Santa's North Pole - Christmas Around the World

Armenia

Christmas is celebrated on January 19. This is because they believe that

Christ's birthday should be celebrated on the same day as his baptism.

Present day January 19 used to be January 6 in the old Julian calendar. The

Armenians prepare for Christmas with a fast. They eat no animal food for a

week and no food at all on the last day before Christmas. The fast is broken

only after the Christmas Eve service, when they return home to a dinner or

rice pilaf. The children then go onto the roofs with handkerchiefs and sing

carols. Adults fill up the handkerchiefs with presents of raisins or fried wheat

or sometimes money. There are also morning services on Christmas Day.

Australia

As Australia was settled by the British, Christmas customs are the

descendants of the traditional British Christmas. As the weather is warm &

no snow there are no sleigh rides, or Yule logs, or any other comforts against

the cold. The main articles of decoration are the Christmas bell and the

Christmas bush. After a hearty afternoon feast, supper may be a picnic in the

countryside or at the beach. One tradition that is purely Australian began in

1937 by a radio announcer, Norman Banks who saw a lonely old woman

listening to Christmas carols on the radio while a lone candle burned forlornly

in her window. The following Christmas Eve he broadcast a great carol sing

by all who want to join in , from the Alexandra Gardens along the banks of

Melbourne's main river. "Carols by Candlelight" became a joyous annual

event and was eventually broadcast in many other countries around the

world. Each year, more than a quarter of a million people gather to sing

carols and join hands at midnight for "Auld Lang Syne." It is a great showing

of community and Christmas spirit that is almost unequaled anywhere else in

the world.

Austria

Christmas in Austria is a very musical time. Many of the world's greatest

carols came from here. December 6 is the day when St. Nicholas and his

grotesque assistant, Krampus, may pay a visit. But the gifts are brought on

Christmas Eve by the Christkind. Sometimes the Christkind will even help

decorate the Christmas tree before the big Christmas Eve supper, which will

probably feature carp as a main course. Dinner on Christmas Day will be

roast goose with all the trimmings.

Belgium

In Belgium, St. Nicholas pays two visits to each house. On December 4 he

comes to check into the behavior of each child, to find out if they have been

naughty or nice. Then on December 6 he returns with just rewards for all,

either presents or switches, which he leaves in the shoes or small baskets

that have been placed inside near the doorway, where he will easily find

them. Just to get on his good side there are snacks of hay, water and carrots

left for his horse or donkey. Christmas Day is reserved for religious

celebrations & Nativity plays sponsored by the churches. They are often

performed in 16th century costumes. In small villages, there are often three

virtuous men chosen to portray the three Wise Men and go throughout the

town, caroling at each doors and receiving small gifts of food.

Brazil

Christmas comes at the beginning of their summer season. It is a time for

boating, picnicking and other summer festivities. The red and green of

Christmas decorations are provided eucalyptus leaves and brilliant red

flowers of many sorts. The "pesebre", or manger scene is important and

there is also a Christmas tree decorated with candles. On Christmas Eve the

"cena", or meal, is set out before the family goes to Midnight Mass so that

the Holy Family can have some if they wish while everyone is out. A popular

menu would include turkey, fish and champagne. Before going to bed, the

children set out their shoes for Papa Noel. On Christmas morning the

children fix breakfast, then get their presents from their shoes and look fo

gifts that are hidden around the house. Christmas evening can be spent

outdoors in the balmy weather and is a great time for fireworks. The people

of Northern Brazil, as in Mexico, enjoy a version of the folk play Los Pastores

"The Shepherds." In the Brazilian version, there are shepherdesses rather

than shepherds and a gypsy who attempts to kidnap the Christ Child.

Chile

Chile's gift-bringer is called Viejo Pascuero, or Old Man Christmas. He

strongly resembles Santa Claus and likewise comes drawn by reindeer.

However, as chimneys are less than roomy in this warm climate, he contents

himself with climbing in a window. As in all Latin America, the manger scene

is the center of festivities; and following the midnight Mass of the Rooster, the

Christmas Eve meal often includes azuela de ave, a chicken soup filled with

potatoes, onions and corn on the cob; and pan de pasqua, a Christmas

bread filled with candies fruit.

China

Christians in China celebrate by lighting their houses with beautiful paper

lanterns and decorating their Christmas trees, which they call "Trees of

Light," with paper chains, paper flowers, and paper lanterns. Chinese

Children hang muslin stockings and await a visit from Santa Claus, whom

they call Dun Che Lao Ren (dwyn-chuh-lau-oh-run) which means "Christmas

Old Man." Since the vast majority of the Chinese people are not Christian,

the main winter festival in China is the Chinese New Year, which takes place

toward the end of January. Now officially called the "Spring Festival," it is a

time when children receive new clothing, eat luxurious meals, receive new

toys, and enjoy firecracker displays. An important aspect of the New Year

celebration is the worship of ancestors. Portraits and paintings of ancestors

are brought out and hung in the main room of the home.

Costa Rico

Bright, tropical flowers highlight decorations for Christmas. Special trips are

made to gather the wild orchids that bloom in the jungle areas. The manger

scene is called a portal and is decorated with these brilliant flowers and

colorful fresh fruit. Wreaths of cypress leaves and red coffee berries are very

popular. The supper after Midnight Mass will consist of tamales and other

local dishes. Children used to leave their shoes out for the Christ Child to fill,

but Santa Claus is relieving Him of this task now.

Denmark

The Christmas feast, in Denmark, is celebrated at midnight Christmas Eve.

Everyone looks forward to dessert when a special rice pudding is served in

which a single almond is hidden. Whoever finds the almond will have good

luck for the coming year. The jolly bringer of gifts is known as Julemanden

and arrives in a sleigh drawn by reindeer, a sack over his back. He is

assisted with his Yuletide chores by elves called Juul Nisse, who are said to

live in attics. Children leave out saucers of milk or rice pudding for them and

are delighted to find the food gone on Christmas morning.

Ecuador

Christmas Day is a day of colorful procession as the Indians who live and

work in the highlands and mountains dress in their finest and ride their

brightly arrayed llamas down to the ranches where their employers live. They

bring gifts of fruit and produce, which they lay before the image of the Christ

Child in the pesebre, or manger scene, which is set up in the ranch house.

Children also bring their gifts and make pretty speeches to the Holy Infant,

asking blessings for their family and their animals. Then there is a fiesta with

much singing and dancing outdoors. The owner of the ranch distributes gifts

to all his employees and their families. The huge meal will consist of roast

lamb, baked potatoes and brown sugar bread. There is always too much to

eat, so that the processions that wend their way into the mountains at the end

of the day are as heavily laden with leftovers as they were with offerings in the

morning.

England

Father Christmas, who reigns in the place of Santa Claus or St. Nicholas, is

depicted wearing long robes with sprigs of holly in his long white hair. Letters

are sent to him by children who want to make sure he has got their order

right. These letters are not mailed though; they are thrown into the fireplace. If

they go up the chimney, the wish will be granted; if not, one's wish goes

ungranted. Stockings are hung by the chimney or at the foot of the child's bed

to receive small presents, which are opened Christmas morning. The

Christmas tree has occupied a central position in the festivities, however, it

has never completely replaced the combination of greenery & mistletoe

called the kissing bough. Bringing in the Yule log and the boar's head are not

commonplace today. In the countryside you can find Christmas mummers

who perform plays and waits still carol through the streets. In a place in

Yorkshire, the tolling of the devil's knell takes place every Christmas Eve. The

church bell is rung once for every year since Christ's birth with the last stroke

timed exactly for midnight. The Christmas meal consists of roast turkey or

beef and desserts are mincemeat pies and plum puddings.

France

Nearly every French home at Christmastime displays a Nativity scene or

crèche, which serves as the focus for the Christmas celebration. The crèche

is often peopled with little clay figures called santons or "little saints." An

extensive tradition has evolved around these little figures which are made by

craftsmen in the south of France throughout the year. In addition to the usual

Holy Family, shepherds, and Magi, the craftsmen also produce figures in the

form of local dignitaries and characters. The Christmas tree has never been

particularly popular in France, and though the use of the Yule log has faded,

the French make a traditional Yule log-shaped cake called the buche de Nol,

which means "Christmas Log." The cake, among other food in great

abundance is served at the grand feast of the season, which is called le

rveillon. Le rveillon is a very late supper held after midnight mass on

Christmas Eve. The menu for the meal varies according to regional culinary

tradition. In Alsace, goose is the main course; in Brittany, buckwheat cakes

with sour cream; in Burgundy it is turkey with chestnuts, and the Parisians

feast upon oysters and pat de foie gras. French children receive gifts from

Pere Noel who travels with his stern disciplinarian companion Pre Fouettard.

Pre Fouettard reminds Pere Noel of just how each child has behaved during

the past year. In some parts of France Pere Noel brings small gifts on St.

Nicholas Eve (December 6) and visits again on Christmas. In other places it

is le petit Jesus who brings the gifts. Generally adults wait until New Year's

Day to exchange gifts.

Germany

The German Christmas is a very important time to each person and family.

Preparations are made for weeks. Advent wreaths, candles and calendars

set the mood. St. Nicholas' Day, December 6 marks the beginning of the

season. Although the crib is often found in German homes, the tree is the

center of attention. The custom began in Germany & every home must have

one. Usually it is the mother who decorates the tree and no one is allowed in

until it is finished. It is the Christkind who brings the presents, accompanied

by one of its many devilish companions, Knecht Rupprecht, Pelznickle,

Ru-Klas, or one of the other monstrous playmates created by this nation,

which is known for its fairy tales. The highlight of the Christmas food is the

cookies. There are dozens of different Cookies, shaped like figures of

Christmas or stamped with familiar designs. Edible trees and tiny baked

brown gnomes fill the warm kitchens for a week before the festivities.

Greece

St. Nicholas is important in Greece as the patron saint of sailors. According

to Greek tradition, his clothes are drenched with brine, his beard drips with

seawater, and his face is covered with perspiration because he has been

working hard against the waves to reach sinking ships and rescue them from

the angry sea. To members of the Eastern Orthodox Church, as are most

Greek Christians, Christmas ranks second to Easter in the roster of

important holidays. Yet there are a number of unique customs associated

with Christmas that are uniquely Greek. On Christmas Eve, village children

travel from house to house offering good wishes and singing kalanda, the

equivalent of carols. Often the songs are accompanied by small metal

triangles and little clay drums. The children are frequently rewarded with

sweets and dried fruits. After 40 days of fasting, the Christmas feast is

looked forward to with great anticipation by adults and children alike. Pigs

are slaughtered and on almost every table are loaves of christopsomo

("Christ Bread"). This bread is made in large sweet loaves of various shapes

and the crusts are engraved and decorated in some way that reflects the

family's profession. Christmas trees are not commonly used in Greece. In

almost every home the main symbol of the season is a shallow wooden bowl

with a piece of wire is suspended across the rim; from that hangs a sprig of

basil wrapped around a wooden cross. A small amount of water is kept in the

bowl to keep the basil alive and fresh. Once a day, a family member, usually

the mother, dips the cross and basil into some holy water and uses it to

sprinkle water in each room of the house. This ritual is believed to keep the

Killantzaroi away from the house. There are a number of beliefs connected

with the Killantzaroi, which are a species of goblins or sprites who appear

only during the 12-day period from Christmas to the Epiphany (January 6).

These creatures are believed to emerge from the center of the earth and to

slip into people's house through the chimney. More mischievous than actually

evil, the Killantzaroi do things like extinguish fires, ride astride people's

backs, braid horses' tails, and sour the milk. To further repel the undesirable

sprites, the hearth is kept burning day and night throughout the twelve days.

Gifts are exchanged on St. Basil's Day (January 1). On this day the "renewal

of waters" also takes place, a ritual in which all water jugs in the house are

emptied and refilled with new "St. Basil's Water." The ceremony is often

accompanied by offerings to the naiads, spirits of springs and fountains.

Guatemala

For nine days before Christmas, posada processions pass through the

streets. The beat of drums and the crackle of fireworks provide lively

accompaniment as the figures of Mary and Joseph are carried to a friend's

house, where a carol is sung asking for lodging for the Holy Family. After

ritual questions and answers, the doors are opened and Mary and Joseph

are taken to the nacimiento, or manger scene, where they will remain until the

next night, when they once again go out seeking shelter. Everyone who

accompanies the figures on their quest makes a great party with punch and

hot tamales and dancing once the goal is accomplished. On Christmas Eve,

the figure of the Christ Child is added to the nacimiento at the last of the nine

houses to receive the Holy Family. This is the signal for the biggest party of

all, and the home selected had better be a large one, since everyone who

was involved over the last nine days will show up on this night. The Christmas

tree has joined the nacimiento as a popular ornament because of the large

German population in Guatemala. Gifts are left under the tree on Christmas

morning by the Christ Child for the children. Parents and adults do not

exchange gifts until New Year's Day. Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve

follows the posada and is in turn followed by a full supper.

Holland

In the Netherlands St. Nicholas is known as Sinterklaas. To the Dutch, St.

Nicholas' Day is the time of greatest revelry in the Christmas season. St.

Nicholas comes on the last Saturday of November by steamer. As he comes

into the port of Amsterdam, all business and traffic stops as the people pour

out to greet him. He disembarks with his servant Black Peter and riding his

white horse. He is dressed in traditional bishop's robes while Black Peter

wears Spanish attire. They are greeted by the mayor and lead a great

parade through the streets to the royal palace. Here all the royal children are

waiting and must give accounts of their behavior over the past year, just as all

Dutch children must do. After the princes and princesses have proved their

worth, the parade continues to a major hotel, where St. Nicholas will establish

his headquarters for the season. December 5, St. Nicholas' Eve, is when the

presents are exchanged. The presents are called "surprises" because they

are disguised as much as possible to make the final discovery more

delightful. A small gift may be wrapped inside a huge box, or hidden inside a

vegetable, or sunk in a pudding. A large gift may lurk in the cellar with clues

to its location. All surprises must be accompanied by a bit of verse. On

Christmas itself, there are no presents. There are church services both

Christmas Eve and morning and a big dinner in the evening. The Christmas

tree is the center of the home celebration, which consists of carols and

story-telling in the afternoon. December 26 is also a holiday, called Second

Christmas Day, and is a time to relax and probably go out to eat. The people

of Twente in east Holland hold a special Advent ceremony in which special

horns are blown to chase away evil spirits and to announce the birth of Christ.

Horns are homemade out of one-year-old saplings and are three or four feet

long. Blown over wells, they sound a deep tone, similar to a foghorn.

India

Because India is mainly Hindu and Moslem, there is no official celebration of

Christmas. However, this time of year is looked upon as an appropriate time for

gift-giving and tipping or giving "baksheesh," charitable hand-outs to the poor of

the country. Christians in India decorate mango or banana trees at Christmas

time. Sometimes they also decorate their houses with mango leaves. In some parts

of India, small clay oil-burning lamps are used as Christmas decorations; they are

placed on the edges of flat roofs and on the tops of walls. Churches are decorated

with poinsettias and lit with candles for the Christmas Even service.

Iran

Iran, formerly Persia, is the land where the Three Wise men are believed to

have lived when Jesus was born. Today Christians in Iran begin fasting from

animal products on December 1. This is called "Little Fast." "Big Fast"

occurs during Lent, the six weeks preceding Easter. After Church service of

December 25 they enjoy Christmas dinner which they call "Little Feast." A

traditional dish is a chicken stew called harasa. Gifts are generally not

exchanged but children get new clothes which they wear proudly on

Christmas Day.

Iraq

On Christmas Eve, Iraqi Christian families gather together and one of the

children read about the birth of Jesus while other family members hold

lighted candles. Afterward the reading, a bonfire of thorn bushes is let and

everyone sings. If the thorns burn to ashes, good luck will be granted for the

coming year. When the fire dies, each person jumps over the ashes three

times and makes a wish. On Christmas Day another bonfire is lit in the

churchyard. The bishop, carrying a figure of the Baby Jesus leads the

service. Afterwards he blesses one person with a touch. That person touches

the person next to him or her and the touch is passed around until all present

have felt the "touch of peace."

Ireland

To the Irish, Christmas is a time for religious celebration rather than revelry.

The manger scene is in most houses and there are a few Christmas trees.

The best-known Christmas custom is that of putting a candle in the window,

often decorated with some greenery, on Christmas Eve. The idea is to help

light the way of the Holy Family or any other poor traveler out on such a night.

After the evening meal, the table is also set with bread and milk and the door

left unlocked as a symbol of hospitality that the family is offering to Mary and

Joseph and the little one to come. The only festive note that is struck is in the

pudding that caps the meal. Three puddings are made early in December,

one each for Christmas, New Year's, and Twelfth Night. The day after

Christmas, St. Stephen's Day, witnesses the rowdy old custom of hunting the

wren, when boys go from door to door with a wren on a stick (today the wren

is not a real one), singing the traditional song and begging for treats.

Israel

Bethlehem, the little town where Jesus is said to have been born is the site of the

Church of the Nativity, which is ablaze with flags and decorations every

Christmas. On Christmas Eve natives and visitors alike crowd the church's

doorways and stand on the roof to watch for the dramatic annual procession.

Galloping horsemen and police mounted on Arabian horses lead the parade. They

are followed by solitary horseman carrying a cross and sitting astride a coal-black

steed. Then come the churchmen and government officials. The procession

solemnly enters the doors and places an ancient effigy of the Holy Child in the

church. Deep winding stairs lead to a grotto where visitors find a silver star

marking the site of the birth of Jesus. Christian homes in Bethlehem are marked

by a cross painted over the door and each home displays a homemade manger

scene. A star is set up on a pole in the village square.

Italy

The popularity of the Nativity scene, one of the most beloved and enduring

symbols of the holiday season, originated in Italy. St. Francis of Assisi asked a

man named Giovanni Vellita of the village of Greccio to create a manger scene.

St. Francis performed mass in front of this early Nativity scene, which inspired

awe and devotion in all who saw it. The creation of the figures or pastori became

an entire genre of folk art. In Rome, cannon are fired from Castel St. Angelo of

Christmas Eve to announce the beginning of the holiday season. A 24-hour fast

ends with an elaborate Christmas feast. Small presents are drawn from the Urn of

Fate. The main exchange of gifts takes place on January 6, the feast of the

Epiphany, the celebration in remembrance of the Magi's visit to the Christ Child.

Children anxiously await a visit from La Befana who brings gifts for the good and

punishment for the bad. According to legend, the three wise men stopped during

their journey and asked an old woman for food and shelter. She refused them and

they continued on their way. Within a few hours the woman had a change of heart

but the Magi were long gone. La Befana, which means Epiphany, still wonders the

earth searching for the Christ Child. She is depicted in various ways: as a fairy

queen, a crone, or a witch. The main Christmas meals vary from region to region.

A general menu would feature capitone, roasted, baked or fried female eel for the

meatless Christmas Eve dinner, the pranzo delta vigilia; Christmas dinner might

consist of tortellini, a capon and a variety of cakes. On Christmas Eve the

children would present their parents with their Christmas letter, best wishes and

promises to be good printed in their best hand on ornate stationery.

Jamaica

Jamaican Christmas festivities reached their height in the late eighteenth

and early nineteenth centuries with feasts and processions featuring strolling

singers and performers. In this century, the celebration came under more

regulation so that performers had to be licensed. This has added to a

general decline, although all the customs can still be found in various pasts of

the island. The women were called "set-girls," because they worked together

in a set of a specific number. They danced to the accompaniment of gourd

rattles, fifes, triangles, and tambourines. The men were called "actor boys" or

" koo-koo boys." They wore masks and elaborate headdress and would

sometimes perform plays or skits. The name "koo-koo boys" derived from a

song in one of the plays which begged for food. "Koo-koo" was the sound

used to imitate the rumbling of an empty stomach. The most colorful figure in

these bright festivities was the "John Canoe" dancer. He wore a mask, a

wig, and a military jacket. On his head was a pasteboard houseboat with

puppets of sailors, soldiers, or plantation workers. Often this was of great

size, and the most skilled dancer had to be chosen to wear it. The name

John Canoe is obscure. It may be a corruption of the French gens inconnu,

which means "unknown people," or it may come from cornu, "horned," since

early dancers wore animal masks. The origins of all these festivities are lost

in antiquity, but they seem to derive equally from African and European

customs. Bermuda was the home of similar Christmas festivities, as were

parts of the American South.

Japan

Christmas was introduced in Japan by the Christian missionaries, and for

many years the only people who celebrated it were those who had turned to

the Christian faith. But now the Christmas season in Japan is full of meaning

and is almost universally observed. The story of the Child Jesus born in a

manger is fascinating to the little girls of Japan, for they love anything having

to do with babies. In the scene of the Nativity they become familiar for the first

time with a cradle, for Japanese babies never sleep in cradles. Many

western customs in observing Christmas have been adopted by the

Japanese. Besides exchanging gifts they eat turkey on Christmas Day, and

in some places there are even community Christmas trees. They decorate

their houses with evergreens and mistletoe, and in some homes Christmas

carols are sung gaily. In Japan there is a god or priest known as Hoteiosho,

who closely resembles our Santa Claus. He is always pictured as a kind old

man carrying a huge pack. He is thought to have eyes in the back of his

head. It is well for the children to be good when this all-seeing gentleman is

abroad. New Year's Day is the most important day of the whole calendar in

Japan. On New Year's Eve the houses are cleaned thoroughly from top to

bottom, and are decorated for the morrow. when everything has been made

clean and neat the people of the house dress themselves in their finest

clothes. Then the father of the household marches through the house,

followed by all the family, and drives the evil spirits out. He throws dried

beans into every corner bidding the evil spirits withdraw and good luck enter.

Mexico

Several weeks before Christmas, elaborately decorated market stalls or

puestos are set up in the plazas of every town and city. Some people travel

for days from remote areas to get to these markets. The puestos offer crafts

of every conceivable kind, foods such as cheese, bananas, nuts, and

cookies, and flowers such as orchids and poinsettias. The poinsettia is

native to Mexico and is believed to have first been used in connection with

Christmas in the 17th century when Mexican Franciscans included the

flowers in their Christmas celebration. There is a legend connected with the

flower. A little boy named Pablo was walking to the church in his village to

visit the Nativity scene, when he realized he had nothing to offer the Christ

Child. He saw some green branches growing along the roadside and

gathered them up. Other children scoffed, but when he laid them by the

manger, a brilliant red star-shaped flower appeared on each branch. The

main Christmas celebration in Mexico is called las posadas, which refers to

processions reenacting Joseph and Mary's search for a place to stay in

Bethlehem. The processions begin nine days before Christmas because the

original journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem took nine days. Friends and

family members divide themselves into two groups - pilgrims and

innkeepers. The pilgrims travel from house to house asking for a shelter and

are refused at each until they finally reach the house where an alter and

Nativity scene have been set up. Here the pilgrims are admitted with great

rejoicing, a traditional prayer is spoken, and the party begins. Food and drink

are served and then children take turns trying to break open the pinata.

Nicaragua

Like many Latin American countries, Nicaragua retains many of the customs

of old Spain. In the weeks leading up to Christmas people stroll the streets

where there are many things to buy: candles, Nativity pictures, toys and

foods. Children carry fragrant bouquets to the alter of the Virgin and sing

carols. On Christmas Eve, church bells beckon the people to Midnight Mass.

On January 6, the feast of the Epiphany, it is the three wise men who brings

gifts for the children. Often the Holiday season concludes with a brilliant

display of fireworks.

Norway

At 4:00 p.m. all work comes to a halt on Christmas Eve in Norway. Everyone

bathes and puts on new clothes to greet the season. The largest sheaf of

grain is hung out for the birds to make their Christmas merry, too. Christmas

dinner begins with rice pudding with a lucky almond hidden in it for someone,

and a bowl is also set out for the barn elf so that he will continue to watch

over the animals and not turn mischievous. A Christmas pig provides most of

the meat dishes. Traditionally the Norwegians kept the season bright with a

Yule log. It literally formed the center of the celebration since it was frequently

an entire tree that could only partly fit into the fireplace and so extended well

out into the middle of the living room. As it burned it would be pushed farther

into the fire to provide continuous light and warmth through the whole

Christmas season. The Christmas tree is taking the place of the Yule log

today.The popularity of Santa Claus has resurrected an ancient Norse figure

called Julesvenn. In ancient times he would come during the feast of Jul to

hide lucky barley stalks around the house. Now he comes on Christmas Eve

to bring gifts to good children. After Christmas Day is past, children indulge

in a custom much like trick or treat. It is called Julebukk and children wear

costumes and go door to door asking for goodies.

Peru

Many Peruvian manger scenes will feature the quaintly beautiful figures

carved of wood by the Quechua Indians. On Christmas Eve, the meal after

Midnight Mass features tamales. Christmas Day festivities in Lima are

highlighted by a bullfight and a procession with the statue of the Virgin Mary.

Poland

The lucky children of Poland receive presents twice. On St. Nicholas' Day,

the good saint himself brings presents. On Christmas Day, it is the Star Man.

The Star of Bethlehem is the most popular image in the Polish Christmas. It

is the first star of Christmas Eve, which marks the end of the Advent fast and

ushers in the time of feasting. Though Christmas in Poland is officially known

as Bozz Narodzenie, it is most often referred to as Gwiazdka, which means

"little star." Once the star appears, a special rice wafer blessed by the parish

priest called oplatki, is broken into pieces and shared by all. Finally the meal

can begin. The feast consists of twelve courses, one for each Apostle. The

table is always set with one extra seat in case a stranger or the Holy Spirit

should appear to share the meal. After supper the Star Man arrives attended

by the Star Boys. They are dressed fantastically, as Wise Men or animals or

other figures from the nativity. 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. After the fun, all go to Pasterka, the midnight Mass of the

Shepherds.

Portugal

Christmas is celebrated in much the same way in Portugal as it is in Spain.

The Portuguese enjoy an additional feast, called consoada, in the early

morning hours of Christmas Day. They set extra places at the table for

alminhas a penar ("the souls of the dead"). In some areas crumbs are left on

the hearth for these souls, a custom that derives from the ancient practice of

entrusting the seeds to the dead in hopes that they will provide a bountiful

harvest.

Puerto Rico

Early in the Christmas season, carolers begin going from house to house

and from farm to farm. They wear homemade costumes of what the Magi

might have worn and sing bright Spanish carols called aquinaldos and

villancicos. They are rewarded with food and drink, and many from each

house will join them, so that eventually there are great crowds going singing

from place to place. Nine days before Christmas, the Mass of the Carols

begins. This takes place each morning at 5:30 a.m. It is filled with music and

usually the caroling continues on the way to work or home. The manger

scenes are peopled with santos, hand-carved figures, that represent some

oldest works of art. The tree and Santa Claus are also popular. Gifts arrive

Christmas morning, but also on the Epiphany. On January 5 in the evening,

children leave water, grass and grain under their beds for the camels of the

Wise Men and the next day find presents in their place.

Romania

The tradition in Romania is for children to travel from house to house singing

carols and reciting poetry and legends throughout the Christmas season. The

leader carries a large wooden star called a steaua, which is covered with

shiny paper and decorated with bells and colored ribbon. A picture of the

Holy Family is pasted in the star's center, and the entire creation is attached

to a broomstick or stout pole.

Russia

St. Nicholas is especially popular in Russia. The legend is that the

11th-century Prince Vladimir traveled to Constantinople to be baptized, and

returned with stories of miracles performed by St. Nicholas of Myra. Since

then many Eastern Orthodox Churches have been named for the saint, and to

this day, Nicholas is one of the most common names for Russian boys. The

feast of St. Nicholas (December 6) was observed for many centuries, but

after the communist revolution, the celebration of the feast was suppressed.

During the communist years St. Nicholas was transformed into Grandfather

Frost. Other religious traditions were suppressed during the communist era.

Before the revolution, a figure called Babouschka would bring gifts for the

children. Like Italy's La Befana, the story is that Babouschka failed to give

food and shelter to the three wise men during their journey to visit the Christ

Child. According to tradition, she still roams the countryside searching for the

Christ Child and visiting the homes of children during the Christmas season.

Babouschka never completely disappeared, and now in the post-communist

era, has returned openly. Christmas trees were also banned by the

Communist regime, but people continued to trim their "New Year's" trees.

Most Christian Russians belong to the Eastern Orthodox Church, and it is

customary to fast until after the first church service on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve dinner is meatless but festive. The most important ingredient

is a special porridge called kutya. It is made of wheatberries or other grains

which symbolize hope and immortality, and honey and poppy seeds which

ensure happiness, success, and untroubled rest. A ceremony involving the

blessing of the home is frequently observed. A priest visits the home

accompanied by boys carrying vessels of holy water, and a little water is

sprinkled in each room. The kutya is eaten from a common dish to symbolize

unity.

Scotland

The Scots celebrate Christmas rather somberly and reserve their merriment

for New Year's Eve which is called Hogmanay. This word may derive from a

kind of oat cake that was traditionally given to children on New Year's Eve.

The first person to set foot in a residence in a New Year is thought to

profoundly affect the fortunes of the inhabitants. Generally strangers are

thought to bring good luck. Depending on the area, it may be better to have a

dark-haired or fair-haired stranger set foot in the house. This tradition is

widely known as "first footing." It is bad luck to let the fire go out on Christmas

Eve, since that is the time when the elves are abroad and only a roaring fire

will keep them from slipping down the chimney. On Christmas Day itself, it is

not unusual to have a bonfire and dance to the sound of bagpipes before

settling down to a hearty dinner.

Spain

Christmas is a deeply religious holiday in Spain. The country's patron saint is

the Virgin Mary and the Christmas season officially begins December 8, the

feast of the Immaculate Conception. It is celebrated each year in front of the

great Gothic cathedral in Seville with a ceremony called los Seises or the

"dance of six." Oddly, the elaborate ritual dance is now performed by not six

but ten elaborately costumed boys. It is a series of precise movements and

gestures and is said to be quite moving and beautiful. Christmas Eve is

known as Nochebuena or "the Good Night." There is singing and dancing in

the streets to the sounds of guitars and castanets. At midnight everyone

attends the Misa del Gallo, the Mass of the Rooster, so named because of

the legend that the only time the rooster has crowed at midnight was the night

when Jesus was born. After mass the dinner, or cena, is served, usually

featuring turkey and the Christmas favorite turron, a candy loaf of roasted

almonds in caramel sauce. It is a time for family members to gather together

to rejoice and feast around the Nativity scenes that are present in nearly

every home. December 28 is the feast of the Holy Innocents. Young boys of a

town or village light bonfires and one of them acts as the mayor who orders

townspeople to perform civic chores such as sweeping the streets. Refusal

to comply results in fines which are used to pay for the celebration. As in

many European countries, the children of Spain receive gifts on the feast of

the Epiphany. The Magi are particularly revered in Spain. It is believed that

they travel through the countryside reenacting their journey to Bethlehem

every year at this time. Children leave their shoes on the windowsills and fill

them with straw, carrots, and barley for the horses of the Wise Men. Their

favorite is Balthazar who rides a donkey and is the one believed to leave the

gifts.

Sweden

A thousand years ago in Sweden, King Canute declared that Christmas

would last a month, from December 13, the feast of St. Lucia until January

13, or Tjugondag Knut (St. Canute's Day). Some say she once visited the

country, and others believe missionaries brought stories of her life which

entranced the Swedish people. Her story is that in the days of early Christian

persecution, Lucia carried food to Christians hiding in dark underground

tunnels. To light the way she wore a wreath of candles on her head.

Eventually Lucia was arrested and martyred. On her feast day the eldest

daughter in each family dresses in a white dress with a red sash, and wears

an evergreen wreath with seven lighted candles on her head. She (very

carefully) carries coffee and buns to each family member in his or her room

and the younger children often wear a conelike hat with a star on top and

accompany her. Many schools, offices, and communities sponsor Lucia

processions in which carol are sung and everyone thanks the Queen of Light

for bringing hope during the darkest time of the year. Before the midday meal

on Christmas Eve, the family gathers in the kitchen for a custom called

doppa I grytan, "dipping in the kettle." All gather round a pot filled drippings

of pork, sausage and corned beef and dip dark bread into it, which they eat

when it is completely soaked with the drippings. The traditional Christmas

Eve dinner would start off with a smorgasbord with a sip of akvavit; then

lutfisk, a sun-dried cod served in cream sauce, and ham; finally rice pudding

with an almond in it. After dinner all gather around the Christmas tree to open

the presents. These gifts were brought by the Jultomen, a gnome who lives in

the barn, if there is one. He has to have his portion of rice pudding if he is to

behave in the coming year. On Christmas Day there is a service a 5:00 a.m.

After that the day is devoted to rest and to religious observance.

Switzerland

In terms of its traditions, Switzerland is basically four different countries.

There are German, French and Italian areas. Gifts may be given either on

Christmas Eve or New Year's Day, and they are brought by the Christkindli or

St. Nicholas or even Father Christmas with his wife Lucy. Both the manger

and the Christmas tree hold sway. Carols drift on the air in four languages.

Switzerland has maintained its careful neutrality by absorbing the best of all

nations.

Sryia

On Christmas Eve, the pouter gates of the homes of Syrian Christians are

locked as a reminder of the years of persecution when all worship had to be

hidden.The whole family gathers in the courtyard with lighted candles, around

a pile of wood that will become a bonfire. The youngest son reads the

Gospel story of the Nativity and the father lights the fire. All observe the

particular way that the fire spreads through the wood as it will determine the

luck of the household for the coming year. All sing psalms while the fire burns

and when it dies down they make a wish and jump over the embers. Early on

Christmas morning, there is a mass before dawn, and there is a bonfire in

the center of the church as well. The image of the Christ Child is carried

around the church in a joyous procession. Syrian children receive their gifts

at Epiphany from a very original source, the Smallest Camel of the Wise

Men. On their way to see Jesus, the Wise Men traveled in a caravan with

many camels. The smallest was exhausted by the long journey but refused to

give up, his desire to see the Christ Child was so great. When the infant

Jesus saw the faith and resolve of this loving creature, he blessed it with

renewed strength and immortality. Every year he comes bearing presents for

the good girls and boys, who learn the importance of even the most

insignificant of us from his example.

Venezuela

Venezuelans attend a daily early morning church service between December

16th and 24th alled Misa de Aguinaldo ("Early Morning Mass.") In Caracas,

the capital city, it is customary to roller-skate to this service and many

neighborhoods close the streets to cars until 8 a.m. Before bedtime children

tie one end of a piece of string to their big tow and hang the other out the

window. The next morning, rollerskaters give a tug to any string they see

handing. After Mass everyone enjoys tostados and coffee.

Wales

Caroling is particularly popular in Wales where it is called eisteddfodde and

is often accompanied by a harp. In some rural areas a villager is chosen to

be the Mari llwyd. This person travels around the town draped in white and

carrying a horse's skull on a long pole. Anyone given the "bite" by the horse's

jaws must pay a fine.