ChristmasAroundtheWorldChristmasAroundtheWorldChristmasChristmasAroundtheWorldChristmasHistoryTraditionsTodayChristmasAroundtheWorldChristmasCelebratesthebirthofJesus,SaviortoChristiansGiftsareexchangedpartlybecausetheBibletellsofthewisemen(magi)bringinggiftstotheChrist-childastheycametoworshipHimChristmasAroundtheWorldChristmasNativityscenecomesfromtheBible,especiallyinthebooksofMatthewandLukeChristmasAroundtheWorldChristmasCatholicChurchsetDecember25thasthecelebrationdatetocombinewiththeRomanholidayofthewintersolstice(whensunhasnoapparentNorthorSouthmovement)in336A.D.ChristmasAroundtheWorldTurkeySantaClauscomesfromarealpersonin325A.D.–SaintNicholasinTurkey*ReputationforkindnessandgenerosityLegendsoffinancialmiraclesonbehalfofthepoorandunhappy*MostlyChristiannationatthistimeChristmasAroundtheWorldTurkeySanta’sredandwhitesuitcamefromthetraditionalBishop’srobesthatSaintNicholaswouldhavewornChristmasAroundtheWorldTurkeyStockingswereoriginallyhung,hopingthatSaintNicholaswouldbringgoldcoins(aslegendsayshedidforthreepoorgirlsthatneededmoneytogetmarried)Mostwerefilledwithsmallgifts,especiallyfruitandnutsChristmasAroundtheWorldGermanyChristmastreeisaGermantradition,datingtoabout700A.D.“Yule”logwasalargefoundationallogplacedinthefireplaceNamecomesfromanassociatedcelebratorycryheardaboutChristmastimebecausethenightswerebecomingshorterChristmasAroundtheWorldHollandDutchnameforNicholaswasSinterklaas,whichbecameSantaClausGiftsareexchangedonChristmasdaypartlybecauseoftheDutchSantaClauslegendsChristmasAroundtheWorldScandinaviaLegendsfromfolktalestoldofamagicianthatpunishednaughtychildrenandrewardedgoodchildrenwithpresentsChristmasAroundtheWorldScandinaviaMistletoewasusedasaChristmasdecorationforyears,butwasassociatedwithpaganritualsAgoddessoflove–probablywherekissingunderthemistletoecomesfromHollyreplacedit,wherethethornsremindofChrist’scrownonthecrossandtheredberriesofHisshedbloodChristmasAroundtheWorldItalyNaughtychildreninItalywerethefirsttogetalumpofcoalinthestockingChristmasAroundtheWorldEnglandSongsor“carols”[songs]weresungbysmallchoirsforthepleasureofthosethathappenedtowalkbyChristmascardsstartedinLondonin1843ChristmasAroundtheWorldFranceSinging“carols”[songs]accompaniedbyagroupdanceNoelinFrenchistranslatedChristmasChristmasAroundtheWorldGreeceChristmasisabbreviatedXmasbecausethewordforChristinGreekisXristosChristmasAroundtheWorldIsraelChristmaseveiscelebratedbecausetheJewishtraditionisthatthenewdaystartsatsundown[thereforeChristmaseveisactuallythestartofChristmasday]SomeJews(byheritage)arealsoChristians(byfaith)ChristmasAroundtheWorldMexicoNochebuena,theMexicannameoftheflowerEnglish-speakerscallpoinsettia,wasdiscoveredinTaxcoandthevalleyssurroundingCuernavaca.KnownbytheAztecsintheirnativeNahuatllanguageascuetlaxochitl,itisbelievedthattheybroughttheplantfromthetropicalclimateofCuernavacatotheirAztechighlandsforcultivationinspecialnurseries.Prizedintheprehispaniceraforthecurativepropertiesofthemilkthatdrippedfromtheleaves,stemsandflowerswhencut,thepigmentfromtheredleaveswasalsousedtodyecottonfibers.ChristmasAroundtheWorldEpcotCenterinFloridaEachcountrypavilionhasasectiondedicatedtothehistoryandtraditionsofChristmas(duringtheChristmasseason)ChristmasAroundtheWorldChristmasinAmericaPilgrimsdidnotcelebrateChristmasImmigrantsbroughttheirChristmastraditions,especiallyinthe1700sandearly1800sChristmasasanationalcelebrationgatheredmomentumduringthemid-1800sChristmasAroundtheWorldChristmasU.S.AmbassadortoMexico,J.R.Poinsett,imported(whatbecame)thepoinsettiaforChristmasin1828ChristmasAroundtheWorldChristmasinAmericaSanta’ssleigh,reindeer,etc.camefrom2publishedworksin1822and1863-18861822–“TheNightBeforeChristmas”1863-1886–magazinepublishedpicturesofSanta’sworkshop,Santareadingletters,Santacheckinghislist,etc.ChristmasAroundtheWorldChristmasinAmericaStartedtobecomepopularin1860s,andby1874Macy’sinNewYorkdevelopedChristmasthemewindowdisplaysTreedecorationsbecamecommonin1880whenWoolworth’sbegantosellmanufacturedornamentsChristmasAroundtheWorldChristmasOutdoorWhiteHousetreetraditionstartedin1923withPresidentCoolidgeChristmasAroundtheWorldChristmasinAmericaTwomostpopularsecularsongsatChristmasare:BingCrosby’s“WhiteChristmas”(1942)GeneAutry’s“RudolftheRed-nosedReindeer”(1949)BasedupontheMontgomeryWardsbookletofthesamenamedgivenawayfreein1939–writtenbyafatherattemptingtocheerupasaddaughtergrievingoveradieingmotherChristmasAroundtheWorldChristmasThere’ssomethingtocelebrateforeverybody:GreattraditionsincorporatingaspectsfrommanycountriesSignificantreligiouseventsChristmasAroundtheWorld