Where Does the French Version of Father Christmas Leave Fruits and Nuts

France Father Christmas is called Pére Nöel. He ‘travels’ with his companion Pre Fouettard who reminds Pére Nöel how each child has behaved this year! On Christmas Eve, children leave their shoes by the fireplace to be filled by Pére Nöel. In the morning they may also find that sweets, fruits, nuts and toys have also been hung on their Christmas tree. China The Christian children of China decorate trees with colourful ornaments. These ornaments are made from paper in the shapes of flowers, chains and lanterns. They also hang muslin stockings. The Chinese Christmas trees are called ‘Trees of Light’. Santa Claus is called Dun Che Lao Ren (‘Christmas Old Man.’). Austria In Austria, baked carp is served for the traditional Christmas dinner. On 6th December, Heiliger Nikolaus (or St. Nicholas), is said to reward good children with sweets, nuts and apples. Brazil 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. A Brazilian Christmas dinner might include turkey, ham, coloured rice, and wonderful vegetable and fruit dishes Finland Everybody's house is given a very good clean in readiness for Christmas. The Christmas tree is set up on Christmas Eve. Apples and other fruits, candies, paper flags, cotton and tinsel are used as decorations and candles are used for lighting it. India Christians in India decorate banana or mango trees. They also light small oil-burning lamps as Christmas decorations and fill their churches with red flowers. They give presents to family members and charity to poorer people. In South India, Christians put small clay lamps on the rooftops and walls of their houses at Christmas, just as the Hindus do during their festival called Diwali. Venezuala On December 16th, families bring out their pesebres (specially designed models of the nativity scene). On January 6th when some children awaken, they discover that the straw that they had left beside their bed the night before has gone and they know that the Magi (the Wise Men) and their camels have been. Gifts are left in the straw’s place. Ukraine In the Ukraine, Father Frost visits all the children in a sleigh pulled by only three reindeer. He brings along a little girl named Snowflake Girl. She wears a silver blue costume trimmed with white fur and a crown shaped like a snowflake. Scotland A long time ago there was a superstition that it was bad luck for the fire to go out on Christmas Eve, since it is at this time that the elves were about and only a raging fire would keep them from coming down the chimney. On Christmas day, people sometimes make big bonfires and dance around them to the playing of bagpipes. Bannock cakes made of oatmeal are traditionally eaten around this time. Poland During Advent and sometimes on Christmas Eve wax is poured onto water and fortunes are told from the shapes which emerge. Christmas Eve, Wigila, is the most important part of the Polish Christmas. A traditional food found in Poland is Oplatek which is a piece of bread pressed with a holy picture on the surface. This bread is usually shared with family and friends and while it is eaten the person must do two things: forgive any hurts that have occurred over the past year and to wish the person all the happiness in the coming year. Ethiopia The Ethiopian Christmas is called Ganna and takes place on January 7th. Gift giving is a very small part of the celebration and children usually receive very simple presents such as clothing. A sourdough pancake called injera is often eaten which serves as both plate and fork. Italy On January 6th, Italian children receive gifts from a friendly witch called ‘Le Befana’. She flies around on her broom giving presents to the good children and coal to the naughty ones! Iceland Children put their shoes in the window for 13 days before Christmas. Each night a small gift is left by one of the 13 ‘Yule Lads’. They are sons of nasty trolls with names like Bowl Licker and Door Slammer! Lebanon Seeds are planted a fortnight before so that there are small green plants on Christmas Day bringing signs of new life. Children leave water and grain on their doorsteps for the Christmas camel that brings the gifts. Mexico In Mexico, ‘Las Posadas’ starts on the 16th December with 9 days of candlelit processions and lively parties. On Christmas day, children Nameare blindfolded: ______and they have to try to break a decorated clay piñata which is filled with sweets. Those children who have been good also on January 6th receive a gift from the Three Wise Men.

Christmas Traditions around the World

Christmas Traditions Quiz

1. Where does the French version of Father Christmas leave fruits and nuts?

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2. What does the name of the Chinese Father Christmas actually mean?

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3. Which fish is eaten by Austrians for Christmas dinner?

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4. What does the Brazilian version of Santa Claus wear?

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5. How do people in Finland prepare for Christmas?

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6. What kind of trees do Christians in India decorate?

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7. How do children in Venezuela know that the Wise Men have visited them?

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8. How many reindeer pull Father Frost’s sleigh in the Ukraine?

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9. On Christmas Day in Scotland what do people sometimes dance around?

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10. What two things should Polish people do when they eat Oplatek?

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11. On what date do Ethiopians celebrate their Christmas called Ganna?

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12. What does “Le Befana” give to naughty Italian children?

______13. How many small gifts do Icelandic children receive at Christmas?

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14. Who brings the gifts in the Lebanon?

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15. What makes it difficult for Mexican children to hit and break a piñata?

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Which Traditional Christmas is the most similar to ours? Which Traditional Christmas is the most different? Why do you think that is?

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Merry Christmas!