| Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the | | | | also a Saint Nicholas festival on December 6th. |
| birth of Jesus. This feast was created by the | | | | Great Britain: |
| pope to promote Christianity and remove pagan | | | | Christmas is celebrated in England with enthusiasm. |
| festivals celebrated at the winter solstice. | | | | Children sing "Christmas Carols" in the streets, |
| During the IVth century, the pope decided to | | | | they eat the famous "Christmas Pudding" at the |
| bring the Christmas day on December 25th. | | | | end the Christmas Dinner. In England, Santa Claus |
| Christmas has always been represented by | | | | fills the English children socks with gifts. British |
| religious ceremonies and gifts and greetings | | | | people also exchange greeting cards; which are a |
| exchange. | | | | British creation. |
| Here are some Christmas symbols: | | | | Spain: |
| * The Advent consists of a burning candle each | | | | If Santa Claus has little importance in Spain (Magi |
| Sunday four weeks before Christmas; which | | | | distribute gifts to children on January 6th), Spanish |
| symbolize the rebirth of light after the winter | | | | people decorate the streets with lights during the |
| solstice. | | | | month of December. The windows of the shops |
| * The December 24th Christmas Mass; which | | | | are filled with lots of gifts and Spanish celebrate |
| celebrates the birth of Jesus. | | | | the Christmas Evening with their family. |
| * The Christmas Crib; which symbolizes the birth | | | | Portugal: |
| of Jesus in Christian homes. | | | | Christmas Eve is a holiday. The Portuguese attend |
| * The Christmas tree, a symbol from the pagan | | | | the Christmas Midnight Mass; which is the "Missa |
| celebration and representing life. | | | | Do Galo." If there is no Christmas tree in Portugal, |
| * The Yule log; which represents the log that we | | | | there is nevertheless a "Wooden Christmas". |
| put in the fireplace to warm up on Christmas Eve. | | | | Italy: |
| * Santa Claus, an American creation, inspired by | | | | Christmas lasts three days, from December 24th |
| the Christian Saint Nicholas (celebrated in Belgium, | | | | till 26th. However, Christmas traditions vary from |
| Netherlands, Germany and Alsace. This character | | | | one region to another one and, depending on the |
| wears a luxurious red cape, he has a long white | | | | region it is Babo Natale (Father Christmas) or the |
| beard and wears a red miter, he also holds a | | | | "Gesu Bambino" (Little Jesus) who brings gifts on |
| golden crosier. Saint Nicholas rewards good | | | | December 25th. The Italian Christmas dessert is |
| children while his companion Père Fouettard/Black | | | | "Panettone". |
| Pete punishes nasty children) and the elf Yule | | | | Scandinavian Countries: |
| Goat, celebrated in Scandinavian countries. | | | | During the Christmas Dinner, Scandinavian people |
| Over the centuries, Christmas has evolved and | | | | reserve a place for the souls of the deceased |
| Christmas Eve with our family, replaced the | | | | members of their family. Once they finish to eat, |
| religious ceremonies. | | | | they read the bible. The whole family is singing |
| The gift exchange: luxurious for the rich people | | | | Christmas songs and dance around the Christmas |
| and useful - sometimes only one orange - for the | | | | tree. |
| poor people, has been replaced by the modern | | | | Other European countries: |
| marketing. People not only buys gifts but also | | | | In Romania, on December 24th, there is a |
| spend lots of money in decoration items, food, | | | | Christmas candle burning until the morning of |
| drink... | | | | December 25th. In Russia, Christmas Day |
| The secularization of our society removed the | | | | happens on January 7th, according to the |
| true meaning of Christmas Time; which is, | | | | Orthodox calendar. In Greece the Christmas |
| obviously, becoming a pagan feast. | | | | period begins on Christmas Eve and ends at the |
| Here are some countries which celebrate | | | | Epiphany. Christmas is less important than Easter. |
| Christmas: | | | | USA: |
| Belgium: | | | | The Saturday after Thanksgiving, Santa Claus is |
| We have a festival especially dedicated to children; | | | | coming to announce the beginning of the |
| which is Saint Nicholas (Sinter Klaas) on December | | | | Christmas shopping season. American people love |
| 6th. The Great Patron of Schoolboys, who is | | | | to celebrate Christmas and set up a decorated |
| supposed to bring candies in their shoes, brings in | | | | Christmas in their home. Children hang empty |
| fact toys by the thousands to our children. | | | | stocks empty on the fireplace and on the |
| In Belgium, Christmas is rather reserved for | | | | Christmas morning they find them filled with |
| adults: the streets are decorated and illuminated, | | | | candy and small toys. |
| we decorate our houses, windows, gardens, | | | | Canada: |
| Christmas trees. Belgium seems to forget that it | | | | Houses, shops and streets are decorated with |
| is a Catholic country and closes more and more | | | | lights. Canadian people decorate their house with a |
| churches, therefore, the Midnight Mass on | | | | Christmas tree, a Christmas wrap, a Christmas |
| December 24th usually happens at 6 or 8 PM. We | | | | Crib... After the "Midnight Mass" people have a |
| then eat with our family and at 12 PM we | | | | Christmas Eve with their family. Turkey and the |
| exchange our gifts. Children usually receive a book | | | | Christmas log are the essential ingredients of a |
| or some clothes. | | | | Canadian Christmas Dinner. They send greeting |
| Christmas Day has little meaning but practicing | | | | cards to their friends and family who live far |
| Catholic go to church. Belgian people visit their | | | | away. |
| family on January 1st. In the Belgian Ardens, | | | | South America: |
| people celebrate December 31st and not | | | | Peruvian people have Christmas parties but also |
| Christmas. | | | | learn to live better on christmas time. Their |
| France: | | | | Christmas season lasts a full week. Mexican |
| Christmas is dedicated to children. The streets and | | | | people celebrate Christmas with Las Posadas |
| the houses are decorated several weeks in | | | | (pilgrimages representing the path by the Mary |
| advance. French people have lots of Christmas | | | | and Joseph). They celebrate the last Posada on |
| customs: Christmas Markets, the Christmas tree, | | | | the Christmas morning and then start the |
| the Christmas Dinner, Père Noël, Christmas | | | | Christmas dinner. I Guatemala, immigrants have |
| gifts, stories, songs, Christmas turkey, The | | | | imported their German customs and the |
| Christmas Crib, the Yule Log, and so on. In Alsace, | | | | Christmas tree is essential but the Christmas gifts |
| however, Saint Nicholas predominates on Santa | | | | are reserved to the children. Gift exchange for |
| Claus. | | | | adults is on January 1st. |
| The Netherlands: | | | | Australia: |
| They organize their St. Nicholas (Sinter Klaas) | | | | Christmas happens during the summertime, so |
| festival: the old bearded man traveling by boat | | | | Australian people celebrate Christmas at the |
| and accompanied by many black aids, who | | | | beach. People eat cold turkey and pudding. |
| distributes gifts to good children. Dutch people | | | | New Zealand: |
| reserve the big gifts for Christmas Time because | | | | If there are few decorations, New Zealand people |
| they profit for some great bargains after Sinter | | | | organize Christmas parades and people sing in the |
| Klaas. | | | | parks. They also organize their famous "Christmas |
| Germany: | | | | barbecue". |
| Christmas in Germany lasts two days. On | | | | Japan: |
| December 26th they visit their family and their | | | | Christmas is merely commercial significance in |
| friends. Christ-Kind offers gifts to the children on | | | | Japan. This festival represents Saint Nicholas and it |
| December 24th families and friends. Germany has | | | | is an opportunity to offer gifts to small children. |