Christmas is celebrated by about one third of the worlds population. This being said, the classic traditions vary from continent to continent, even country to country. We took a closer look at how some of the greatest places on earth celebrate this wonderful day.
Lets start at home, the United States. Our country has so many different regions that it is hard to just pick one way that the country celebrates it. In the great city of Boston, people celebrate by going to church on Christmas Eve. You can also find carolers singing on the streets or in shopping plazas. It would not be surprising if hand bells accompanied the singers.
A Christmas tree sits in the middle of Faneuil Hall Plaza.
In Hawaii, Christmas starts with the coming of the Christmas Tree Ship, which is a ship that is filled with Christmas goodies. Santa Claus can be found arriving by sea as well!
Donald Boyce, dressed as Santa Claus, does a “shaka” as he shares a wave with a surfer while riding in an outrigger canoe off Waikiki beach in Honolulu, Hawaii in this still image taken from video December 11, 2010. (REUTERS/Outrigger Hotel)
England
Moving into Europe, one of England's customs is mummering. In the Middle Ages, people called mummers put on masks and acted out Christmas plays. These plays are still performed in towns and villages today.
A crowd of English mummers.
The English gift giver is called Father Christmas. He wears a long red or green robe, and leaves presents in stockings on Christmas Eve. However, the gifts are not usually opened until the following afternoon.
France
In France nearly every home at Christmas time displays a Nativity scene or crèche, which serves as the focus for the Christmas celebration. The crèche is often peopled with little clay figures called santons or “little saints.” In addition to the usual Holy Family, shepherds, and Magi, the craftsmen also produce figures in the form of local dignitaries and characters. The craftsmanship involved in creating the gaily colored santons is quite astounding and the molds have been passed from generation to generation since the seventeenth century. Throughout December the figures are sold at annual Christmas fairs in Marseille and Aix.
People ice skating in front of The Palace of Versailles.
Gremany
In Germany, Christmas preparations often begin on the eve of December 6th. People often set aside special evenings for baking spiced cakes and cookies, and making gifts and decorations. Little dolls of fruit are traditional Christmas toys.
Germans make beautiful gingerbread houses and cookies. The German Christmas tree pastry, Christbaumgeback, is a white dough that can be molded into shapes and baked for tree decorations.
A Christkindlmarkt (Christ Child Market) set up in front of the Glockenspiel in Munich.
In parts of Germany, people believe that the Christ Child sends a messenger in Christmas Eve. He appears as an angel in a white robe and crown, bearing gifts. The angel is called Christkind. There is also a Christmas Eve figure called Weihnachtsmann or Christmas Man, he looks like Santa Claus and also brings gifts.
Italy
In Italy the Christmas celebration starts as a strict feast, which is observed for 24 hours before Christmas Eve, and is followed by a celebration meal, in which a light Milanese cake called panettone is featured, as well as an assortment chocolate.
A Christmas tree stands next to the Colosseum.
At noon on Christmas Day the pope gives his blessing to crowds gathered in the huge Vatican square.
Russia
In Russia the religious festival of Christmas is being replaced by the Festival of Winter but there are some traditions that are still kept up in some parts of the country.
A Christmas tree is installed on Red Square with St. Basil Cathedral and Kremlin's Spassky Tower, right, in the background, in Moscow, Russia on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010. (AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel)
On Christmas Day, hymns and carols are sung. People gather in churches which have been decorated with the usual Christmas trees or Yelka, flowers and colored lights.
Babushka is a traditional Christmas figure who distributes presents to children. Her name means grandmother and the legend is told that she declined to go with the wise men to see Jesus because of the cold weather. However, she regretted not going and set off to try and catch up, filling her basket with presents. She never found Jesus, and that is why she visits each house, leaving toys for good children.
Lebanon
About two weeks before Christmas people in Lebanon and elsewhere in the Middle East plant seeds – chickpeas, wheat grains, beans, lentils – in cotton wool. They water the seeds every day and by Christmas the seeds have shoots about 6 inches in height. People use the shoots to surround the manger in nativity scenes. Figures are made from brown paper, as well a star is placed above the scene.
People watch fireworks during the illumination of a giant Christmas tree at the launching of 2010 Christmas Festivities in Beirut, Lebanon on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Traditionally throughout the Middle East people visit friends on Christmas morning and are offered coffee, liqueurs and sugared almonds. Lunch at Christmas is the most important meal of the season and the whole family gathers together for it, usually at grandparents or the eldest sons' home. The meal consists of chicken and rice, and Kubbeh, which is made up of crushed boiled wheat or burghul mixed with meat, onion, salt and pepper.
Indonesia
At the beginning of December most Indonesians decorate their homes, inside and out. The Christmas Tree is an important tradition inside the house, where it is covered in everything form strings of popcorn to glass bulbs.
The day before Christmas most people go to their local church for a Christmas Eve service. After the service families get together to celebrate Christmas with a large dinner.
Christians hold candles during a Christmas mass at the Gelora Bung Karno stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia on December 11, 2010. Approximately a hundred thousand Christians gathered for the celebration in Jakarta's biggest stadium. (REUTERS/Supri)
Some families give presents to the ones they love on Christmas day. Again, some families will have a small service in their home where stories are shared, and then a larger church service is attended. After church is a time to visit with friends and family, sharing the joy of the Christmas season.
Brazil
One tradition is to create a nativity scene or Presépio. The word originates from the Hebrew word “presepium” which means the bed of straw upon which Jesus first slept in Bethlehem. The Presépio is common in northeastern Brazil. Nowadays presépios are set up in December and displayed in churches, homes, and stores.
Papai Noel or Father Noel is the gift-bringer in Brazil. According to legend, he lives in Greenland. When he arrives in Brazil, he usually wears silk clothing due to the summer heat.
Fireworks explode over a floating Christmas tree as it is lighted for the holiday season in Lagoa neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) #
Devout Catholics often attend Midnight Mass or Missa do Galo. The mass has this name because the rooster announces the coming day and the Missa do Galo finishes at 1 AM on Christmas morning! On December 25th, Catholics go to church, but the masses are mostly late afternoon, because people enjoy sleeping late after the dinner called Ceia de Natal or going to the beach.
No matter where you are or how you celebrate Christmas, we here at Koo think it is amazing. It is the same holiday with the same spirit yet, it is so different all over the world. We have learned so much from these cultures and for that we thank them! From our home to yours, we wish you a happy and safe holiday season!
You can find all of the information we used about the various celebrations and much much more at http://www.santas.net/.