Xmas traditions around the worldpage 4 / 5
During Epiphany in early January children also get sweets and small gifts from “la Befana”, a kindly witch. Naughty children used to be left a bag of ashes instead.
Christmas in IRELAND Santa Claus is known as “Daidí na Nollagi” or simply “Santy”. As in England, families leave mince pies out as a snack for Santa Claus and maybe a carrot for his reindeer, but a bottle of Guinness sometimes substitutes for the typically English glass of sherry.
Xmas in the UNITED KINGDOM Santa Claus is more popularly known as Father Christmas and Christmas crackers containing small toys are still a distinctive national tradition at holiday meals. Christmas decorations stay up until January 6th in the UK, but it's back luck to have them up any later.
Xmas in the NETHERLANDS Sinterklaas delivers his gifts on horseback and children leave their shoes out filled with hay and sugar cubes as a treat for Santa's hardworking friend.
Christmas in Mexico
In MEXICO, it is traditional for children to receive their gifts not on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, but on January 6th, the Feast of the Epiphany, in commemoration of the day the Three Kings brought gifts to the baby Jesus. Schools are also closed on that day.
In AUSTRALIA Christmas coincides with the height of summer and Sydney's world-famous Bondi Beach is a popular venue for non-traditional barbecues and the occasional surfing Santa. Adelaide's Christmas Pageant is one the most popular holiday parades in the world and annually attracts as many as 400,000 people.
Christmas in Greenland
A popular Christmas treat in GREENLAND is called “Mattak” and consists of a piece of whale skin with a strip of blubber attached. It's said to taste like coconut.
Christmas celebration in the USA
On Christmas Eve in the UNITED STATES children leave cookies out for Santa Claus and also carrots for his nine reindeer, the most beloved of whom is Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.