Christmas around the world

Christmas Around The World

Brazil
Merry Christmas
Feliz Natal

Brazil
In Brazil they call Father Christmas ‘Papai Noel’
Christmas there is very hot because it comes at the beginning of their Summer.
Father Christmas wears red silk because it is too hot for him to wear the same clothes as he does in the UK.

China
Christmas
Shang Dan Jiang

China
How do Christians in China decorate their houses for Christmas?
They use bright coloured paper lanterns to decorate for Christmas. They put candles inside and the light shines brightly through the coloured paper.

Christmas Day is not a public holiday in China like it is in England. People go to work and children go to school. This is because China is mainly a Buddhist country. Their biggest celebration is Chinese New Year which usually falls sometime in January or February.
China
Chinese children hang up stockings in the hope that Sheng Dan Lao Ren will visit them and fill them with presents.
Who do you think Sheng Dan Lao Ren is?

Malta
Merry Christmas
Il-Milied it-Tajjeb
(eel mileed ittayyeb)

Malta
Do you know who preaches the sermon at Midnight Mass instead of the priest on Christmas Eve in Malta?
It is a child aged between 7 and 10 years old. The child will be chosen from the altar servers months in advance and has to learn the 15 minute speech off by heart.
Once they have finished their sermon they are given a gift by the parish priest which is usually a statue of the baby Jesus lying in a manger.

Norway
Merry Christmas
God Jul

Norway
It is traditional in Norway to ‘circle the tree’ before opening presents. Families stand in a big circle around the Christmas Tree, hold hands and walk or dance around the tree whilst singing Christmas carols.

Norway
Every year the people of Oslo, Norway give London a huge Christmas tree which is put up in Trafalgar Square. During the Second World War King Haakon of Norway was forced out of the country when Hitler invaded and came to Britain. Since 1947 we have been sent a giant Norwegian Spruce as a great big thank you for looking after him so well.

Australia
What pulls Santa’s sleigh around Australia instead of Reindeer?
CLUE
Australians sometimes call these animals “Boomers”…
Santa’s sleigh is pulled by six white kangaroos!

Australia
It is summer in Australia at Christmas so it is very, very hot. Families often go to the beach on Christmas Day and instead of having a hot roast turkey dinner they have a barbeque!

France
Merry Christmas
Joyeux Noel

France
Marie
Joseph
le bébé Jésus
Let’s learn some French Christmas Words!

France
les bergers
l’agneau

France
les rois

France
le sapin
Père Noël
un cadeau
un ange
un renne
un traîneau

France
le bonhomme de neige
Le bonhomme de neige
Il est très joli et beau
Il a deux yeux, un nez, et une bouche
Et sur la tête un grand chapeau!

Netherlands
Merry Christmas
Zalig Kerstfeest

Netherlands
The main Christmas celebration in the Netherlands is on St. Nicholas’ feast day which is 6th December.
Dutch people celebrate Sinterklaasavond which is like our Christmas Eve.
Did you know?
The name Santa Claus comes from the Dutch word for St. Nicholas – Sinterklaas.

Netherlands
What do you think Dutch children leave instead of stockings for Sinterklaas to fill?
On Sinterklaasavond children leave out their shoes in the hope that Sinterklaas will fill them with presents. They also leave a carrot with their shoes for Sinterklaas’ horse.

Germany
Merry Christmas
Fröliche Weihnachten

Germany
German children also put their shoes out in the hopes that they will be filled with presents, just like Dutch children.
If the children have been good when they come down on St. Nicholas’ Day their shoes will have been filled with sweets and chocolates.
If the children have not been good then they might receive slaps by St. Nicholas’ companion Knecht Ruprecht.

St. Nicholas

St. Nicholas was born during the 3rd century, about 700 years ago. His parents were very wealthy and he was raised to be Christian. While St. Nicholas was still young both his parents died and left him all their money. Nicholas obeyed Jesus’ words to “sell what you own and give the money to the poor’ and he used ALL the money his parents had left him to help the poor, the sick and the suffering. He dedicated his whole life to serving God and became known throughout the land for his generosity to the those in need and for his love for children.
St. Nicholas
St. Nicholas’ Day is celebrated in many countries around the world on 6th December every year.

(sung to the tune of 'Jingle Bells')
Christmas bells
All is well
We're all having fun.
Games and jokes and things to eat
Joy to everyone.
Oh, Christmas bells
All is well
We're all having fun.
It's party time for the new-born babe
And everyone's welcome.