The document describes 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. It also discusses Christmas traditions and symbols from countries like Germany, Britain, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, South America, Poland, Japan, Italy, and more.

1. Christmas
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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 of Christ

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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 stable.

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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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