This document contains 24 entries describing various Christmas traditions from around the world. It explains that holly represents Jesus' crown of thorns and blood, candy canes symbolize his purity and blood, and stockings holding presents date back to St. Nicholas leaving gifts. It also notes traditions such as decorating Christmas trees in Germany, singing carols in the 19th century, and figures like Santa Claus being called different names worldwide.

1. Christmas
Advent Calendar
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3. Holly is a popular decoration
at Christmas time and is often
used to make Christmas
wreaths. The thorns and
berries are said to represent
the thorny crown and blood

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5. Candy canes were first made in
Germany and represent a
shepherd’s crook. The white
and red stripes are meant to
represent Jesus’ purity and
blood.

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7. Stockings holding presents
date back to St. Nicholas’ time,
when three young girls hung
their stockings over the
fireplace to dry.

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9. Fir trees have been decorated,
usually with apples and other
fruit, since the 16th century in
Germany. A picture of Queen
Victoria and her family
gathered around a tree made
them popular in Britain

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11. Songs have been sung to
celebrate Christmas for many,
many years. In the 19th century
writing Christmas carols
became more popular and
some of the carols you sing at
school were written then.

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13. The three wise men who came
to visit Jesus are also called
the Magi. Their names were
Caspar, Melchior and
Balthasar.

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15. In China houses and streets are
decorated with traditional
Chinese lanterns at Christmas
time.

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17. Rudolph is the name of the
reindeer who leads Santa’s
sleigh. The story ‘Rudolph the
Red Nosed Reindeer’ was
written in 1939 by an American
called Robert L. May.

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19. Bells are often mentioned at
Christmas because the ringing
of bells is a tradition that
dates back to old Pagan
festivals.

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21. In Ireland candles have
religious significance at
Christmas time. Candles
burning in windows show that
the house has room for Mary
and Joseph, just like the

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23. A Christmas wreath is circular.
It has no end and no beginning.
It is said to be everlasting,
like our love for Jesus.

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25. In Sweden the person who
delivers gifts at Christmas is a
gnome called the Tomte.

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27. In Norway the person who
delivers gifts at Christmas is a
goat like creature called
Julebukk.

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29. Giving Christmas cards is a
tradition that was started in
Britain in 1843 by a man called
Sir Henry Cole.

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31. Gingerbread men and
gingerbread houses are
popular at Christmas time in
parts of Europe.

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33. In South America, celebrating
the manger, which they call
the presepio, is the most
important part of Christmas
celebrations.

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35. Mary and Joseph had to travel
from Nazareth to Bethlehem
to pay taxes. They had to pay
them in Bethlehem as this was
where Joseph was from.

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37. In Poland Christmas is often
called Gwaizdka, which means
‘little star’. Celebrations do
not start until the star
appears.

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39. Decorating the tree with glass
baubles became popular about
1500 years ago. It was also
around this time that the first
electric tree lights were
made.

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41. The Virgin Mary is the Patron
Saint of Spain and they start
their Christmas celebrations
with a feast celebrating her.

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43. When the Christmas story was
first heard in Japan many
people were surprised that
Jesus slept in a cradle as most
Japanese babies slept in bed
with their parents!

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45. In the city of Rome in Italy
cannons are fired on Christmas
Eve to show it is the start of
the Christmas Holiday.

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47. Mistletoe became popular at
Christmas in Scandinavian
countries. Kissing underneath it
is supposed to bring you good
luck all year.

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49. We now call St. Nicholas Santa
or Father Christmas, but he has
many names around the world
including ‘Pere Noël (France),
Svaty Miklaus (Czechoslovakia)
and Sinterklaas (Holland).

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