World-Wide-Christmas
Christmas is a season in the year where globally it is celebrated by many nations. Each nation has their own set of traditions that are recognized as being festive for this holiday. While this article may not address all the different traditions for Christmas around the world, it does give a more global view of what Christmas means around the world.
Korea South Korea is the only East Asian country to recognize Christmas as a national holiday, so schools, businesses and government offices are closed on Christmas Day.At Christmas time, some families do put up Christmas trees, people exchange presents, and stores do put up holiday decorations, but the festivities start much closer to Christmas Day, as opposed to in early November, as is common in the United States. Christmas lights and decorations are common in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, and major stores put up large light displays.
Christmas is celebrated with decorations on churches and department stores. The Christmas lights are all over the city center including the bridges over the Han River.
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 celebrated in major cities. In these big cities, there are Christmas trees, lights and other decorations on the streets and in department stores. Santa Claus is called ‘Shen Dan Lao Ren’ and has grottos in shops like in Europe and America. A tradition that’s becoming popular, on Christmas Eve, is giving apples. Many stores have apples wrapped up in a colored paper for sale. People give apples on Christmas Eve because in Chinese Christmas Eve is called "Ping'an Ye" (平安夜), meaning peaceful or quiet evening, which has been translated from the carol 'Silent Night.' The word for apple in Mandarin is "píngguǒ" (苹果) which sounds like the word for peace.
Germany Germany is well known for its Christmas Markets where all sorts of Christmas foods and decorations are sold. The German Christmas market boasts a 600-year tradition. At this time of year, a small cabin shop with a lot of handcrafts shines and shines gingerbread in every alley. As it is held in more than 150 locations across the country, the region is full of personality. In Berlin, Christmas markets for organic products and vegetarians are held and in Kindle Market in Munich. The Freiburg market is filled with the natural beauty of the surroundings and attracts the travelers, while the Bavarian Albertin Palace is famous for its Christmas market. Gosla, a small town in Niedersachsen is famous for their local handicrafts and traditional food. Gosling traditional food and local handicrafts.
Perhaps the most famous German decorations are glass ornaments. The glass ornaments were originally hand blown glass and were imported into the USA in the 1880s by the Woolworth stores
Thailand In Thailand, a majority of Christmas activities are restricted to schools only. However, the fun element can be felt in the eyes of all school children who can be spotted singing, dancing, and playing various party games on this occasion. Children sing Christmas carols and act in various Christmas related plays. Christmas celebrations can be mainly experienced in the capital and culture center of Thailand - Bangkok. The attractive decorations and various light displays across the city add to the festivities leaving the onlookers spellbound and mesmerized. Shops and malls, decorated specially for the occasion, sell Christmas goodies and accessories. Beautifully decorated Christmas trees are set up along the roadside of many streets to attract customers and visitors. It is the knack of Thai people to accept various Christmas customs and give them a Thai spin. It will be not long when Christmas turns into a major festival in Thailand.
Mexico In Mexico, Christmas is celebrated from December 12th to January 6th. From December 16th to Christmas Eve, a festival called Posadas is often held. People decorate Christmas on December 16 and wait for guests. It is a festival that remembers what Joseph and Mary had suffered in Bethlehem to find their place of residence. Each house decorates the house with Spanish moss and evergreen branches and decorates one of the houses like a stallion. A small step with pine branches and moss, and reproduced the baby Jesus lying there. They also decorate herds of sheep and night shepherds, great stars, and the Magi of the beasts of the bells of Matthew and Luke, written around them. Then they visit another house and ask, "Do you have an empty room?" And replicate Joseph and Mary's Bethlehem pilgrimage, such as "the owner of the house" replies "go elsewhere."
Netherland In the Netherlands, people say that Santa comes to the town in a white horse. Therefore, many people dressed up at Santa in the back of a white horse visits houses in town. Children prepare dry grass, water, and red radish in front of their window for the horse to eat and drink when they visit their houses. After the morning service on Christmas, the village is surrounded by festivals. People dressed in bizarre and funny clothes dances and sings Christmas songs.
France Many people in France celebrate Christmas by setting up the tree few days before Christmas. Candles and stars with different colors are often used for decoration. Small toys and candies are given to the children on Christmas morning that Père Noël, Father Christmas left for them.
Argentina Argentia, which is located in Southern Hemisphere, has an opposite climate of America. This also means that while Americans celebrate Christmas with freezing weather, Argentines celebrate Christmas above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Argentines prepare for Christmas early in December and sometimes even in November. According to the CIA World Factbook (July 2014), 92% of the country is nominally Roman Catholic, and they also celebrate Advent. Argentines celebrate by putting the Nativity scene or ‘presebe,’ which they consider as an important Christmas decoration, near the tree.
