Mexico’s main Christmas celebration is called La Posada, which is a religious procession that reenacts the search for shelter by Joseph and Mary before the birth of Jesus. During the procession, the celebrants go from house to house carrying the images of Mary and Joseph looking for shelter.

And though Santa Claus is not predominant, his bright red suit is represented in the traditional flower of the season. This flower is the poinsettia, which has brilliant green and red leafs on it. The legend of the poinsettia is really quite touching. It is believed that a young boy walking to the church to see the nativity scene showing the birth of Jesus had realized on the way that he had no gift to offer the Christ child. So, he gathered up some plain green branches and weeds to offer. Many laughed as he walked into the church, but he was told that as long as his gift was from his heart, the child would appreciate it. When he laid his gift near the manger, they changed into bright red and green leafs, and thus the poinsettia, or Christmas flower, was born.

The Mexican children receive gifts on Christmas day. They are blindfolded while they use a stick or a bat to try and break a decorated clay piñata that dangles and swings at the end of a rope. Once the piñata has been broken, the children scramble to recover the candy that was inside the piñata. Those children who have been good also on January 6th receive a gift from the Three Wise Men, the same men who visited the newborn Christ child and brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Mexicans attend a midnight mass service which is called La Misa del Gallo or the rooster’s mass, where they sing lullabies to Jesus.

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We’ve all probably built dozens of them in our lifetime, or helped someone.  Snowmen adorn the snow-covered lawns of families across the world.  Sometimes it’s just one, sometimes an entire family of snow people. And there was nothing as fun as finding old clothes and other items around your house to bring him to life.  Afterwards, as long as it stayed cold enough outside, your new frosty friend was there to greet visitors to your home for days to come.

For those in warmer climates who’ve never experienced this fun activity, a snowman is a man-like figure constructed from compacted snow. The image of a snowman is popularly connected with Christmas and is fixed in Western culture.

A snowman can be constructed by rolling a large ball of snow for its body. A second or third smaller ball is placed on top, as its middle body and head. Facial features, such as eyes and a mouth are added using coal, small stones, twigs, yarn or buttons. A nose may be added, using a piece of fruit or a vegetable, such as a carrot; sticks are sometimes added as arms. Snowmen are often depicted with a pipe and a hat. However, depending on the creativity of the person or people who made him, a snowman could be adorned in just about anything imaginable.  In the United Kingdom and Japan, snowmen commonly are built with two balls of snow, whereas in the United States three large balls are generally used. 

Frosty, the most famous of snowmen, was a Tin Pan Alley novelty song created by Jack Nelson and Steve Rollins in 1950. Gene Autry bought the rights to it and recorded it.  Golden Books also published an illustrated children’s book about Frosty later that same year. 

So this winter season, put on your warmest coat and mittens, find a magical hat all your own, and bring your own snowman to life right in your front yard. Colorful crayons on white paper work just as well if you live where it’s sunny!

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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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