Observance of Christmas by country

The observance ofChristmasaround the world varies by country. The day of Christmas, and in some casesthe day beforeandthe day after, are recognized by many nationalgovernmentsandculturesworldwide, including in areas whereChristianityis aminorityreligion which are usually found in Africa and Asia. In some non-Christian areas, periods of formercolonialrule introduced the celebration (e.g.Hong Kong); in others, Christian minorities or foreign cultural influences have led populations to observe the holiday.
Christmas traditionsfor many nations include the installing and lighting ofChristmas trees, the hanging ofAdvent wreaths,Christmas stockings,candy canes, setting out cookies and milk, the creation ofNativity scenesdepicting the birth ofJesus Christand giving gifts to others.Christmas carolsmay be sung and stories told about such figures as theBaby Jesus,Saint Nicholas,Santa Claus,Father Christmas,ChristkindorGrandfather Frost. The sending and exchange ofChristmas cardgreetings, observance offastingand special religious observances such as a midnightMassorVespersonChristmas Eve, the burning of aYule log, and thegiving and receiving of presentsare also common practice. Along withEaster, Christmas is one of the most important periods on the Christian calendar, and is often closely connected to other holidays at this time of year, such asAdvent, theFeast of the Immaculate Conception,Saint Nicholas Day,Saint Stephen's Day,New Year's, and theFeast of the Epiphany.
Many national governments recognize Christmas as an officialpublic holiday, while others recognize it in a symbolic way but not as an official legal observance. Countries in which Christmas is not a formal public holiday include Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bhutan, Cambodia, China (excepting Hong Kong andMacau), the Comoros, Iran, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Laos, Libya, the Maldives, Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Qatar, theSahrawi Republic, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Taiwan (Republic of China), Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Yemen.  Countries such as Japan, where Christmas is not a public holiday but is popular despite there being only a small number of Christians, have adopted many of the secular aspects of Christmas, such as gift-giving, decorations, and Christmas trees.
Christmas celebrations around the world can vary markedly in form, reflecting differing cultural and national traditions. Amongcountries with a strong Christian tradition, a variety of Christmas celebrations have developed that incorporate regional and local cultures.
Christmas Day, known as Ledet inEritreaand Gena inEthiopia, is celebrated on 7 January (27 Tahsas of theEthiopian calendar). Many Christians in Eritrea and Ethiopia observe a 40-dayfastbefore the holiday, culminating in dawn church services on Christmas morning. The day features vibrant musical celebrations with priests in ceremonial robes performing rituals, including dancing and drumming. A traditional hockey-like game calledgenais played in the afternoon, with the community leader awarding a prize to the winner. Most Ethiopians don a traditionalshamma, a thin, white cotton wrap with brightly colored stripes across the ends. The celebration is followed by the three-day festival ofTimkat, starting on 19 January, which commemorates the baptism of Jesus Christ.
Christmas Day is apublic holiday in Nigeriawhich is always marked by the emptying of towns and cities of Nigerians who have been successful returning to their ancestral villages to be with family and to bless those less fortunate.As the towns and cities empty, people jam the West African markets to buy and transport live chickens, goats and cows that will be needed for the Christmas meals.
On Christmas Eve, traditional meals are prepared according to the traditions of each region. Nigerians as a whole tend to prepare various meats in large quantities.In the south, a dish calledjollof riceis served with stews of various meats along with boiled beans and fried plantains; in the north, rice and stew as well astuwon shinkafa, a rice pudding served with various meat stews, is preferred. In the north several local desserts are also made which are rarely found in other parts of Nigeria.An alternative in both regions (but more favored in the south) is a pepper soup with fish, goat, or beef which may also be served withfufu(pounded yam).Served with this food are an array of mainly alcoholic drinks such as the traditionalpalm wineor various local and imported beers and wines; children and women may be served locally-made soft-drink equivalents instead.
Gift giving in Nigeria often involves money and the flow of gifts from the more fortunate to the less fortunate.After the "successful" visitors have come from their towns, cities, and even overseas, they are given time to settle in. Afterwards, local relatives begin approaching them asking for assistance of some kind, whether financial or not.Financial donations and elaborately wrapped gifts may be given out at lavish parties, weddings, and ceremonies; sometimes the money is scattered in the air to be grabbed by the others or stuck onto the sweaty foreheads of those dancing.
Religion in Nigeriais about equally divided between Christians and Muslims.
Christmas is a popular holiday in the Muslim-majority country ofSenegal.
Christmas in South Africa is a public holiday celebrated on 25 December.Many European traditions are maintained, despite the distance from Europe.
Christmas trees are set up in homes and children are given presents in their stockings.Traditional 'fir' Christmas trees are popular. On Christmas Eve children leave a stocking of milk and cookies out for Santa Claus, who brings them gifts. Towns and cities haveCarols by Candlelightat the beginning of the festive season where groups of people come together to sing Christmas carols and donate toys and clothing to needy children.
The Christmas meal can include mince pies, turkey, gammon, beef tongue,turducken, corned beef, green salad, roast beef, or a barbecue outdoors. The meal is finished with Christmas pudding, ice cream, or trifle.Christmas crackersare used to make noise.
Despite Christmas occurring at the height of the Southern Hemisphere summer, wintry motifs common to theNorthern Hemisphereare popular.
InGhana, Christmas, known locally asBronya,is celebrated on 25 December, with both 25 and 26 December recognized as public holidays.Ghanaian Christians typically observe Christmas by attending church services on 25th December. Children often wear specially-bought or sewn Christmas attire(locally called "b, which brings them joy.
Secular Ghanaians also partake in Christmas celebrations by attending events organized by prominent Ghanaian secular musicians, playwrights, comedians, filmmakers, and other entertainers.
Overall, Ghanaians view Christmas as an opportunity to share gifts, enjoy traditional dishes such asfufu, banku, andjollof, and spend time with family and friends. Additionally, many contribute to the happiness of others by donating to orphanages.
Christmas is a public holiday in the Christian majority country. Many people irrespective of religion go out and buy new clothes, which is customary for most public holidays, or go to the beach, cinema and other entertainment venues. Religious Christians will go to church to worship, then gather with their family and community to eat. In the cities, natural or plastic Christmas trees may be decorated. The filmJesusis shown on public televisions as is customary inTanzaniaduring any Christian holiday.
Junkanoofestivals are held Boxing Day, 26 December and again on New Year's Day. It is a local cultural event dating back to its African heritage featuring goat skin drums, cowbell and brass instruments, singing, and choreographed dancers dressed in traditional handmade colourful costumes.
Bahamian Christmas foods include benny cake, coconut cake, flour cake from Acklins and Cat Island, fruit cake, baked ham and turkey, traditional peas and rice, baked macaroni, coleslaw, plantains, fried fish, boiled fish (Nassau Grouperand snappers) andJohnny cake. Drinks like eggnog, lemonade and local beers (Kalik and Sands) are also served on Christmas.
Cubahas a long tradition of celebrating Christmas. Families used to gather at the dining table, and used to go to mass after dinner.
The Communist Regime led byFidel Castroabolished the paid Christmas holiday in 1969, citing that workers were needed to continue the sugar harvest. In 1998, the Regime declared December 25 a leisure day, as requested byPope John Paul IIas a condition to visit the country.It is a one-day public holiday and it is celebrated only in the evening.
Radio stations play Christmas carols as early as October, both reggae-style and some international. Jamaicans paint their houses and hang new curtains for Christmas. Pepper lights, the local name for Christmas lights, go up even on trees.
Junkanooor John Canoe is a traditional Christmas celebration in Jamaica, influenced by African heritage. This includes street dancing and a great parade through the streets with Jamaicans dressed in colorful masquerade costumes and masks.The traditional Jamaican Christmas meal includesackee, saltfish, breadfruit, fried plantains, boiled bananas, freshly squeezed fruit juice and tea for breakfast; chicken,curried goat, stewed oxtail, rice andgungo peasfor dinner. For dessert,sorreldrink and a Jamaican rum fruitcake along with red wine are served in many homes.
Many people attend church for Christmas Eve or Christmas morning worship service. Some people go to the Christmas Eve Grand Market to walk with family and friends and shop until 2 or 3 a.m. Christmas Day. Some British Christmas traditions have stayed in Jamaica, likeFather Christmas, roast beef or lamb dinners, andBoxing Day.
Christmas in El Salvador carries a strong meaning that brings families together. In El Salvador children celebrate Christmas by playing withfirecrackers, fountains, such as the smallvolcancitos('little volcanos') and sparklers,estrellitas('little stars'). Teenagers and young adults display biggerfireworksorRoman Candles. Families also have parties in which they dance and eat. 
Santa Claus is known for appearing in TV and print ads, but people ask children if they already wrote a letter to little baby Jesus. Traditional Salvadoran Christmas dishes are sautéed turkey sandwiches in a baguette with lettuce and radishes, Salvadorantamales, and sweet bread for dessert. Drinks includehot chocolate,pineapplejuice, Salvadoranhorchata, Salvadoran cherry horchata, and coffee.
On Christmas in Guatemala, peopledress upin an ornamental hat, called apuritina, and dance in a line. As with much of the country's culture, the celebration includes Spanish and Mayan elements.
Christmas is observed widely on 25 December. Governments recognizing the holiday include those of the United States, where it is afederal holidayfor federal employees and alegal holidayin the respective states; Canada, where it is anationwide statutory holiday; Mexico, where it is also anationwide statutory holiday; andseveral others.
Christmas Day is one of fiveCanadian statutory holidaysobserved nationwide, andBoxing Dayis a federal holiday that is also observed in select provinces. Christmas Eve is not a statutory holiday in any jurisdiction, but many businesses and government entities individually choose to close early or for the entire day on December 24.In the Canadian provinces where English is the predominant language, Christmas traditions are largely similar to those of the United States, with some lingering influences from the United Kingdom and newer traditions brought by immigrants from other European countries.Mince pies,plum pudding, andChristmas cakeare traditionally served as Christmas dinner desserts, following the traditional meal of roast turkey, stuffing, potatoes, and winter vegetables.Christmas table crackersare not uncommon and, in some parts ofNewfoundland,Prince Edward IslandandNova Scotia, Christmas traditions includemummers.
North American influences on Christmas are evident in the hanging of stockings on Christmas Eve, to be filled by Santa Claus. However, Canadian children believe that the home of Santa Claus is located at the North Pole, in Canada,and, throughCanada Post, address thousands of letters to Santa Claus each year, using thepostal codedesignationH0H 0H0.The tradition of decorating Christmas trees, whether fresh-cut or artificial, was introduced to Canada in 1781, originally by German soldiers stationed in Quebec during the American Revolution, and are now common in private homes and commercial spaces throughout most of Canada.
As Canada is a cold, dark country in winter, lights are often put up in public places and on commercial and residential buildings in November and December. Many communities have celebrations that include light events, such as theCavalcade of Lights FestivalinToronto,theMontrealChristmas Fireworks, or the Bright Nights inStanley Park,Vancouver.A national program, Christmas Lights Across Canada (later renamed toWinter Lights Across Canada), illuminates Ottawa, the national capital, and the 13 provincial and territorial capitals.
In the province ofQuebec, Christmas traditions includeréveillon,Père Noël('Father Christmas'), and thebûche de Noël(Yule log), among many others.A traditional dish for theréveillonistourtière, a savoury meat pie, and gifts are opened duringréveillon, often following Midnight Mass.
TheRoyal Christmas Messagefrom theCanadian monarchis televised nationwide in Canada, the occasion being an observance which unites Canadians with citizens of the otherCommonwealth countriesworldwide. The observation ofBoxing Dayon the day following Christmas Day is a tradition practiced in Canada, as it is in many other Anglophone countries, although not in the United States. In Canada, Boxing Day is a day (or the beginning of a few days) of deeply discounted sale prices at retail stores which attract large numbers of shoppers in search of bargains.
Christmas is known asQuviasukvikin the territories ofNunavut, theNorthwest TerritoriesandYukonand the areas ofNunavik,NunatsiavutandNunatuKavutand theInuitcelebrate it as their New Year.
Christmas in Greenland – an island whoHans Egedeunder theDanish crownbroughtLutheranismto in the 16th century – is usually celebrated on the evening of 24 December and the days of the 25th and 26th. The Christmas season begins on the first day ofAdvent, which is the fourth Sunday before Christmas day, when Christmas trees are put up and decorated, and villages also put a large Christmas tree on a nearby hill. Christmas is known asQuviasukvikand theInuitcelebrate it as their New Year.
Christmas is astatutory holiday in Mexicoand workers can have the day off with pay. Mexico's Christmas is filled with over 30 traditions found only within Mexican Christmas.Over nine days, groups of townspeople, in a tradition called the Posadas, go from door to door in a fashion of when the parents of the unborn baby Jesus Christ looked for shelter to pass the night when they arrived at Bethlehem, and are periodically called inside homes to participate in the breaking of a candy-filledpiñata.
Mexican Christmas festivities start on December 12, with the feast of La Guadalupana (Our Lady of Guadalupe), and end on January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany. Since the 1990s, Mexican society has embraced a new concept linking several celebrations around the Christmas season into what is known as theGuadalupe-Reyes Marathon. At midnight on Christmas, after Midnight Mass, many families place the figure of baby Jesus in theirnacimientos(Nativity scenes), as the symbolic representation of Christmas as a whole, in homes. In the center and south of Mexico, children receive gifts on Christmas Eve and on January 6, they celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany, when, according to tradition, the Three Wise Men brought gifts to Bethlehem for Jesus Christ. Santa Claus (or Santa Clos, as he is known in Mexico) is who brings the children their gifts, but traditionally on that night the Three Wise Men will fill the children's shoes with candies, oranges, tangerines, nuts, and sugar cane, and sometimes money or gold, symbolizing the very gifts they gave to the Baby Jesus in Bethlehem during his infancy and a reflection of his future destiny as saviour of the world. January 6 is marked by big parties and events.
As in Guatemala, the presence of indigenous communities has added many elements to Mexican Christmas, thus celebrations may include Aztec/Nahuan and Mayan influences.
Christmas is a widely celebrated festive holiday in the United States,and Christmas Day is officially recognized as afederal holidayby theU.S. government. In select years, Christmas Eve is declared by the president viaexecutive orderto be a federal holiday as well, the latest such directive having been for December 24, 2024.TheChristmas and holiday seasonbegins around the end of November with a major shopping kickoff onBlack Friday, the day after theU.S. holiday of Thanksgiving, though the period during which Christmas decorations are present and thematically appropriate music is playing in stores sometimes extends into the period betweenHalloweenand Thanksgiving. Many schools and businesses are closed during the period between Christmas and theNew Year's Dayholiday, which is a time commonly used to spend time with family and close friends.  Most decorations are taken down by New Years or Epiphany. Other observances considered part of the season (and potentially included in non-denominationalholiday greetingslike "Happy Holidays") includeHanukkah,Yule, Epiphany,Three Kings Day, and other celebrations. December 26, popularly referred to as Boxing Day or Saint Stephen's Day elsewhere in the Western world, is only known widely as the "Day after Christmas" in the U.S.,and is observed in a number of states under that name, but is not a federal holiday. Christmas is known asQuviasukvikin the state ofAlaskaand theInuit, theYupik, theAleutand theIñupiatcelebrate it as their New Year.
The interiors and exteriors of houses are decorated during the weeks leading up to Christmas Eve. Christmas tree farms in theUnited StatesandCanadaprovide families with trees for their homes, many opting forartificial ones, but some forreal ones. The Christmas tree usually stands centrally in the home, decorated with ornaments, tinsel, and lights, with an angel or a star symbolizing theStar of Bethlehemat the top.
Christmas Eve is popularly described as "the night before Christmas" in the poem actually titled "A Visit from St. Nicholas". Better known asSanta Claus, he is said to visit homes while children are sleeping during the night before Christmas morning. Thefireplacesin many homes have been replaced byelectric fireplaces, but theyule loghas remained a tradition.Christmas stockingsare hung on themantelpiecefor Santa Claus to fill with little gifts ("stocking stuffers"). It is tradition throughout the United States for children to leave a glass of milk and plate ofChristmas cookiesfor Santa Claus nearby.
Presents the family will exchange are wrapped and placed near the tree, including presents to be given to pets.Friends exchange wrapped presents and tell each other not to open presents before Christmas. Grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, siblings and occasionally guests from out of town are entertained in the home or else visited. Wrapped presents are most commonly opened on the morning of Christmas Day; however, some families 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; for example, adults might open their presents on Christmas Eve and minor children on Christmas morning, or everyone might open their gifts on Christmas morning. Others follow the tradition of opening family-exchanged gifts on Christmas Eve night, followed by opening of the presents Santa brought on Christmas morning. Children are normally allowed to play with their new toys and games afterwards.
The traditional Christmas dinner usually features either roastedturkeywithstuffing(sometimes called dressing),ham, orroast beef. Potatoes, squash, roasted vegetables andcranberry sauceare served along withtonicsandsherries. A variety of sweetpastryandegg nogsprinkled withcinnamonandnutmegare served in the United States. Certain dishes such ascasserolesand desserts are often prepared with afamily recipe. Sometimes, families also partake in a religious tradition, such as the consumption of aChristmas waferin Christian families of European ancestry. Fruits, nuts, cheeses and chocolates are enjoyed as snacks.
Other traditions include a special church service on the Sunday before Christmas andMidnight Masson Christmas Eve. Candlelight services are held earlier in the evening for families with children, and special Christmas services may be held earlier in the season for people who may be traveling out of town closer to the holiday. A re-enactment of theNativity of Jesuscalled aNativity playis another tradition.
Christmas-related tourist attractions, such as theRockefeller CenterChristmas tree and elaborate animateddepartment storeChristmas windowsinNew York Cityare heavily visited by tourists from all over the world.Christmas musiccan be heard in the background. TheMormon Tabernacle Choiris one whose annual carol singing is well-recognized. Christmassymphony orchestraand choral presentation such asHandel'sMessiahand performances ofThe Nutcrackerballet are attended. Local radio stations may temporarily switch format to play exclusively Christmas music, some going to an all-Christmas format as early as mid-October.A few television stations broadcast aYule Logwithout interruption for several hours. News broadcasts and talk shows feature Christmas-themed segments, emphasizing fellowship and goodwill among neighbors. Of particular note is the observance of Christmas for military families of soldiers and sailors serving abroad, on both sides of theCanada–U.S. border. TheLos Angeles Lakershave made it a tradition, since they relocated fromMinneapolisprior to the1960-61 NBA season, to have a home game on Christmas. As of 2008, theNBAnow schedules five games on Christmas, usually including classic rivalry games as well as a rematch of the previous season'sNBA Finals.
Christmas Day on December 25 is anational holiday in Brazil. Because Brazil lies in the Southern Hemisphere, Brazilians celebrate Christmas in the summer. In the small cities in the entire country, as well as in the largest cities, such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Recife, Salvador, Fortaleza, Curitiba, Porto Alegre, Goiânia, Brasília, Manaus, Belém, Natal and Belo Horizonte, the celebrations resemble in many ways the traditions in Europe and North America, with the Christmas tree, the exchanging of gifts and Christmas cards, the decoration of houses and buildings with electric lights and the nativity scene. Despite the warm tropical summer weather, some incongruences such as decorations with themes of winter and snow are not uncommon. In some cities such asGuarapuava, there are decoration contests, when judges go to houses to look at the decorations, inside or outside of the house, and decide the most beautiful house. Christmas Eve is the most important day. Unlike in the North American and Anglo-Saxon tradition, Christmas takes action mainly near midnight, usually with big family dinners, opening of gifts and the celebration of theMissa do Galo('Rooster's Mass') in churches throughout the nation.
Many Brazilians decorate their homes with a Christmas Tree. There is no rule, and the parents can decorate it by themselves as a surprise to the kids, or they can do it together. In addition to the Christmas tree, many families set up apresépio(nativity scene) as the main decoration. Nativity scenes are very popular in Brazil, and can be seen everywhere including churches and popular places around the town. Like many other countries, Christmas dinner in Brazil is normally served late in the evening on Christmas Eve around 10 or 11 p.m. The meal often includesfarofastuffing, assortments of fruit, fried cod, and roast turkey with a dessert calledrabanada. Along with their meals, Brazilians typically drink champagne, wine, and fruit punch. Typically after they eat, many Brazilians attend a Midnight Mass service or watch the Pope's television broadcast celebration of "Midnight Mass in Rome" with family and friends.
The Christmas season typically starts in late November or early December, after the celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Aparecida (October 12) and All Souls' Day (November 2). The holiday spirit begins to rise with the start of Advent, which is observed on the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. Many Brazilian cities, especially major urban centers like Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, start putting up Christmas lights and decorations around this time, with public events such as Christmas tree lighting ceremonies and nativity scenes.
The festive mood continues through Christmas Eve (December 24), which is the main day for family gatherings, a large meal, and the exchange of gifts. The celebrations often extend through the New Year and conclude on January 6, Epiphany or Dia de Reis (Three Kings' Day), when Brazilians commemorate the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus.
In some regions, the Christmas season may even begin as early as November, with malls and commercial centers decorating and hosting events.
Christmas is apublic holiday in Colombiaand is primarily a religious celebration. Presents are brought byEl Niño Jesus / Niño Dios(Baby Jesus).
While Christmas decorations may be put up as early as the beginning of November, the unofficial start of Colombian Christmas festivities takes place on December 7,Día de las Velitas, or 'Day of the Candles.' At night, the streets, sidewalks, balconies, porches, and driveways are decorated with candles and paper lanterns, which illuminate cities and towns in a yellow glow to honor the Immaculate Conception on the following day, December 8. In many cities, and even in small rural towns, neighborhoods get together and decorate their whole neighborhood or street, turning streets into virtual "tunnels of light". Many radio stations and local organizations hold contests for the best display of lights, making the competition for the best light show a serious event. The city of Medellín has become a popular tourist destination during the holiday season because of itsChristmas lights. Activities such as musical events and firework displays are planned by cities and held during this time. Individually launched fireworks were a common item during the Christmas season in Colombia, often going on at any time of the day in many cities. However, a recent ban has decreased the individual use of fireworks, and now only cities or towns are able to hold firework displays.
December 16 is the first day of the ChristmasNovena, a devotion consisting of prayer said on nine successive days, the last one held on Christmas Eve. The Novena is promoted by the Catholic Church as a staple of Christmas, and is very similar to theposadascelebrated in Mexico. It is a call for an understanding of the religious meaning of Christmas, and a way to counter the commercialism of the Christmas season. Individual traditions concerning the Novena may vary, but most families set up apesebre(manger scene), sing religious Christmas carols calledvillancicosaccompanied by tambourines, bells, and other simple percussion instruments, and read verses from the Bible as well as an interpretation which may change from year to year. Novenas serve as religious gatherings as well as learning environments for young children since kids have a central and active role in the celebration of the Novenas (they read prayers, sing, and play instruments guided by their family). From December 16 to 24, games calledaguinaldosare played after having made a "pinky promise" deciding the prize for the winner and the punishment for the loser. The games includeHablar y no contestar('Talk but don't answer'),Dé pero no reciben('Give but don't receive'),Pajita en boca('Straw in the mouth'),Tres pies('Three feet'),Beso robado('Stolen kisses'), andSi y al no('Yes or no'). Churches offer dawn and nightly masses during the nine days of the novena, culminating with theMisa de Gallo('Rooster's Mass') on Christmas Eve at midnight.
Christmas Eve is the most important day of Christmas in Colombia. Families and friends get together to pray the last novena and wait until midnight to open the presents, parties are held until sunrise onChristmas Day, kids stay up late playing with their new presents, and fireworks fill the skies. Families gather around meals, music, and singing. Because Christmas Eve is the most important day, little occurs on December 25. Families join Christmas Day mass although it is not nearly as festive as Christmas Eve.
TheDia de los Santos Inocentes, or theDay of the Innocents, falls in the Christmas season, on December 28. The day commemorates the innocent infants (called the innocent ones) who were said to have been killed byKing Herodin fear of the power of the newborn baby, Jesus. January 6, the day of the Revelation of the Magi (Epiphany), is calledReyes Magos(fromThe Three Magi), used to be a day of gift-giving, but is celebrated less now since gifts are given mostly around Christmas Eve today. Some families still give presents, and it is also the day when godparents give Christmas presents.
Christmas Day, December 25, is apublic holiday in Uruguay, although it is officially called "Family Day" since the separation of church and state at the beginning of the 20th century.However, the celebration is known asNavidad(Christmas).The Christmas and holiday season begins on December 8 (Feast of the Immaculate Conception), the day on which the Christmas tree is traditionally set up and Christmas decorations are put up in homes, shops and streets, including, in many homes, thebelénorpesebre(nativity scene).In many cities,Christmas marketsare set up where toys, clothes, decorations and food are sold.
In addition to traditional Christmas decorations, it is common among Uruguayan Christians to put up a balcony banner with an illustration of the nativity scene that reads "Christmas with Jesus".These banners were launched in 2016 as part of a campaign carried out by theCatholic Church in Uruguayto "raise awareness about the true meaning of the holiday" in a highly secular country.Pope Franciswelcomed the initiative and was photographed with one in theVatican City.
The celebrations begin at nightfall on Christmas Eve (December 24), with family gatherings where traditionally they eatasado,vitél toné, and desserts such asturrónandpanetone, which were incorporated into Uruguayan culture due to European Immigration to the country.At the stroke of midnight, people flock to the streets to enjoy fireworks and light firecrackers; meanwhile,Papá Noel(Santa Claus) leaves, next to the Christmas trees, gifts that the children asked for in letters that they left throughout the month in shopping centers and other places where he is seen.There is also an exchange of gifts between family and friends.
Because Uruguay lies in the Southern Hemisphere, Christmas is celebrated in summer, which is why open-air music festivals are held from noon on the 24th, and early morning until the 25th, mainly in coastal cities such asMontevideoandPunta del Este, which receives a large number of tourists from neighboring countries.On Christmas Day the whole population has the day off to be with their family and friends, so public transport, malls and offices are closed down.
In Venezuela, Christmas is celebrated as a religious occasion. As in Colombia, the presents are brought byEl Niño Jesus(Baby Jesus) instead ofPapá Noél(Santa Claus), who still has an important role during this season.
The Christmas season starts as early as October 1,and ends in mid-January. Christmas decorations and songs become more prominent as Christmas nears.
In many cities, small rural towns and neighborhoods get together for thepatinatas, night festivals where children go and play with skateboards, roller blades and bicycles. These events are usually sponsored by the local parish church, where neighbors organize themselves and sell typical Christmas food, hot chocolate,hallaca, cookies, etc. Also, still in some neighborhoods is theparranda, where people go caroling from house to house, singing and receiving food and drinks, this tradition is rooted among Afro-Venezuelans with origins in Africa. The same tradition, though calledParadura del Niñoexists in the Venezuelan Andes; however, the carolers carry an image of Baby Jesus. Children write request letters to Baby Jesus. The presents are sent by Baby Jesus at midnight, and most people have a party, which goes on until sunrise.
Christmas is not an official holiday inUzbekistan. Out of a population of 35 million, approximately 2.2 percent is Russian Orthodox.Since the fall of theSoviet Union, this number has continued to decline as ethnic Russians and other Orthodox Christians emigrate to Russia and other countries. The Christians of Uzbekistan celebrate Christmas on December 25 in theJulian calendarused by the church, which falls on 7 January in the commonGregorian calendar.
Much like in the rest of the Soviet Union, Christmas was largely erased from the calendar during much of the 20th century under the Soviets' anti-religious policies, but many traditions survived having been transplanted to New Year's.Christmas is still eclipsed by New Year's Day in Uzbekistan, which remains a major holiday even among Christians.
Christmas symbols and decorations similar to those found in Europe or the US can be seen on the streets of larger cities, but for a majority of the population Christmas is simply a part of New Year celebrations.Many people, including Muslims, decorate a Christmas tree, even though they do not celebrate Christmas and call the tree New Year's tree (Uzbek:Yangi yil archasi).
In 2005, Christmas was declared an official holiday in Kazakhstan, and today the holiday is observed by many people in the country regardless of their religion or ethnicity.
In China, December 25 is not a legal holiday. However, it is still designated as a public holiday in China's special administrative regions ofHong KongandMacau, former colonies of the United Kingdom and Portugal respectively.
In the mainland, the small percentage of Chinese citizens whoconsider themselves Christiansunofficially, and usually privately, observe Christmas.Many other individuals celebrate Christmas-like festivities even though they do not consider themselves Christians. Many customs, including sending cards, exchanging gifts, and hanging stockings are very similar to Western celebrations.Commercial Christmas decorations, signs, and other symbolic items have become increasingly prevalent during the month of December in large urban centres of mainland China, reflecting a cultural interest in this Western phenomenon, and, sometimes, retail marketing campaigns as well.
In Hong Kong, where Christmas is apublic holiday,many buildings facingVictoria Harbourwill be decorated with Christmas lights. Christmas trees are found in major malls and other public buildings,and in some homes as well, despite the small living area. Catholics in Hong Kong can attend Christmas Mass.
Hong Kongwas deeply influenced by British and Western culture during thecolonial era. Christmas is one of the most valued festivals in Hong Kong afterLunar New Year. The Christmas atmosphere is also stronger than most countries in Asia.Both Christmas Day on December 25 andBoxing Dayon 26th are public holidays. On Boxing Day on the 26th, there is no holiday and no supplementary holiday. The custom of celebrating Christmas in the early years was not extensive. It was not common until the 1970s, when the society of Hong Kong stabilized,that the number of people celebrating Christmas began to increase. Although Christians account for only one-eighth of the population of Hong Kong, the Christmas Day atmosphere is still strong. The public generally sees this annual holiday as a big day for vacation, travel,carnival, pastime, dating or making friends.Halloweendecorations on interior and exterior walls of many shopping malls are quickly removed after October 31, and Christmas decorations and lighting are put up in mid-November. The facades of buildings on both sides ofVictoria Harbour,Tsim Sha TsuiandCentralare all decorated with Christmas lights. Christmas trees can be seen everywhere, and a giant 15-meter-high Christmas tree is erected in theStatue Square, Central.Many citizens start related activities in early December, such as attending Christmas parties, having Christmas dinners and exchanging Christmas gifts. Protestant and Catholic religious leaders in Hong Kong publish Christmas announcements onChristmas Eve. Although December 24, the day before Christmas, is not a holiday, some businesses let employees and bosses off work early, and thestockmarket only opens in the morning on that day.Christmas Eve at night is the climax of the festive atmosphere. Tsim Sha Tsui,Causeway BayandLan Kwai Fongin Central are crowded with people enjoying Christmas lights and carnivals. Churches and chapels holdMidnight Massthat evening, and some Protestants and Catholics attend religious gatherings. Most shops, restaurants and entertainment venues are still open during Christmas, while public transportation, such as theMTRand buses, is available overnight on Christmas Eve.All primary and secondary schools, kindergartens and tertiary institutions in Hong Kong will have Christmas holidays. Most primary and secondary schools usually hold the Christmas Party on December 20 or 21, and then Christmas holidays untilNew Year's Day, so Christmas and Lunar New Year is the longest consecutive holiday throughout the year except summer vacation. The student organizations of colleges and universities will also hold Christmas parties from mid-December. Students at colleges and universities usually do not need to attend classes from Christmas Day to New Year's Day. Hong Kong citizens use the Christmas holidays to meet friends, family or friends for gatherings, shopping and pastimes, while young people like to spend holidays as a couple or find partners during the holiday, like anotherValentine's Day. In addition, people in Hong Kong generally think that Christmas gifts must be opened until Boxing Day on December 26;this day is also referred to as "gift opening day", but in fact, most people open their Christmas gifts as early on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, and there is no habit of opening Christmas gifts until Boxing Day on the 26th. Some children write toSanta Claus; the letters are sent to the "Undeliverable mail" department of thePost Office, and the staff of the department responds asSanta Clausto each letter.In addition, some people celebrate Christmas with theWinter Solsticeuntil New Year's Day.
Christmas is a public holiday inMacau. Its traditions are mostly influenced by the Portuguese since the territory was a colony ofPortugaluntil December 20, 1999.Casinosin Macau remain open on Christmas Day. Christmas masses in Macau's Catholic churches are held in either Chinese, Cantonese, English or Portuguese.
Encouraged by commerce, the secular celebration of Christmas is popular in Japan, though Christmas is not a national holiday. Gifts are sometimes exchanged.Christmas parties are held around Christmas Day; JapaneseChristmas cake, a white sponge cake covered with cream and decorated with strawberries, is often consumed andStollencake, either imported or made locally, is widely available. Christmas lights decorate cities, and Christmas trees adorn living areas and malls.Christmas Eve has become a holiday for couples to spend time togetherand exchange gifts. A successful advertising campaign in the 1970s made eating atKFCaround Christmas a national custom. Its chicken meals are so popular during the season that stores take reservations months in advance.
The first recorded Christmas in Japan was a mass held by Jesuit missionaries inYamaguchi Prefecturein 1552, while it is not impossible that unrecorded celebrations were held before this date, starting in 1549 whenSaint Francis Xavierarrived in Japan. Christianity was banned throughout Japan in 1612. However, a small enclave ofKakure Kirishitan('hidden Christians') continued to practice underground over the next 250 years.
Christianity in Japanalong with Christmas reemerged in theMeiji period. Influenced by America, Christmas parties were held and presents were exchanged. The practice slowly spread, but its proximity to theNew Year's celebrations makes it a smaller focus of attention. It became a popular celebration for non-Christians during 1900s after theRusso-Japanese War.DuringWorld War II, all celebrations, especially American, were suppressed. From the 1960s, with an expanding economy, and influenced by American TV, Christmas became popular. Many songs and TV series present Christmas as romantic, for example "Last Christmas" byExile. The birthday of the previous emperor,Akihito, on December 23 is or was a national holiday.Businesses soon close for the New Year's holidays, reopening after January 3.
Christmas is not an official holiday in Mongolia. Though the country is mainlyTibetan Buddhist, there are Christian churches that hold evening services and concerts. The Mongolians celebrate the New Year with Christmas trees and dozens of parties.
Christmas is apublic holidayin South Korea.
Christmas traditions are generally mixed with Korean culture and cuisine, and Christmas is especially celebrated by the Christian community (Protestants and Catholics alike), treated as a Christian counterpart to certain Korean fall festivities wherein family members visit relatives during the holiday, withHanbokor Western attire prevalent even in holiday services.
As only around 5% of the population are actually Christian, Christmas is not usually celebrated as a religious event in Taiwan.Before 2001, December 25 used to be a national holiday, as that was theConstitution Day, the day on which theConstitution of the Republic of Chinawas signed in 1947.In recent years, the secular celebration of Christmas has gained popularity in Taiwan. Christmas parties are held and gifts are sometimes exchanged. Major cities and shopping malls are now decorated with Christmas lights and trees in December to celebrate the festival.One of the most popular Christmas events in Taiwan isChristmasland in New Taipei Cityorganized by theNew Taipei City Government, consisting of major Christmas celebration activities and art installations. A series of activities such as the family garden party, Christmas parade carnival and Christmas Eve concert are often held; the programme varies slightly from year to year.
Christmas is known asBoro Din('Big Day') in Bengali.Pitha,cookiesandcakeare prepared byBangladeshi Christiansduring Christmas. Christmas is a one-day public holiday. On Christmas Eve, churches hold a large dinner calledpreeti bhojthat includespulau, eggkorma, fish fry and vegetable curries. On Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, prayers are generally held in church. After prayers, carol performances happen.Bengali Christianchurches are also decorated with lights and Christmas trees. Some Christians also decorate their homes for celebrations or visits, and give money or toys as gifts to children.
Christmas is also increasingly celebrated by other religions in Bangladesh, especially in urban areas. People celebrate by going to theme parks, zoos and museums, hosting small Christmas parties in restaurants and homes, or with gift-giving.
Christmas is astate holiday in India,althoughChristianity in Indiais a minority with only 2.3%of the population. Despite most Indians beingHindus, millions of Indians still celebrate Christmas as a secular holiday.
Christians, especially Catholics, attendMidnight Mass.Many Christian houses in India decorate with Christmas cribs and Christmas trees and hang brightly lit stars (symbolising theBethlehem star)outside their houses. They distribute sweets and cakes to their neighbors. In many schools run by Christian missionaries and in some schools run by other religion trusts (including Hinduism, Islam, etc), the children actively participate in Christmas programs. Many government schools also have a tradition of Christmas celebrations. Christmas is also increasingly celebrated by other religions in India.Christmas is known asBada Din('Big Day') in North and North-West India and people plant trees on this day.
Christianity in Pakistanconstitutes the second largest religious minority community in Pakistan after Hindus. The total number of Christians is approximately 2,800,000 in 2008, or 1.6% of the population. Of these, approximately half are Roman Catholic and half Protestant. Christians celebrate Christmas by going from house to house singing carols, and in return the family offers something to the choir.The money collected from such carols is usually used for charity works or is given to the church. Homes are decorated with local Christmas handicrafts while artificial stars signifying the Star of Bethlehem are hung on rooftops. Special foods, such as theAllahabadi fruitcake, are eaten in Pakistan during the Christmas season. Christmas celebrations are also popular with the urban middle class in the country with hotels, cafes, restaurants and theme parks hosting festivities and special events.
As of December 22, 2015, Christmas is completely banned in Brunei,but its expatriate and local Christian communities still celebrate it privately amongst themselves. The ban includes putting up Christmas trees, singing Christmas carols, Nativity plays, festive greetings, and even dressing as Santa Claus. Anyone caught will face up to five years in jail. Before the law was passed in 2014, non-Muslim expats were free to celebrate Christmas in Brunei.
Christmasin Indonesia (locally known asNatal, from the Portuguese word for 'Christmas'), is one of manypublic holidays in Indonesia, which approximately 16.5 millionProtestantsand 6.9 millionRoman Catholicscelebrate with various traditions throughout the country. In provinces with a majority or significant Christian population (Protestant and Catholic) such asNorth Sumatra,Jakarta,West Kalimantan,Central Kalimantan,North Kalimantan,North Sulawesi,West Sulawesi,Central Sulawesi,East Nusa Tenggara,Maluku, the wholePapua Island, and cities likeSurabaya,Tangerang,Batam,Bandung,Rantepao, etc., the Christmas season is filled with ceremonies, festivals, and local foods.In big cities, many shopping centres, offices, some roads, and other commercial places feature decorations such as plasticChristmas treesandSinterklas(derived from the Dutch wordSinterklaas) and hisreindeer. Most local television channels broadcast Christmas musical concerts as well as annual national Christmas celebrations like concerts and Christmas shows which are held by the government. Like other countries, on Christmas Eve people go to church formisaand attend again the next morning. Exchanging gifts is a usual tradition forChristians in Indonesia. In addition to traditional foods, Christmas Day generally features cookies, likenastar(pineapple tart),kastengel(from Dutchkasteengel), orputri salju.
Although Christmas is apublic holiday in Malaysia, much of the public celebration is commercial in nature and has no overt religious overtones. Occasionally, Christian activist groups do buy newspaper advertisements on Christmas but this is largely only allowed in English newspapers and permission is not given every year. The advertisements themselves are usually indirect statements. There has been controversy over whether or not thefederal governmenthas exerted pressure on Malaysian Christians not to use Christian religious symbols and hymns that specifically mention Jesus Christ.
However, inEast Malaysia, which covers northern Borneo, Christmas is a huge celebration due to large number of indigenous people who practise Christianity.
Celebrations in Christian majority districts in the states ofSabahandSarawakcan last until after New Year's Day with families and political leaders hosting Open Houses, namely parties which are open to anyone.
Drinking of alcohol is widespread during this period and a call by a Muslim political party to ban alcohol was met with widespread outrage.
Christmas in the Philippines,one of two predominantly Catholic countries in Asia (the other being East Timor), is one of the biggest holidays on the calendar and is widely celebrated. The country has earned the distinction of celebrating the world's longest Christmas season, with Christmas carols heard as early as September 1 when the "Ber months" season traditionally begins. The season is officially ushered in by the nine-day dawnmassesthat start on December 16. Known as theMisas de Aguinaldo('Gift Masses') orMisa de Gallo('Rooster's Mass') in the traditional Spanish, these masses are more popularly known in Tagalog as theSimbang Gabi, and are held in Catholic parishes and chapels nationwide. Usually, aside from the alreadylegal holidayswhich areRizal Day(December 30) andNew Year's Eve(December 31), other days in close proximity such as Christmas Eve (December 24),Niños Inocentes(December 28), and Epiphany (traditionally, January 6 but now on the first Sunday of January) are also declared non-working days.
As in many East Asian countries, secular Christmas displays are common both in business establishments and in public, including lights, Christmas trees, depictions of Santa Claus despite the tropical climate, and Christmas greetings in various foreign languages and variousPhilippine languages. Occasionally such displays are left in place even in summer, for example theparol, representing the Star of Bethlehem which led the Three Kings to the newborn Baby Jesus.
For Filipinos, Christmas Eve (Tagalog:Bisperas ng Pasko;Spanish:Víspera del Día de Navidad) on December 24 is celebrated with the Midnight Mass, and immediately after, the much-anticipatedNoche Buena– the traditional Christmas Eve feast. Family members dine together around 12 midnight on traditionalNoche Buenafare, which may include:queso de bola(English: 'ball of cheese'; this is actuallyedam cheese),tsokolate(a hot chocolate drink), andjamón(Christmas ham),lechón, roast chicken or turkey, pasta,relleno(stuffedbangusor chicken),pan de sal, and various desserts including cakes and the ubiquitous fruit salad. Some also open presents at this time.
On December 31, New Year's Eve (Tagalog:Bisperas ng Bagong Taon; Spanish:Víspera del Año Nuevo), Filipino families gather for theMedia Nocheor midnight meal – a feast that is also supposed to symbolize their hopes for a prosperous New Year. In spite of the campaign against firecrackers, many Filipinos still see these as the traditional means to greet theNew Year. The loud noises and sounds of merrymaking are also supposed to drive away bad spirits. Safer methods of merrymaking include banging on pots and pans and blowing on car horns. Folk beliefs also include encouraging children to jump at the stroke of midnight in the belief that they will grow up tall, displaying circular fruit and wearing clothes with dots and other circular designs to symbolize money, eating twelve grapes at 12 midnight for good luck in the twelve months of the year, and opening windows and doors during the first day of the New Year to let in good luck.
Christmas officially ends on the Feast of the Three Kings (Tres Reyesin Spanish orTatlong Hariin Tagalog), also known as theFeast of the Epiphany(Spanish:Fiesta de Epifanía). The Feast of the Three Kings was traditionally commemorated on January 6 but is now celebrated on the first Sunday after the New Year. Some children leave their shoes out in the belief that the Three Kings will leave gifts like candy or money inside. But the celebrations do not end there, since 2011, as mandated by the Catholic Church, they are on either the second Sunday of January or Monday after Epiphany in honor of the Lord Jesus's baptism in the Jordan (the Solemnity of the Lord's Baptism, or in SpanishSolemnidad de Bautismo del Señor). The final salvo of these celebrations is marked by the feast of theBlack Nazareneevery January 9 in Manila and Cagayan de Oro, but can also, due to the celebrations in honor of theSanto Niñoon the third and fourth Sundays of January in some places, even extend till the final weeks of that month, or through the first week of February before Valentine’s Day (particularlyCandlemas).
Christmas is apublic holiday in Singaporethat is widely celebrated.The Christmas season is also a popular period for shopping centres and businesses to conduct year-end sales and offer discounts and promotions that tie in with the festivities. The famous Singaporean shopping belt,Orchard Road, as well as theMarina Bayarea, feature lights and other decorations from early November till early January. The Christmas light-up and decorated shopping malls along Orchard Road often attract numerous visitors, locals and tourists alike. Other than the light-up, other activities such as caroling, concerts and parades can also be experienced in Orchard Road. In addition, companies in Singapore usually arrange gift exchange programs on the last working day before Christmas.
Christmas is not an official public holiday in Thailand and the majority of the population adheres to Theravada Buddhism, however it is celebrated by the Catholic and Protestant Christians of the country, as well as expats.
Christmas is not a national holiday but is becoming increasingly popular in Vietnam due to increasing exposure to Western culture and its non-religious glamour and commercial appeal.Vietnamese may be more accepting of corporate influence because for many, Christmas was never based on personal values to begin with.It is not a time to have dinner at home with family and show thanks for one another. Instead, it is a time to go out on the town, shop, and take pictures with friends in front of colorful displays, especially on December 24.This is the second most popular holiday afterVietnamese New Year, which occurs around one month after Christmas.
Christmas is reported to be banned in Vietnam'sCentral Highlands,and in some cases observers have reported harassment by authorities including accusations of "attempting to overthrow" the regime.
Armenians usually celebrate Christmas on January 6. The reason for this unusual date emerges from ancient history. "In the fourth century Roman Catholic Church, officials established the date of Christmas as December 25th."Before that time, Armenians celebrated Christmas (surb tsnunt,Սուրբ Ծնունդ, meaning 'Holy Birth') on January 6as apublic holiday in Armenia. It also coincides with the Epiphany. The Armenians denied the new Roman mandate regarding Christmas, and continued to celebrate both the Nativity and Jesus' baptism on January 6. When the Gregorian calendar was implemented in 1582, the Armenians rejected the reformed calendar and continued to follow the Julian Calendar. Today, only the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem still uses the Julian Calendar. Since the Julian calendar is thirteen days behind the Gregorian calendar, when the Armenians of Jerusalem celebrate Christmas on January 6 according to the Julian calendar, the Gregorian calendar counts the day as January 19.
Traditionally, Armenians fast during the week leading up to Christmas, avoiding all meat, eggs, and dairy products.Devout Armenians may even refrain from food for the three days leading up to Christmas Eve in order to receive the Eucharist on a "pure" stomach. Christmas Eve is particularly rich in traditions. Families gather for the Christmas Eve dinner (khetum,Խթում), which generally consists of rice, fish,nevik(նուիկ, a vegetable dish of green chard and chick peas), and yogurt/wheat soup (tanabur,թանապուր). Dessert includes dried fruits and nuts, includingrojik, which consists of whole shelled walnuts threaded on a string and encased in grape jelly,bastukh(a paper-like confection of grape jelly, cornstarch, and flour), etc. This lighter menu is designed to ease the stomach off the week-long fast and prepare it for the rather more substantial Christmas Day dinner. Children take presents of fruits, nuts, and other candies to older relatives."On the eve of the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of The Lord Jesus Christ, the Jrakalouyts Divine Liturgy (the lighting of the lamps service) is celebrated in honor of the manifestation of Jesus as the Son of God (theophany)".In addition to the Christmas tree (tonatsar,Տօնածառ), Armenians (particularly in the Middle East) also erect the Nativity scene. Christmas in the Armenian tradition is a purely religious affair. Santa Claus does not visit the nice Armenian children on Christmas, but rather on New Year's Eve. The idea of Santa Claus existed before the Soviet Union and he was namedkaghand papik(Կաղանդ Պապիկ), but the Soviet Union had a great impact even on Santa Claus. Now he goes by the more secular name of Grandfather Winter (dzmerr papik,Ձմեռ Պապիկ).
TheAssyrians, the indigenous people of northwestern Iran, northern Iraq, northeastern Syria, and southeastern Turkey that belong to theAssyrian Church of the East,Ancient Church of the East,Syriac Orthodox Church, andChaldean Catholic Churchtoday celebrate Christmas on December 25. Assyrians colloquially call ChristmasEda Zora, meaning 'little holiday.' It is officially calledEda d'Yaldewhich means 'birthday holiday.' Traditionally, Assyrians fast (sawma) from December 1 until Christmas Day. In Iraq, for instance, on Christmas Eve, Assyrian families congregate outside of their house and hold lighted candles while a child reads aloud the nativity story. Then they all sing psalms over a bonfire made of thorn bushes. Folklore says that if the thorns burn to ashes, the family will have good luck. After the fire has been reduced to ashes, the family members will jump three times over the ashes and make a wish.The next day, on Christmas, "as another bonfire burns in the churchyard, the bishops lead the service while carrying a figure of the baby Jesus. He blesses one person with a touch. That person touches the next person and the touch passes around until all have felt the touch of peace."Many Assyrians will attend theShaharta,or midnight vigil before Christmas. On Christmas Day, when families gather together after theShahartaor morning mass,raza d'mowlada d'maran,the fast is broken by eating traditional Assyrian foods such aspacha/reesh-aqle(meaning 'from the head to the tail'), which is a boiled soup made of sheep or cow intestines, tongue, stomach, legs, and spices orharissa, a porridge made of ground wheat and chicken (both dishes are prepared usually overnight). These two dishes are only made twice a year: on Christmas and Easter. Traditional desserts eaten after the main course includekilleche, a date and walnut-stuffed cookie, andkadeh, another stuffed pastry. After the feast is finished, Assyrians will visit the houses of family and friends to exchange Christmas greetings, saying, "Eedokhon breekha", meaning "May your feast be blessed."There, the host will serve tea, Turkish coffee, andkillecheandkadehto guests. Although Christmas is celebrated in a much more religious fashion, in recent years, families put up a small Christmas tree in the house.
Christmas is an official holiday in Lebanon. The Lebanese celebrate Christmas on December 25, except forArmenian LebaneseChristians who celebrate Christmas on January 6 (also an official holiday in Lebanon). Lebanese families come together and butcher a sheep for a Christmas Eve feast in honor of the birth of "the shepherd" Jesus Christ. On that night the head of the house passes around a piece of coal representing the sins before Christ.After the piece of coal has been passed around it is then set on fire.After Dinner, Lebanese Christians attend midnight mass. Santa Claus is known by the French namePapa Noël. Gifts are either dropped off at church orPapa Noëlmakes a personal appearance at the home.
Jordanian Christians observe Christmas on December 25. The Muslim majority of Jordan also take part in Christmas as a holiday, and during this time shops and streets in Jordan are colorfully decorated.
Christmas is celebrated byChristians in Iraq, and in 2018 it was declared an official state holiday for the first time. In recent years, an increasing number of Muslims have also started celebrating Christmas as a secular holiday.Christmas ceremonies are held in one of the world's oldest Christian communities by a minority ofChaldeans.
While Christmas is marked as a religious holiday in the State of Palestine, it is not listed in the official list of holidays in Israel – as it follows the Jewish calendar – but is celebrated by the Christian community in these two countries on its Gregorian Calendar date with focus on its religious significance and the fact that the land of Israel is where the story of Christmas is set as was written in the Bible.
The main focus of celebrations of the holiday is inBethlehemin the Palestinian controlled-West Bank, just kilometers from Jerusalem, where theChurch of the Nativityis located. It is celebrated thrice there:
Celebrations are held as well inBeit Sahourjust meters away by some Protestant churches and other Christians – this town being the traditional site of theAnnunciation to the Shepherds. Nazareth, where Mary and Joseph traditionally were, is also another focus for regional celebrations.
Christmas is not an official holiday in Saudi Arabia. Until around the early 2010s, Christmas was banned in Saudi Arabia as it was and still is consideredharamby Islamic authorities. A display of decorations can be found in certain indoor markets and malls.
MostChristians in Syriacelebrate Christmas on the 25th of December although Armenians generally celebrate on the 6th of January and some other Orthodox Christians on the 7th of January. Christmas has been a public holiday in Syria since 1963.
In Turkey, Christmas is observed mainly by theEastern Orthodox Christianminority and not the Muslim majority. Though Turkey has no direct link to Christmas, it was home to Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop inAnatolia(then part of theByzantine Empire) and the inspiration for the folklore ofSanta Claus.
Christmas is not a public holiday in the United Arab Emirates, despite an observance celebrated with a convergence of Emirati culture and a small enclosed westernised population of Christian expats. A display of Christmas decorations, such as trees and figures of Santa Claus are put up after National Day on 2 December and can be seen in certain hotels, shops and malls.
In countries of Central Europe (for this purpose, roughly defined as the German-speaking countries ofGermany,AustriaandSwitzerlandas well as theCzech Republic,Poland,Slovakia,Slovenia,Hungary,Ukraineand possibly other places) the main celebration date for the general public isChristmas Eve(December 24). The day is usually a fasting day; in some places children are told they will see a golden pig if they hold fast until after dinner. When the evening comes, preparation of Christmas dinner starts. Traditions concerning dinner vary from region to region; for example, in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, the prevailing meal is friedcarpwith potato salad and fish (or cabbage) soup. However, in some places the tradition is porridge with mushrooms (a modest dish), and elsewhere the dinner is exceptionally rich, with up to 12 dishes. When Christmas comes around, children may receive presents from neighbors and house guests. House pets may also receive gifts.
After the dinner comes the time for gifts. Children usually find their gifts under the Christmas tree, with name stickers. An interesting example of the complicated history of the region is the "fight" between Christmas beings. During communism, when countries of Central Europe were under Soviet influence, communist authorities strongly pushed the RussianDed Moroz('Grandfather Frost') in the place of Little Jesus. NowSanta Clausis gaining popularity, by means of advertising and Hollywood film production. Many people, Christians as well as people with just a Christian background, go toRoman CatholicMidnight Mass.
Other common attributes of Christmas in Central Europe include Christmas trees, mistletoe, Christmas garlands, and Bethlehem cribs.
In many areas ofCentral Europe,Saint Nicholas(Hungarian:Mikulás,Czech:Mikuláš,Polish:Mikołaj,Slovak:Mikuláš,Slovene:Miklavž,Ukrainian:Миколай), or Santa Claus, does not come for Christmas. He visits families earlier, on the dawn ofSaint Nicholas Dayon December 6, and for the well-behaved children he has presents and candy-bags to put into their well-polished shoes that were set in the windows the previous evening. Although he neither parks his sleigh on rooftops nor climbs chimneys, his visits are usually accompanied by a diabolic-looking servant namedKrampusz(in Austria, Slovenia, andCroatia, Krampus; in Czech and Slovak regions he is simplyčert, i.e. 'devil', without any name) who gives golden coloured birches for so called badly behaved children. In fact, all children get both gifts and golden birches (Hungarian:virgács) in their shoes, no matter how they behaved themselves.
In some German-speaking communities, particularly in Catholic regions of western and southern Germany, Switzerland, Austria,South TyrolandLiechtenstein, as well as in other Catholic regions of Central Europe, theChristkind(literally 'Christ child') brings the presents on the evening of December 24 ('Holy Evening' orHeiliger Abend).The Christkind is invisible; thus he is never seen by anyone. However, he rings a bell just before he leaves in order to let children know that the Christmas tree and the presents are ready.
It is a tradition to lavishly decorate a Christmas tree in the days directly before Christmas or on the morning of Christmas Eve. Late on Christmas Eve, after the bell rings, the tree is shown to the children and presents are exchanged.
InProtestant churches, there is a service in the late afternoon intended to immediately precede theChristmas Evemeal and the exchanging of gifts. This service, calledChristvesper, consists most often of scriptural readings, the Christmas Gospel from Luke 2, aKrippenspiel(nativity play), favorite Christmas carols and festive music for organ and choirs. In some regions the tradition ofQuempassinging is still popular. Some Lutheran churches also celebrate a candlelight service at midnight besides the ChristmasVespersin the afternoon or early evening.
Many Catholic churches also have a first Mass of Christmas, calledChristmette, onHeiliger Abendabout 4 p.m. for the children and parents to attend before the families return home for their meal. The crib is a very important part of the celebrations in Catholic areas, especiallyBavaria.
In the largely Catholic Austria,Christmas marketsare a long-standing tradition. InVienna, for instance, one of the 20 so-calledChristkindlmärkte(sing.Christkindlmarkt) is held in the large square in front of City Hall.Innsbruckopens its romantic Christmas market in the narrow medieval square at the foot of the Golden Roof. InSalzburg, the Christmas market takes over the square in front of the cathedral with its picturesque stalls, while the tree vendors occupy Residenzplatz on the side of the huge Cathedral. However, almost every small town has its own Christmas market.
In Austria, Christmas trees play a very important part in Christmas celebrations. Every town sets up its own huge tree on the main square all decorated with electric candles, ornaments and various decorations resembling candies or other sweets and frequently there will be an extra one, adorned with breadcrumbs, for the birds. In families the tree is decorated with gold and silver ornaments or stars made out of straw, sweets and candy wrapped in tinfoil, gilded nuts, etc.
The feast ofSt Nicholasmarks the beginning of Christmas in Austria. On Christmas Eve (December 24) the tree is lit for the first time and the whole family gathers to singChristmas carolslike "Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht" ("Silent Night").Gifts that are placed under the tree are opened after dinner on Christmas Eve. Austrian Christmas tradition has it that it is the Christ Child himself who decorates the Christmas tree onChristmas Eveand brings the children their Christmas presents, and it is to him that their letters and wish lists are addressed in the weeks before Christmas. The Christmas Eve dinner is the main event of the night often served with fried carp.Vanillekipferlare a commonconfectionaryserved during Christmas time, along withZimtsterne,macaroons, and various kinds ofgingerbread.
In Germany, Christmas traditions vary by region. Until the Reformation, Saint Nicholas Day was celebrated on December 6, and Saint Nicholas was the main provider of Christmas presents. Nicholas still puts goodies in children's shoes on that day. Sometimes Saint Nicholas visits children in kindergarten, schools or at public events. They have to recite a short poem or sing a song in order to get sweets or a small gift. "Knecht Ruprecht" ('the servant Ruprecht') – dressed in dark clothes with devil-like traits (usually noted as a long, bright red tongue and with a stick or a small whip in the hand) – sometimes accompanies St. Nicholas. His duty is to punish those children who have not behaved during the year. Usually he merely stands near Saint Nicholas as a warning to be good and polite. Nikolaus as well for some Glühwein for adults;there are also traditions connected with local firefighters, riders' associations and church congregations.
TheSorbs, a minority in Saxony and parts of Brandenburg with a language similar to Polish, have some specific traditions; e.g. inJänschwalde, theBescherkindorJanšojski bog('gift child'), a girl dressed in local costume and veil, visits the neighbors and goes around with two companions the Wednesday before Christmas. Similar to Saint Nicholas, smaller presents like sweets are given and blessings provided; however, she remains silent.Another tradition in Saxony is related to thewooden toymaking in the Ore Mountains, especiallySeiffen, which produces Christmas decorations such as theChristmas pyramidas well as toys year-round.Christmas lettersmay be addressed e.g. toEngelskirchen('Angel's church') orHimmelpforten('Heaven's gate') or other municipalitieswith similar names. After privatization,Deutsche Postkept the tradition of dedicated Christmas offices, one in each state, answering letters and requests from children.
Currently the actual Christmas gift-giving (German:Bescherung) usually takes place onChristmas Eve. This tradition was introduced byReformerMartin Luther, as he was of the opinion that one should put the emphasis on Christ's birth and not on a saint's day and do away with the connotation that gifts have to be earned by good behavior. The gifts should be seen as a symbol for the gift of God's grace in Christ.This tradition quickly became common in predominantly Catholic regions as well.
Gifts may be brought by theWeihnachtsmann('Christmas man'), who resembles either Saint Nicholas or theAmerican Santa Claus, or byChristkindl, a sprite-like child who may or may not represent the baby Jesus.Until 1930, there was sort a north–south divide between the realms of the southern and SilesianChristkindland the NordicWeihnachtsmann. After the gifts are opened the children often stay up as late as they like, often till the early hours of the morning.
The Christmas tree is first put up and decorated on the morning of the 24th. The gifts are then placed under the tree. Christmas services in the church serve as well to exchange greetings with neighbors and friends. After an evening meal one of the parents usually goes into the room where the tree is standing, lights the candles and rings a little bell. Then the children are allowed to go into the candlelit room. In many families it is still customary to sing Christmas songs around the tree before opening the presents. Some families attend a midnight church service,Christmette, after the evening meal and gift-giving.
The culinary feast either takes place at supper on Christmas Eve or on the first day of Christmas. Traditions vary from region to region; carp is eaten in many parts of the country.Potato salad with frankfurter or wiener sausages is popular in some families. Another simple meal which some families favor, especially in regions where Christmas Eve still has the character of afast day, is vegetable or pea soup. In some regions, especially inSchleswig-Holsteinwhere Danish influence is noticeable, a roasted duck or goose filled with plums, apples and raisins is family tradition. In other regions, especially inMecklenburgandPomerania, many families preferkalewith boiled potatoes, special sausages and ham. Many families have developed new traditions for themselves and eat such meals as meatfondueorraclette. Many families in all parts of Germany bake a wide variety of Christmas cookies according to recipes typical for the family and the region.
Lüttenweihnachtendescribes the hunting and forestry custom of providing a Christmas tree with food decorated for animals.
Christmas Eve (December 24) is celebrated asŠtědrý den/Štedrý deň, which means 'Generous Day', and gifts are given in the evening. December 25 and 26 arepublic holidays in the Czech Republicandin Slovakia, butVánoce/Vianoce(Christmas) is most commonly associated with the 24th.
According to tradition, gifts are brought byJežíšek/Ježiško, or 'Baby Jesus'. Fish soup and breaded roasted carp with special homemade potato salad are a traditional dish for the dinner. In Slovakia, before eating, everyone exchanges Christmas greetings with each other by sharing a piece of Christmas wafer (oblátky) with honey and walnuts. The components of a traditional dinner depend on the region, but one common Christmas dinner is cabbage soup (kapustnica) or lentil soup and breaded roasted carp with homemade potato salad or handmade gnocchi with poppy (šúľanky s makom). The gifts are surreptitiously placed under the Christmas tree (usually aspruceorpineand lately fir), usually just before or during dinner. Children have to wait for the ringing of a Christmas bell, one of the decorations on the Christmas tree – the sign thatJežíšek/Ježiško(little Jesus) has just passed by – to run for the presents. That happens at the end of their Christmas dinner. There is a rich tradition of hard baked Christmas sweets (Cukroví/vianočné koláče).
Other Czech and Slovak Christmas traditions involve predictions for the future. Apples are always cut crosswise: if a perfect star appears in the core, the next year will be successful, while a distorted star means a bad year or illness, and a cross may suggest death. Girls throw shoes over their shoulders – if the toe points to the door, the girl will get married soon. Another tradition requires pouring some molten lead into water and guessing a message from its shapes.
In Catholic Slovakia, the tradition ofJasličkáriinvolves young men dressed as shepherds or angels visiting their neighbors and presenting recitations and songs about the story of the birth of Jesus.
The Christmas and gift-giving season starts relatively early compared to other cultures, with the Santa-like figure, or Hungarian version of Saint Nicholas,Mikulás (or Szent Miklós)traditionally visiting the homes of Hungarian children on the night of December 5, on the eve of Saint Nicholas Feast Day, December 6.
Although the role of gift-giver on Christmas Day itself is assigned to the Christ Child, on the night before Saint Nicholas Day Hungarian children traditionally place a boot on their windowsill waiting for Mikulás to come by and fill it with treats.In Hungary, celebrations begin with Christmas tree decoration and gift wrapping during the day on December 24; then comes a family dinner with traditional Christmas meals. In some parts of Hungary, a traditionalfish soup,halászlé, is served at the Christmas Eve meal, although it is also consumed at other times of the year. The day is otherwise a fast day.
In the evening of Christmas Eve, orSzenteste, the Angel or the Little (Baby) Jesus (Hungarian:KisjézusorJézuska) delivers the presents. This is the most intimate moment of Christmas, featuring a warmly lit Christmas tree and candles, soft Christmas music, family singing of Christmas or religious songs and gift opening. Nativity plays, called 'playing Bethlehem' orBetlehemezés) are commonly put on by children and adults. A Christmas crib and a church are used as the scene. The actors go from house to house, and they receive gifts for their performance.
In the largely Catholic Poland, Christmas Eve begins with a day of fasting and then a night of feasting. The traditional Christmas meal is known asWigilia('TheVigil'), and being invited to attend aWigiliadinner with a family is considered a high honor.On the night of Christmas Eve, the appearance of the first star in the sky is watched for, in remembrance of theStar of Bethlehem; it has been given the affectionate name of "the little star" orGwiazdka(the female counterpart of Saint Nicholas). On that evening, children watch the sky anxiously hoping to be the first to cry out, "The star has come!" After the appearance of the first star is declared, the family sits down at the dinner table.
According to tradition, bits of hay are spread beneath the tablecloth as a reminder that Christ was born in amanger. Others partake in the practice of placing money under the tablecloth for each guest, in order to wish for prosperity in the coming year. The dinner contains twelve dishes, one for each Apostle. In many homes, an extra place setting is set. The empty setting is symbolically left at the table for a lonely wanderer who may be in need of food, an angel, theBaby Jesusor the Holy Spirit should appear to share the feast.
Before eating, everyone exchanges Christmas greetings with each other. The supper begins with the breaking of theopłatek(Christmas wafer), in which everyone at the table breaks off a piece and eats it as a symbol of their unity with Christ. Theopłatekis usually blessed by the presiding bishop, and stamped with a religious image such as the Nativity scene. A tradition exists among some families to serve twelve different dishes atWigiliasymbolizing theTwelve Apostles, or perhaps, an odd number of dishes for good luck (usually five, seven, or nine). Some practice the superstition that an even number of people must be seated around the table.
A traditionalWigiliasupper in Poland includes friedcarpandbarszcz(beetroot soup) withuszka(translated as 'little ears', also known as meatless ravioli). The most common dishes are fish soup, with potato salad,pierogi,gołąbkifilled withkasza, pickledherringand fruitkompot.Carp provides a main component of the Christmas Eve meal across Poland:carpfillet, carp inaspicetc. Universal Polish Christmas foods are pierogi as well as someherringdishes, herring fillets, herring inaspicand for dessert,makowiecor noodles with poppy seeds. Often, there is acompoteof dry fruits for a drink. Dishes beside fish are usuallycabbage-, forest mushroom- (likeBoletus) andpoppy seed-based, with herring being very important. After supper the Star Man arrives attended by the Star Boys. They are dressed as Wise Men or animals or other figures. The Star Man examines the children in their catechism and rewards them with small presents if they do well, even if they need a bit of coaching. The Star Boys sing carols and are given a treat for their help. The feast begins with the appearance of the first star. The meal is followed by the exchange of gifts.
The remainder of the evening is given to stories and songs around the Christmas tree. In some areas of the country, children are taught that the "Little Star" brings the gifts. As presents are unwrapped, carolers may walk from house to house receiving treats along the way.
Christmas Eve ends withPasterka, the Midnight Mass at the local church. The tradition commemorates the arrival of theThree Wise Mento Bethlehem and their paying of respect and bearing witness to the newborn Messiah. The custom of Christmas night liturgy was introduced in the Christian churches after the second half of the 5th century. In Poland that custom arrived together with the coming of Christianity.The next day (December 25) begins with the early morning mass followed by daytime masses. According to scripture,the Christmas Day masses are interchangeable allowing for greater flexibility in choosing the religious services by individual parishioners.
The following day is often spent visiting friends. The gift bearer varies. In some regions it isŚwięty Mikołaj(Saint Nicholas), in othersŚwięty Mikołajgives his gifts on December 6 and the gift bringer of the Christmas Eve is Gwiazdor ('star man'), Aniołek ('little angel') or Dzieciątko ('baby Jesus').
Christmas (Romanian:Crăciun) in Romania is on December 25 and is generally considered the second most important religiousRomanian holidayafter Easter.In Moldova, although Christmas is celebrated on December 25 like in Romania, January 7 is also recognized as anofficial holiday. Celebrations begin with the decoration of the Christmas tree during daytime on December 24, and in the evening (Christmas Eve, Romanian:Ajunul Crăciunului)Moş Crăciun(Father Christmas) delivers the presents.
The singing of carols is a very important part of Romanian Christmas festivities. On the first day of Christmas, many carolers walk through the streets of the towns and villages, holding a star made of cardboard and paper on which are depicted various scenes from the Bible. Romanian tradition has the smallest children going from house to house, singing carols and reciting poems and legends during the whole Christmas season. The leader of the group carries with him a star made of wood, covered with metal foil and decorated with bells and coloured ribbons. An image of the Nativity is painted on the star's centre, and this piece of handiwork is attached to the end of a broom or other long stick.
Romanian food served during the holidays is a hearty multi-coursed meal, most of which consists of pork (organs, muscle, and fat). This is mainly a symbolic gesture forSt. Ignatius of Antioch.
Since the 1880s, the Christmas customs of theEastern Slaviccountries have included a similar character known asDed Moroz('Grandfather Frost'). According to legend, he travels in a magicalsanki— a decoratedsleighdrawn by reindeer (or three white horses). With his young, blonde assistantSnegurochka(the 'Snow Maiden', said to be his granddaughter) at his side, he visits homes and gives gifts to good children (not true for former Yugoslavian countries). He only delivers presents to children while they are asleep, and unlike Santa, he does not travel down chimneys, coming instead to the front door of children's homes. However, in Russia, children receive presents onNew Year's Day; Christmas is solely celebrated by Christians and on January 7.
This Ded Moroz is not identified nor in any way associated withSaint Nicholas of Myra(feast day, December 6), who is very widely revered in Eastern Europe for his clerical and charitable works as a bishop. In all likelihood, Ded Moroz is actually in Slavic tradition like Santa Claus, any connection to the original saint having long since disappeared.
Oncalendars in Georgia, Christmas (Georgian:შობა,shoba) is celebrated on January 7 (December 25 on theJulian calendar). It is traditional in Georgia to go onAlilo(a modified pronunciation ofalleluia), a mass walk in the streets, dressed in special clothing to celebrate and congratulate each other. Most members of the Alilo march are children and they are given sweets by the adults. The Alilo carols vary across theprovincesof Georgia. In most songs these words are used: "ოცდახუთსა დეკემბერსა, ქრისტე იშვა ბეთლემსაო" (otsdakhutsa dekembersa qriste ishva betlemsao) – 'on December 25 Christ was born in Bethlehem'. A local variant of the Christmas tree, calledchichilaki, is made of soft wooden material with curled branches. Sometimes it is made of hazelnut branches carved into aTree of Life-like shape and decorated with fruits and sweets. The Western custom of a Christmas tree (nadzvis khe) is also popular and has been imported through Russia. The Georgian equivalent of Santa Claus is known astovlis papa(ortovlis babuain westernGeorgian dialects), literally meaning 'Grandfather Snow', and is traditionally portrayed with long white beard, dressed inchokha, the national costume, and wearing a fur cloak,nabadi.
As in some other Eastern Orthodox countries, and due to the 13-day difference between the newer Gregorian calendar and the older Julian calendars, Christmas is celebrated on January 7. Unlike its Western counterparts, Christmas is mainly a religious event in Russia. On Christmas Eve (January 6), there are several long services, including theRoyal Hoursand Vespers combined with theDivine Liturgy. The family will then return home for the traditional Christmas Eve "Holy Supper", which consists of 12 dishes, one to honor each of the Twelve Apostles. Devout families will then return to church for theвсеночнаяorAll Night Vigil, or watch the national liturgy on television, which airs from Moscow'sCathedral of Christ the Saviour. On Christmas morning theзаутренняя– Divine Liturgy of the Nativity – is held, and families return to their local churches to attend. Since 1992 Christmas has become anational holiday in Russia, as part of the ten-day holiday at the start of every new year.
During the Soviet period, religious celebrations were discouraged by the officially atheist state. Christmas trees and related celebrations were gradually eradicated after theOctober Revolution. In 1935, in a surprising turn of state politics, the Christmas tradition was adopted as part of the secularNew Yearcelebration. These include the decoration of a tree, orёлка(spruce), festive decorations and family gatherings, the visit by gift-givingDed Moroz(Дед Мороз'Grandfather Frost') and his granddaughter, Snegurochka (Снегурочка, 'the Snow Maiden'). Many of these were brought to Russia byPeter the Greatafter his Western travels in the late 17th century.
Christmas is known asQuviasukvikin the federal subject ofChukotka, and is marked by theChukchi, theYupikand theAleutas their New Year on December 24.
Sviata Vecheriaor 'Holy Supper' is the central tradition of the Christmas Eve celebrations in Ukrainian homes and takes place in most parts of the country – from many years on January 6 and from 2022 onwards on December 24. In Western Ukraine, especially inCarpathian Ruthenia, due to historical multi-culturism, until 2023 Christmas can be observed twice—on December 25 and January 7, often irrespective of whether the family belongs toUkrainian Greek Catholic Church, theRoman Catholic Church, one of theUkrainian Orthodox Churches, or one of the Protestant denominations. The Western Ukrainian tradition of two Christmas celebrations, since 2017, is also celebrated nationwide as well, however the traditions in the western regions, given theRussian invasion of Ukraine, would be standardized in 2022 for celebrations within the whole of the nation – and with the date finally unified in 2023 the Western Ukrainian form has become the official standard.
When the children see the first star in the eastern evening sky, which symbolizes the trek of the Three Wise Men, theSviata Vecheramay begin. In farming communities the head of the household now brings in a sheaf of wheat called thedidukhwhich represents the importance of the ancient and rich wheat crops of Ukraine, the staff of life through the centuries.Didukhmeans literally 'grandfather spirit' and symbolizes the family's ancestors. In city homes a few stalks of golden wheat in a vase are often used to decorate the table. The dinner table sometimes has a few wisps of hay on the embroidered tablecloth as a reminder of the manger in Bethlehem. A prayer is said and the father says the traditional Christmas greeting,Khrystos rodyvsya!, 'Christ is born!', which is answered by the family withSlavite Yoho!which means 'Let us glorify him!'. In some families the Old Slavic formKhrystos rozhdayetsya!is used. At the end of theSviata Vecherathe family often sings Ukrainian Christmas carols. In many communities the old Ukrainian tradition of caroling is carried on by groups of young people and members of organizations and churches calling at homes and collecting donations, a tradition carried on abroad by the diaspora. In many places, the caroling is resumed after the Christmas Eve vigil services.
Traditionally, Christmas Day opens for Ukrainian families with attendance in church services (Mass, worship service or Divine Liturgy). Ukrainian churches offer services starting before midnight on both Christmas Eve and on Christmas morning. Christmas supper, without Lenten restrictions, does not have as many traditions connected with it asSviata Vechera. The old tradition in Ukraine of giving gifts to children on Saint Nicholas Day, December 6, has generally been replaced by the Christmas date and it is Father Frost who visits all the children in a sleigh pulled by only three reindeer instead of the 8 or 9 seen in the West during the holiday period.
In much of Northern Europe, Christmas is celebrated on December 24 and is referred to asjul(seeYule), while December 25 is a relaxed day for visiting relatives.Yulemay come from the Norse wordhweol,jól, meaning 'wheel', andOld Englishgéol. The Norse believed that the Sun was a great wheel of fire that rolled towards and then away from the Earth.
Danes celebrate on December 24, which is referred to asjuleaften(literally 'Yule evening').An evening meal with the family consists of either roast pork, roast duck or roast goose and eaten with potatoes, plenty of gravy, and red cabbage or finely chopped kale boiled in butter. Caramelized potatoes are also an important part of the Danish Christmas dinner. For dessert rice pudding is traditionally served – composed largely of whipped cream and accompanied by lashings of black cherry sauce. The rice pudding also contains chopped peeled almonds, and a single whole peeled almond. Whoever finds the whole almond will have good luck for the coming year, and the lucky finder is entitled to a small gift,mandelgave.
After the meal is complete, the family gathers around the Christmas tree and sings Christmas songs and hymns while holding hands and dancing in circles, and may even tour the house, still holding hands and singing. When the singing is complete, traditions vary. In some traditions, the family will select one child to hand out the presents. All children take turns handing out presents in other traditions.
Alternatively "Santa Claus",Julemanden, will appear at the door in full costume with a large sack of presents over his shoulder. He will then distribute the presents, with the assistance of any children present, to their recipients. He should be offered suitable drink to keep him warm and cheerful on his onward journey, but do not expect loquacity – utterances are normally limited to loud and hearty laughs. Meanwhile, the presents are opened and this is followed by more snacks, candy, chips and, sometimes, a traditional Christmas drink calledgløgg.
The Danish are somewhat famous for theirjulefrokost(pl.julefrokoster),literally meaning 'Christmas lunch', which includes various traditional Danish dishes, potentially accompanied by beer andsnaps. Thesejulefrokosterare popular and held within families, as well as by companies and other social groups. They would traditionally have taken place leading up to Christmas, but due to time constraints and stress during the Christmas month they are nowadays commonly held during November and January as well. The familyjulefrokoster, however, are normally held on Christmas Day and/or the Second day of Christmas (December 26).
Another more recent Danish tradition is the concept of televisionjulekalendere, special Christmas-themed, advent calendar-type television programmes with a daily episode shown on each of the first 24 days of December, thus culminating onjuleaften. Several television stations produce their own, most, but not all of which are targeted at child viewers. Some of the television advent calendars become extremely popular and go on to be reprised in subsequent years.
In Denmark, Santa Claus is known asJulemanden(literally 'the Yule Man') and is said to arrive in a sleigh drawn by reindeer, with presents for the children. He is assisted with his Yuletide chores by elves known asjulenisser(or simplynisser), who are traditionally believed to live in attics, barns or similar places. In some traditions, to maintain the favor and protection of thesenisser, children leave out saucers of milk or rice pudding or other treats for them and are delighted to find the food gone on Christmas morning.
In the weeks preceding Christmas orjõulud, children place a slipper in their windows and receive a piece of candy or some other sweets from visiting elves (päkapikud). Estonians celebrate Christmas on December 24, which is referred to asjõululaupäev('Christmas Saturday')and is by act of Parliament apublic holiday in Estonia. Each year on this day, the President of Estonia declares the Christmas Peace and attends a Christmas service. The tradition was initiated by the order ofQueen Christinaof Sweden in the 17th century. Estonian children are visited byjõuluvana('Santa Claus') on Christmas Eve, and must sing songs or recite Christmas poems before receiving their gifts.
The evening meal typically includes pork with sauerkraut or Estonian sauerkraut with pork and barley (mulgikapsad), baked potatoes, white and blood sausage, potato salad with red beet, and pâté. For dessert, Estonians eat gingerbread (piparkoogid) and marzipan. The most highly regarded drinks during this time have been beer and mulled wine orglögiandhõõgvein('glowing wine'). Estonians leave the leftover food from Christmas dinner on the table overnight, in hopes that the spirits of family, friends, and loved ones will visit and also have something to eat. It is also customary to visit graveyards and leave candles for the deceased.
December 25 orjõulupühais a relaxed day for visiting relatives.
Christmas is an extensively prepared celebration centering on the family and home, although it has a religious dimension also. The Christmas season starts from December or even in late November, when shops began advertising potential Christmas gifts. Christmas decorations and songs become more prominent as Christmas nears, and children count days to Christmas withAdvent calendars. Schools and some other places have the day before Christmas Eve (aatonaatto, December 23) as a holiday, but at the latest on Christmas Eve (jouluaatto, December 24), shops close early and stay closed until December 26. The main Christmas festivities are held on Christmas Eve on December 24, while Christmas Day (joulupäivä) and the following day (Tapaninpäivä, 'St. Stephen's Day') are mandatorypublic holidays in Finland.Schools continue holidays up to the New Year.
The Declaration ofChristmas Peacehas been a tradition in Finland fromthe Middle Agesevery year, except in 1939 due to theWinter War. It is a custom in many towns and cities. The most famous one of these declarations is on the Old Great Square ofTurku, the former capital of Finland, at noon on Christmas Eve. It is broadcast on Finnish radio (since 1935) and television, and nowadays also in some foreign countries. The declaration ceremony begins with the hymnJumala ompi linnamme(Martin Luther'sA Mighty Fortress Is Our God) by a band of theFinnish Navyand a male choir and continues with the Declaration of Christmas Peace read from a parchment roll, in both Finnish and Swedish, the country's two official languages:
The ceremony ends with the Finnishnational anthemMaammeandPorilaisten marssiplayed by the band, with the crowd usually singing when the band playsMaamme. Recently,there is also a declaration of Christmas peace for forest animals in many cities and municipalities, so there is no hunting during Christmas.
Finnish people clean their homes well before Christmas and prepare special treats for the festive season. A sheaf of grain, nuts and seeds are tied on a pole, which is placed in the garden for the birds to feed on. Spruce trees are cut or bought from a market and taken to homes on or a few days before Christmas Eve and are decorated. Candles are lit on the Christmas tree, which is traditionally decorated using apples and other fruit, candies, paper flags, cotton and tinsel, in addition toChristmas ornamentssuch as stars or baubles. Actual candles are no longer used, being replaced by incandescent or LED lamps. A star symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem is placed at the top of the tree. Just before the Christmas festivities begin, people usually take a Christmassauna. The tradition is very old; unlike on normal days, when one would go to the sauna in the evening, on Christmas Eve it is done before sunset. This tradition is based on a pre-20th century belief that the spirits of the dead return and have a sauna at the usual sauna hours.
Afterwards, they dress up in clean clothes for the Christmas dinner orjoulupöytä, which is usually served between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., or traditionally with the appearance of the first star in the sky. The most traditional dish of the Finnish Christmas dinner is probablyChristmas ham, roast suckling pig or a roasted fresh ham, but some may prefer alternatives like turkey. Several sorts ofcasseroles, like rutabaga, carrot and potato casserole are traditional, and are almost always exclusively served on Christmas. Other traditional Christmas dishes includeboiled codfish(soaked beforehand in a lye solution for a week to soften it) served snowy white and fluffy, pickledherringand vegetables. Prune jam pastries, plum or mixed fruit soup, rice porridge with cinnamon, sugar and cold milk, and sweets like chocolate are popular desserts. Christmas gifts are usually exchanged after Christmas Eve dinner.Children do not hang up stockings in Finland butJoulupukkivisits the household, maybe with atonttuto help him distribute the presents.
Christmas Day services begin early at six in the morning and people visit families and reunions are arranged on this day.
Boxing Day, orTapaninpäivä(Saint Stephen's Day) is traditionally set aside for driving around the village (tapaninajot), to counterbalance the solemn and family-oriented part of Christmas.
The Christmas orYule(Jólin Icelandic)celebration in Iceland starts four Sundays before Christmas proper, which begins on December 24 (Advent) and ends thirteen days later on January 6. Traditionally, one candle is lit each Sunday until four candles are lit on the 24th. At 6:00 pmchurch bellsring to start the Christmas celebration. The religiously observant and/or traditional Icelanders will attend mass at this time while the secular Icelanders will begin their holiday meal immediately. After the meal is finished, they open gifts and spend the evening together. In Iceland people over theYule holidays most often eatsmoked lamb, ptarmigan and turkey. Pork is also very popular.
Thirteen days before December 24, children will leave their shoes by the window so that theYule Ladscan leave small gifts in their shoes.The Yule Lads are the sons of two trolls living in the Icelandic mountains. Each of the Yule Lads is known for a different kind of mischief (for example slamming doors, stealing meat, stealing milk or stealing the candles). The Yule Lads traditionally wear early Icelandic wool clothing but are now known for the more recognizable red and white suit.
Each home typically sets up a Christmas tree indoors in the living room with most decorating it on December 11. In addition to the decorations, presents are put underneath the tree. It is also a tradition in many homes to boilskateon the 23rd. The day is called Saint Thorlak Mass (Þorláksmessa).
During the holiday season, it is traditional for families to work together to bake small cookies to serve or give to guests. Most common are thin gingerbread cookies which are decorated in many different colors of glaze. Many families also follow the tradition of makinglaufabrauð('leafbread'), which is a flat thin bread that is cut out using a special tool and folding technique.
The end of year is divided between two days – the Old Year's Day (Gamlársdagur) and the New Year's Day (Nýársdagur). At the night of the former and morning of the latter Icelanders shoot up fireworks blowing the old year away and welcoming the new one.
Thirteen days after the 24th Icelanders say goodbye to the Yule Lads and other mystical creatures such as elves and trolls. There are bonfires held throughout the country while the elves, Yule Lads, and Icelanders dance together before saying goodbye until the next Christmas.
The major day of celebration in Norway, as in most of Northern Europe, is December 24. Although it is legally a regular workday until 4:00 p.m.,most stores close early. Church bells chime in the Christmas holiday between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. In some families, the Christmas story from Luke 2 will be read from the old family Bible. The main Christmas meal is served in the evening. Common main dishes include pork rib,pinnekjøtt(pieces of lamb rib steamed on a grid of birch wood). Many people also eatlutefiskor fresh, poached cod. Rice porridge is also popular (but most commonly served as an early lunch rather than for the main Christmas dinner), an almond is often hidden in the porridge, and the person who finds it wins a treat or small gift. In some parts of Norway it is common to place porridge outside (in a barn, outhouse or even in the forest) to pleasenissen. In many families, where the parents grew up with different traditions, two different main dishes are served to please everyone. If children are present (and they have behaved well the last year),Julenissen(Santa Claus) pays a visit, otherwise gifts are stored under the Christmas tree.
For a lot of Norwegians, especially families, television is an important part of the earlier hours of Christmas Eve. Many Norwegians do not feel the Christmas spirit until they have watched the Czech-German fairy taleThree Wishes for Cinderella(Norwegian title:Tre nøtter til Askepott), the Disney Christmas cavalcadeFrom All of Us to All of Youthe Norwegian fairytale movieReisen til Julestjernenor the comedy sketchDinner for One, known in Norway asGrevinnen og hovmesteren(The Countess and the Butler) and which is broadcast onlillejulaften(little Christmas Eve, December 23). Attending one of the many stage productions ofPutti Plutti Pott and Santa's Beardis also a very popular tradition.
December 25 is a very quiet and relaxed day. Church services are well attended. The old tradition of a very early morning service before breakfast has been replaced in most areas by a service in the later morning. Afterward, many families get together for a large festive meal.
December 26 is also a day of many festivities. Cinemas, night clubs and bars are full, and there are many private gatherings and parties, where all kinds of traditionalChristmas cookiesand sweets are enjoyed. Fatty, tasty dinners are also part of it. The time between Boxing Day and New Year's Eve is calledromjul. During this time children in some parts of Norway dress up asnisserandJulebukk– 'Christmas goat' – in their neighborhoods and sing Christmas carols to receive treats, much the same way as in the AmericanHalloween. January 6 (the 13th day of Christmas) is commonly regarded as the end of Christmas, while some end Christmas on the 20th day, and some even at Candlemas.
The pre-Christian holiday ofYule, orjól, was the most important holiday in Scandinavia and Northern Europe.Originally the observance of thewinter solstice, and the rebirth of the sun, it brought about many practices that remain in theAdventandChristmascelebrations today. The Yule season was a time for feasting, drinking, gift-giving, and gatherings, but also the season of awareness and fear of the forces of the dark. Swedish Christmas celebrations begin with the first ofAdvent.Saint Lucy's Day(locally known asLuciadagen) is the first major Christmas celebration before Christmas itself. The eldest daughter arising early and wearing her Lucy garb of white robe, red sash, and a wire crown covered with whortleberry-twigs with nine lighted candles fastened in it awakens the family, singing "Santa Lucia", serving them coffee andsaffron buns(St. Lucia buns), thus ushering in the Christmas season.
Schools elect students to play the part of Lucia and her maids, and a national Lucia is elected on national television from regional winners. The regional Lucias will visit shopping malls, old people's homes and churches, singing and handing outpepparkakor,gingerbreadcookies.
Boys take part in the procession as well, playing different roles associated with Christmas. Some may be dressed in the same kind of white robe, but with a cone-shaped hat decorated with golden stars, calledstjärngossar('star boys'); some may be dressed up astomtenissar, carrying lanterns; and some may be dressed up asgingerbread men. They participate in the singing and also have a song or two of their own, usuallyStaffan Stalledräng, which tells the story aboutSaint Stephen, the first Christianmartyr, caring for his five horses.
Electric candles and glowing stars are placed in almost every window in the month of December in Sweden. Although December 25 (juldagen) is aSwedish public holiday, December 24 is the day when Santa ClausJultomte(or simplyTomte) brings the presents. Although not a public holiday, Christmas Eve is ade factoholiday in the sense that most workplaces are closed, and those who work, for instance in shops or care homes, get extra wages as a compensation.
TheJultomtewas originally a small invisible Christmas house gnome or dwarf from Nordic mythology, who watched over the house and its inhabitants. An old superstition still calls for feeding theTomteon Christmas Eve with a small bowl of porridge. If a bowl of porridge is not laid out for him somewhere in or outside the house, he will bring bad luck to everyone in the house the next year. The modernTomtenis a version of Santa Claus in red clothes and white beard, except that he does not enter the house through the chimney, but knocks on the door and asks "finns det några snälla barn här?" ('are there any nice children here?')
Christmas is, as everywhere else, an occasion celebrated with food.Almost all Swedish families celebrate on December 24 with a Christmas table, called Christmassmörgåsbord(julbord), a display of several Christmas food items. Almost alljulbordhave Christmas ham, (julskinka) accompanied by other Christmas dishes, such as smallmeatballs,pickled herring,spareribs, small hot dogs,lutfisk, pork sausage, salmon,Janssons frestelse(potato casserole with anchovy), andrice pudding. The Christmasjulbordis served withjulmustand beverages like mulled wine, Christmas beer orsnaps. A Scandinavian speciality is theglögg(mulled and spiced wine with almonds and raisins), which is served hot in small cups. The different dishes of thejulbordmay vary throughout Sweden, from south to north. Businesses traditionally invite their employees to ajulborddinner or lunch in the weeks before Christmas, and people go out privately to restaurants which also customarily offer julbord during December.
Examples of candies and treats associated with Christmas aremarzipan, toffee,knäck(quite similar to butterscotch), nuts and fruits: figs, chocolate, dates and oranges decorated with cloves.
Television also plays a big role, many families watch the Disney Christmas specialKalle Anka och hans vänner önskar God Jul(From All of Us to All of You),Karl Bertil Jonssons julafton(animated short), or a re-run of theSvensson, Svenssonepisode "God Jul!" ('Merry Christmas') on the TV channelSVT1.
After thejulbordon December 24, the presents are distributed, either byJultomtenor a family member, and usually from a sack or from under the Christmas tree where they have been lying all day or for several days.
Many Swedes still adhere to the tradition that each present should have a rhyme written on the wrapping paper, to hint at the contents without revealing them.
In older days ayule goatwas an alternative toJultomten; nowadays it is used as an ornament, ranging from sizes of 10 cm (3.9 in) to huge constructions like the giant straw ChristmasGävle goat, famous for frequently being vandalized or burnt down. If one has two families to celebrate Christmas with, it is common that one of the families move their celebrations to Christmas Day or the day before Christmas Eve (commonly referred to aslittle Christmas Eve).
After December 24, the Christmas celebrations have more or less come to an end. Some people attend thejulottan, an early morning church service on December 25. This particular service was the main service of Christmas historically—nowadays, theMidnight Masshas become increasingly popular. Others attend a simpler service calledChristmas Prayerin the afternoon of Christmas Eve; however, many Swedes do not attend church at all during Christmas as the country is verysecular. Even so, most families do set up aJulkrubba('Christmas Crib'). On January 13 (locally known asknutdagenortjugondag knut'twentieth-day Christmas'), 20 days after Christmas, the Christmas celebrations come to an end and all Christmas decorations are removed.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia, Christmas (Croatian:Božić,Slovene:Božič) is celebrated mainly as a religious holiday. The festivities begin onSaint Nicholas's Day on December 6 (in Slovenia) orSaint Lucy's on December 13 depending on what region (in Croatia). Saint Lucy or Saint Nicholas brings children presents, and Saint Nicholas is said to be accompanied byKrampuswho steals away the presents of bad children. This "anti-Santa" is said to have one cloven hoof, a handful of heavy chains, and a sack on his back to collect naughty children.In Croatia on Saint Lucy's, families will plant wheat seeds in a bowl of shallow water, which will grow several inches by Christmas and are then tied together with a red, blue and white ribbon calledtrobojnica'.
On Christmas Eve (Croatian:Badnjak, Slovene:Sveti večer('holy eve')), three candles representing theTrinityare lit and placed in the middle of the wheat; the glow symbolizes the soul of each person. On this day, the tree is decorated, the home is decked with greenery and the women prepare the Christmas meal. They also bake special types of bread: one is round inscribed with a cross on top known as thecesnica, another is made with honey, nuts and dried fruit called the Christmas Eve Bread (Croatian:Badnji Kruh, Slovene:Božični kruh). In many villages, straw (which symbolizes Christ's birth in the manger) is spread around the floors of the home for the Christmas Eve dinner. As is customary with Catholic people, meat is not consumed in Croatia, while in Slovenia it is. Instead of meat in Croatia and with other food in Slovenia, salad and fish is served, many choosing to eat theDalmatianspecialtybakalar, dried cod fish. The family then sprinkle holy water on theirYule log(badnjak) which they light and watch. In villages, thebadnjakis freshly cut that very morning by the father of the household while reciting traditional prayers. At the end of the meal, a piece of thecesnicais cut and dipped in wine and used to sprinkle on the candles to extinguish them, while reciting theTrinitarian formula("In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen").
Many families will go to a midnight mass on Christmas Eve and often another on Christmas Day. It is common for Christmas presents to be placed under the tree, to suggest that the Angel or the Baby Jesus (Mali Isus) leaves them there while others are attending midnight mass. Presents are opened after the mass. Christmas is a day of celebrating with family; a large feast is prepared and traditional foods such as stuffed cabbage, turkey, pot roast, pita and smoked meat are served, along with various desserts such asfritule,potica(especially in Slovenia),strudel, and cookies.
Slovenes are also visited by another one of theirtrije dobri možje('three good men'), who bring presents in December: Saint Nicholas, Santa Claus and Dedek Mraz ('Grandfather Frost'). Families mostly celebrate New Year's Eve at home with extended family members, friends, and sometimes neighbors. Women preparecabbage sarma, which they will eat on January 1 to symbolize good fortune, andsteak tartare, which they eat on New Year's Eve on toast with butter. At midnight, people go outdoors to watch fireworks, while Dedek Mraz leaves presents under the tree. Epiphany on January 6 marks the end of the Christmas season.
In Bulgaria, Christmas (Bulgarian:Коледа,Koledaor more formallyРождество Христово,Rozhdestvo Hristovo, 'Nativity of Jesus') is celebrated on December 25 and is preceded by Christmas Eve (Бъдни вечер,Badni vecher). Traditionally, Christmas Eve would be the climax of theNativity Fast, and thus only an odd number of lenten dishes are presented on that evening.The table is usually not cleared after the dinner and until the next morning, to leave some food for the holy spirits – a custom which probably comes from pagan pre-Christian times. On that day, aBulgarian budnikis set alight. On Christmas, however, meat dishes are already allowed and are typically served.
Among the Bulgarian Christmas traditions iskoleduvane, which involves boy carolers (коледари,koledari) visiting the neighboring houses starting at midnight on Christmas Eve, wishing health, wealth and happiness. Another custom is the baking of a traditional round loaf (пита,pita). The pita is broken into pieces by the head of the family and a piece is given to each family member, a valuable possession, and a piece for God. A coin is hidden inside the pita and whoever gets the coin will have luck, health, and prosperity in the coming year.
As in other countries, a Christmas tree is typically set up and the entire house is decorated. The local name of Santa Claus isDyado Koleda(Дядо Коледа, 'Grandfather Christmas'), with Dyado Mraz (Дядо Мраз, 'Grandfather Frost') being a similar Russian-imported character lacking the Christian connotations and thus popular during the Communist rule. However, it has been largely forgotten after 1989, when Dyado Koleda again returned as the more popular figure.
The festive period lasts from November 30 to January 6 (Epiphany) on theGreek calendar. December 25 and 26 are public holidays in Greece. In Greek, Christmas is known asChristougena(Χριστούγεννα) and people wish Merry Christmas to each other, sayingKala Christougenna(Καλά Χριστούγεννα). Most families set up Christmas trees and shops have decorations and lights. Presents are placed under the Christmas tree and are opened on January 1,St Basil's Day. In Greek tradition,St Basil of Caesareais identified with Father Christmas, visiting children and giving presents; in other European traditions, Father Christmas is Saint Nicholas, and comes at Christmas. Christmas carols (Κάλαντα Χριστουγέννων /Κάλαντα Πρωτοχρονιάς) are sung by children who knock on doors very early in the morning on Christmas and New Year's Eve to sing the carols (using the «τρίγωνο», a metallic triangular small instrument) and are compensated by sweets or money. The Christmas meal usually includes turkey, but may also include lamb or pork and desserts such askourabies(κουραμπιές) andmelomakarono(μελομακάρονα). Other Christmas and New Year foods includebaklava,kataifi(pastry), andthiples(a kind of fried pastry).
On December 23 and 24 Christmas, brioches are made with a cross in the middle, andavgokouloures(αυγοκουλούρες, 'egg rolls'), which are subsequently offered to the elderly and children. Children sing carols from house to house either before or on Christmas Day. People go to church early on Christmas morning, on December 25. Christmas morning after church, pork dishes and wine are served. Pork dishes are a hallmark of Greek Christmas, and the main meal of Christmas dinner takes place at noon. In many Greek cities and ports likeThessaloniki,Volos,Patra, and theGreek Islands, boats are decorated with Christmas decorations, and a large Christmas tree is decorated in many city and town central squares.
Some of the Christmas festivals in Greece areRugatsaria(Ρουγκατσάρια), where all the residents of the city ofKastoriaare delivered in a separateDionysianrevelry, accompanied by folk melodies and traditional music of the area.
Christmas in Italy(Italian:Natale,pronounced[naˈtaːle]) begins on December 8, with theFeast of the Immaculate Conception, the day on which traditionally theChristmas treeis mounted and ends on January 6, of the following year with theEpiphany(Italian:Epifania).The Italian termNatalederives from theLatinnatalis, which literally means 'birth',and the greetings in Italian arebuon Natale(Merry Christmas) andfelice Natale(Happy Christmas).
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Italian:Festa dell'Immacolata Concezione) on December 8 is anational holiday in Italy. Christmas decorations, including thepresepe(nativity scene),as well as the Christmas tree, are usually put up on this day. Some modern takes on this holiday involve them hangingvulturesto symbolize the cleaning of their spirits.
Saint Lucy's Day(Italian:Giorno di Santa Lucia) is celebrated as a Catholic holiday inSicilyand the northern regions of Italy on the supposedshortest dayof the year, which is December 13.Saint Lucy (Santa Lucia) is the patron saint of the city ofSyracuse. Evening candlelight processions called the Parade of Light are conducted and are followed by the Feast of Saint Lucy. Sicilians pay tribute to a miracle performed by St. Lucy during a famine in 1582. At that time, she brought a flotilla of grain-bearing ships to starving Sicily, whose citizens cooked and ate the wheat without taking time to grind it into flour. Thus, on Saint Lucy's Day, Sicilians do not eat anything made with wheat flour. Instead they eat cooked wheat calledcuccìa.
Christmas is celebrated in Italyin a similar fashion to other Western European countries, with a strong emphasis given to the Christian meaning of the holiday and its celebration by theCatholic Church, also reinforced by the still widespread tradition of setting up thepresepe, a tradition initiated bySaint Francis of Assisi. It is quite common to attend Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and practice the old custom of abstinence from meat on the day (but not fasting, which is observed by the Eastern Orthodox.)
A popular Christmas Day dish inNaplesand inSouthern Italyis female eel orcapitone, which is a female eel. A traditional Christmas Day dish fromNorthern Italyiscapon(gelded chicken).Abbacchiois more common inCentral Italy.The Christmas Day dinner traditionally consists by typical Italian Christmas dishes, such asagnolini,cappelletti,Pavese agnolotti,capon, lamb,eel,panettone,pandoro,torrone,panforte,struffoli,mustacciuoli,bisciola,cavallucci,veneziana,pizzelle,zelten, or others, depending on the regional cuisine.Christmas on the 25th is celebrated with a family lunch, also consisting of different types of pasta and meat dishes, cheese and local sweets.
The ancient Christmas festival calledNdocciatais celebrated on December 8 and Christmas Eve inAgnone,Molise, with a parade of torches leading up to the "Bonfire of Brotherhood".On Christmas Eve, in the squares of many towns of easternSicily, a large bonfire,U Zuccu, is lit to warm theBaby Jesus.
Traditions regarding the exchanging of gifts vary from region to region, as this might take place either on Christmas Eve or on Christmas Day. Presents for children are left underneath the Christmas tree either by Santa Claus (calledBabbo Natale) or, according to older traditions, by Baby Jesus himself.In some regions children receive gifts earlier (at Saint Lucy's Day) or later (on Epiphany).
In 1991, theGubbio Christmas Tree, 650 meters high and decorated with over 700 lights, entered theGuinness Book of Recordsas the tallest Christmas tree in the world.December 26, (Saint Stephen's Day, in ItalianGiorno di Santo Stefano), is also a public holiday in Italy. Festivities extend to the end of the year and then to the Epiphany.
In Italy, Saint Stephen's Day became a public holiday in 1947, where previously it was a normal working day; the Catholic Church also celebrates it as a religious holiday, even if not as aprecept, as it is in Germany and other German-speaking countries. The reason for the public holiday in Italy, not required by the Catholic Church despite the fame of the saint, is to be found in the intention of prolonging the Christmas holiday, creating two consecutive public holidays, which also happens in the case ofEaster Monday, a non-religious holiday, but which only wants to lengthen Easter.Before 1947 the two days were working days, with banks and offices open.
On January 6 (Epiphany, in ItalianEpifania) decorations are usually taken down, and in some areas female puppets are burned on a pyre (calledfalò), to symbolize, along with the end of the Christmas period, the death of the old year and the beginning of a new one.While gifts are now given at Christmas by an American-style Santa Claus as well, Italy holds fast to its tradition of native gift-givers. On the eve of the 6th,la Befana, the good Epiphany witch, is thought to ride the night skies on broomstick, bringing good children gifts and sweets, and bad ones charcoal or bags of ashes.In other areas it is theThree Wise Menwho bring gifts, especially oranges symbolizing gold, and chocolate symbolizing their kisses to good children. In some municipalities, most famously inMilan, the custom of theCorteo dei Re Magi(Three Kings' Procession) is elaborately celebrated with a parade welcoming the Wise Men, and the passing out of sweets.In other places such asTreviso, the day is celebrated with bonfires, the sparks of which are said to predict the future of the new year.
Christmas in Malta is a vibrant celebration that beautifully blends deep-rooted religious customs with joyful community festivities. The island’s rich cultural heritage shines through its unique traditions, which bring families and communities together during the season.
Anofficial holiday in Portugal, Christmas is widely celebrated and associated with family gatherings. Many who have moved to the urban centers ofLisbonorPorto, along with many who have emigrated to other countries, still travel to their hometown to spend Christmas Eve with their families. Before theMissa do Galo('Rooster's Mass') that celebrates the birth of Christ, families gather around theConsoada, the late supper held on Christmas Eve. The traditional dish isbacalhau com todos(dried codfish boiled with vegetables), although, in northern Portugal, the bacalhau is often replaced by octopus. The Christmas dinner usually ends withfatias douradas(golden slices),filhós, andsonhos(dreams), allvariations of fried doughdesserts. The traditional cakeBolo Rei(king cake) is served on Epiphany. Although Santa Claus (Pai Natal) is increasingly more popular, in some regions people still attest thatMenino Jesus(Baby Jesus)brings presents to children.
In Serbia and Montenegro, Christmas (Serbian:Божић,romanized:Božić,pronounced[boʒitɕ]or more formallyРождество Христово,Rozhdestvo Hristovo, 'Nativity of Christ') is celebrated for three consecutive days, beginning with Christmas Day. TheSerbian Orthodox Churchuses the traditionalJulian calendar, per which Christmas Day (December 25) falls on January 7. This day is called the first day of Christmas, and the following two are accordingly called the second, and the third day of Christmas. During this festive time, one is to greet another person with "Christ is Born" (Serbian:Христос се роди,romanized:Hristos se rodi), which should be responded with "Truly He is Born" (Serbian:Ваистину се роди,romanized:Vaistinu se rodi). TheSerbianname for Christmas,Božić, means 'young, little God'.
This holiday surpasses all the others celebrated bySerbs, with respect to the diversity of applied folk customs and rituals. These may vary from region to region, some of them having modern versions adapted to the contemporary way of living. The ideal environment to carry them out fully is the traditional multi-generation country household.
In the morning of Christmas Eve a young, straightoak treeis selected and felled by the head of the household. A log is cut from it and is referred to as thebadnjak. In the evening, thebadnjakis ceremoniously put on the domestic fire that burns in the house's fireplace calledognjište, whose hearth is without a vertical surround. The burning of thebadnjakis accompanied by prayers to God so that the coming year may bring much happiness, love, good fortune, riches, and food. Since most houses today have noognjišteon which to burn abadnjak, it is symbolically represented by several leaved oak twigs. For the convenience of city dwellers, they can be bought at marketplaces or received in churches.
The dinner on this day is festive, copious and diverse in food, although it is prepared in accordance with the rules of fasting. Groups of young people go from house to house of their village or neighborhood, congratulating each other, singing, and making performances; this continues through the next three days. The Serbs also take a bundle of straw into the house and spread it over the floor, and then put walnuts on it. Before the table is served for dinner, it is strewn with a thin layer of straw and covered with a white cloth. The head of household makes theSign of the Cross, lights a candle, andcensesthe whole house. The family members sit down at the table, but before tucking in they all rise and a man or boy among them says a prayer, or they together sing thetroparionof the Nativity.After the dinner young people visit their friends, a group of whom may gather at the house of one of them. Christmas and other songs are sung, while the elderly narrate stories from the olden times.
On Christmas Day, the celebration is announced at dawn by church bells and by shooting. A big importance is given to the first visit a family receives that day. People expect that it will summon prosperity and well-being for their household in the ensuing year; this visit is often pre-arranged. Christmas dinner is the most celebratory meal a family has during a year. A special, festive loaf of bread is baked for this occasion. The main course is roast pork which is cooked whole by rotating it impaled on a wooden spit close to an open fire. Even though gift-giving is not necessarily a part of the tradition, aSanta Claus-inspired character calledBožić Bata(translated as 'Christmas friend') sometimes takes his part in gift-giving, as Santa Claus is more traditionally connected to New Year's celebrations. Gift-giving is, nevertheless, connected with the celebrations, being traditionally done on the three consecutive Sundays that immediately precede it. Children, women, and men, respectively, are the set gift-givers on these three days.
Since the early 1990s, the Serbian Orthodox Church has, together with local communities, organized public celebrations on Christmas Eve. The course of these celebrations can be typically divided into three parts: the preparation, the ritual, and the festivity. The preparation consists of going and cutting down the tree to be used as thebadnjak, taking it to the churchyard, and preparing drink and food for the assembled parishioners. The ritual includesVespers, placing thebadnjakon the open fire built in the churchyard, blessing or consecrating thebadnjak, and an appropriate program with songs and recitals. In some parishes they build the fire on which to burn thebadnjaknot in the churchyard but at some other suitable location in their town or village. The festivity consists of getting together around the fire and socializing. Each particular celebration, however, has its own specificities which reflect traditions of the local community, and other local factors.
In Serbia, Montenegro andNorth MacedoniaChristmas is celebrated on January 7. This is a result of theirOrthodoxChurchescommemorating Christmas Day based on theJulian calendar, which is now 13 days behind theRevised Julian calendar(the other calendar used by certain Eastern Orthodox Churches, which is equivalent to theGregorian calendaruntil 2100.)
Christmas is anofficially recognized holiday in Spain. In most of Spain, the Christmas period (Navidad) lasts from Christmas Eve (Nochebuena, that is, 'Good Night') on December 24 to Epiphany on January 6. Many homes and most churches display aNativity scene, aChristmas tree, or both. Thebelénorpesebre(Nativity scene) has a long tradition and is present in many homes, schools and stores, while the Christmas tree is not traditional, but it has become very popular. InCataloniaon the 26th,Sant Esteve(Saint Stephen) is celebrated with a family gathering.
In most of Spain (though not in a few areas, such as Catalonia), a large family dinner is celebrated on Christmas Eve (nochebuena) and can last until late in the night. There is a wide variety of typical foods one might find on plates across Spain on this particular night, and eachregionhas its own distinct specialties. It is particularly common 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 often consist ofroast lamb, or seafood, such as cod or shellfish. For dessert, there is quite a spread of delicacies, among themturrón, a dessert made of honey, egg and almonds. Special dishes and desserts include shellfish and fish,marzipan, turkey withtruffles, andpolvorones(shortbread made of almonds, flour and sugar).
Even though there is still the traditionalMisa del Galloat midnight, few Spaniards continue to follow the old custom of attending.
In most of Spain, Christmas day was not associated with presents for children until recently; instead, theThree Magibrought the presents on the night of January 5, as they still do. Now children often receive some presents on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve, brought byPapá Noel('Father Noel'), which is a non-traditional version of Santa Claus, as depicted in U.S. media, but in some regions there are other more traditional characters, for example, theOlentzeroin theBasque Country.
In the evening of December 31 (Nochevieja) there is also a large family feast. At 12:00 am on January 1 is very famous in Spain eat theTwelve Grapes(las doce uvas de la suerte). Young people typically go out to acotillón, a very big feast in bars and pubs, and they drink and dance until the next morning, when it is common to havechurros with chocolatefor breakfast.
In the evening of January 5 a huge public parade orcavalcade(cabalgata de reyes) welcomes theThree Magiin the major cities of Spain. The parades are often televised. Children put their shoes in a balcony or window on the night of January 5 in the hope that the Three Wise Men will deliver them presents.
Christmas in France(Noëlon theFrench calendar)is celebrated mainly in a religious manner, though secular ways of celebrating the occasion also exist, such as Christmas decorations and carols. Children do not hang Christmas stockings but put their shoes by the fireplace or under the Christmas tree soPère Noël(Father Christmas or Santa Claus) can give them gifts (a practice also amongFrench-speaking Switzerland). Some families also attend Midnight Mass and decorate their homes with Nativity scenes depicting the birth of Jesus. Additionalsantons('little saints') may be added in the nativity scenes.
In France and in otherFrench-speakingareas (see alsoCanadasection), a long family dinner, called aréveillon, is held on Christmas Eve.The name of this dinner is based on the wordréveil(meaning 'waking'), because participation involves staying awake until midnight and beyond.Réveillonis generally of an exceptional or luxurious nature.Appetizersmay includelobster,oysters,escargotsorfoie gras, etc. One traditional dish isturkeywithchestnuts.RéveillonsinQuebecwill often include some variety oftourtière. Dessert may consist of abûche de Noël. InProvence, the tradition of the 13 desserts is followed, almost invariably includingpompe à l'huile(a flavoured bread),dates, etc. Quality wine is usually consumed at such dinners, often withchampagneor similarsparkling winesas a conclusion. Christmas carols may also be sung.
In Belgium (see alsoFlanderssection), themonarchgives a televised speech to the nation on New Year's Eve, in which the year's national and international events are addressed, usually ending with a message of hope.
In the United Kingdom Christmas decorations are put up in shops and town centres from early November. Many towns and cities have a public event involving a local or regional celebrity to mark the switching on of Christmas lights. Decorations in people's homes are commonly put up from early December, traditionally including a Christmas tree, cards, and lights both inside and outside the home. Every year, Norway donates a giant Christmas tree for the British to raise in Trafalgar Square as a thank you for helping during theSecond World War. Christmas carolers atTrafalgar Squarein London sing around the tree on various evenings up until Christmas Eve and Christmas decorations are traditionally left up until the evening of January 5 (the night before Epiphany); it is considered bad luck to have Christmas decorations up after this date. In practice, many Christmas traditions, such as the playing of Christmas music, largely stop after Christmas Day.
Mince piesare traditionally sold during the festive season and are a popular food for Christmas.It is common in many UK households for children and adults to put up advent calendars in their homes, which may either contain chocolates or Christmas scenes behind their doors.
A common feature of the Christmas season is the Nativity play which is practiced in most primary and some secondary schools across the UK. This practice is becoming less common, and other plays may be performed instead with less overt religious tones.Midnight Mass is also celebrated by Anglicans, Catholics, and other denominations, and services take place in nearly all Church of England parishes on Christmas Eve.
On Christmas Eve, presents are supposedly delivered in stockingsand under the Christmas tree byFather Christmas, who previously had been something likethe Ghost of Christmas Presentin Charles Dickens'A Christmas Carol(1843), but who has now become mainly conflated withSanta Claus. The two names are now used interchangeably and are equally known to British people, though some distinctive features still remain. Many families tell their children stories about Father Christmas and his reindeer. One tradition is to put out a plate of carrots for the reindeer, andmince piesand sherry for Father Christmas to help him on his way.
The majority of families open their presents on the morning of Christmas Day, theRoyal familybeing a notable exception, as they open their gifts on Christmas Eve, following German tradition introduced by theHanoverians.Queen Victoriaas a child made note of it in her diary for Christmas Eve 1832; the delighted 13-year-old princess wrote, "After dinner ... we then went into the drawing-room near the dining-room ... There were two large round tables on which were placed two trees hung with lights and sugar ornaments. All the presents being placed round the trees..".Since the first commercialChristmas cardwas produced in London in 1843, cards are sent in the weeks leading up to Christmas, many of which contain the English festive greetingMerry Christmas.
On Christmas Day, apublic holiday in the United Kingdom, nearly the whole population has the day off to be with their family and friends, so they can gather round for a traditionalChristmas dinner, traditionally comprising aturkeywith cranberries, brussels sprouts, parsnips,Yorkshire puddingand roast potatoes, quite like theSunday roast, and followed by aChristmas pudding.During the meal,Christmas crackers, containing toys, jokes, and a paper hat are pulled.Attendance at a Christmas Daychurch servicehas become less popular in modern times, with fewer than 3 million now attending a Christmas Day Church of England service.
Television is widely watched.Themonarchreleases aroyal messageon Christmas Day, in the form of a short programme carried on radio and television. The messages typically reflect on topics such as the year's events, the state of theroyal family, and themes such as unity. The message averages 7 million viewers, and is often one of the most-watched programmes of the day on Christmas.The monarch's speech, writes J.M. Golby and A.W. Purdue, has "come to represent the unity of the nation at Christmas time".
The celebration ofBoxing Day, on the day after Christmas Day, is a tradition practiced in the UK. It is abank holiday, and if it happens to fall on a weekend then a specialBank Holiday Mondaywill occur. Top-levelfootballcompetitions such as thePremier Leaguehave traditionally held fixtures on Boxing Day.
Other traditions include carol singing – many carols are sung by children on people's doorsteps and by professional choirs – and sending Christmas cards. In public, there are decorations and lights in most shops, especially in town centres, and even in Indian and Chinese restaurants. Churches andcathedralsacross the country hold masses, with many people going to midnight mass or a service on Christmas morning. Even though church attendance has been falling over the decades some people who do not go to church often think it is still important to go at Christmas, so Church attendance increases. Most theatres have a tradition of putting on a Christmaspantomimefor children. The pantomime stories are traditionally based on popular children's stories such asLittle Red Riding HoodandAladdin, rather than being directly concerned with Christmas as such, although there is sometimes a link.
Public transport and vital transport services are closed-down onChristmas Day.The Christmas wind-down starts early, with last trains running out of the major cities as early as 19:00 on December 24. Bus, night bus, and underground services are also unavailable from about 21:00 hours.Individual transport companies start making announcements as early as October,and while onetrain operating companymay choose to run no trains on Boxing Day another may run a limited Saturday service but totally close major stations.
In England, telling ghost stories, local legends, and other strange, bizarre, and fantastic "winter stories" (as Charles Dickens – author ofA Christmas Carol– termed them) is a centuries-old tradition, to whichWilliam Shakespearecontributed withThe Winter's Tale(1623) but which was well known even before Shakespeare's time. (In contrast, Ireland, Scotland, and the USA favor Halloween as a time for telling ghostly tales.)Colin Fleming details other contributors to this tradition in theParis Review.
Wales has a tradition of singingcaneuon plygain, which is done on the week before Christmas day.
Christmas in Scotland was traditionally observed very quietly, because theChurch of Scotlandnever placed much emphasis on the Christmas festival. However, in Catholic areas people would attend Midnight Mass or early morning mass before going to work.This tradition derives from the Church of Scotland's origins includingSt Columba's monastic tradition, under which every day is God's day and there is none more special than another; thus Good Friday is not an official public holiday in Scotland.Christmas Day was commonly a normal working day in Scotland until the 1960s, and even into the 1970s in some areas.The New Year's Eve festivity,Hogmanay, was by far the largest celebration in Scotland. The gift-giving, public holidays and feasting associated with mid-winter were traditionally held between December 11 and January 6. However, since the 1980s, the fading of the Church's influence and the increased influences from the rest of the UK and elsewhere mean that Christmas and its related festivities have now surpassed Hogmanay andNe'erday, New Year's Day. The capital city ofEdinburghnow has a traditional GermanChristmas marketfrom late November until Christmas Eveand on the first Sunday in Advent a Nativity scene is blessed by the Cardinal Archbishop in the main square.Bannock cakesmade of oatmeal are traditionally eaten at Christmas.
Christmas inIrelandis the largest celebration of theIrish public holidaysand lasts from December 24 to January 6, although many view December 8, theFeast of the Immaculate Conceptionas being the start of the season, as schools used to close on this day, making it a traditional Christmas shopping time. This is no longer compulsory and many schools stay open.
Almost the entire workforce is finished by lunchtime on Christmas Eve, or often a few days beforehand. Christmas Day andSaint Stephen's Dayare public holidays, and many people do not return to work until after New Year's Day. In 2006, the total amount spent in Ireland to celebrate Christmas was €16 billion,which averages at approximately €4,000 for every single person in the country.
It is extremely popular on Christmas Eve to go for "the Christmas drink" in the local pub, where regular punters are usually offered a Christmas drink. Many neighbours and friends attend each other's houses for Christmas drinks and parties on the days leading up to and after Christmas Day. Although religious devotion in Ireland today is considerably less than it used to be, there are huge attendances at religious services for Christmas Day, with Midnight Mass a popular choice. Most families arrange for their deceased relatives to be prayed for at these masses as it is a time of remembering the dead in Ireland. It is traditional to decorate graves at Christmas with a wreath made of holly and ivy. Even in the most undevout of homes in Ireland the traditional crib takes centre stage along with the Christmas tree as part of the family's decorations. Some people light candles to signify symbolic hospitality forMaryandJoseph. Therefore, it is usual to see a white candle, or candle set, placed in several windows around people's homes. The candle was a way of saying there was room forJesus's parents in these homes even if there was none inBethlehem.It is traditional to leave amince pieand a bottle or a glass ofGuinnessforSanta Clausalong with a carrot forRudolphon Christmas Eve.
Santa Claus, often known in Ireland simply as Santy orDaidí na NollaginIrish, brings presents to children in Ireland, which are opened on Christmas morning. Family and friends also give each other gifts at Christmas. The traditional Christmas dinner consists of turkey or goose and ham with a selection of vegetables and a variety of potatoes. Dessert includes Christmas pudding, Christmas cake, and mince pies with rich sauces such as brandy butter.
Christmas celebrations in Ireland finish with the celebration ofLittle Christmasalso known asOíche Nollaig na mBanin Irish on January 6. This festival, which coincides with Epiphany, is also known asWomen's ChristmasinCorkandKerry.
Christmas traditions in theNetherlandsare almost the same as those in Dutch-speaking parts of Belgium (Flanders). The Dutch recognize two days of Christmas as public holidays in the Netherlands, calling December 25eerste kerstdag('first Christmas day') and December 26tweede kerstdag('second Christmas day'). In families, it is customary to spend these days with either side of the family.
In Catholic parts of the country, it used to be common to attend Christmas Eve Midnight Mass; this custom is upheld, but mostly by the elder generation and by fewer people every year. Christmas Eve is these days a rather normal evening without any special gatherings or meals. On Christmas Day, throughout both Flanders and the Netherlands elaborate meals are prepared by the host or together as a family. It is also common to have meals where each guest prepares and brings one dish.
Christmas decorations start appearing in stores right afterSinterklaas. The week before Christmas is important to the retail trade because it is the biggest sales week in the country. Christmas songs are heard everywhere. The cities ofAmsterdam,Rotterdam,The HagueandEindhovenare the busiest cities in terms of entertainment on Christmas Day. Traditionally, people in the Netherlands and Flanders do not exchange gifts on Christmas, since this is already done during a separate holiday (Sinterklaas) a few weeks before Christmas. However, more and more people have in the 2000s and 2010s started to give presents on Christmas as well, possibly under the influence of commerce and from other countries where Christmas is celebrated with many presents (notably the US).In the north/east, theWest Low Germanpart of the Netherlands, some people will blow theMidwinter hornsfromAdventuntilEpiphany.
The Christmas season wraps up after the new year withEpiphany, orDriekoningen, on January 6. Children, especially in the north of the Netherlands, dress up as theThree Wise Menand travel in groups of three carrying lanterns, re-enacting theEpiphanyand singing traditional songs for their hosts. In return they are rewarded with cakes and sweets. This practice is less common south of the great rivers. In the south and east of the Netherlands it is common practice to burn the Christmas trees of the community on a big pile on January 6 to celebrate the end of Christmas and the start of the new year.
In Australia, as with all of theSouthern Hemisphere, Christmas occurs during the height of the summer season. Christmas Day and Boxing Day (December 25–26) are recognized asnational public holidays in Australia, and workers are therefore entitled to a day off with pay.
The Australian traditions and decorations are quite similar to those of the United Kingdom and North America, and similar wintry iconography is commonplace. This means a red fur-coated Santa Claus riding a sleigh, carols such as "Jingle Bells", and various snow-covered Christmas scenes on Christmas cards and decorations appear in the middle of summer. There have also been depictions of Christmas traditions tailored to Australian iconography, such as Santa partaking in activities such assurfing(in 2015, a world record was set onBondi Beachfor the world's largest surf lesson, featuring 320 participants in Santa suits), parodies of traditional carols, and original songs such asRolf Harris'sSix White Boomers(which depicts Santa Claus as using autepulled bykangaroosinstead of reindeer and a sleigh).
A notable Christmas event in Australia isCarols by Candlelight—an annual concert and charity appeal benefiting the charityVision Australia.
Christmas is a public holiday in Guam and has its difference from traditional customs.
The period of the holiday season to Christmas in Guam is celebrated with a fiesta. The celebration involves the annual Magof Nochebuena Peace Festival with a display of colourful lights and nativity scenes. A special tradition is the coconut Christmas tree, towering over 6 metres and made up of a thousand coconuts, painted by local community members.
Christmas Day and Boxing Day are bothstatutory holidays in New Zealand. While Boxing Day is a standard statutory holiday, Christmas Day is one of the three-and-a-half days of the year where all but the most essential businesses and services must close. Many of New Zealand's Christmas traditions are similar to those of Australia in that they are a mix of United Kingdom and North American traditions conducted in summer. New Zealand celebrates Christmas with very little traditional Northern Hemisphere winter imagery. Thepohutukawa(Metrosideros excelsa), which produces large crimson flowers in December, is an often used symbol for Christmas in New Zealand, and subsequently the pohutukawa has become known as theNew Zealand Christmas tree.
In Vanuatu, Christmas is a tropical affair, celebrated by a predominant community of Christians. The holiday is known as Bonane and involves traditional celebrations, including catchups with friends and family in their villages and the performance of religious songs in choirs.
Media related toChristmas traditionsat Wikimedia Commons