Christmas is celebrated around the world with various traditions. The document outlines Christmas traditions and customs in several European countries including Italy, Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, England, Ireland, Poland, Germany, Norway, Slovakia and Turkey. While traditions differ between countries, most celebrate with special meals, religious services, gift giving, and spending time with family on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The conclusion states that despite different traditions, the overall purpose of Christmas is to celebrate this religious holiday with loved ones.

1. Christmas around the world

2. Structure
 Definition of Christmas
 How are celebrating other countries?
 Conclusion

3. Definition of Christmas
 = the annual festival of the Christian
church commemorating the birth of Jesus
 = celebrated on December 25 and now
generally
observed as a legal holiday and an
occasion for exchanging gifts

4. Italy
'Bon Natali'
Traditions/Costums:
 using cribes to help to tell the Christmas story (a lot of
Italian families have a Nativity crib in their homes)
 to eat different fish dishes (Feast of the Seven Fishes)
 to celebrate 8 days before Christmas with special
'Novenas' / series of prayers & church services
Epiphany night:
 children believe that an old lady called 'Befana' brings
presents for them
 main day for present giving is on Epiphany

5. Italy

6. Hungary
'Kellemes Karácsonyt'
Traditions/Costums:
 the main Christmas meat: fish and cabbage + a special
kind of poppy bread/cake called “Beigli”
 the Midnight Mass service after their Christmas meal
 on the 6th
of december the kids are leaving her shoes or
boots on a windowsill to filled in with sweets/goodies

7. Hungary

8. Belgium
'Vrolijk Kerstfeest'
Traditions/Costums:
 special meal ('apéritif & 'nibbles', sea-food, stuffed turkey,
dessert- 'Kerststronk' (Flemish) or 'la bûche de Noël'
(Walloon)
 children have 2 Christmas visitors -on December 6th
'Sinterklaas or 'Saint Nicholas' (Walloon) is believed to
bring presents to children
 Children put their shoes in front of a fireplace
 Different regions of Belgium have different customs and
traditions about St. Nicholas (wreaths with 4 candles,
paper advent calendars with chocolate, Christmas
Markets, Hot wine, Ice skating..)

9. Belgium

10. Denmark
'Glædelig Jul'
Traditions/Costums:
 people go to a Church Service on Christmas Eve about
4.00pm
 giving animals a treat on Christmas Eve
 Christmas dinner is eaten between 6.00pm and 8.00pm
(roast duck, goose or pork. They are served with boiled
and sweet potatoes, red cabbage, beetroot and cranberry
jam/sauce,'ris á la mande' (a special kind of rice pudding)
 After the meal- people might dance, sing carols and at
least open their presents( brought by 'Julemanden')

11. Denmark

12. Turkey
 Most people are probably aware of that fact that the
majority of the Turkish population are Muslims and that
the religion is Islam.
Likewise most people know that Muslims do not have the
same holidays, celebrations and traditions as we have.
 But a lot of Muslims, who are living in Europe, are
adoppting the lifestyle and traditons of the country where
there are living. Even if they aren't celebrating Christmas.
 Nevertheless christmas feeling is coming with the
decoration they put into the streets!

13. Turkey

14. Spain
'Feliz Navidad' / 'Bon Nadal'
Traditions/Costums:
 Midnight Mass or 'La Misa Del Gallo' (The Mass of the
Rooster)
 Traditional Spanish Christmas dinner: 'Pavo Trufado de
Navidad'- Turkey stuffed with truffles
 Epiphany is the most important day!
The children are writing letters to the Kings, who are
bringing presents for them
Attention: If the children have been bad, the Kings might
leave pieces of coal made out of sugar in the presents!

15. Spain

16. England
'Happy/Merry Christmas'
Traditions/Costums:
 Families are decorating the Christmas tree- also the
streets are decorated with a lot of beautiful lights
 People are visiting 'Nativity Plays' and 'Carol Services'
 Presents are brought by Santa Claus and leaved in
stockings or pillow-cases
 The main Christmas dinner: roast turkey, roast vegetables
(vegetables like carrots & peas, stuffing and sometimes
bacon and sausages
Dessert: Christmas Pudding
 26th
of December is St. Stephen's Day (“Boxing Day”)
football matches and horse racing meetings are
traditionally held on this day!

17. England

18. Ireland
'Nollaig Shona Dhuit'
Traditions/Costums:
 Almost similar to the USA & England
 Christmas dinner: turkey or spiced beef
 Dessert: Christmas Pudding
 Epiphany: was celebrated in some towns in Ireland as
'Nollaig na mBean' or Women's Christmas (roles were
changing- men are doing the the domestic work, women
are going out. some women still like to get together on the
Sunday nearest Epiphany, to have tea and cakes, to
gossip
 St. Stephens Day is also celebrated like in the UK
 Today Epiphany isn't widely celebrated in Ireland

19. Ireland

20. Poland
'Wesołych Świąt'
Traditions/Costums:
 The people are spending the advent season at christmas
markets
 The 24th
of December is the most important day -
People are believing that the complete routine of the day
is crucial for the next year
 In hope that the families are protected against poverty,
they put a coin under their plate
 Christmas dinner: meatless! - It consists often of 12-
course (fish dishes)

21. Poland

22. Germany
'Frohe Weihnachten'
Traditions/Costums:
 Begin the advent season with a wreath, lighting up every
sunday one candle more- a least they have 4
 People visit the christmas markets- eating choclate
desserts, sweets and hot wine (similar to Belgium)
 The 24th
of December is the most important day- Children
get their presents from Santa Claus after the dinner
 Christmas Meal: goose/fondue
 25th
+ 26th
are official holiday in Germany
 Epiphany is important, but not as much like in Spain

23. Germany

24. Norway
'God Jul'
Traditions/Costums:
 Decoration of the tree, constructing houses of cookies
 Christmas dinner: pork or mutton ribs served with 'surkal'
(white or red cabbage, finely chopped and cooked with
caraway seeds and vinegar) and potatoes
 Gifts are brought by Santa Claus
 Many different types of cakes are eaten over the
christmas period in Norway – One of the most popular is
a special bread called 'Julekake' that has raisins, candied
peel and cardamom in it

25. Norway

26. Slovakia
'Vesele Vianoce'
Traditions/Costums:
 Slovak Christmas Trees -decorated with coloured lights,
fruits, hand-made decorations made of wood..
 Presents are brought by the baby Jesus – during this time
the children have to leave the room until the parents are
ringing the bell
 Christmas dinner: On Christmas Eve morning the carp is
killed and gutted- It used to be the custom to fast all
through Christmas Eve.
This was a direction given by the Catholic Church -It was
said that if you manage to get by without food for the
whole day, you will see a little golden pig in the evening
(after the Midnight Mass service)

27. Slovakia

28. Conclusion
Christmas is celebrated all over the world! The interesting
thing is that the people are celebrating with their own
traditions, costums and that everyone can celebrate free.
I showed you a lot of differences but also there are
countries, which have a lot in common.
Aside from Turkey every country is celebrating Christmas
in a beautiful art and with the main background: To spent
this special religious time with the family!

29. Thank you for your attention!