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LETTERS FROM FELIX ep. 1 cartoon for children in English | Toons for kids | animation for kids | EN

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Christmas in Italy is celebrated over several weeks as Italians celebrate from early December, depending on the region, until the day of Epiphany, on the 6th of January. Especially the children look forward to the start of the Christmas season in December when Christmas trees are put up and houses are decorated.

In front of St Peters cathedral in Vatican City (see image above), there is a huge Christmas tree put up and many families buy tickets to get entrance to the festive midnight-mass which is held by the Pope.

There is a festive atmosphere during the whole of December. Christmas markets with various stalls with typical food, Christmas sweets and gifts can be visited in many towns especially in Italy's northern Alto-Adige Region. In the image above you see the Christmas market in Bolzano and the image below shows a popular Christmas market in Rome.

On 6th of December, many families celebrate St Nicholas Day. Children write letters to St Nicholas asking for gifts and they hang up either a sock or put a plate on the table on Nicholas day's eve. Sometimes even a St Nicholas visits the homes of children. Then children sing a Christmas carol or recite a poem.

If the children have been good children throughout the last year, they will get some fruits, nuts and sweets from St Nicholas, the naughty ones get usually also a sweet, but one looking like coal. Find more insights to St Nicholas Day on Staci's website

During the festive season and Christmas in Italy, a nativity scene, a ' presepe ', is usually put up in churches, town squares and often in houses and is for many the most important parts of Christmas decorations. Especially the people of Southern Italy are fond of their nativity scene displays as the image below (taken in Messina/Sicily) shows.

Did you know that the nativity scene display with a crib filled with straw, originally stems from Italy and is now common in many countries around the world. It is said that the crib scene was first used, when San Francis held his Christmas mass in front of a nativity scene and the people were admiring the beauty of the miracle of Christ's birth in a manger.

In the Abruzzi region, there is a tradition that bagpipers, so called ' zampognari' come into the towns and play their flutes and bagpipes for the people. They symbolize the shepherds who come in search of the new born Jesus baby. Below see two Italians dressed as ' zampognari '. (Image below by Domenico Vitti, settefrati.net)

Christmas in Italy

On Christmas Eve, as in the old Catholic tradition, often no food is eaten during the day as this is a fast day. The festive celebrations start after midnight mass. Nowadays, ' Babbo Natale ', the Father Christmas, brings presents to children on Christmas eve.

But as in true Italian style, gifts are exchanged only on January 6 that is the day of Epiphany. Then ' la befana', an old lady, comes in search to the houses for search of the Christ Child.

Children hang up their stockings, so that the befana can bring presents to the good children. The naughty ones get lumps of black sugar sweets. The arrival of ' La befana' is celebrated with traditional Christmas cake, the panettone, a sweet yeast cake, you can see below.

Now we wish you ' Buon Natale', that means Merry Christmas in Italian.

And ' Buona Festa', have a great holiday!
Image Sources for Christmas in Italy: Shutterstock.com Back to Christmas Around the World Return from Christmas in Italy to Kids-World-Travel-Guide Homepage

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Christmas in Italy for Kids | Christmas Traditions & Celebrations

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Christmas in Italy is celebrated over several weeks as Italians celebrate from early December, depending on the region, until the day of Epiphany, on the 6th of January. Especially the children look forward to the start of the Christmas season in December when Christmas trees are put up and houses are decorated.

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One of the most important ways of celebrating Christmas in Italy is the Nativity crib scene. Using a Nativity scene to help tell the Christmas story was made very popular by St. Francis of Assisi in 1223 (Assisi is in mid-Italy). The previous year he had visited Bethlehem and saw where it was thought that Jesus was born. A lot of Italian families have a Nativity scene in their homes.

The city of Naples in Italy is world famous for its Nativity scenes. These are known as 'Presepe Napoletano' (meaning Neapolitan Nativity/cribs scenes). The first Nativity scene in Naples is thought to go back to 1025 and was in the Church of S. Maria del presepe (Saint Mary of the Nativity), this was even before St. Francis of Assisi had made Nativity scenes very popular!

Having Nativity scenes in your own home became popular in the 16th century and it's still popular today (before that only churches and monasteries had scenes). Nativity scenes are traditionally put out on the 8th December. But the figure of the baby Jesus isn't put into the crib/manger until the evening/night of December 24th!

Sometimes the Nativity scene is displayed in the shape of pyramid which can be meters tall! It's made of several tiers of shelves and is decorated with colored paper, gold covered pinecones and small candles. A small star is often hung inside the top of the pyramid/triangle. The shelves above the manger scene might also contain fruit, candy and presents.

One special thing about Neapolitan Nativity scenes, is that they always have extra 'every day' people and objects (such as houses, waterfalls, food, animals and even figures of famous people and politicians!). Naples is also the home to the largest Nativity scene in the world, which has over 600 objects on it!

In Naples there is a still a street of nativity scene makers called the 'Via San Gregorio Armeno'. In the street you can buy wonderful hand made Nativity scene decorations and figures - and of course whole scenes!

Christmas Tress are also now popular in Italy, but only really since after World War II. In 1982, Pope John Paul II, who was Polish, started the tradition of having a Christmas Tree displayed next to the Nativity Crib on St Peter's Square in the Vatican. The crib scene at the Vatican has seventeen life size statues, nine of them date back to 1842. The tree at the Vatican is donated from a different Italian region or country in Europe every year.

It's now traditional that Italians decorate their Christmas trees on 8th December (the feast of the Immaculate Conception). The tree then stays up until the Epiphany on 6th January.

One old Italian custom is that children go out Carol singing and playing songs on shepherds pipes, wearing shepherds sandals and hats.

On Christmas Eve, it's common that no meat (and also sometimes no dairy) is eaten. Often a light seafood meal is eaten and then people go to the Midnight Mass service. The types of fish and how they are served vary between different regions in Italy.

When people return from Mass, if it's cold, you might have a slice of Italian Christmas Cake called 'Panettone' which is like a dry fruity sponge cake and a cup of hot chocolate! Here's a recipe for panettone. You can find out more about Christmas in Italy and Italian Christmas Recipes on this site.

For many Italian-American families a big Christmas Eve meal of different fish dishes is now a very popular tradition! It's known as The Feast of the Seven Fishes ('Festa dei sette pesci' in Italian). The feast seems to have its root in southern Italy and was bought over to the USA by Italian immigrants in the 1800s. It now seems more popular in American than it is in Italy!

Common types of fish eaten in the feast include Baccala (salted Cod), Clams, Calamari, Sardines and Eel.

There are different theories as to why there are seven fish dishes eaten. Some think that seven represents the seven days of creation in the Bible, other say it represents the seven holy sacraments of the Catholic Church. But some families have more than seven dishes! You might have nine (to represent the Christian trinity times three), 13 (to represent Jesus and his 12 disciples) or 11 (for the 11 disciples without Jesus or Judas!)!

The Christmas celebrations start eight days before Christmas with special 'Novenas' or a series of prayers and church services.

Some families have a 'Ceppo' or Yule Log which is burnt through the Christmas season.

Epiphany is also important in Italy. On Epiphany night, children believe that an old lady called 'Befana' brings presents for them. The story about Befana bringing presents is very similar to the story of Babushka. Children put stockings up by the fireplace for Befana to fill. In parts of northern Italy, the Three Kings might bring you presents at Epiphany, rather than Befana. On Christmas day 'Babbo Natale' (Santa Claus, but it translates as Father Christmas) also brings presents!

In Italian Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Buon Natale', in Sicilian it's 'Bon Natali', in Piedmontese it's 'Bon Natal' and in Ladin (spoken in some parts of the northern Italian region of South Tyrol) it's 'Bon/Bun Nadèl'. Happy/Merry Christmas in lots more languages.

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One of the most important ways of celebrating Christmas in Italy is the Nativity crib scene. Using a Nativity scene to help tell the Christmas story was made very popular by St. Francis of Assisi in 1223 (Assisi is in mid-Italy). The previous year he had visited Bethlehem and saw where it was thought that Jesus was born.

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CHRISTMAS IN PARIS | A Paris Christmas Market, Lights & Activities Guide (That You Can't Miss!)

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In France, a Nativity crib is often used to help decorate the house. French cribs have clay figures in them. During December some towns and cities, such as Marseilles, have fairs that sell Nativity figures. As well as having the normal Nativity figures in them, French scenes also have figures such as a Butcher, a Baker, a Policeman and a Priest.

In French Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Joyeux Noël'. In Breton (spoken by some people in Brittany, Northern France) it's 'Nedeleg Laouen', in Corsican it's 'Bon Natale' and in Alsatian (spoken by some people in Alsace, in Eastern France) it's 'E güeti Wïnâchte'. Happy/Merry Christmas in lots more languages.

One of the biggest Christmas markets in Europe is held in Strasbourg, in North Eastern France. In the Alsatian language it's called the "Christkindelsmarik".

Yule Logs made out of Cherry Wood are often burned in French homes. An old tradition is that the log was carried into the home on Christmas Eve and sprinkled with red wine to make the log smell nice when it was burning. There is a custom that the log and candles are left burning all night with some food and drinks left out in case Mary and the baby Jesus come past during the night.

In France, Father Christmas / Santa Claus / St. Nicholas is called Père Noël (Father Christmas). In eastern France he is accompanied by Le Pere Fouettard, a man dressed in black. He might be the same person as Zwarte Piet/Sooty Piet/Roetpiet in The Netherlands.

The main Christmas meal, called 'Réveillon', is eaten on Christmas Eve/early Christmas morning after people have returned from the midnight Church Service. Dishes might include roast turkey with chestnuts or roast goose, oysters, foie gras, lobster, venison and cheeses. For dessert, a chocolate sponge cake log called a bûche de Noël is normally eaten.

Another celebration, in some parts of France, is that 13 different desserts are eaten! All the desserts are made from different types of Fruit, Nuts and Pastries.

Epiphany (Épiphanie in French), called La Fêtes des Rois in French, is also celebrated in France on January 6th. A flat cake/tart made with and puff pastry and almond cream is eaten called 'Galette des Rois'. The cake traditionally has a 'fève' baked inside it (or put in the cream on the top). The fève was originally a bean (often made from porcelain, ceramic or metal). Now it can be a little crown, a figure or other shapes/small ornaments. The Galette des Rois is decorated on top with a gold paper crown. If you find the fève you wear the paper crown and are meant to bring the Galette des Rois the following year!

There's more information about Christmas in France on the French Moments website (goes to another site)

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How Christmas is celebrated in France and lots of other countries around the world. Christmas food in France.

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Christmas in France: Traditions, Foods, & Holiday Fun

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"La Befana Trullallà"  - ( Gianni Morandi )

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"La befana trullallà" - ( Gianni Morandi ) (di Dossena - Rendine - Viscarelli) Trullala' Trullala' Trullala'. La Befana vien di notte con le scarpe tutte rotte, con la calza appesa al collo, col carbone, col ferro e l'ottone. Sulla scopa per volare. Lei viene dal mare. Lei viene dal mare.

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Christmas in Italy: Around the World at Santa's Net.

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Christmas in Italy a Christmas Tradition Around the World at Santas.Net Home of everything to do with christmas and Santa Claus and How Christmas is celebrated around the world.

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This is a word search about Italy. A fun bit of trivia to challenge your mind.

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How Children celebrate Christmas

On this page you can read some fun facts about Christmas around the world. Read how kids celebrate Christmas in different parts of the world and get some interesting insights about Christmas traditions and celebrations.

At Christmas, Christians all over the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Traditional Christmas decoration often can be admired and festive celebrations can be joined in most countries, even in many of the countries where Christianity is not the religion of the majority of people. Christmas trees are a popular decoration as are tiny sparkling lights in windows and on walls.

Christmas all over the world: Christmas is generally celebrated on Christmas Day, the 25th of December. Some countries however have slightly different Christmas traditions and as such festive season celebrations take place over a longer period of time, from the beginning of December to the beginning of January. Below you will find some interesting Christmas facts for various countries. If you want to learn more about other interesting Christmas traditions in those countries simply click on the links to go to our country-specific Christmas pages.

Christmas Around the World:
France

In many regions in France, Christmas celebrations start with St Nicholas day on the 6th of December. Then children get sweets and little gifts.

Many cities in France are decorated during the weeks leading up to Christmas and children love to open the 24 little windows of their Advent calendar. In the Alsace region, the tradition of putting up decorated Christmas trees dates back as far as the 14th century. Towns and cities are also illuminated with Christmas lights.

On Christmas eve, Children put their polished shoes out in front of the chimney and hope that ' Père Noël' (Father Christmas) fills the shoes with sweets. Christmas Day, 25th of December is a public holiday and families get together for a big feast. On this day also presents are exchanged.

A special outing for many families during the festive season is this year an evening visit to the magical illuminated world of the Jardin des Plantes in Paris.

Read more about French Christmas traditions on our Christmas markets and Christmas food pages.

Christmas around the World:
Italy

In Italy, a nativity scene, a ' presepe ', is usually put up in churches, town squares and often in homes. This is for many the most important part of the Christmas decorations.

The nativity scene display with a crib filled with straw, originally stems from Italy and is now common occurrence in many countries around the world. In Italy, ' Babbo Natale', that's how Father Christmas is called in Italian, hands out presents to children on Christmas Day. Still in many families, gifts are exchanged only on 6 th of January which is the Day of Epiphany. In Italy, t he people wish each other ' Buon Natale', which means 'Merry Christmas'.
Read more about traditions and celebrations for Christmas in Italy
Christmas in Germany

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, festive Christmas markets are set up on main squares in many cities.

Houses are often decorated with fairy lights and festive ornaments in December, however, in Germany the Christmas tree is usually only put up and decorated at the homes in the morning of the 24th of December.

Festive Christmas celebrations in Germany begin on the 24th of December, on Christmas Eve. Shops close early on Christmas eve, so remember that you have to get your Christmas shopping done until lunchtime. The 26th of December is a public holiday in Germany too and many families celebrate on this day together, go to Church or enjoy a little excursion to a nearby park.
Read here how Christmas is celebrated in German families.
Christmas in England

In England, most people start with Christmas decorations early, that is as early as mid of November. Many families decorate their houses with lots of fairy lights and sparkling displays.

Often the house owners collect donations from visitors to their displays in aid of local charities. So remember if you like a display place some spare coins into the honesty boxes and help the good causes.

Christmas is celebrated on Christmas Day, the 25th of December. 26 December is a bank holiday as well. On Boxing Day, the 26th of December, friends and family are usually visited to exchange gifts.

Christmas in Norway

In Norway, children wait for ' Julenisse', the Norwegian Santa Claus. On Christmas Eve, the ' Julenisse ', brings presents to the children.

During the month of December, children wait eagerly for ' Jul', that is how they call Christmas.

The Norwegians wish each other God Jul! which means Happy Christmas!

Christmas in Iceland

In Iceland, children put their shoes on the windowsill so the ' Juletide Lads', the Santa Claus, fills the shoes with little goodies.

Christmas celebrations in Iceland start on 24th of December, Christmas eve. Families get together and enjoy good food and many visit midnight mass.

Christmas in Portugal

The Portuguese celebrate Christmas on 24th of December. Houses are decorated for Christmas and many families put up a nativity scene (presépio), where Baby Jesus is added to the crib after the family attends Midnight mass. Children put out their shoes for Baby Jesus, not Santa, and gifts are exchanged after the family has attended a Christmas service on Christmas eve. In some towns and villages, the community gathers then also around a fire in the church car park that has been lit and wish each other ' Feliz Natal'. Read more here.

Christmas markets are not this common in Portugal, however, the capital city Lisbon is known for its huge artificial tree has been which is sparkling with with thousands of green lights.

Christmas in the Philippines

In the Philippines there is a special tradition of having a Christmas lantern, which is called ' paról '; the lantern is star-shaped, remembering the star of Bethlehem, and mainly made out of bamboo and paper. In the image below you can see how the lanterns look.

The Christmas lanterns are on sale during Christmas time in the many markets in the Philippines.

Christmas around the World:
Singapore

In Singapore, about two in ten people are Christians. Christmas, however, is very commercialised in Singapore and Christmas decorations are abundant in the city with masses of tiny fairy light decorations.

Stunning decorations can be seen everywhere in the main shopping district, Orchard Road as you can see in the image below. Or visit the Gardens on the Bay for a truly stunning Christmas Wonderland with light installations and concert. The display there is open until 26 December.

Christmas around the World:
Australia

In Australia , it is tradition in the weeks up to Christmas to join in Christmas picnics organized by various churches and sing Christmas carols on the beach. As Australia is in the southern hemisphere, the festive season is during summer time and thus it is easy to understand that during Christmas time friends and family often gather at the beach.

Young people, families and friends gathering in Bondi Beach near Sydney on Christmas Day.

Christmas in Brazil

, you will often find a ' presepio', a crib or nativity scene, in front of a church. ' Papai Noel ', or Father Christmas, travels from Greenland to Brazil to give presents to Brazilian kids. Many cities display Christmas trees during the month leading up to the '' and often the year end is celebrated with fireworks. The floating Christmas tree in Rio de Janeiro is said to be the largest Christmas tree in the world. It will be lighted on 14 December 2019.

In Brazil, you say ' Bom Natal' or ' Boas Festes ' if you wish somebody Merry Christmas.

Christmas in South Africa

In South Africa, the weeks before Christmas, people celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December. On Christmas Day the family gathers at a 'braai', which is the South African version of a barbecue (BBQ). In South Africa it is summer season in December. Many people visit Christmas mass on Christmas day as well. There are few natural Christmas trees, but some people put up decorated artificial trees in their homes.

Many shopping centres are transformed with Christmas decorations. Above you can see the modern Christmas tree which was standing in front of the V&A Waterfront Shopping Centre in Cape Town. In 2019, however, the shopping centre is decorated with African crafts such as woven baskets made by the Zulu people and other installations by local designers who use recycled material.

There are many festive concerts as well as gifts and arts & crafts markets held during the weeks leading up to Christmas Day.
Read more about Christmas in Cape Town here.
Christmas around the World: Christmas in the USA

In December many families decorate their houses with Christmas ornaments and Christmas lights. Read more about Christmas traditions here.

Christmas is celebrated on 25th December. On Christmas Day, families get together for a festive meal after exchanging gifts.

It is customary to send and give Christmas cards. People write on cards: 'Merry Christmas!' or 'Merry Xmas!'

Xmas stands for Christmas, the X originates from the Greek letter ' Chi' which represents the word ' Christós' or which means Christ in English.
Read here how people wish Merry Christmas in other languages.
Fun Christmas time in the ice-rink at Rockefeller Centre in New York City.

Image credits for Christmas Around the World: own images and shutterstock.com
Back from Christmas Around the World to KidsWorldTravelGuide Homepage

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Christmas Around the World | Christmas Traditions | Merry Christmas

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Our Christmas Around the World page will show you how people celebrate Christmas in many countries around the world.

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Eight Days of Hanukkah | Peg + Cat Videos | PBS KIDS

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Albert Einstein sings a song with Peg, Cat and their friends about the number that Hanukkah is all about: eight!

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Diwali - Festival of Lights | National Geographic

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The Story of Hanukkah | Hanukkah for Kids | Origins of Hanukkah

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Compared to other religious festivals, Christmas is quite a small festival in India, due to the number of people who are Christians (about 2.3%) compared to people who belong to other religions. Having said this, the population of India is over 1 Billion, so there are over 25 million Christians in India!

One of the largest Indian Christian Communities in a city is in Mumbai. A lot of the Christians in Mumbai (previously known as Bombay) are Roman Catholics. In India's smallest state, Goa which is on the west of India, about 26% of people are Christians. Many of the Christians in Mumbai came from or have roots in Goa. The states of Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram (all on the very east of India) have high populations of Christians as well.

Midnight mass is a very important service for Christians in India, especially Catholics. The whole family will walk to the mass and this will be followed by a massive feast of different delicacies, (mostly curries) and the giving and receiving of presents. Churches in India are decorated with Poinsettia flowers and candles for the Christmas Eve Midnight Mass service.

Many different languages are spoken in India. In Hindi Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Śubh krisamas' (शुभ क्रिसमस); Urdu it's 'krismas mubarak' (کرسمس); in Sanskrit it's 'Krismasasya shubhkaamnaa'; in Gujarati it's 'Anandi Natal' or 'Khushi Natal' (આનંદી નાતાલ); in Bengali 'shubho bôṛodin' (শুভ বড়দিন); in Tamil it's 'kiṟistumas vāḻttukkaḷ' (கிறிஸ்துமஸ் வாழ்த்துக்கள்); in Konkani it's 'Khushal Borit Natala'; in Kannada it's 'kris mas habbada shubhaashayagalu' (ಕ್ರಿಸ್ ಮಸ್ ಹಬ್ಬದ ಶುಭಾಷಯಗಳು); in Mizo it's 'Krismas Chibai'; in Marathi it's 'Śubh Nātāḷ' (शुभ नाताळ); in Punjabi it's 'karisama te nawāṃ sāla khušayāṃwālā hewe' (ਕਰਿਸਮ ਤੇ ਨਵਾੰ ਸਾਲ ਖੁਸ਼ਿਯਾੰਵਾਲਾ ਹੋਵੇ); in Malayalam it's 'Christmas inte mangalaashamsakal'; in Telugu it's 'Christmas Subhakankshalu' and in Shindi it's 'Christmas jun wadhayun'. Happy/Merry Christmas in lots more languages.

Instead of having traditional Christmas Trees, a banana or mango tree is decorated (or whatever tree people can find to decorate!). Sometimes people use mango leaves to decorate their homes.

In Southern India, Christians often put small oil burning clay lamps on the flat roofs of their homes to show their neighbors that Jesus is the light of the world.

Christians in Goa love to celebrate Christmas! Goa has lots of 'western' customs as part of their Christmas as Goa has historical connections with Portugal. Most Christians in Goa are Catholics. People like to go carol singing around their neighbors for about a week before Christmas. Christmas Trees are also very popular as is a 'traditional' rich fruit Christmas Cake! Lots of local sweets are also eaten at Christmas in Goa. Favourite sweets include neureos (small pastries which are stuffed with dry fruit and coconut and fried) and dodol (like toffee that has coconut and cashew in it). These are other sweets are often part of 'consuada' when people make sweets before Christmas and give them to their friends and neighbors. Most Christian families also have a nativity scene with clay figures in it.

On Christmas Eve, Christians in Goa hang out giant paper lanterns, in the shape of stars, between the houses so that the stars float above you as you walk down the road. The main Christmas meal is also eaten on Christmas Eve and is also 'western' with roast turkey or chicken being popular. After the meal, Christians head to Church for a Midnight mass service. After the service the church bells ring to announce that Christmas Day has arrived. Many Christians in Goa also celebrate Epiphany and remember the Wise Men visiting Jesus.

Star Lanterns hung in trees, via Wikimedia Commons

Christians in Mumbai use many Christmas traditions from Goa including the star lanterns and manger scenes (people like to make sure they have the best the nativity scene!).

In north-west India, the tribal Christians of the Bhil folk, go out night after night for a week at Christmas to sing their own carols the whole night through. They go to surrounding villages singing to people and telling the Christmas story.

In South West India, in the state of Kerala Were, 22% of the state's 33 Million population are Christians and Christmas is an important festival. Traditional Catholics fast don't eat from 1st to 24th of December - until the midnight service. Every house will be decorated with a Christmas star. During the start of the Christmas season, almost all the stationary shops will be filled with new and variety Christmas stars. People make cribs in their homes and Churches.

In India, Father Christmas or Santa Claus delivers presents to children from a horse and cart. He's known as 'Christmas Baba' in Hindi, 'Baba Christmas' in Urdu (both of those mean Father Christmas); 'Christmas Thaathaa' in Tamil and 'Christmas Thatha' in Telugu (both of those mean Christmas old man); and 'Natal Bua' (Christmas Elder Man) in Marathi. In Kerala state, he's known as 'Christmas Papa'.

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Compared to other religious festivals, Christmas is quite a small festival in India, due to the number of people who are Christians (about 2.3%) compared to people who belong to other religions. Having said this, the population of India is over 1 Billion, so there are over 25 million Christians in India!

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Christmas in the Israel on whychristmas?com

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How Christmas is celebrated in Israel and lots of other countries around the world.

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5 days of Diwali Celebration in 5 minutes! | How to & Why We Celebrate Indian Festivals

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In the UK (or Great Britain), families often celebrate Christmas together, so they can watch each other open their presents!

Most families have a Christmas Tree (or maybe even two!) in their house for Christmas. The decorating of the tree is usually a family occasion, with everyone helping. Christmas Trees were first popularised the UK by Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria. Prince Albert was German, and thought that it would be good to use one of his ways of celebrating Christmas in England.

Holly, Ivy and Mistletoe are also sometimes used to decorate homes or other buildings.

Most villages, towns and cities are decorated with Christmas lights over Christmas. Often a famous person switches them on. The most famous Christmas lights in the UK are in Oxford Street in London. Every year they get bigger and better. Thousands of people go to watch the big 'switch on' around the beginning of November.

Like a lot of countries, Nativity Plays and Carol Services are also very popular at Christmas time. The Church that I go to always has a Carols by Candlelight Service where the church is only lit up by candles. It is a very special service and always makes me feel very Christmassy! Lots of other British churches also have Carols by Candlelight and Christingle services. The most famous UK Carol service is the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols which is broadcast on Christmas Eve at 3.00pm from the chapel of King's College, Cambridge.

Children believe that Father Christmas or Santa Claus leaves presents in stockings or pillow-cases. These are normally hung up by the fire or by the children's beds on Christmas Eve. Children sometimes leave out mince pies and brandy for Father Christmas to eat and drink when he visits them. Now, it's often a non-alcoholic drink that's left because Santa has to drive his sleigh.

Children write letters to Father Christmas/Santa listing their requests, but sometimes instead of putting them in the post, the letters are tossed into the fireplace. The draught carries the letters up the chimney and Father Christmas/Santa reads the smoke.

There are some customs that only take place, or were started, in the UK. Wassailing is an old anglo-saxon custom that doesn't take place much today. Boxing Day is a very old custom that started in the UK and is now taken as a holiday in many countries around the world.

In the UK, the main Christmas Meal is usually eaten at lunchtime or early afternoon on Christmas Day. It's normally roast turkey, roast vegetables and 'all the trimmings' which means vegetables like carrots & peas, stuffing and sometimes bacon and sausages. It's often served with cranberry sauce and bread sauce. Traditionally, and before turkey was available, roast beef or goose was the main Christmas meal. One vegetable that is often at Christmas in the UK are brussel sprouts. I love them but lots of people don't!

Dessert is often Christmas Pudding. Mince pies and lots of chocolates are often eaten as well!

Trifle is also a popular dessert at Christmas. It's made in a large bowl and consists of a layer of sponge cake (or sponge fingers) at the bottom of the bowl (which is often soaked in sherry or brandy) then there's a layer of fruit (normally suspended in a fruit flavored jelly) and it's topped with a layer of custard and then whipped cream. In Scotland there's a variation called 'Tipsy Laird' which uses whiskey to soak the sponge and the fruit are raspberries.

The dinner table is decorated with a Christmas Cracker for each person and sometimes flowers and candles.

The UK is also famous for Christmas Cake - some people love it and some people really don't like it! It's traditionally a rich fruit cake covered with marzipan and icing - and often top with Christmas themed cake decorations like a spring of holly.

At 3.00pm on Christmas Day, the Ryoal Christmas Message is broadcast on TV, radio and online in the UK. The tradition of a Royal Christmas Message started in 1932 by King George V. Queen Elizabeth II gave her first Christmas Message in 1952. It was first broadcast on TV in 1957. The speech is now pre-recorded a few days before Christmas. It's actually broadcast first in New Zealand and Australia (at about 5am UK time) as they start Christmas Day earlier!

In North Derbyshire and South Yorkshire (in the north of England), some very special carol singing, called 'The Sheffield Carols', happens in some pubs during the weeks leading up to Christmas (the traditional day for sorting the carol singing is Armistice Sunday near the middle of November). The pubs are often rural and out on the hills in that part of England. The carols are often very local ones and the same carol often varies from pub to pub. Not all the carols are ones about the Christmas story. The pubs are often packed, especially the nearer it is to Christmas. The singing can be lead/accompanied by local folk musicians, an organ in the pub or sometimes the singing is un-accompanied. You can find more about these carol singing sessions on these sites: www.villagecarols.org.uk/ (there are some wonderful recordings of the carols being sung on there as well) and www.localcarols.org.uk/ (goes to another site).

In the UK, it doesn't snow very often, but people always want to know if it will be a 'White Christmas'. The British definition, used by the UK Meteorological Office (who say if it has been a White Christmas in the UK or not!), is that a single snow flake has been seen falling in the 24 hours of Christmas Day! This doesn't happen a lot in the UK!!! You can find out more on the UK's 'Met Office' site... (goes to another site)

Statistics show that in the UK, they get an official White Christmas about every 4 or 5 years and have real snow at Christmas about 1 in 10 years (but often this is only normally in Scotland!).

One sure way of getting some snow into Christmas in the UK is by watching the popular cartoon 'The Snowman' which is about a boy's adventure when his snowman comes to life. The animation was first shown on UK TV on Boxing Day in 1982. It's based on story book of the same name by the children's author and illustrator Raymond Briggs. For many families, it's now a 'must watch' over Christmas. (When I was at Primary/Elementary School in the 1980s, it was always shown to the school on the last morning before the Christmas holidays!) The Snowman also featured the song "Walking in the Air". In the animation, it was sung by Peter Auty, a choirboy at St Paul's Cathedral in London. However, the song became very famous in 1985 when it was used in a Christmas TV advert for the 'Toys "R" Us' chain in the UK. This time, it was sung by a choirboy called Aled Jones. Aled Jones is now an adult and is a TV and Radio presenter! The song has been recorded by lots of different people and groups (including an adult Aled singing a duet with his younger self) and is now a real UK 'Christmas classic'! In 2012 a sequel to The Snowman called "The Snowman and the Snowdog" was shown on Christmas Eve.

In Scots (a Scottish dialect) Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Blithe Yule'; in Gaelic it's 'Nollaig Chridheil'; in Welsh (which is spoken in some parts of Wales it's 'Nadolig Llawen', in Cornish (spoken by some poeple in Cornwall in south west England) it's 'Nadelik Lowen' and Manx (spoken by some people on the Isle of Man) it's 'Nollick Ghennal'. Happy/Merry Christmas in lots more languages.

Find out more about the History of Christmas in the UK...

Scotland

The 'ban' on Christmas also took place in Scotland as well as England but it lasted longer. Its ban started in 1640 when the Scottish Parliament made the celebration of "Yule vacations" illegal - this was before the laws were made in England! This law was repealed in 1686 but the Church in Scotland was still very opposed to any Christmas celebrations. Christmas was only made a public holiday in 1958 and Boxing Day only became a holiday in 1974! Because of this, for 400 years, Christmas was celebrated much more quietly in Scotland.

In Scotland, New Year's Eve (which is called Hogmanay) became much more important than Christmas and is still a very important celebration! The word Hogmanay comes from a kind of oat cake that was traditionally given to children on New Year's Eve.

All across the UK, in cities and towns, there are fireworks to celebrate the New Year. Two of the most famous fireworks displays are in London, along the River Thames, and in Edinburgh at the Hogmanay celebrations.

Also in Scotland, the first person to set foot in a house in a New Year is thought to have a big effect on the fortunes of the people that live there! This is known as 'first-footing'. Generally strangers are thought to bring good luck. Traditionally dark haired men are the most lucky - but this can depend on the area of the country you live in. In parts of northern England it is sometimes said that a stranger coming through the door carrying a lump of coal will bring good luck. Cleaning the house for to welcome the new year is an old Hogmanay tradition.

Wales

In parts of South Wales, there is the tradition of the 'Mari Lwyd' wassailing horse. The horse isn't a real one, but is a horse's skull that's decorated with ribbons and put on the top of a pole; the 'body' is a large cloth or blanket that someone hides under. The horse and its followers (the 'leader' who is dressed smartly and other men dressed up, sometimes as 'Punch and Judy') go from house to house, playing music and singing songs. No one is really sure how it started or got its name! You can find out more about the Mari Lwyd on Wales.com (goes to another site)

In some a few villages in North Wales there's a very old a special type of carol singing called Plygain singing which happens in Welsh chapels. Plygain services now normally take place during evening services leading up to Christmas. But Plygain started as an early morning service on Christmas day from about 3am to 6am. The word Plygain comes from a term meaning the cock crowing.

All the carols are based on Bible stories, not just the Christmas story, and all the carols sung in Welsh and are unaccompanied. Some are very old carols which have been passed down within one family for generations and they are only sung by people in that family.

People and groups take it in turn to go to the front of the chapel and sing their carol. There's normally no introductions or set order, it all happens spontaneously. When all the people/groups have taken a turn, the order starts again with different carols. Traditionally there was a short gap or silence between the songs so people could think about the Bible stories and words of the carols.

The last carol of the service is the 'supper carol' (Carol y Swper) and it's normally sung by all the men who have sung carols during the Plygain (traditionally only men sung carols but now anyone can). You can find out more about Plygain singing on the site for the Museum of Wales and on the Wikipedia page about Plygain singing (goes to other sites).

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Christmas in the United Kingdom on whychristmas?com

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In the UK (or Great Britain), families often celebrate Christmas together, so they can watch each other open their presents! Most families have a Christmas Tree (or maybe even two!) in their house for Christmas. The decorating of the tree is usually a family occasion, with everyone helping.

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What is Christmas like in England. Kids talk about Christmas in England and what it means to them Christmas for kids

Christmas is for kids and is one of the most special times of the year. On this page, some of our students share their Christmas with you.

CHRISTMAS EVE: Christmas Eve is a exciting time when we organise our presents. Families go to church and sing carols. Just before we go to bed, we leave on the doorstep a mince pie and a carrot. We do this so santa and Rudolph can eat them .
By Helen aged 8

On CHRISTMAS Day I always go to my family. This year I'm going to my Uncles & Aunties. We take lots of presents for everyone, my whole family will be there.
Claudine aged 8

What I do on Christmas Day

First of all I wake up really early in the morning and go and wake up my nan, grandad, mum, dad and sister.
Then we all get dressed and rush downstairs to open presents.
When we have opened our presents, my mum goes and starts to make our christmas dinner. Then I go and play with my presents and have a great time.
After about an hour, our christmas dinner is ready and we all go and eat.
When we have finished we usually watch a film at about 11:00.
After that we do something with our presents until about 5:00 pm
and stay up really late like about 10:00 and my nan and grandad go home.
by Nicky R age 8

Christmas

On Christmas Day Father Christmas comes to visit us with presents (that's only if you are good).
We leave Father Christmas a mince pie for him and a couple of carrots for his reindeers. You don't have to give him a mince pie or a carrot because you can give him anything. If you think he gets very thirsty, maybe leave him a glass of milk and a couple of big bowls of water for his reindeers.
Hannah aged 8

Christmas in my House

On Christmas Eve (24 December) my mum sets out the presents under the tree. I normally go to bed about 8 o'clock, only because it makes the morning come sooner.
On Christmas Day I wake up around about 7 O'clock. I have to wake my mum before I go downstairs. After I have opened my presents, my Dad comes round. When he leaves I go to my Nanny & Grandpas to see my cousins, Madeline& Charlotte. I open more presents there. Normally I have Christmas dinner there too. Nan cooks roast turkey, veg (YUK!) and gravy.
Lauren B Aged 9

Christmas Day

On Christmas Day I open my presents. I get really excited. In the morning I run down the stairs. I open the door and there I see my very own presents! Lewis aged 8

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British Kids tell us about their Christmas

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What is Christmas like in England. Kids talk about Christmas in England and what it means to them Christmas for kids Christmas is for kids and is one of the most special times of the year. On this page, some of our students share their Christmas with you.

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World Holiday Traditions > Countries > England

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Holiday Traditions around the world. See how different countries celebrate the holiday season with ornaments, recipes, and carols. Learn Christmas traditions, Hanukkah traditions, New Years traditions, and more!

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Sights to see, places to go, things to experience when in England.

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Find these words to remember what you learned about the Music and Culture of Israel.

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Find the words that help you remember important ideas about the Music and Culture of India.

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Christmas in Jordan is celebrated across the country, but for those who are not religious, it is seen as more a celebration. Jordan is a Muslim country and it may surprise people to know that although Christmas is a Christian holiday it is also celebrated in Jordan. In fact, the population of Jordan includes both Muslims and Christians, who live peacefully together. Christians make up approximately 10% of the population serving as the minority in the region. Regardless, they are treated with respect and are able to celebrate this holiday in peace and harmony.

In Jordan, there is freedom for Christians to practice their religion and a lot of tolerance and awareness although the state religion in Jordan is Islam. As a result, Christmas in Jordan is actually a public holiday given to the entire country. For those who are not religious, Christmas in Jordan is celebrated as a secular holiday.

The Christians living in Jordan are some of the oldest Christian communities in the world and date back to residing in the region in the first century AD. Many of these Christians are Greek Orthodox and there are 29 Greek Orthodox Churches found in Jordan. Additionally, among the smaller Christian population in Jordan, there are Roman Catholics, Armenian Orthodox, Lutheran, Presbyterians, and Latter-day Saints among others.

If you happen to be in Jordan over Christmas it is an exciting and festive season complete with parties, celebrations, and decorations. In the capital city of Amman, the warm holiday feelings can be felt all over the city. Many shops and cafes will put out decorations and Christmas lights and light displays pop up all over the city. Christmas trees can be found inside shopping malls and also decorated in the streets. Additionally, many hotels and restaurants will offer special holiday meals for those who celebrate and wish to enjoy a festive Christmas meal.

Christmas Travel in and Around Jordan

Another option for those who are celebrating Christmas in Jordan is to travel to Bethlehem in Israel to participate in Midnight Mass at the Church of Nativity. Similarly, the communities in Bethlehem, Nazareth, and Jerusalem celebrate a festive and meaningful Christmas. A convenient option is to join a tour from Jordan to Jerusalem.

Christmas is a time of peace, love, harmony, sharing, and humanity which is something that can be felt all throughout Jordan, regardless of peoples religious backgrounds. Celebrating Christmas in Jordan is a unique and memorable experience for the holiday season

Christmas Events in Jordan 2018

From Christmas markets to choirs, handcrafts to baked goods, check out some of the events happening this Christmas in Jordan:

Christmas Village in Amman - November 29, 2018

Shams Vintage Bazaar in Amman, Jordan. November 24, 2018

'Tree Tales' Christmas Tree Exhibition in Amman, Jordan. December 12-14, 2018

Musical Christmas Carnival in Amman, Jordan. December 21-22, 2018

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Christmas in Jordan is celebrated across the country, but for those who are not religious, it is seen as more a celebration. Jordan is a Muslim country and it may surprise people to know that although Christmas is a Christian holiday it is also celebrated in Jordan.

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What Is Kwanzaa? | How is Kwanzaa celebrated? Learn about Kwanzaa in this fun holiday video for kids

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In Egypt about 15% of people are Christians. They are the only part of the population who really celebrate Christmas as a religious festival. Most Egyptian Christians belong to the Coptic Orthodox Church and they have some very unique traditions for Christmas.

Christmas Day isn't celebrated on the 25th December but on 7th January (like in Ethiopia and by some Orthodox Christians in Russia and Serbia).

The Coptic month leading to Christmas is called Kiahk. People sing special praise songs on Saturday nights before the Sunday Service.

For the 43 days before Christmas ( Advent), from 25th November to 6th January, Coptic Orthodox Christians have a special fast where they basically eat a vegan diet. They don't eat anything containing products that come from animals (including chicken, beef, milk and eggs). This is called 'The Holy Nativity Fast'. But if people are too weak or ill to fast properly they can be excused.

On Coptic Christmas Eve (6th January), Coptic Christians go to church for a special liturgy or Service. The services normally start about 10.30pm but some chapels will be open for people to pray from 10.00pm. Many people meet up with their friends and families in the churches from 9.00pm onwards. The services are normally finished shortly after midnight, but some go onto 4.00am!

When the Christmas service ends people go home to eat the big Christmas meal. All the foods contain meat, eggs and butter - all the yummy things they didn't during the Advent fast! One popular course if 'Fata' a lamb soup which contains bread, rice, garlic and boiled lamb meat.

On the Orthodox Christmas Day (7th) people come together in homes for parties and festivities. People often take 'kahk' (special sweet biscuits) with them to give as gifts.

Even though not many in Egypt are Christians, a lot of people in the country like to celebrate Christmas as a secular holiday. Christmas is becoming very commercial and most major supermarkets sell Christmas trees, Christmas food and decorations. Hotels, parks and streets are decorated for Christmas.

In Egypt, Santa is called Baba Noël (meaning Father Christmas). Children hope that he will climb through a window and will leave some presents! They might leave some kahk out for Baba Noël.

Most Egyptians speak Egyptian Arabic. In Arabic Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Eid Milad Majid' (عيد ميلاد مجيد) which means 'Glorious Birth Feast'. Happy/Merry Christmas in lots more languages. 'Christmas' in Arabic is 'eid almilad' (عيد الميلاد).

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In Egypt about 15% of people are Christians. They are the only part of the population who really celebrate Christmas as a religious festival. Most Egyptian Christians belong to the Coptic Orthodox Church and they have some very unique traditions for Christmas.

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Christmas in the United States of America on whychristmas?com

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Find out how Christmas is celebrated in the United States of America.

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Christmas in Madagascar on whychristmas?com

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How Christmas is celebrated in Madagascar and lots of other countries around the world.

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Kids learn about Kwanzaa. The history and facts about this holiday which celebrates African American heritage.

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Joshua 3:7-17 The Ark of the Covenant is carried over the Jordan River.

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Kids learn about Christmas. The history and facts about this holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.

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How the Grinch Stole Christmas - Read Aloud Picture Book | Brightly Storytime

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Have some good clean fun this holiday season and play this old fashioned word search puzzle.

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Students will read the book and then find the words in the puzzle.

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Words pertaining to Christmas and Hanukkah holidays

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Explore, play and learn with Santa's elves all December long