Christmas

Christmas

According to legend, Christmas in England has been celebrated for nearly 1,500 years. King Arthur made merry in York in 521 surrounded by minstrels, harpists, pipe-players, jugglers and dancers. In the distant past, wandering minstrels travelled from hamlets to castles performing carols.

In later years, villages had their own bands of waits. Waits were originally watchmen who patrolled the streets and byways of the old walled cities keeping guard against fires.

During the holiday season, they would include some carols for the people along the way. Eventually the term was used to describe groups of musicians who sang and played for various civic events during the Christmas season.

Ever since, (except for a brief period, when Cromwell ruled in the 17th century, when Christmas went underground), hearty feasting and merrymaking have been the order of the season. But then, Christmas was reinvented by the Victorian 19th century society.

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Christmas

In the middle of the 20th century children used to hang up their stockings or socks and wake up the next morning to find an orange or a few sweets inside.

In the 21st century, in the West, most children want and expect to get the latest gadget, toy, phone, or computer console. Many parents or guardians feel pressurised or under compulsion to ‘express their love’ by means of materialistic manufacture.

Today, the UK ushers in the holiday season with the jubilant sound of church bells pealing, hand bells ringing, choirs singing and buskers, with decorations everywhere and many a village having mock stable and crib in the village centre.

Today, a look at a small-town newspaper lists dozens of carolling events, not just on Christmas Eve, but also throughout the holiday season.

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25th December 1914 - Part One

In 1914, Germany was at war with most of Europe. Around ten million people lost their lives in World War I.

The soldiers on both sides had been told that the war would be over by Christmas 1914, and they believed it. Trenches had been dug from the English Channel to Switzerland, a distance of nearly 600 miles!

Trench warfare was new with the introduction of planes, poison gas, tanks and machine guns and a stalemate occurred; it was a very hard life.

In the months from November 1914 to January 1915, the number of fatalities due to frostbite, gangrene or trench foot was higher than that of those who had been shot or shelled. Many of the soldiers were just boys, or very young men, who were volunteers.

Propaganda on both sides had tried to demonise the enemy. Both sides were suffering due to the harsh cold, wet weather; most of the trenches were lined with water. Both sides knew that their opponents were suffering the same conditions.

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25th December 1914 - Part Two

As Christmas was drawing near in 1914, both countries encouraged families to write to their loved ones and to send them presents like chocolates, foods and cigarettes. Princess Mary of Britain sent all 355,000 British soldiers a present to help boost morale.

The rules of war were different in those days, with set codes of conduct. The British saw the Germans not just as enemies, but more like sporting opponents. Maybe a bit like, 'You offend me, so I challenge you to a duel at dawn and we will draw pistols, either you kill me or I kill you,' - all in the name of honour. Between both sets of trenches was land called ‘no-man's land;’ it was where the dead lay, those who had been sent over the top and did not make it.

Military leaders had sent out an order six days before Christmas warning of ‘military lethargy,’ ’Keep up the offensive spirit,’ ‘Do not fraternise or become friendly with the enemy, as you will lose your guard and your desire for victory.’

On 24th December 1914, on one section of the trenches, nearing midnight for the start of Christmas Day, the British soldiers heard the Germans singing, 'Silent Night' in German and saw candles line the tops of the trenches.

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25th December 1914 - Part Three

At first, the British troops thought it was a trick and were on high alert; the alarm eventually subsided and then the British started singing ‘Silent Night’ in English along with the Germans. The Germans had been drinking and were in high spirits; the British were not allowed to drink. Christmas for the Germans was more traditional than for the British, with thoughts of Saint Nicholas, candles and having a Christmas tree.

In the morning, a lone German soldier went over the top into no-man’s land, a place strewn with dead bodies, barbed wire and other defences. The British snipers were at the ready, but an armistice was agreed, as both sides wanted a break from the carnage. A handful of soldiers from both sides met rather cautiously and they shook hands in no-man’s land. This was repeated in several sections along the 600 mile front. Some of the officers disallowed it, some encouraged it and joined in and others just killed the enemy as they tried to make peace. It was a treasonable offence to mix with the enemy and that meant death by shooting. On some sections, soldiers crossed over to the opponents and were taken prisoner; snipers shot some as they returned to their own side after having met with the ‘enemy.’ Chocolates, cigarettes etc. were traded between both sides.

It was reported that both German and British soldiers buried a French soldier whose remains were in no-man’s-land, and that a memorial service was held. It was also a good time for both enemies to bury their own dead.

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25th December 1914 - Part Four

Lieutenant Bruce Bair’s father, a famous artist from the war wrote: ‘It was the sort of day that peace should have been declared.’ Bruce met a German called Kurt Zehmisch and cut some of his buttons off as a souvenir.

More than 85 years later, Bruce’s daughter met Kurt’s son near Ypres in Belgium on the exact location where, in the war, both their fathers had met. They shook hands, talked and then when to a memorial service in honour of all those who gave their lives. There is a museum called the Flanders Museum in Ypres, Belgium, that is five miles from where the daughter and son of the soldiers met. On several sections, the soldiers played football with each other. For others it was also a good time to look at the opponent trench system and to see where the machine guns were positioned.

A German soldier traded his helmet to an Englishman. The next day the German soldier asked to borrow his old helmet, as he needed it for a parade, and promised to return it; the German soldier kept his word and after the parade it was duly returned. On another section, a German was seen cutting an Englishman’s hair. A German spoke to an English private called Frank Sumpter; they shook hands and the German inquired if he knew Southgate Road in Islington? The Englishman replied, “that he did and that his uncle owned a shoe repair shop in that very road”. The German soldier replied that he had worked in the barbershop on that same street; it was ironic that in all probability the German soldier would have shaved the Englishman’s uncle. Even photos were taken of both ‘enemies’ together.

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25th December 1914 - Part Five

It was Christmas, 'peace on earth and good will to all men'. Some of the armistices lasted for several days, others a day, and as previously mentioned, sometimes not at all. For many of the officers it was difficult to get to troops motivated again.

One, Captain Neville sent his troops over the top to near certain death with a football to encourage the troops. By the middle of January 1915 the truce had ended almost everywhere and reports of the armistice were in the local and national papers. General Sir Horess Smith Doreon wanted the names of all those who had engaged in the armistices so that they could be punished.

Too many died in the ‘Great War’, many known only to God, buried in unmarked graves. Approaching Christmas 1915, orders from both English and Germany leaders strictly forbade any fraternising with the enemy, which was punishable by death.

The armistice never happened again, but the letters, photos, newspaper reports, some history books, television documentaries that interviewed survivors and the Flanders Museum in Ypres, Belgium, and others keeps the story alive. 'Lest we forget'.

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A Politically Correct Christmas

There are a growing number of people who don't want to know anything about God and less still about His Son, Jesus Christ - whose birth around 2,000 years ago was the reason for the first Christmas. 'Jesus is the reason for the season,' it is HIStory!

Every year in the UK, lobby groups speak out against the word ‘Christmas’ so as not to offend other religions. On a radio interview some Muslims thought that it was nonsense to change the word Christmas to a more politically correct one.

A group lobbied the Canadian Government that the words ‘Christmas Tree’ be changed to ‘Holiday Tree.’ They argued that it would make all religions happy if this was done. They failed in their futile plea.

An article in a big city newspaper raised some eyebrows when it stated that Christians “want to hijack Christmas and take it away from the community - making Christmas a religious event.”

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A Politically Correct Christmas

A veteran first-grade teacher was informed in 2002 that she could not mention ‘Christmas’ in her Sacramento public-school classroom. Across America, schools and city officials are banning Christian themes. Nativity scenes have been barred in some New York schools.

Why do some people would want to eliminate the knowledge of God, His Son and Christmas from the earth? Could it be that they don't want to face the fact that we are all born sinners and need a Saviour?

These anti-God sentiments are being used, by those who are trying to hijack Christmas. Christmas has been celebrated for more than 1,500 years at least, by people all over the world in as many cultures.

The truth is that the first Christmas was (and is) very necessary for every human ever born. God the Son (Jesus Christ) came down from heaven to be born as a tiny baby. That child grew up, took on Himself the sins of the world, died on a cross in our place and the third day He rose from the dead, later to return to heaven.

Soon, Jesus will fulfil His promise to come back. Make sure that you are ready to meet God. “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that the judgement.”

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What Happened in History on the 25th December?

In 0-4 BC, Jesus Christ the Son of God, Saviour of the world was born. (In theory it was this day!)
In 1066, Norman invader William the Conqueror was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey.
In 1170, the Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas A. Becket announced the excommunication of the Bishop of London and Salisbury.
In 1741, Swedish scientist Anders Celsius devised the Centigrade temperature scale.
In 1776, General George Washington and his troops crossed the Delaware River for a surprise attack against Hessian forces at Trenton, NJ.
In 1800, the first Christmas tree in Britain was erected at Queen's Lodge, Windsor, by Queen Charlotte, wife of George III.
In 1818, the Christmas carol “Silent Night” was performed for the first time, at the Church of St. Nikolaus in Oberndorff, Austria.
In 1864, the traditional Christmas day dip in Hyde Park's Serpentine Lake, London, England, was inaugurated.
On the 22nd December 1882, Thomas Edison created the first string of Christmas tree lights.
In 1926, Hirohito became Emperor of Japan.
In 1932, Britain's King George V made the first Royal Broadcast to the British Empire using radio.
In 1933, the British Government paid the USSR £100,000 for the ‘Codex Sinaiticus’ which is one of the most important Greek New Testament manuscripts. The manuscripts had been found in the St Catherine’s monastery which is at the foot of Mt. Sinai, in the 19th century.
In 1941, Hong Kong surrendered to Japan after a battle lasting seven days.
In 1952, Britain's Queen Elizabeth made her first Christmas broadcast using radio.
In 1957, Queen Elizabeth made her first televised Christmas broadcast.
In 1977, English-born comedy genius Charlie Chaplain died.
In 1993, a 59-year-old British woman became the world's oldest mother of twins.
In 1998, the Beatle’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was reinstated after being removed in 1994 because none of the surviving Beatles had been at the original unveiling.
In December 1998, Cuba’s communist rulers declared that Santa Claus and nativity scenes could return to the island for good, almost thirty years after Christmas had been abolished as a public holiday.

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Christmas trees in England

The Christmas tree is central to Britain's holiday celebration of Christmas and, although it had been seen in various places in England, it grew extremely popular when Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, brought the tradition to the Royal Family (even though King George III was the first to erect a Christmas tree) from his native Germany in the mid-19th century.

One of the nation's most popular Christmas trees can be seen in the heart of London, where a giant spruce is set up and decorated with great ceremony each year near the statue of Lord Nelson in Trafalgar Square. The tree is a gift from the people of Oslo, Norway.

During the Second World War, King Haakon of Norway was forced into exile in England when the Germans occupied his Nation. Each year during his exile, Norwegian forces would risk their lives to smuggle a tree past the German coast patrols so their king could celebrate Christmas before a tree from his beloved homeland. Since the war, Norway has expressed its thanks for the help of the British people by continuing to send a huge Norwegian spruce to be shared by all.

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How Do Other Nations Spend Christmas?

Christmas, the 25th December, is the date that we remember the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Saviour of the world.

In all probability He was not born on this exact day, but that’s not the point. The issue is that He came to redeem mankind back to God. He came to die for our sins and He arose again. Jesus is the reason for the season; He is for life: not just for Christmas!

Jesus came as a baby, grew up into a man and will come back as a warrior. Below are some of the ways that various nationalities spend Christmas. Many of the contributions are from nationals or an individual living within that country, so the styles of writing are varied.

On the European Continent Christmas presents were especially known among the nobility of the lands for over a millennium; however the common folk used to celebrate as best as they could. Whereas compared to Iceland presents have only been exchanged during the past hundred years or so.

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Britain

In Britain by October shops start to advertise and sell their Christmas goods. By November virtually all the shops will have decorations up. People send each other Christmas cards; for a lot of people this is the only time that contact is made between old friends.

The last couple of weeks before the 25th, the shopping centres and car parks are heavily congested. Most people will decorate their homes and in recent years, more people are having garden and roof displays; often competing against the neighbours, or for a mention in the local press.

Churches will either have a short service on the 24th or the 25th, but some churches will have both; usually with traditional Christmas carols. The children and young people usually perform the nativity play a week or so before.

Christmas is a time when families, as best as they can, will come together. Presents are exchanged between family members and sometimes friends; most people spend far too much and it is very commercial.

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Britain

For the Christmas meal, most people will eat turkey with brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, stuffing balls and roast potatoes. The afternoon is a time for watching the TV (for many, especially the Queen's speech at 3pm), playing board games, sleeping and socialising among the relatives or close friend.

In the evening, most people will have a buffet type meal. The 26th is Boxing Day, which like the 25th is an annual holiday. For many who are not Christians, the festive season is known as good excuse to eat too much, get drunk and usually ends up with people feeling ill and arguing with their relatives. It can be a very stressful time for families who don’t spend much time together during the year.

After the Second World War it was common for children to hang up their stockings over the fireplace where in the morning, if they were fortunate, would find an orange or a sweet.

In the 21st Century gross commercialism has completely devalued the real meaning of Christmas, as people get greedier and fall into debt trying to satisfy themselves or find the ‘wants’ of the family.

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Holland

1). In Holland on Christmas evening (24th of December) all around the country there is a Christmas service for the Catholic Churches. For the Protestants there is a service on the 25th during the morning with the message of Christ’s birth and why He came for us. Then we all eat together in the church, having soup, bread and some luxurious extras. In the afternoon, the children and church members perform all kinds of plays. In the evening, we have mostly a big meal with the family, and of course gifts for everyone. (Even though we remember it as Jesus Christ’s birthday).

We don't have a service on the 26th December, just sleeping late, eating nice things and playing many family games. We do have all kinds of decorations, lights and cards in our home and church. In Dutch ‘history’ when St Nicholas distributes gifts in Holland, his servant, Black Peter, accompanies him. Black Peter is responsible for actually dropping the presents down the recipients’ chimneys.

2). Christmas in Holland is not a biblical party anymore. When you ask people, ‘What do you think about when I say Christmas?’, the answers would be something like ‘being with my family and friends, a lot of eating, Christmas trees and buying lots of presents’. The churches have special Christmas ceremonies on the 25th. A lot of people go to the church on that day, also people who don’t go to a church for the whole year. I saw a program on TV and they asked a lot of people what Christmas means; some of them knew that it has something to do with Jesus and just a very few knew that we celebrate the birth of Jesus. So most of the people just see it as a nice party.

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Italy

Christmas in Italy is not so easy to write about, because different people celebrate in different ways. The Evangelical Christians are divided; one group does not celebrate because the Catholic Church celebrates it; another gives presents instead.

The common way is to get together with all your family and relatives and have a big meal together. When I say meal, it is very big so there is plenty to eat. The people, who celebrate Christmas, have a Christmas tree but more Italians have a ‘Presepe’ that is a Crib. You will find them not only in people’s homes but also around towns.

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France

In France Christmas is always called 'Noël’. Everyone has a Christmas tree, sometimes decorated in the old way with red ribbons and real white wax candles. Often houses are decorated as well. Fir trees in the garden are often decorated too, with lights on all night.

Both Catholics and Protestants go to church on the 25th December; the shops are not open. In my family we normally invite someone else who does not belong to the family as Christmas is also about that.

For dinner we have turkey, vegetables, fatted goose liver, oysters and buches de Noel, which is a desert with butter and cream; it’s a French speciality.

We don’t watch TV or play games, we only eat, joke and socialise. It’s a precious time to be spent with the family. In my family we sing Christmas carols and read about the birth of Jesus Christ from the Bible.

The 26th December is also a special day when we give presents to each other and often we don’t go to bed until 5am!

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Germany

Germans love to decorate their houses at Christmas. Many houses will have little wooden frames holding electric candles in their windows, and coloured pictures of paper or plastic, which look beautiful from the outside at night. Often, too, they will have a wreath of leaves with four candles. (Advent - meaning 'coming' - is the four-week period before Christmas).

On each Sunday of Advent, another candle is lit. Most homes will also have little wooden 'cribs' - a small model of the stable where Jesus was born, with Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, and animals. Father Christmas brings presents in the late afternoon of Christmas Eve, the 24th, after people have been to a church meeting.

The presents are then found under the Christmas tree. One person in the family will ring a bell and call everyone to come to the room. On Christmas Day, fish (carp) or goose will be cooked.

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Finland

In Finland we call Santa Claus "Joulupukki" and Christmas "Joulu". Usually everybody buys a Christmas tree and at Christmas we eat ham, casseroles and rice porridge.

Santa Claus doesn't come from the chimney in Finland. He comes from the door and brings lots of presents. He comes in the evening and gives the presents personally. In Finland adults usually drink mulled wine (hot wine) with nuts and/or raisins. Young people eat gingersnaps and Christmas flans.

Iran

Christians in Iran have a special meal of rice with vegetables and fish with traditional Iranian food. Many Muslims celebrate on this day, as they believe in Jesus to be a prophet, but not as the Son of God. Our new year starts on the 20th March.

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Denmark

In the first part of December we decorate our houses with elves and many other things. In the middle of December, we decorate our Christmas tree. On the 24th of December we celebrate Christmas.

First, we go to our friends' houses and give them presents that we have for them. At dinnertime we eat duck and pig. To prepare a duck: We stuff apple slices and dried plums in the duck. Then we put it in the oven for several hours. After dinner, we dance and sing around the Christmas tree. Then we have coffee and cookies. When all that is over it's time to open the presents. Then we play a game and go home and go to sleep.

Chile

In Chile we spend this holy day with the family. First, we decorate a tree with lights, tinsels, beautiful figures, and candies etc. On Christmas Eve, Catholic people go to hear Midnight Mass. Later on, the family enjoys together the Christmas Dinner; it may be turkey, chicken, meat, salad or rice etc. It depends on people's likes and their resources. People also drink ‘Rompon’. It is liquor with milk, eggs and alcohol.

There is another drink called ‘Cola de Mono’. It is made with milk, eggs, coffee and alcohol. We eat Christmas pudding made with dried fruit. At Midnight, the family sits around the Christmas tree to open the presents. On December 25th, we usually go to the beach, the park or any other interesting place. In general we have a great fun time.

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Latvia

We celebrate Christmas on December 24th. First we eat Christmas dinner. We eat chicken, peas, and bread, apple pie and chocolate. After dinner we sing songs or poems to receive a present.

Latvians believe that Father Christmas brings presents on each of the twelve days of Christmas starting on Christmas Eve. Usually, the presents are put under the family's Christmas tree. The special Latvian Christmas Day meal is cooked brown peas with bacon, pork sauce, small pies, cabbage and sausage.

Russia

In Russia in the days of the Soviet Union, Christmas was not celebrated very much. New Year was the important time when 'Father Frost' brought presents to children. With the fall of Communism, Christmas can be openly celebrated either on December 25th; or more often on January 7th. This unusual date is because the Russian Orthodox Church uses the old 'Julian' calendar for religious celebration days. Special Christmas food includes cakes, pies and 'meat dumplings'.

We celebrate New Year a lot more than Christmas. On New Year's Day we put a lot of glass balls and other glass stuff on the Christmas tree. We count to twelve while the clock rings twelve times at twelve o'clock at night. We also hang chocolate on the tree and, when it's time to eat, then it feels like the tree is giving candy to us. In Russia we pretend that Santa Claus gives us presents.

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Sweden

1). In the morning my family and I always drink hot chocolate with whipped cream in it. Some families go to church. Then we go to a hill where you can go sledging. Then we eat some food and wait for the evening. We prepare the tree the day before. When the evening comes we eat Christmas ham, herring and potatoes, porridge and dip bread into the ham broth. Then Santa Claus (called 'Tomten') comes and gives out the Christmas presents to everyone. Some presents are already lying under the tree when Santa arrives.

2). In Sweden we celebrate Lucia on December 13th. All schools and day-care homes celebrate Lucia. The children sing and wear long white dresses. All the girls put white dresses on and the boys too if they want to be a star boy. The girls have either candles or glitter in their hair. The boys wear a white hat that looks like a cone.

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Portugal

In Portugal on Christmas Eve, families gather around the pine tree, which may be a natural pine tree or an artificial one. We decorate it with stars, little balls, knots and several electrical lights in various colours.

Portuguese people usually don't decorate inside their homes with Christmas lights and outdoor decorations are rarely seen on a private residence.

In days gone by, children would place their shoes near the fireplace so that ‘O Pai Natal, Father Christmas would leave them presents. The next morning, they would find little toys and sweets in their shoes. At midnight, people attend a special Mass, called ‘Missa do Galo’ (Rooster's Mass), and when we come back home we sit at the table and eat boiled dry cod fish with potatoes and Portuguese sprouts (in pure olive oil), and drink red wine.

On Christmas Day, roast chicken is served in many households and turkey is served in the more affluent homes. The Nativity Scene is really the focus of attention and the main Christmas decoration. The figure of the Christ Child is added to the scene after the family attends Midnight Mass.

The main streets are decorated in the vicinity of the larger stores and boutiques but Christmas in the countryside is more of a religious event. Families gather the best of their harvest and share it with others at the Parish Church.

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America

In America Christmas is usually celebrated primarily by a massive shopping spree. The malls (indoor shops) are all decorated and everyone is in frenzy.

People give a lot to charity; go to choir rehearsals, nativity scenes and kids in the church or the school put on plays.

Most people buy a Christmas tree and decorate it with lights, tinsel, balls, ornaments and a star or an angel on the top. Other people decorate using popcorn and cranberries and many decorate the inside and outside of their houses. They listen to Christmas music, have eggnog and hot cider, eat nuts and spend time with family and friends in the evening.

Many companies have an employee Christmas party. On Christmas Eve, 24th December, many people have parties and drink or socialise. Drinking is more low-key than in Britain however.

The kids are packed off to bed and told if they don't sleep Santa won't come (some Christian families don't allow Santa as part of the holidays though). The following morning 25th December, everyone wakes up; runs and tear open their presents.

Afterwards they have a huge meal. Usually turkey, ham, roast, potato salad, cranberry salad, corn on the cob and various stuffings are eaten. We watch movies, talk to our families, and have loads of dessert!

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Alaska

In Alaska an Eskimo Christmas is celebrated in my small fishing and hunting village (population 150) in traditional Eskimo and Christian ways. Christmas trees are most likely to be artificial, since there are no trees in or near our village.

Coloured lights shining through the windows and around doorways look festive on dark, snowy days. Catalogues become very important for ordering gifts. Since the mail system to the village is unreliable though, gifts aren't always ready and under the tree for Christmas Day.

Like birthdays, the holiday may be one week rather than a one-day event. Most villagers gather in the school gym on Christmas Day for a traditional feast. Maktak (raw whale meat), Beluga whale, caribou, seal, owl, nigiglik (duck), ptarmigan, polar bear, and walrus are featured along with the newcomers, roast turkey and stuffing. Eskimo doughnuts and Eskimo ice cream make a fine completion for the meal.

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Canada

Christmas in Canada, it's different for different families. Some open gifts on the 24th December or the 25th. The Christmas Day meal is turkey! Lots of turkey and stuffing (breaded meaty stuff) and cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, salads, anything and everything; lots of little finger desserts and cheesecake. For the holidays there is usually Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day off, or if you work for a good company, a couple of weeks off!

There are many gifts and many family gatherings. Not really much dancing, except at work banquets. Usually workplaces have a supper and a party etc. There are many friends, and lots of gifts, and a lot of Christmas treats and decorations! A lot of people decorate their homes and go far out! It's so extravagant, that many people will take an evening to drive around town and look at all the lights! It's beautiful.

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Korea

In Korea, Christmas Day is a holiday for everyone except those involved in the retail trade, who are busy making lots of money. All the shops and stores are open as usual.

Boxing Day (26th December) is not a holiday. Santa Claus is very much in evidence here, in the form of dancing musical dolls. The streets are filled with sellers of cake and teddy bears. Everyone seems to be carrying cake boxes on Christmas Eve and that is the only culinary celebration of Christmas meaning no turkey whatsoever. The standard greeting is, of course, ‘Melly Clismass’! Even churches have their sanctuaries adorned with Christmas trees bearing the greeting 'Merry Christmas'.

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Japan

1). In Japan there is no official celebration of Christmas as less than one percent of the population is Christian.

There is an unofficial widespread secular observance of Christmas due to the influence of Americans after the war and Japan's Christmas industry that provides decorations and trinkets for Christian nations.

As the Christmas industry grew, it was natural for the Japanese to become interested in the Christian celebration and to absorb some of the customs into their own society including a Christmas tree and turkey with all the trimmings. The children believe that one of the Japanese gods brings them presents.

2). In Japan we celebrate the New Year. Early in the morning we go to the beach and watch the sunrise. We visit our grandparents. Girls and boys wear kimono. We eat a lot of food. We eat special kinds of sushi and sashimi and rice cakes called mochi. The shops all have special toys and candy for the children to buy. Aunts and uncles and grandparents give children pocket money to spend at the shops. There are a lot of special TV programs.

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China

From China to my dear friends around the globe, thank you for all your prayers. I just want to express my lonely feeling during Christmas. However, I feel warm. I know that is the mercy of our LORD GOD. Though life is hard for me (China's politics is far better than you think, also worse than you expect), I will struggle but with the help of GOD. This Christmas will be a happy one, because of you and our GOD. Today is a happy day. All over the world there is celebrating, but here in my city, Hefei, Province Anhui, there is no Christmas atmosphere. I get up late. The sun is like Jesus' smile looking at me. I pray that the world will be at peace, especially in China. We have suffered a lot. I hope tomorrow will be at ease for every Chinese.

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Uganda

Uganda is a very diverse country and I imagine my Christmas was different to most Ugandans because I spent it with my white friends from the UK and with Ugandans we work with.

I think Uganda claims to be about 80% Christian so we all celebrate it on the 25th. I don't know what the Muslims do. I'm not really sure about this figure because there is a very big Muslim population here and many of the people especially in the villages are involved in witchcraft. Many claim to be Christians when they are not!

Most people cannot afford to give presents or cards so they just eat together. Most people cannot afford decorations either, so I found that during the whole period coming up to Christmas you couldn't tell, even in the city. There are very few decorations in shops and there are no Christmas trees. Unless you go to the Sheraton Hotel or other resorts you will not see anything. Some people will manage to get hold of the odd bit of tinsel and coloured paper and will try their best to decorate their homes.

Most people spend time with their families at Christmas, although many of the youth don't because they find it boring. It’s usually a big get together when people travel all over the country to get back to their family homes. Over the festive period the city was deserted as all the public transport took the city folk back to their families. Most people who live outside Kampala City, in the smaller towns and villages usually cannot afford meat, so many people will just eat vegetables.

The usual staple diet of matooke, rice, beans, posho, cassava, chapattis, tomatoes, onions, green peppers, grasshoppers and ants are common. Those who have a little more money will be able to afford beef as well as the above. Beef is cheap here and is very common; it is usually prepared in a stew.

Those who live in the city will be able to get chicken, turkey, beef and pork. These can be quite expensive, but for Christmas gatherings people are prepared to pay. You usually have to kill it yourself though!

Christmas is usually quite boring because there is very little to do. Most people go to church because they can get together and sing. Ugandans love singing and performing. It doesn't make them Christians though! If you are lucky enough to have a TV then you can watch re-runs of American TV shows. You have to be very rich to get satellite TV here and then you can watch the football.

So after preparing the food and eating it, which takes most of the day, people just sit round talking. The ones who aren't saved (non-Christians) go out and drink in the bars usually. You can see why poverty leads to crime. People just get so bored of having nothing and having nothing to do.

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Brazil

In Brazil we do celebrate Jesus' birthday on December 25th. In my church, each department (Kids, juniors, teens, youth, married and adults) and also the choirs (youth and adults) prepare something about His birth. The service is always a big event in the church and we start preparing things early in November. The service is always from 7:30 to 9PM and sometimes we have a great meal for everybody in the church, but each department has its meal individually.

We usually eat the same food we have here (in the UK) and the turkey is always the big thing! If you can afford to buy one, of course. I would say that the only difference is that we don't have snow here (in Brazil). People usually dress up and, depending on the area where you live, the children have gifts.

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Australia

In Australia we mostly have the same Christmas as in England, we either have a big dinner with family and friends or if it is too hot we have a BBQ at lunchtime and then have a traditional meal at night.

We open our presents on Christmas Day and have a tree as the UK. But then if you are a descendant from another nationality you usually celebrate like their ancestors, like the Germans have Christmas on Christmas Eve (24th December) with the opening of presents on that night and the Lebanese have Christmas in January.

New Zealand

In New Zealand Christmas is extremely hot and sunny. In my family we eat a lot of different foods. We like to have steaks and chickens cooked on the barbecue, and salads. Every year we buy a 3-8 foot Christmas tree. We decorate the tree with electric coloured lights; we open the presents on Christmas morning.

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Israel

1). Well I am Canadian working in Jerusalem, Israel; on the 24th December I went with some fellow believers to Bethlehem to sing Christmas carols. As we passed through the checkpoint the soldiers wished us a “Merry Christmas”.

For twenty years a group has gone carol singing in Bethlehem, we sang to a small audience and gave out some tracts and gospels in Arabic. We then had fellowship with an Arab Pastor, we prayed and sang together. We went back to Manger Square to sing some more carols and gave out the remainder of our tracts. On the way out of Bethlehem we had our passports checked by the soldiers. The Israelis do not celebrate Christmas. On Christmas Day I sang carols to myself and reflected on the birth of Christ.

2). In Israel we are Jewish, so we do not celebrate Christmas, however we have a Holiday called Hanukah which is somewhat related to Christmas. It is celebrated from the 25th day of Kislev to the second day of Tevet. These are months of the Hebrew Calendar, which is a lunar calendar; hence it does not overlap the Gregorian calendar, which is a solar calendar.

Still, Hanukah and Christmas always occur at about the same time. It is celebrated in memory of the Maccabees who rebelled against the Greek-Syrians who ruled Israel more than 2,000 years ago. They believed in God and refused to worship the Greek idols. To celebrate Hanukah we light the candles (eight in total, one every day) on a Menorah (candle stick / lamp). There is an additional candle each day, which serves to light the others. The candles stand for a miracle in which a single can of olive oil used for lighting the Menorah, that was left in the Temple after its desecration, lasted eight days. We also eat oily foods, jelly doughnuts, etc. and get presents (chocolate ‘gold’ coins).

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Christmas Jokes

1. What do you call Santa’s cat? Claws!

2. Santa’s helpers are subordinate clauses.

3. He hired a lawyer who tried to get him off an insanity clause.

4. “Doctor, doctor I feel like a Christmas cracker”. “Be careful that you are not pulled apart”.

5. “Of course I'm proud that you invented the electric light bulb and the Christmas light. Now turn it off and get to bed!” said Thomas Edison's mother.

6. James was asked to bring the Christmas decorations down from the attic and start decorating the house and tree. Heavily laden with many boxes, he slipped and fortunately only fell about four steps before landing on his behind. Sarah heard the noise and in a concerned voice asked, “What was that thud?” “I just fell off the ladder,” he explained. “Anything broken?” she asked. James replied, “No, I'm fine”. There was just a slight pause. Sarah said, “No, I meant my decorations? Are any of them broken?”

7. The Sunday after Christmas, the Sunday school teacher told her class about an angel appearing to Joseph in a dream, warning him about danger to the baby Jesus and telling him how to escape to Egypt. After the story time, the class were given an opportunity to draw a picture about the story. Most of the pictures were predictable, but Rob’s had an odd element in it. “Rob, I see Joseph and Mary with the baby Jesus on a donkey, but what is that following the donkey? “It's the flea.” “What flea?” asked the teacher. To which the boy faithfully repeated the Bible verse: “Take Mary and Jesus and flee to Egypt. There's Mary; there's Jesus; and there’s the flea”.

8. Joan asked her Sunday school class to draw pictures of their favourite Christmas Bible stories. She was puzzled by little James' picture, which showed four people on an airplane, so she asked him which story it was meant to represent. ‘The Flight to Egypt,’ said James. “I see, and that must be Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus,” Joan said. “But who's the fourth person?” “Oh, that's Pontius, the Pilot!”

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Saint Nicholas, Santa Claus and the CHRIST Child Go