| People from all over the world celebrate Christmas in | | | | Ferdinand Magellan and Christianity, historical accounts |
| so many different ways and you will be quite | | | | have determined that people are already holding |
| surprised at the stories behind many of these | | | | Christmas festivities. |
| Christmas traditions. | | | | Poland - Polish families also prepare a twelve course |
| Did you even know that Christmas Day, the 25th of | | | | dinner for Christmas Eve however unlike the |
| December, was previously a holiday which can be | | | | Ukrainians, this feast is composed of twelve |
| transferred from one date to another? It was not | | | | non-meat dishes which stand for the twelve months |
| only in the 4th century AD when Pope Julius I made | | | | of the year. Most dishes include specialties of carp, |
| it official and set December 25th as Christmas Day. | | | | herring, and other fish. |
| This day matched the pagan ritual for the winter | | | | Ukraine - Households prepare stew with meat the |
| solstice also known as the feast for the Return of | | | | day before Christmas. They also set up a twelve |
| the Sun. It was meant to reinstate a Christmas | | | | course Christmas dinner. The youngest child in the |
| celebration in place of the pagan ritual. | | | | family is tasked to look out the window and watch |
| As for how the rest of the world celebrates | | | | for the evening star to come out, the sign for the |
| Christmas, here they are. | | | | banquet to begin. |
| France - Christmas in France is known as Noel drawn | | | | United Kingdom - Mince pies in the UK is a long |
| from the French expression "les bonnes nouvelles" | | | | standing tradition dating back to the 16th century. |
| which means "the good news" and denotes the | | | | Children usually leave a drink and mince pies for Santa |
| gospel. Based on the French belief that farmers who | | | | while there is a also a tradition that eating mince pies |
| burn a log from Christmas Eve to New Year's Day | | | | during the Twelve Days of Christmas will bring about |
| have an abundant harvest the following year, some | | | | happiness in the next 12 months. On average, the |
| families are burning a log from their homes. | | | | British eat 27 mince pies each. |
| Germany - Christmas in Germany are characterized | | | | United States - In the US, children leave stockings |
| by Christmas trees dating back as far as the 16th | | | | during Christmas and set aside a glass of milk and a |
| century. They quickly spread all over the world and | | | | plate of cookies for Santa just before going to be |
| then to England when Queen Victoria's husband, | | | | bed on Christmas Eve. It is typical of the American |
| Albert came from Germany and brought this tradition. | | | | household to have a Christmas. The official national |
| Norway - After the family dinner and opening of the | | | | Christmas tree is a giant sequoia which stands over |
| presents, Norwegians hide their brooms in accordance | | | | 90 meters (300 feet) high in the King's Canyon |
| to the belief that witches and other spirits will come | | | | National Park in California. |
| out during Christmas Eve and steal their brooms. | | | | Each country has unique Christmas customs and |
| Another Christmas custom in Norway is to gather | | | | beliefs. The world may be a large place but when the |
| the finest wheat from the harvest, put away until | | | | Yuletide season comes around there is a feeling of |
| Christmas and then attached these to poles from | | | | renewed hope and a special sense of togetherness |
| branches. The head of the household checks this just | | | | which transcends not only to families, fellow |
| before sunset and if there are sparrows seen to be | | | | countrymen but to the whole world itself. Christmas |
| consuming this is seen to be an indication of a good | | | | season is a special celebration which we look forward |
| year for crops. | | | | throughout the year. |
| Philippines - Even 200 years before the arrival of | | | | |