Christmas traditions vary widely around the world. In Spain, Christmas celebrations begin with a lottery drawing and feature family dinners with nougat and marzipan desserts. In Peru, families eat roast turkey for Christmas Eve dinner and exchange gifts on New Year's Eve rather than Christmas. Mexico's celebrations include Posadas parades in the streets and piñata breaking on Christmas Eve. [END SUMMARY]

1. Christmas in different countries of
the world

2. Spain
• Christmas starts in Spain with the traditional Christmas lottery
Draw Dec. 22. Two days later, on the night of December 24,
Christmas Eve, is family dinner.
More often than lamb or stuffed turkey cooks and dessert has a
tray on the table full of all kinds of nougat, marzipan, shortbread,
etc.
And if Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are very family moments,
Eve and New Year is usual with friends.The December 31 at 00:00
eat 12 grapes in time with the 12 bells Clock Gate Sol.
It is said that if you get to eat all the grapes on time and
atragantarte, you're lucky the twelve months of the new year.
The Spanish Christmas comes to an end with the arrival of the
Magi. On the night of January 5 all children with their parents
attend Kings Parades are held in all towns and cities.

3. Peru
• On Christmas Eve, the Peruvian families taste the traditional roast turkey
with mashed apple or sucker; and some Catholic families after attending
midnight mass. And on Christmas morning, traditional breakfast consists
of a cup of hot chocolate accompanied with the bit.
The atmosphere outside the houses is totally festive. On the streets carols
are heard and in some locations, it is difficult to walk the streets because
they are completely full of street vendors; street trading is huge at this
time of year.
Then comes New Year's Eve, a day to cider or champagne toast and
launch rockets. Also some superstitious people an intimate garment
yellow for reputedly good luck for the coming year are set.
Others participate in traditional 'burning Snowman', a doll dressed in old
clothes and stuffed newspapers depicting the figure of a bad politician;
well, this doll represents the old, what is left behind and be eliminated.
The great curiosity of Peruvian Christmas is Christmas gifts are for kids,
but New Year are for adults.

4. Mexico
• The cradle of the Maya and Aztecs begin their
holidays in mid-December with Posadas, that
is, mariachis walks through the streets, going
door to door asking for shelter.
On Christmas night, the gastronomic tradition
emphasizes "the turkeys" or turkeys, while the
music plays. In a house selected by lottery
usually break a piñata stuffed with bits of
almond rod.

5. Belgica
• The Belgians celebrate Christmas dinner with
stuffed turkey and a special dessert: a cake made
with cream. A call Santa Claus St. Nicholas has his
day delivery of gifts on December 6.
On Christmas Day there are also gifts that are
exchanged between the family. These gifts
beneath the tree or stockings hung by the fire
after a breakfast in a sweet bread called
"cougnolle" is the protagonist of the Belgian
gastronomic tradition.

6. Argentina
• The holidays of Argentina focus on children, in
his letter to Santa Claus and gifts that the
paunchy old man lays them under the
Christmas tree. What is almost forgotten is
the tradition of attending Midnight Mass; now
most families prolong family celebration late
into the night.

7. Australia
• A traditional meal includes turkey with ham
and plum pudding for dessert. Some
Australians celebrate this dinner outdoors,
like Bondi Beach Sydney. Since 1937 in
Melbourne's "Carols by Candlelight" held on
Christmas Eve. That night people gather to
sing carols lit only by candles.

8. Guatemala
• The turkey also the central plate of Christmas
dinner of Guatemalans. But it is also
customary to eat some tamales stuffed with
various meats, raisins, almonds and olives.
The desserts are usually made with tropical
fruits. Doughnuts are famous sweets made
with honey. As for the decor in Guatemala is
common to see the houses, parks and streets
decorated with lanterns, Christmas trees and
cribs.

9. Japan
• More than Christmas, which really celebrate the
Japanese is the preparation for the new year. No
more start the month of December, they are
dedicated to clean everything, their homes, their
accounts and even to renew your wardrobe, as a
symbol of the New Year.
The final day of the year is called Omisoka. On
this day tend to enjoy with the whole family of
traditional cups of noodles, a symbol of longevity.
The Japanese New Year celebrations end on
January 4.

10. Chipre
• Christmas is the most important holiday along
with Easter for Orthodox Christians. At this
time stand especially liturgies. The most
traditional fast 40 days, in which only eat
vegetables forgoing meat and fats. Younger
people do not respect this tradition both. On
Christmas Day Santa Claus arrives with many
gifts especially with new clothes.

11. Colombia
• Christmas in Colombia is a time to be with family. The
homes are decorated with trees, cribs, Christmas boots,
and after the big dinner, when the clock strikes 12, it's time
to deliver presents. The kids go to bed early and on the
morning of 25 receive their gifts. Just as Christmas,
December 31 is another special occasion and the famous
"omens" are one of the main traditions.
That night, in just five seconds, Colombians are intended to
meet with stiff resistance test: They take a sip champagne
glass holding his right hand; 12 grapes are eaten as ordered
each a wish; go around the block with a suitcase; yellow
lingerie standing; Kiss someone of the opposite sex; look to
the future in an egg; the letters are cast; "read" the future
in a peeled potato; spread ears and sing carols overnight.

12. Greece
• In Greece Night New Year's Eve manner similar to
Spain is held. That night stands for the division of
twisted roll of San Basilio, kind of similar to the
Kings' cake you eat with your family and friends
bun. It includes a coin (before it was gold and is
now a regular coin), who is lucky enough to eat
the piece where is the coin will have a very
prosperous year. It is dinner at home with the
family variety of dishes, turkey, lamb ... Several
first and second courses.

13. France
• Christmas Eve children leave their shoes by
the fireplace parents then fill them presents
from Santa, as is known beyond the white-
bearded man. In addition, Christmas morning
the kids are hanging tree gifts, sweets and
fruits. Representations of the birth of Christ
are also made on the outside of the
cathedrals, either with actors or puppets.

14. Opinion
• There are many ways to spend Christmas, as
we have seen in this document, but I think the
most important thing is to spend Christmas
with family, together with the people you
love.