This document provides short descriptions of Christmas celebrations and traditions in various countries around the world. In Australia, "Swag Man" is suggested to take over from Santa Claus and delivers presents in a large four-wheel drive vehicle. In China, Christmas is called "Trees of Light" and Santa is called "Dun Che Lao Ren." In Egypt, a special Christmas meal called "fata" is eaten and shortbread is given as gifts when visiting others.

1. Christmas Celebrations fromChristmas Celebrations from
Around the WorldAround the World
12 out 191 Countries in the world12 out 191 Countries in the world

2. AUSTRALIAAUSTRALIA
• There has been a suggestion that "Swag Man" take over
Santa's franchise Down Under!!! "Swag Man" wears a
brown Akubra, a blue singlet and long baggy shorts. He
spends all winter under Uluru with his merry dingoes
and then at Christmas time, he gets in his huge four-
wheel drive and sets off through the red dust to deliver
his presents.
Merry Christmas

3. CHINACHINA
• 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. Santa Claus, is called Dun Che Lao Ren
(dwyn-chuh-lau-oh-run) which means "Christmas
Old Man.".
Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun

4. EGYPTEGYPT
• On the Eve of Christmas everyone goes to church wearing
a completely new outfit. The Christmas service ends at
midnight with the ringing of church bells, then people go
home to eat a special Christmas meal known as fata,
which consists of bread, rice, garlic and boiled meat.
• On Christmas morning people in Egypt and other parts of
the Middle East, visit friends and neighbors. They take
with them kaik which is a type of shortbread, which they
take with them to give to the people they visit and eaten
with a drink known as short bat. Christmas Day is a
public holiday for Christians.
Colo sana wintom tiebeen

5. FRANCEFRANCE
• Nearly every French home at Christmastime displays a
Nativity scene or creche.
• French children receive gifts from Pere Noel who
travels with his stern disciplinarian companion Pere
Fouettard. Pere 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. Generally adults wait until New Year's Day
to exchange gifts.
Joyeux Noel

6. ITALYITALY
• 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.
Buon Natale

7. JAPANJAPAN
• 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.
Shinnen omedeto

8. KENYAKENYA
• In KENYA, the churches are decorated with
balloons, ribbons, flowers and green plants.
• Christmas dinner is often a barbecue with
family members traveling from far away to be
together again.
• Often a group will go singing house to house,
usually on Christmas eve in urban areas. The
occupants of each house will give a gift of some
kind (often money) to the singers, then on
Christmas Day, the singers will present
whatever was given to the church they attend.
Krismas Njema

9. MEXICOMEXICO
• 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. 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.
Feliz Navidad

10. RUSSIARUSSIA
• 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.
Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva is Novim Godom

11. SCOTLANDSCOTLAND
• 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. 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."
Nollaig chridheil huibh

12. VENEZUELAVENEZUELA
• Venezuelans attend a daily early morning church service
between December 16th and 24th called 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 toe and hang the other out the window. The next
morning, roller skaters give a tug to any string they see
hanging. After Mass everyone enjoys tostados and coffee.
Feliz Natal

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