| tmas is a popular celebration around the world. | | | | household servants and other poorly paid workers |
| While each family or community has their own | | | | would be necessary to work on Christmas Day, |
| customs, there are specific regional practices that | | | | Boxing Day was the day to visit their family to |
| are very detailed and differ widely from region to | | | | give small tokens among tradesmen like the |
| region. | | | | postman or the milkman. Families would often |
| In Italy, from the south of Rome, the traditional | | | | gather around to play board games and share a |
| Christmas Eve dinner is that of seven fish. All | | | | meal, and enjoying a walk. |
| through Italy, the Christmas Eve feasts are | | | | In Mexico the celebration of Christmas started on |
| traditionally meatless, given that it is a day of | | | | December 16th with the nine days of Las |
| abstinences in the Catholic Church. One more | | | | Posadas. Las Posadas is a nine-day celebration, |
| fantastic Italian culinary Christmas tradition is that | | | | which consist of candle lit processions and bubbly |
| of the Milanese Panattone. A sweet bread laden | | | | parties. Another great Christmas tradition is the |
| with raisins, candied fruits and nuts. It is just the | | | | Shepard's play. Professional groups and amateurs |
| thing for breakfast and makes incredible French | | | | put on these plays of the Christmas stories. |
| toast. | | | | In Mexican houses, the foremost Christmas |
| Just north of Italy is Germany, where there is an | | | | decoration is the Nativity Scene. It is frequently |
| abundant tradition of the outdoor Christmas | | | | handcrafted and assembled over the course of |
| Markets. In spite of the cold temperatures | | | | the season. |
| German families go outside to shop for traditional | | | | In Brazil, the custom of Las Posadas is also |
| Christmas goodies and to enjoy regional specific | | | | generally practiced, it differs only in the Brazilian |
| Christmas goodies. This tradition started back to | | | | version of the play, where a shepherdess who is |
| the 14th Century. The markets open at the end | | | | following the star and a gypsy woman who has |
| of November and stay open up until Christmas | | | | plans on stealing the figure of the Christ child from |
| Eve. | | | | the nativity scene. |
| One German tradition is that of Gluehwein and | | | | Brazil has a wide range of cultural history and a lot |
| Stollen. Spiced Wine and the usual German | | | | of their traditions differ widely by region, based |
| Christmas cake, overloaded with raisins and nuts | | | | upon immigration patterns. The same thing is true |
| and coated in a sugar glaze are a time honored | | | | for Australia. It is also important to note that both |
| Christmas delicacy in German homes. | | | | of these multicultural countries experiences |
| In Greece, Christmas is celebrated exactly on | | | | summer rather than winter during December. |
| December 25, not like the celebration of Easter, | | | | Families celebrate Christmas by dining outdoors |
| which goes after the Orthodox calendar. While | | | | and enjoy the rich sunshine and warm |
| Christmas in Greece is very significant, it is a | | | | temperatures. |
| much more formal holiday than in the West and | | | | In India, though Christians are a small group, |
| therefore there are less extravagant decorations | | | | Christmas is still celebrated and is a good mixture |
| and more centered on the religious nature of the | | | | of British customs from the colonial period and |
| holiday. | | | | rich regional additions. In several areas banana |
| In England the custom of Wassailing came from | | | | trees and mango trees are adorned with lights. |
| the middle ages. Wassil, a heady mix of honey, ale | | | | Greetings are exchanged with neighbors and |
| and spices, is finest when shared among a group. | | | | parties are hosted. In metropolitan areas, hotels |
| Served in a bowl or huge pewter or wooden | | | | and nightclub host office and families parties. |
| mug, it would be passed around the people in the | | | | In Japan, there is only a small number of |
| group as a form welcome. Customarily, the bowl | | | | Christians in the country – approximately |
| would be passed on from house to house | | | | 1% of the whole population, however Christmas is |
| celebrate and share a holiday greeting. | | | | celebrated nonetheless. For Christians the |
| In England, the day after Christmas is called | | | | exchanging gifts with family members are not |
| Boxing Day. Conventionally and traditionally a day | | | | much practiced but are more centered on sharing |
| set aside for the poor, it has presently become a | | | | good cheer with the poor, especially those who |
| national holiday in England. Back in the 18th | | | | are in the hospital. |
| century and onwards, the Lord and Lady of the | | | | Regardless of how the holiday is celebrated, |
| manor would "box" up their leftovers and small | | | | Christmas is about love, compassion, food, and |
| gifts to give to the servants of the manor house | | | | family. The greatest present of the season is |
| and tenants on their land. Since most of the | | | | togetherness and love among friends and family. |