In a country where the population is well over 1 billion people, India is widely known to be a Hindu and Moslem country. However, there are still over 26 million Christians residing there.  So during the Christmas holiday season, you’ll still find carolers singing and Father Christmas in many storefront window displays. Bombay, Delhi and Calcutta hold Christmas bazaars and markets where you can find Christmas ornaments, decorations, and Christmas-themed gifts.

You might find outdoor Christmas decorating in some areas. In Southern India, small clay oil-burning lamps are used as Christmas decorations; they are placed on the edges of flat roofs and on the tops of walls.

Tribal Christians of the Bhil people go out every night in Northern India during the Christmas season singing Christmas carols and retelling the story of the birth of baby Jesus to residents throughout the night. 

One of the largest Christian contingents can be found in Bombay, the majority of which are Roman Catholic. Many homes in Bombay take great pride in creating a beautiful crèche, or Nativity scene, to be displayed in their front window. Some also decorate with large paper lanterns that look like huge stars dangling between the outdoor walls of the homes.  Some choose to display artificial Christmas trees, but others choose to simply decorate a banana plant or a mango tree instead.

Gift giving is also prevalent, a tradition most likely carried over when India was still under British rule. Many Christians choose to give baksheesh, or charitable gifts, to those who are less fortunate. 

The Christmas dinner might include turkey or chicken served with curried rice and vegetables. Vindaloo, which is a pork dish served with rice, almonds and raisins may also be on the menu.  Occasionally, homemade ginger wine is also available.

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Nearly every French home at Christmastime displays a Nativity scene which are called crèche, and is the centerpiece of the Christmas celebration. It’s often decorated with small clay figurines called santons that represent little saints.  Santons are a tradition that’s been handed down through the generations.  They are made by craftsmen in the south of France, and can be purchased during annual Christmas fairs.
The Sapin de Noël, or Christmas tree, is also an important Christmas centerpiece. It is found decorating homes, streets, shops, offices, and factories. It was introduced to France by a German princess called Hélène de Mecklembourg. She brought one to Paris after her marriage to the French heir to the throne, the Duke of Orléans. The idea of the Christmas tree came from Alsace in the 14th century. In those days, people decorated Christmas trees with apples, paper flowers, and ribbons. To the French, the Christmas tree symbolizes light and the movement of angels, the gifts of the orchards and fields, forests and sea. All of these gifts are topped off by the star atop the tree that points to Heaven. 
The French bake a traditional Yule cake in the shape of a log, called the Buche de Nol, meaning Christmas log.  It’s served at the great seasonal feast called the Le Reveillon, a supper served following midnight mass on Christmas Eve. Depending on the region of France, the menu might include goose, turkey, or oysters.
French children receive gifts from Pere Noel who travels with his stern disciplinarian companion Pre Fouettard whose job it is to remind Pere Noel exactly who has behaved that year and who has not. In some parts of France Pere Noel brings small gifts on St. Nicholas Eve, December 6, and visits again on Christmas. In other places it is believed to be Le Petit Jesus, or baby Jesus, who brings the gifts. Adults generally wait until New Year’s Day to exchange gifts.

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Caroling is one of the oldest customs in Great Britain, going back to the Middle Ages when beggars, seeking food, money, or drink, would wander the streets singing holiday songs.

Wandering minstrels traveled from hamlet to castle, performing carols. In later years, villages had their own bands of waits. They were originally watchmen who patrolled the city streets and sang out the time of night each hour. During the holiday season, they would entertain the townspeople with a Christmas song as well.  The term eventually evolved to describe a group of carolers or musicians who sang and performed at numerous locations throughout the city during the holiday season.

Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, was a German native and brought the tradition of the Christmas tree with him when they married. Trafalgar Square is the home of one of the country’s most popular Christmas trees, a large spruce tree which is placed near a statue of Lord Nelson. During World War II when King Haakon of Norway was forced into exile in England during the German occupation of Norway, the Norwegian troops would smuggle a tree past the Germans into England so the King would have a Christmas tree to celebrate the holiday.  Since then, Norway has sent a large Norwegian spruce tree each year as a thank you to the British people.
The English gift giver is called Father Christmas. He wears a long red or green robe, and leaves presents in stockings or pillowcases on Christmas Eve. However, the gifts are not usually opened until the following afternoon.
Another English tradition is called mummering. In the Middle Ages, people called mummers put on masks and acted out Christmas plays. These plays are still performed in towns and villages
The day after Christmas in England is called Boxing Day. Boys would go around town collecting money in clay boxes. When the boxes were full, they broke them open.

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Santa Claus hasn’t always looked like the jolly old fellow we know today. Like so many other American traditions, he’s a product of the great American melting pot - a blend of many different cultures and customs. But the most influential figure in the shaping of who we know now as Santa was a real man, known as St. Nicholas of Myra. He was a fourth century bishop, and is legendary for being generous and kind.

According to one legend, St. Nicholas heard of a farmer who had three daughters of marrying age who could not afford to pay their dowries. Knowing the farmer was too proud to accept an offer of money, he climbed atop their home and tossed three bags of coins down their chimney, each of which landed in a stocking that each girl had washed and hung their by the fire to dry. The next morning when they woke, they found the gift and each went on to marry and live happily ever after. When word of St. Nicholas’ generosity spread, families far and wide hung stockings by their fireplaces and hoped to also receive gifts. 

Because of his wisdom and sensitivity, many groups claimed St. Nicholas as their patron saint. Children, orphans, sailors, and even thieves often prayed to the compassionate saint for guidance and protection, and even entire countries including Russia and Greece, also adopted him as their patron saint, as have students and pawnbrokers. Eventually, the image of the stately saint was transformed onto an almost mystical being, one known for rewarding the good and punishing the bad.

The date of his death, December 6th, was commemorated with an annual feast, which gradually came to mark the beginning of the medieval Christmas season. On St. Nicholas’ Eve, youngsters would set out food for the saint, straw for his horses and schnapps for his attendant. The next morning, obedient children awoke to find their gifts replaced with sweets and toys, found their offering untouched, and might also find a bundle of firewood. When people came to America, they brought the legend of St. Nicholas with them, which evolved into excitedly awaiting his arrival on Christmas Eve.

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Centuries ago many people, especially those of pagan origin, firmly believed by ringing bells they could ward off evil spirits. It was believed at that time that when winter came the evil spirits were very strong because it was so dark and cold, and would harm them and their families. People would have ceremonies and loudly ring bells to drive the bad spirits away while they waited for the warmer days of spring to arrive. They also rang bells to celebrate their bounty following a successful harvest or hunt. It was this tradition of celebration and giving thanks that bells also became known as a symbol for happier times.

Many villages had a large central bell in the middle of town.  When an important occasion arrived, such as Christmas, villagers would ring the bell. It became commonplace for children to ring bells in celebration of Christmas.  Most families had bells back then, and since they were known to be a celebratory sound, most parents didn’t mind their children making a ruckus with their constant bell ringing during the holiday.

Now, people hang bells on their front doors so they’ll ring out cheerfully to announce visiting guests, and children the world over know that Santa’s reindeer wear bells so he can locate them in bad weather or darkness of night. Many popular Christmas carols such as Jingle Bells are a staple song during the holiday season.  We also traditionally ring in the New Year with bells as well.

Today church bells ring throughout the world on Christmas Eve, not to drive off evil spirits, but to welcome in the spirit of Christmas with joyful noise.  In Scandinavia, bells signal the end of work and the beginning of celebration. People in England recognize the tolling of the devil’s knell as the sound that welcomes the birth of Christ, where in Italy and Spain, it signals the beginning of Midnight Mass.

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