Christmas and the holidays are a joyous time for everybody who celebrates it. It’s a time when family and friends come together to celebrate having one another and to say their thanks for everything they’ve done. Around the world, Christmas may be celebrated slightly differently but everyone has the same reasons. Here are pictures of Christmas and how it’s celebrated all around the world.
Lebanon
In Lebanon, two weeks before Christmas, people plant seeds of beans, lentils and chickpeas in cotton wool. During the next two weeks, they water them every day until Christmas and then place these shoots around the manger in a nativity or manger scene.
Russia
Christmas isn’t celebrated quite the same in Russia. Following the Julian Calendar, the Russian Orthodox Church celebrate Christmas on January 7th after fasting for around 40 days. However, for most Christians, Christmas Eve means a 12-course meal for the family.
Mexico
In Mexico, Christmas is celebrated 9 nights before with fun and games with the family. The following nine nights are filled with people travelling carolling to other’s houses in remembrance of Mary and Joseph trying to find an inn. On Christmas Day, kids hit a decorated pinata filled with sweets and goodies.
The Philippines
The Philippines often begin celebrating Christmas from around September with lights and Christmas songs beginning before December and going right through until later January. This picture shows some of the great lights on offer.
Sweden
In Sweden, the Christmas season begins on December 13th in celebration of St Lucia’s Day, the patron saint of light.
Traditionally, the eldest daughter or son of the family dresses in a long white dress with a red sash and sings St. Lucia songs to the family. She then serves them steaming coffee, saffron buns and ginger cookies.
Austria
In Austria, it is mid-summer for them when Christmas is happening and so it is traditionally spent on the beach with family. Here are five lads dressed as santa and an elf to celebrate their Christmas.
India
Despite the fact only 2 percent of India is Christians, considering there are more than a billion people in India, that’s still a lot of people. Midnight Mass is a big thing for Christians in India and the exchanging of traditional platters such as plum cake, jujups, and kulkus with family, friends and neighbours on Christmas day.
China
This great picture of a little alpaca dressed up to promote a food restaurant in China shows that they do indeed get into the Christmas spirit. China is filled with many religions but with over 1 billion people, you’d expect it to be.
Indonesia
Indonesia is the most populated Muslim country in the world, yet despite that, all the Christians gather to a huge hall in Surabaya and hold candles on Christmas Eve to bring their religion together.
Croatia
This incredible light display is the work of a family in Croatia who have this light display on their estate. The display itself contains over 1.5million lights and is one of the biggest, most impressive Christmas light displays in the world.
Bethlehem
And finally, in the home and birthplace of Jesus Christ himself, they usually carry a baby down the aisle of a chapel on a padded bed in celebration of the birth and giving of Jesus to the world.
