Children around the world are eagerly awaiting Santa Claus and writing letters listing their Christmas wishes. Many families also engage in Christmas preparations and traditions like decorating their homes, baking cookies, caroling and leaving treats for Santa by the fireplace on Christmas Eve. The document then discusses whether Santa truly exists and expresses a belief in the spirit of Christmas. It concludes by describing some Christmas traditions in countries like France, Italy, Germany, England and South Africa.

1. Waiting for Santa Claus
Candea Ionut-Alexandru
Clasa XII C
Colegiul Economic „Mihail
Kogalniceanu”Focsani

2. In this time of year, every child in the world is waiting for
Santa Claus. They are impatient about what presents will
they receive. They are writing letters to Santa Claus in which
they expose their wishes.

5. Also are a lot of preparation like:
Decorating the house with holiday
decorations in early December.
Bake cookies as needed (Make sure to make these by
hand. Share cookies with friends)
Go caroling. (On Christmas Eve, use your
practiced singing to delight the neighbors. Be
careful not to sing to the wrong people.)
Leave a plate of cookies near the fireplace on
Christmas Eve.

6. Does Santa Claus exists?
Yes , exists, in our souls, exists in our memories childhood and it will
remain forever there. We all need magic, dreaming, fantasy and after
all what would be Christmas without Santa Claus? On the night of 24 to
25 Decembre, Santa is loading his sleigh with presents and harness the
9 reindeers: Rudolph, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid,
Donder si Blitzen.
I still believe in Santa Claus. Not in that red dressed Santa Claus, I
believe in the spirit of Christmas, which should following us
permanently. It’s the spirit that bring us joy, which is getting us closer
to the familly.
Maybe more of us should believe in Santa Claus, should stop the time
and take care in which direction they are going to. In this night I’m
waitting for Santa Claus and tomorrow night and in every year that will
be.

7. Christmas Traditions From Around The World
FRANCE
In many regions in France, Christmas
celebrations start with St Nicholas day
on the 6th of December. Then children
get sweets and little gifts. Cities are
decorated in France, especially in the
Alsace region, where they say the first
decorated Christmas trees appeared as
far back as the 14th century. On
Christmas eve, Children put their
polished shoes out in front of the
chimney and hope that ‘Père
Noël’ (Father Christmas) fills the shoes
with sweets. Christmas Day, 25th of
December is a public holiday and
families get together for a big feast. On
this day also presents get exchanged.

8. ITALY
In Italy, a nativity scene, a ‘presepe’, is
usually put up in churches, town squares
and often in houses and is for many the
most important parts of Christmas
decorations. The nativity scene display
with a crib filled with straw, originally stems
from Italy and is now common
occurrence in many countries around the
world. In Italy, ‘Babbo Natale’, that's how
Father Christmas is called in Italian, hands
out presents to children on Christmas
Day. Still in many families, gifts are
exchanged only on January 6 that is the
day of Epiphany. The people wish each
other ‘Buon Natale’, which means Merry
Christmas.

9. GERMANY
In the weeks leading up to Christmas,
Christmas markets are set up on main
squares in many cities. Houses are often
decorated with lights and ornaments in
December, however the Christmas tree is
usually only put up in the homes only in
the morning of the 24th of December.
Festive Christmas celebrations in Germany
begin on the 24th of December, on
Christmas Eve. Shops close early on
Christmas eve, so remember that you
have to get your Christmas shopping
done until lunchtime.

10. ENGLAND
In England, Christmas decorations start
early. Many families decorate their
houses with lots of fairy lights and
sparkling displays. Often the house
owners collect donations from visitors to
their displays in aid of local charities. So
remember if you like a display place
some spare coins into the honesty
boxes and help the good causes.
Christmas is celebrated on Christmas
Day, the 25th of December.

11. SOUTH AFRICA
In South Africa, people celebrate
Christmas Day with the family often with
a ‘braai’, similar to a BBQ, as it is
summer season there as well. Many
people visit Christmas mass on
Christmas as well. On the right you can
see the modern Christmas tree in front
of the V&A Waterfront Shopping Centre
in Cape Town. At the Waterfront there
are many Christmas concerts during
the weeks leading up to Christmas Day.