Christma

s around
the world

The Man Behind the Story of Fathe

Christmas/Santa Claus
St. Nicholas was a Bishop
who lived in the fourth
century AD in a place called
Myra in Asia Minor . He was a
very rich man because his
parents died when he was
young and left him a lot of
money. He was also a very
kind man and had a
reputation for helping the
poor and giving secret gifts
to people who needed it.
There are several legends
about St. Nicholas, although

Santa Claus is known by different names

in different countries of the world:

In America - Santa Claus

In Austria and Switzerland Christkindl or Christ Child.
In Norway and Denmark - Yulnisen
In England - Father Christmas
In Germany - Weihnachtsmann, Kriss
Kringle or Sankt Nikolaus
France - Pere Noel or le Petit.
In Sweden - Jultomten
In Brazil - Papa Noel
In Russia - Dead Moroz

Christmas in Australia

In Australia, Christmas is often celebrated

on the beach at 40 degrees temperature. In
the southern hemisphere coincides with the
Christmas holidays and vacations and
Australians love watchful during the festive
night in the garden by the light of candles
and torches. An age-old Australian tradition
every year gathers thousands of choristers
who sing traditional songs in the open. Any
Australian who wants to participate in such
an impromptu choir appears in a particular
place, holding in his hand a specially
prepared for the occasion candle. The
funds from the sale of these candles are for
charitable purposes.

Christmas in Austria
Austria is a country where was born
the famous Christmas song "Winter
Night". In this country, Christmas is
necessarily linked to the building of
the manger where Christ is born
young. But Austria is primarily known
for its Christmas decorations of its
stations - so the Austrians wish a
happy holiday to all travelers in the
"holy night" are absent from their
homes.

Christmas in
Belgium
Have a festival especially
dedicated to children, St.
Nicholas on 6 December.
It puts children treats in
their shoes. The streets,
houses, trees, homes are
decorated and lighted.
Meet Christmas night at
home after midnight and
exchanged gifts. Children
usually receive a book or
clothes.

Christmas in Canada
The Eastern Canadian province of
Nova Scotia is known all over the
world for its fir and pine
Christmas Trees, so most families
in Canada have a fir or pine
Christmas Tree. One Canadian
tradition is to send the biggest,
best fir tree to Boston,USA
because of the assistance given
during the disaster, known
worldwide, as the Halifax
Explosion. This tradition has
carried on for many years.
Bostonians always love and
appreciate the Nova Scotian
Christmas tree. They place this

Christmas in China
In China, only about one
percent of people are
Christians, so most people
only know a few things about
Christmas. Because of this,
Christmas is only often
celebrated in major cities.
Only a few people have a
Christmas Tree (or celebrate
Christmas at all!). If people do
have a tree it is normally a
plastic one and might be
decorated with paper chains,
paper flowers, and paper
lanterns. The Christmas Trees
that most people would see
would be in shopping malls!

Christmas in France
Christmas here is dedicated to
children. The streets and houses
are decorated several weeks
earlier. The French have many
Christmas traditions: Christmas
markets, Christmas trees,
Christmas dinner, Christmas gifts,
Christmas turkey, Christmas
creches, stories, songs.

Christmas in Germany
A big part of the Christmas celebrations in
Germany is Advent. Several different
types of Advent calendars are used in
German homes. Christmas Trees are very
important in Germany. Christmas Trees
are very important in Germany. They
were first used in Germany during the
Middle Ages. If there are young children in
the house, the trees are usually secretly
decorated by the mother of the family.
Christmas Eve is the main day when
Germans exchange presents with their
families. Germany is well known for its
Christmas Markets where all sorts of
Christmas foods and decorations are
sold. Perhaps the most famous German
decorations are glass ornaments

Christmas in Italy
One of the most important ways of
celebrating Christmas in Italy is the
Nativity crib scene. Using a crib to help
tell the Christmas story was made very
popular by St. Francis of Assisi in 1223.
One old Italian custom is that children go
out Carol singing and playing songs on
shepherds pipes, wearing shepherds
sandals and hats.
There are different theories as to why
there are seven fish dishes eaten. Some
think that seven represents the seven
days of creation in the Bible, other say it
represents the seven holy sacraments of
the Catholic Church.

Christmas in the United

Kingdom
The UK , families often celebrate
Christmas together, so they can watch
each other open their presents! Most
families have a Christmas Tree in their
house for Christmas. The decorating of
the tree is usually a family occasion,
with everyone helping. Children believe
that Father Christmas or Santa Claus
leaves presents in stockings or pillowcases. In the UK, the main Christmas
Meal is usually eaten at lunchtime or
early afternoon on Christmas Day. It's
normally roast turkey, roast vegetables
and 'all the trimmings' which means
vegetables like carrots & peas, stuffing
and sometimes bacon and sausages

Christmas in
Russia
Some Orthodox Christian Russian also
don't eat any meat or fish during the
Christmas Eve. Sauerkraut is main dish
in the Christmas Eve meal. It can be
served with cranberries, cumin,
shredded carrot and onion rings. It
might be followed by more pies or
porridge dishes such as buckwheat with
fried onions and fried mushrooms.
Following the meal, prayers might be
said and people then go to the One of
the most famous things about
Christmas in Russia, to people in
western Europe and the USA, is the
story of Babushka. Babushka means
Grand Mother in Russian midnight
Church services.

Santa Claus and Coca-Cola

There's a Christmas
Urban Legend that
says that Santa's red
suit was designed by
Coca-Cola and that
they might even 'own'
Santa!

This is
definitely NOT
TRUE!

We wish you a merry Christmas

We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy New Year.
Glad tidings we bring
To you and your kin;
Glad tidings for Christmas
And a happy New Year!

We won't go until we get some

We won't go until we get some
We won't go until we get some
So bring it out here!
Glad tidings we bring
To you and your kin;
Glad tidings for Christmas
And a happy New Year!

We want some figgy pudding

We want some figgy pudding
We want some figgy pudding
Please bring it right here!
Glad tidings we bring
To you and your kin;
Glad tidings for Christmas
And a happy New Year!

We wish you a Merry Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas
And a happy New Year.
Glad tidings we bring
To you and your kin;
Glad tidings for Christmas
And a happy New Year!