Click here to learn how to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in other languages.
Christmas in 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.
Christmas in France
On Christmas Eve, children leave their shoes by the fireplace to be filled with gifts from Pere Noel. In the morning they also find that sweets, fruit, nuts and small toys have been hung on the tree.
In cathedral squares, the story of Christ's birth is re-enacted by both players and puppets.
In Southern France, a log is burned in people's homes from Christmas Eve until New Years Day. A long time ago, part of the log was used to make the wedge for the plough as good luck for the coming harvest.
The traditional Christmas dessert is a chocolate log.
In France families used to have a Three Kings Cake with a bean hidden in it. Whoever found the bean in their slice was made King, or Queen, for the day.
In France the children go out to look for the Kings, taking gifts of hay for the camels.
Another name for this day is Twelfth Day. It is the last of the Twelve Days of Christmas, which used to be one long holiday. It was the last night of the Feast of Fools before the Lord of Misrule had to give up his crown and they had to become themselves once again.
Christmas in Italy
Christmas, as it is celebrated in Italy, has two origins: the familiar traditions of Christianity blended with the pagan traditions of the ancient Roman Empire. The great feast of that era was "Saturnalia" (a winter solstice celebration). Now, it coincides with the pre-Christmas celebrations of Advent. Consequently, Christmas Markets, merry-making and torch processions, honor not only the birth of Christ, but also the birth of the "Unconquered Sun." Natale, the Italian word for Christmas, is the translation for "birthday."
A delightful tradition, now finding renewal in Italy, is the ushering in of the December festivities by the zampognari or bagpipers. They descend from the mountains in the regions of Abruzzo and Calabria filling the air with anticipation for the joyous celebration to come as they play adataptations of old hill tunes such as Cantata dei Pastori. In Rome they play at various sites including the Christmas market at the historic Piazza Navona, at the Spanish Steps, and at the entrance to St. Peter's Square.
Figures of the zampognari are very popular in nativity scenes and you can find many representations of them in the creche shops in Naples.
Christmas Eve is a time for viewing Italy's artistic and elaborate manger scenes or presepe. They consist of figurines, in clay or plaster, of the infant Jesus, Mary and Joseph. An ox and ass are nearby because legend has it that they warmed the child with their breath. It is around this basic focal point that individual artisans create their own intricate landscapes. There may be grottoes, small trees, lakes, rivers, the lights of "Bethlehem" in the background, angels hung from wires, and occasionally, even local heroes. The most beautiful Cribs are set up in churches, especially in Naples. There is often a contest between churches of the same town for the best Crib. People go from church to church to view and compare the Nativity scenes.
Amidst the general merrymaking and religious observance of December 24th, Christmas candles are lighted and a holiday feast is prepared. In some places, Christmas Eve dinner consists largely of fish. There may be as many as 10 to 20 fish dishes prepared. Often the fish is smothered in lentils as seen here. In Rome, the traditional dish of Christmas Eve is Capitone, a large female eel, roasted, baked or fried.
Common throughout Italy are the Christmas sweets: panettone (cake filled with candied fruit), torrone (nougat) and panforte (gingerbread) made with hazelnuts, honey and almonds. All Christmas sweets, as a rule, contain nuts and almonds. Peasant folklore theorizes that to eat nuts favors the fertility of the earth and aids in the increase of flocks and family. In ancient Rome, honey was offered at this time of year so that the new year would be sweet.
For many generations, the principal gift-bringer in some areas was a uniquely Italian folk character named La Befana who would distribute toys in honor of Epiphany, January 6th, when the season comes to its official end. In other areas (Venice and Mantova) St. Lucia distributed gifts and in some regions Gesu' Bambino, or Child Jesus, brought Christmas gifts. Due to modern communications, Santa Claus has made incursions into Italy's traditions, and now he makes his rounds in various regions on Christmas Eve as Babbo Natale, Father Christmas.
Christmas in 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." 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. A traditional Christmas treat is turron, a kind of almond candy.
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 or the horses of the Wise Men. Their favorite is Balthazar who rides a donkey and is the one believed to leave the gifts.
Christmas in 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. Greek ships never leave port without some sort of St. Nicholas icon on board.
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 cerem ony is often accompanied by offerings to the naiads, spirits of springs and fountains.
Christmas in Great Britain
In Great Britain the hustle and bustle of the season begins well before christmas and there is barely anytime for a break until the Twelfth night. There is preparation going on of foods, the sending of christmas cards, the decorating of houses and churches, and the readying of gifts keep everyone busy even the youngest family members.
On Christmas eve youngsters hang up their stockings on the ends of the beds or by the chimney so that when father Christmas comes he can leave them something.
On Christmas morning the family traditionally opens their presents and prepares for a big feast which typically is served just after midday. The table gleams with the best china and glassware, and at every place on the table there is a cracker. The meal begins with a toast, followed by the popping of the crackers. After the meal they sit down in front of the television for the traditional Christmas speech of the British Monarch.
In the afternoon they exchange visits with neighbors and other family members.
Christmas in Germany
When the Christmas Markets open, that's a sign that Advent is here and Christmas is not too far off. In larger German cities, the market is open seven days a week until just before Christmas. In smaller towns, the market opens on weekends.
Here you can find peweter ornaments, hand-blown glass ornaments, candles, nativity figures, recorded Christmas music, fresh greens, gingerbread, sausages, and hot spiced wine.
The celebrations begin on December 6th, St. Nicholas Day.
As in many other European countries, on the eve of Dec. 6th children place a shoe or boot by the fireplace. During the night, St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, moves from house to house carrying a "book of sins" in which all of the misdeeds of the children are written. If they have been good, he fills their shoe or boot with delicious holiday edibles. If they haven't been good, their shoe is filled with twigs.
The Weihnachtskrippe (Christmas crib) is especially popular in the southern regions of Germany. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, moss is gathered, the figures are repaired and there is serious consideration given to new additions to the landscape around the stable.
This is all preliminary to the excitement of Christmas Eve. Prior to the evening feast, is the presentation of the tree. The Christmas tree, as we know it, originated in Germany. It has a mysterious magic for the young because they are not allowed to see it until Christmas Eve. While the children are occupied with another room (usually by Father) Mother brings out the Christmas tree and decorates it with apples, candy, nuts, cookies, cars, trains, angels, tinsel, family treasures and candles or lights. The presents are placed under the tree. Somewhere, close to the bright display are laid brilliantly decorated plates for each family member, loaded with fruits, nuts, marzipan, chocolate and biscuits. When all is ready a bell is rung as a signal for the children to enter this Christmas fantasy room. Carols are sung, sometimes sparklers are lit, the Christmas story is read and gifts are opened.
Dinner on Christmas Eve consists of dishes such as suckling pig, white sausage, macaroni salad, and many regional dishes.
Christmas Day brings with it a banquet of plump roast goose, Christstollen (long loaves of bread bursting with nuts, raisins, citron and dried fruit), Lebkuchen (ginger spice bars), marzipan, and Dresden Stollen (a moist, heavy bread filled with fruit).
Christmas in Holland
In the Netherlands (or Holland), Santa Claus doesn't visit as he does in other parts of the world. His cousin, Sinterklaas, brings presents on December 5th. He has helpers named Zwarte Piet (Black Pete) who have gotten dirty by crawling through the chimneys bringing gifts to children. Sinterklaus wears a red bishop´s hat, a red bishop´s cloak and has white hair and a white beard.
Children put their shoes close to the fireplace before they go to bed and also set out some hay and water and sometimes a carrot for the horse. In the night, while the children sleep, Sinterklaas places gifts such as chocolate coins, poems about themselves and other little presents in their shoes.
On the eve of December 5th, the families often celebrate Sinterklaas with each other. Usually, the grandparents have the whole family over and then Sinterklaas comes to their house. While everybody sits in the living room and sings songs, you hear a knock on the door. When the children rush to the door to open it, they see a basket full of presents! And then the fun starts! Traditional Dutch Sinterklaas candy includes speculaas, marsepein and pepernoten.
Christmas is also celebrated on the 25th and 26th of December. On Christmas Eve people have dinner together and afterwards go to evening church services. Christmas Day is a family day with quality time spent both at church and at home. The day after Christmas is sometimes spent visiting and celebrating with other family members.
Although they are beginning to celebrate 25th Dec more, they really put their energy into Dec 5th. This is when SinterKlaus and Zwart Piet leave Holland to go back to Spain.
Christmas in Finland
Christmas preparations start early in Finland with ‘Little Christmas'. Little Christmas or "pikkujoulu" means a certain kind of pre-Christmas celebration, for example many companies offer their staff a restaurant outing (often with alcoholic beverages) before Christmas. It can also be thought of as a period of time in late November through early December when such feasts most often occur.
There are three other Advent Sundays before Christmas. One candle is lit and put either in a special candlestick that holds four, or as the first of the four candles on the Christmas tree. Other times, the four candles of Advent are placed in the home often near a window where they can be plainly seen.
Children get their first Christmas present then. Small children get an Advent Calendar with a window to open each day before Christmas.
Everyone helps to make "piparkakkuja" or gingerbread, shaping it into stars, hearts, moons, pigs and other figures. Cold ham, salted meat and pickled herrings are also eaten, as is herring salad with chopped carrots, turnips or salted cucumber. (The ham is usually 5-10 kg in weight, is coated with mustard and equals to a Christmas turkey as known to the Americans; very few Finns eat Christmas turkey.)
Tulips, hyacinths or poinsettias or gifts are given to friends. Families gather at home around the tree and drink a cup of glögi, made of red wine, spices and raisins.
The main Christmas celebration starts at twelve o'clock on December 24th by the Mayor of Helsinki, who says everyone should pay their respects to the Christ Child's birth. So early on Christmas morning, around six o'clock, every body gets up and goes to church. The churches are lit with candles at all the pews. When the snow is extremely deep, the service is watched on television.
Christmas in Argentina
People go to the church with family, then come back to a family gathering. At midnight after eating they toast, then the adults' dance while younger people go out to see the fireworks. After this they go to sleep, but before opening the presents under the Christmas tree. That day is very special for Argentinians because they are Christian and celebrate Jesus' birth on the 24th of December.
The dinner food is pork, turkey, and a great variety of meals. Then the table is covered with sweet things, cider, beer, and juice for consuming while waiting for the time of the toast. After the toast all the family chat, others play.
Houses are decorated with red and white garlands; on the door Father Christmas's Boots are placed. The Christmas tree is decorated with colored lights, ornaments and Father Christmas placed on top of it. Mothers make different kinds of meals such as roasted turkey, roasted pork, stuffed tomatoes, mince pies, Christmas's bread and puddings. The toast: drink prepared with different kinds of fruit which is cut into pieces, then it is mixed with juice and cider.
Christmas in Australia
Christmas in Australia is often very hot. Whereas the northen hemisphere is in the middle of Winter, Australians are baking in Summer heat. It is not unusual to have Christmas Day well into the mid 30 degrees celcius, or near 100 degrees farenheit.
There is summer-like weather during December in Australia, and Christmas dinner may be a picnic in the woods or on the beach. Australians also sing carols by candlelight and decorate their homes with flowers and other plants.
Generally, Christmas is celebrated along traditional lines and families often travel great distances to be together. Church is attended in great mass on Christmas Day. Services are often held very early in the morning.
Many carols sung are Australian, celebrating Christ's birth with an imagery drawn from the Australian Christmas Bush, which flowers at Christmas. Other songs sung and listened to are about Snow and Snowmen. Bing Crosby's Christmas albums (with White Christmas included) would have to be the most commonly owned Christmas albums in Australia.
Due to the multiculturalism in Australia food can vary. But meals mainly center around the traditional Hams, Turkeys and Plum Pudding. Often these dishes are cooked earlier and served cold. Salads and other summer foods are present as well as food from from other cultures.
Public celebrations include Carols by Candlelight Concert, on Christmas Eve, held at the Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne and Carols in the Domain, Australia's largest annual community Christmas celebration. The event, which is free to attend is held in Sydney's Domain Gardens, a short walk from the Sydney Opera House and is always held on the last Saturday before Christmas. These events are broadcast on television and radio throughout the country and seen through Southeast Asia and New Zealand. The attendance usually ranges from 70,000 - 100,000 with nearly two million television viewers.
Christmas in Japan
Christmas in Japan became popular at the beginning of the 20th century and is mainly celebrated in cities. They celebrate it as a purely secular holiday devoted to the love of their children. The Japanese become acquainted with the holiday because of the Christmas products they made for other countries.
Christmas decorations are a popular sight. Tinsel and lights are hung in dance halls, cafes and pin ball parlours. Trees are decorated with small toys, dolls, paper ornaments, gold paper fans and lanterns, wind chimes and small candles. One of the most popular ornaments is the origami swan.
Children have traded thousands of paper birds of peace with young people to show that war will not happen.
Many of the people take time to do special things for others. Hospitals are decorated with trees to lift the spirits of the sick. Children sing carols or put on plays about the birth of Jesus for the sick.
Japanese children call Santa "Santa Kurohsu" and he is believed to have eyes in the back of his head so he can watch the children all year long.
In Japan there is a priest known as Hoteiosho, who closely relates to Santa Claus. He is thought to be an old man who carries a huge sack.
Christmas in Japan was introduced by the Christian missionaries and for many years the only people who celebrated were the ones who turned to the Christian faith. But now Christmas in Japan is full of meaning. The Japanese like the idea of exchanging gifts. For a few weeks before the day, stores are decorated and a display is put out, just as our western shops have done.
The story of Jesus born in a manager is interesting to little girls of Japan, for they love anything about babies. In the scene of the Nativity, they become familiar with cradles, for Japanese babies never sleep in cradles.
Many western customs for Christmas have been adopted by the Japanese. Besides exchanging gifts they eat turkey on Christmas Day and in some places there are community trees. They decorate with tinsel and mistletoe and in some homes Christmas carols are sung.
Christmas in China
Some who celebrate Christmas in China do so after having spent time in Japan where the holiday is becoming a booming business. The small percentage of Chinese who do so, erect artificial trees in their upscale apartments decorated with spangles form southern China's export zone. Christmas trees are called "trees of light" and are also decorated with paper chains, paper flowers, and paper lanterns. Children hang up muslin stockings in hopes that Dun Che Lao Ren (China's Santa) will fill them with presents. Stores have men dressed as Santa Claus handing out candy and waitresses with Santa hats. The booming commercialism which has spread outward from Beijing has been called a Chinese phenomenon. It started out as a friendly gesture or business ploy aimed at Christian visitors.
A festival of peace and renewal known as Ta Chiu is celebrated in Hong Kong. Taoists summon their gods and ghosts. People make offerings to their patron saints. Festivities close with the reading of the names of every person who lives in the area. The names are then listed, attached to a paper horse, and burned in hopes that they will rise to heaven.
Although Christianity is unsanctioned in China, there are an estimated 10 million baptized Christians (about 1 percent of the population) who celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas time. The popularity of midnight mass has grown so swiftly over the past few years that most Catholic churches can not hold the numbers who come out Christmas Eve. Although a lot of those parishioners are just curious, the ministers believe it's a positive step toward the spread of Christianity throughout China. Naturally, they take the opportunity to tell the story of the baby Jesus born in a manger in Bethlehem.
Christmas in India
Christians in India decorate banana or mango trees. They also light small oil-burning lamps as Christmas decorations and fill their churches with red flowers.
They give presents to family members and baksheesh, or charity, to the poor people.
In India, the poinsettia is in bloom and so the churches are decorated with this brilliant bloom for the Christmas Midnight Mass.
In South India, Christians put small clay lamps on the rooftops and walls of their houses at Christmas, just as the Hindus do during their festival called Diwalli.
Christmas in Africa
Preparation for Christmas in the Congo begins when some group is designated to prepare the annual Christmas pageant.
Christmas day itself begins with groups of carollers walking to and fro through the village, along the roadway, by the houses of the missionaries, singing the lovely carols known the world around. Often people may be awakened by a group of carollers beginning to converge on the house of worship. They return home to make final preparation as to the clothes one must wear and also as to their offering for the Christmas service.
The most important part of their Christmas worship service is the love offering, this is the gift in honour of Jesus. Then at about 8 or 9 o'clock everyone makes their way to the celebration of the birthday of Jesus.
Everyone who attends the service goes forward to lay down their gift upon the raised platform near the Communion table. Not one person will attend the service without giving a gift.
<
Now people have Christmas dinners after the service, preparing tables out in front of their home and inviting many of their intimate friends to share.
Christmas in South Africa is a summer holiday. In December, the southern summer brings glorious days of sunshine that carry an irresistible invitation to the beaches, the rivers, and the shaded mountain slopes. Then the South African holiday season reaches its height. Schools are closed, and camping is the order of the day. In South Africa there is no snow, but it has many flowers, many beautiful varieties of cultivated and wild flowers being in their full pride.
In the cities and towns carollers make their rounds on Christmas Eve. Church services are held on Christmas morning. Christmas Eve celebrations in larger centres include "Carols by Candlelight" and special screen and floor shows.
Homes are decorated with pine branches, and all have the decorated Christmas fir in a corner, with presents for the children around. At bedtime on Christmas Eve, children may also hang up their stockings for presents from Father Christmas.
Many South Africans have a Christmas dinner in the open-air lunch. For many more, it is the traditional dinner of either turkey, roast beef, mince pies, or suckling pig, yellow rice with raisins, vegetables, and plum pudding, crackers, paper hats, and all. In the afternoon, families go out into the country and usually there are games or bathing in the warm sunshine, and then home in the cool of the evening. Boxing Day is also a proclaimed public holiday usually spent in the open air. It falls on December 26 and is a day of real relaxation.