| All around the world, people celebrate
Christmas. And all around the world, people have taken the celebration of the birth of
Jesus and made a Christmas that fits their own country.
To hear more about these very different kinds of Christmas, visit our pages about these
countries. |
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| IRELAND |
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In IRELAND, children often put out Christmas
sacks instead of stockings.
It is tradition to leave mince pies and a bottle of Guinness out
as a snack for Santa.
NOLLAIG SHONA DHUIT!
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| SPAIN |
In SPAIN, Papa Noel delivers his presents by
climbing up balconies.
On January 6, the three wise men come to visit and also leave
gifts for the children.
FELIZ NAVÏDAD!Back to Countries List |
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| ST-LUCIA |
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In ST. LUCIA, houses are decorated with pots of poinsettas
as well as Christmas trees.
It is a tradition for everyone to wear brand new clothes to the large, family Christmas
dinners.
DON NÖEL!
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| MEXICO |
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In MEXICO, children sometimes leave their shoes
out instead of stockings.
On Christmas Eve there is a parade of singers carrying bells and candles on top of long
poles. They wind through the streets until they get to the local church.
FELIZ NAVIDAD Y PROSPERO AÑO NUE VO!!!
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| NORWAY |
In NORWAY, on Christmas Eve, a bowl of porridge,
"nisse" is left in the barn for the gnome who protects the farm.
When the children first see their Christmas tree all decorated, with presents underneath,
the family joins hands and circles the tree singing carols. Back to Countries List |
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| KENYA |
In KENYA, the churches are decorated with balloons,
ribbons, flowers and green plants as well as Christmas trees.
Christmas dinner is often a barbecue with family members traveling from far away to be
together again. Back to Countries List |
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| SWEDEN |
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In SWEDEN, "Jultomten", a little brownie helps
Santa Claus give gifts to the children who have been good.
On Christmas morning, churches are lit up entirely by candles for the Christmas service.
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| BRITAIN |
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In BRITAIN, children write their letters to Father Christmas
and then throw them into the fireplace so they will float up the chimney and fly to the
North Pole. If the lists catch fire first, they have to rewrite them.
At Christmas dinner, a plum pudding is served with little treasures hidden inside that
bring their finders good luck. Britain was the first country to hang up mistletoe.
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| FINLAND |
In FINLAND, it is a tradition to
have a sauna bath before Santa's visit.
On Christmas day most people go to "Christmas Church" and afterwards visit the
grave sites of their loved ones and light candles for them.
Hyvää Joulua!
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| UKRAINE |
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In the UKRAINE, Father Frost visits all the children in a
sleigh pulled by only three reindeer.
He brings along a little girl named Snowflake Girl. She wears a
silver blue costume trimmed with white fur and a crown shaped like a snowflake.
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| ITALY |
| In ITALY, on the evening of the day after
Christmas, children are visited by a good witch named Strega Buffana. She flies around
Italy on a broom and leaves treats for good children and coal for naughty children. It
is tradition to give a bag of dried lentils to your good friends to make lentil soup. This
is a peasant soup and reminds them of their humble beginnings and is eaten to bring good
luck and prosperity in the New Year.
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| AUSTRIA |
| In AUSTRIA, on December 6, Heiliger
Nikolaus (St. Nicholas) rewards good children with sweets, nuts and apples. On December
24, the Christ Child brings presents and the Christmas tree for the children. The children
wait until they hear a bell tinkling. Then they enter a special room where the Christmas
tree is waiting all decorated with candles, ornaments and candies. The whole family sings
Christmas carols and wishes each other:
FROLICHE WEIHNACHTEN!
FROHE WEIHNACHTEN!
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| LEBANON |
| In LEBANON, families plant seeds of grain in small
pots a month before Christmas. When Christmas arrives they have little pots of green to
place around the Christmas Cave and their Christmas Tree. The Christmas Cave holds the
nativity scene of Jesus's birth. Back to
Countries List |
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| FRANCE |
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In FRANCE, young children leave their shoes by
the fire on Christmas Eve for a gift from "le père Noël" while the older
children and adults go to church at midnight and then return home for a late supper called
"le réveillon".
Christmas puppet shows are very popular in France, mainly in
Paris and in Lyons.
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| GERMANY |
| In GERMANY, children decorate their Christmas Lists
with pictures and then leave them on the windowsill overnight, weighed down with a little
sugar so they won't be missed by Father Christmas. There
is a flower in Germany called the Christmas Rose which blooms even in the snow and ice.
Frohes Weihnachtsfest
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| NEW ZEALAND |
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In New Zealand, it is the middle of summer at
Christmas time. Instead of a hot drink Santa often gets a cooling beer as a snack on
Christmas Eve. Christmas day families often have a picnic or go to the beach for Christmas
Dinner. It is more traditional to have a cold ham than a hot turkey.
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| SOUTH AFRICA |
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In SOUTH AFRICA, Christmas comes in the middle of the summer.
After a large Christmas lunch, families visit the homes of friends to ask for and receive
a "Christmas box" which usually has food inside.
There are eleven languages in South Africa. Here are the five most common ways of saying
"Merry Christmas"! Merry Christmas - English
Geseënde Kersfees - Afrikaans
Sinifisela Ukhisimusi Omuhle - Zulu
Sinifisela Khisimusi Lomuhle - Swazi
Matswalo a Morena a Mabotse - Sotho
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| AUSTRALIA |
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In AUSTRALIA, Santa's sleigh is pulled by eight white
kangaroos.
Christmas dinner is eaten outdoors and is followed by a visit to the beach or a game of
cricket.
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| CZECH REPUBLIC |
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In the CZECH REPUBLIC, Saint Nicholas is helped by the
Infant Jesus to give presents to the children. The Infant Jesus rings a little bell to let
the children know he has come.
People believe that Christmas Eve has a certain magic and that you can see your future on
that night.
VESELÉ VÁNOCE!
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| SWITZERLAND |
| In SWITZERLAND, during the holiday season the Star
Singers (Sternsingers) dressed as the Three Kings parade through the streets of cities and
towns singing Christmas songs. In Zurich, Santa visits in a special
fairytale tram and gives the children a ride through the city, singing songs with them and
sharing a basket full of sweets.
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