Christmas traditions around the World

In 2015 I spent my Christmas in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England.

In 2016 I spent my Christmas on-board the World's largest cruise ship - Harmony of the Seas.

And in 2017 I will be spending my Christmas in Brasil.

So, in my count-down to Christmas I decided to check out some of the different Christmas traditions from around the world.

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Brasil

☃ Christmas plays called 'Os Pastores' are a popular tradition, however, in the Brazilian version of the play there is also a shepherdess and a woman who tries to steal the baby Jesus!

☃ Sometimes children leave a sock near a window. If Papai Noel finds your sock, he'll exchange it for a gift.

☃ The population of Brasil is a mix of many different cultures and people that originally came from different countries, so you may have Italian Panettone in Sao Paulo, Portuguese salted Cod in Rio de Janeiro and some African style food in the states of North-East Brasil.

Greece

☃ Christmas Trees are popular in Greece but an older and more traditional decoration is a wooden bowl with a piece of wire suspended across the rim. A sprig of basil is wrapped around a wooden cross and hangs from the wire. Once a day the mother of the family dips the cross and basil into some holy water and uses it to sprinkle water into each room of the house. This is believed to keep the 'kallikantzaroi' or 'bad spirits' away.

☃ The main Christmas meal is often lamb or pork, roasted in an oven or over an open spit. It's often served with a spinach and cheese pie and various salads and vegetables.

☃  In Greek Happy Christmas is 'Kala Christougenna'.

United Kingdom

☃ Holly, Ivy and Mistletoe are often used to decorate homes or other buildings.

☃ Children believe that Father Christmas or Santa Claus leaves presents in stockings or pillow-cases. These were traditionally hung up by the fire or by the children's beds on Christmas Eve.

☃ The Christmas meal consists of roast turkey, roast vegetables and 'all the trimmings' which means vegetables like carrots & peas, stuffing and sometimes bacon and sausages. One vegetable that is often included at Christmas in the UK are Brussel sprouts.

Philippines

☃ People in the Philippines like to celebrate Christmas for as long as possible with the playing of Christmas carols in shops starting as early as September! The formal Christmas celebrations start on 16th December.

☃ The most popular Christmas decoration is the 'Parol' which is a bamboo pole with a star lantern on it. It represents the star that guided the Wise Men.

☃ The Christmas Eve midnight feast known as Noche Buena would normally include: Lechon (roasted pig), ham, fruit salad, rice cakes and steamed rice.

Macedonia

☃  Most Christians in Macedonia belong to the Orthodox Church and so Christmas is celebrated on January 7th.

☃  A special Christmas bread is baked with coins inside. Everyone takes a piece and if you find the coin you'll get luck for the next year.

☃  The big Christmas Day meal may include different roasted meats, cheese pies, salads and lots of bread.

Jamaica

☃ Lots of Jamaicans paint their houses and hang new curtains and decorations for Christmas.

☃ In Jamaica, Christmas Eve is also called 'Grand Market' due to each city/town hosting a festival/market. During the day, people go shopping for Christmas foods, sweets and toys. New clothes are also often purchased ready for the celebrations in the evening.

☃ Jamaican red wine and rum fruitcake is traditional and is eaten in most homes. The fruits in the cake are soaked in red wine and white rum for months before Christmas.