Christmas across the globe

Modern Christmas customs include gift-giving, Christmas carols, greeting cards, decoration and the popular mythological figure Father Christmas. This figure (sometimes known as Santa Claus) is known in more than 50 countries, from Afghanistan to Wales. In most of the countries, Father Christmas brings the gifts, but in some of the countries, this figure is rather related with New Year’s Eve.
 

Christmas traditions

Christmas trees are a very common tradition, too. In traditional German homes, the tree is put up on December 24th and taken down on the 7th of January. In Australia, however, the tree will be put up in the first days of December (sometimes even in the end of November). Superstitions all over the world say that it’s a bad sign if Christmas greenery is not removed by February 2nd (Candlemas Eve).
 
While traditional Christmas lights are mostly unobtrusive, there’s also a lot of public display of Christmas lights – mostly set up by businesses or local governments. Sometimes, the Christmas lights are even simultaneously activated – this is called "Great Illumination".
 
It’s a tradition in Scandinavia, to dance around the Christmas tree.
 
Father Christmas and his wife live in Samiland (Finland). Hundreds of elves are helping them to manufacture the presents for children all over the world.
 
In France, the nativity scene is more important than the Christmas tree. In some regions of France, people put a newborn calf into the crèche.
 
The Dutch Father Christmas is called "Sinterklaas". When he’s coming to town, the whole traffic stops.
 
In Spain, the three Magi bring presents on January 6. In Italy, children get their presents from Befana, an old lady with a broom. She comes between New Year’s Eve and Twelfth Day.
 
In Nigeria, there are often fireworks on December 24. On the next morning, people go to church and look forward to the great feast afterwards.
 
In India, churches are decorated with red flowers. Christians in India call December 24 the "Evening before the big day".
 
In China, even non-Christians celebrate Christmas. They celebrate in honour of their ancestors. The Christmas Trees are called “Light Trees” and are decorated with paper garlands and flowers.
 
“Santa Claus” was brought to the USA by the Dutch in 1664. The name "Santa Claus" derives from the Dutch word "Sinterklaas".
 
The red poinsettia is the national flower of Mexico. It was imported into the USA and later to Europe.
 
In Brazil, the Christmas tree is decorated with chocolate or coins and children are allowed to plunder it. In Brazil, the nativity scene is a status symbol, lots of people spend a fortune on it.
 
In 1895, U.S. President Grover Cleveland proudly sponsored the first electrically lit Christmas tree in the White House. It was a huge specimen, featuring more than a hundred multicoloured lights.
 
General Electric sponsored community lightning competitions in the 1920s.

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