How is Christmas How is Christmas celebrated around the celebrated around the

world?world?

AustraliaAustralia

  In Australia, In Australia, Santa's sleigh is Santa's sleigh is pulled by eight pulled by eight white kangaroos. white kangaroos.

Christmas dinner is Christmas dinner is eaten outdoors and eaten outdoors and is followed by a is followed by a visit to the beach or visit to the beach or a game of cricket.a game of cricket.

SwitzerlandSwitzerland  

  In Switzerland, In Switzerland, during the holiday during the holiday season the Star season the Star Singers (Sternsingers) Singers (Sternsingers) dressed as the Three dressed as the Three Kings parade through Kings parade through the streets of cities the streets of cities and towns singing and towns singing Christmas songs. Christmas songs.

Santa visits in a Santa visits in a special fairytale tram special fairytale tram and gives the children and gives the children a ride through the a ride through the city, singing songs city, singing songs with them and with them and sharing a basket full sharing a basket full of sweets. of sweets.

MexicoMexico In Mexico, children In Mexico, children

sometimes leave their sometimes leave their shoes out instead of shoes out instead of stockings. stockings.

On Christmas Eve there On Christmas Eve there is a parade of singers is a parade of singers carrying bells and carrying bells and candles on top of long candles on top of long poles. They wind poles. They wind through the streets through the streets until they get to the until they get to the local church. local church.

FELIZ NAVIDAD Y FELIZ NAVIDAD Y PROSPERO AÑO NUE PROSPERO AÑO NUE VO!!!VO!!!

KenyaKenya  

In Kenya, the churches In Kenya, the churches are decorated with are decorated with balloons, ribbons, balloons, ribbons, flowers and green flowers and green plants as well as plants as well as Christmas trees. Christmas trees.

Christmas dinner is Christmas dinner is often a barbecue with often a barbecue with family members family members traveling from far away traveling from far away

to be together againto be together again. .

NorwayNorway  

In Norway, on Christmas In Norway, on Christmas Eve, a bowl of porridge, Eve, a bowl of porridge, "nisse" is left in the "nisse" is left in the barn for the gnome who barn for the gnome who protects the farm. protects the farm.

When the children first When the children first see their Christmas tree see their Christmas tree all decorated, with all decorated, with presents underneath, presents underneath, the family joins hands the family joins hands and circles the tree and circles the tree singing carols.singing carols.

GermanyGermany  

In Germany, children In Germany, children decorate their decorate their Christmas Lists with Christmas Lists with pictures and then leave pictures and then leave them on the windowsill them on the windowsill overnight, weighed overnight, weighed down with a little sugar down with a little sugar so they won't be missed so they won't be missed by Father Christmas. by Father Christmas.

There is a flower in There is a flower in Germany called the Germany called the Christmas Rose which Christmas Rose which blooms even in the blooms even in the snow and ice. snow and ice.

Frohes WeihnachtsfestFrohes Weihnachtsfest

So why do a lot of people around the world give So why do a lot of people around the world give presents at Christmas?presents at Christmas?

Most people think it relates to the three wise men Most people think it relates to the three wise men bringing gifts to baby Jesus when he was born.bringing gifts to baby Jesus when he was born.

Christians believe it is more important to give a Christians believe it is more important to give a gift than to receive one.gift than to receive one.

What gift would you take to baby Jesus?What gift would you take to baby Jesus?