.
In Japan, the traditional way to spend the New Year is to go home and spend time with your family, but here it was like a festival all night long.
At the moment of New Year's Eve, fireworks were going off everywhere, and to be honest, there were times when I felt it was dangerous because the sound and fire were so close.
However, in Japan, fireworks are a summer tradition, so watching them on a cold New Year's Eve was a new and valuable experience for me.
I have less than a month left in my life in Turin. I want to spend my time so that I have no regrets.