England
All the rooms are decorated with mistletoe, holly, laurel and colourful garlands. The feast, of course, plum pudding and "Gregor", the typical British turkey comes on the table, stretches for hours.
The children, however, have to wait until the next morning for their presents. On Christmas Eve, they hang up their stockings. When everything is asleep, Santa Claus enters the house through the chimney and fills the children's stockings with presents.
On January 6, "Mari Lwyd" will ring front doors and ask riddles. Those who don't know the answer will be bitten(!) by her and must feed the white-masked figure.
North America
Xmas (Christmas), as Americans casually abbreviate Christmas, takes place on
December 25. It is the quintessential family holiday.
Santa Claus, the American Father Christmas, comes down the chimney in the wee hours of the morning and brings the presents.
A highlight at Christmas time is the imposing Christmas tree in front of Rockefeller Centers in New York.
First erected in 1931, it offers an impressive sight year after year with its 30,000 lights and fancy decorations.
Unique are the gigantic Xmas parades, which take place everywhere.
In the south of the USA they celebrate with extra loud fireworks to drive away the evil spirits by the noise.
Australia and New Zealand
In the two countries in the southern hemisphere, Christmas falls in the middle of summer. Australian and New Zealand Christmas traditions are similar to those in Britain and North America. <x><BR</x> <x><BR</x> In 1938, caroling together by candlelight on Christmas Eve began in Melbourne. This tradition, Carols by Candlelight, has caught on in other cities.
On 25. December, after the sumptuous typical British turkey dinner and plum pudding, a barbecue/picnic is held on the beach
Mexico
Feliz navidad! That's how you wish Merry Christmas in Mexico. Colorful and noisy parades with lots of hustle and bustle and fireworks, the so-called "posadas", which reenact the search for a hostel, dominate the Christmas street scene.
An especially important part of the celebration for children is the "pinata", a clay jar decorated with stars and figurines and filled with fruit and sweets.
The pinata is hung so that the blindfolded children can try to smash the pot to get to the treats.
South America
The religious element also dominates Christmas celebrations in strict Catholic South America.
Christmas nativity scenes are very important in South America, both in the home and in public places.
In areas with a large indigenous population, such as Peru, nativity figures are hand-carved according to a centuries-old pattern.
As in Mexico, street processions reenacting the events surrounding the birth of Christ are common.
Gift-giving is associated in Colombia with El Niño Jesus (Christ Child), in Chile with a Viejo Pasquero (Old Shepherd), and in Brazil with the Papai Noël (Santa Claus), the latter two resembling Santa Claus in many ways
Philippines
The Philippines knows the world's longest Christmas season. Traditionally, the celebration is heralded by evening masses during nine days, beginning on December 16.
The evening of December 24 is the long-awaited noche buena, when Christmas dinner is dished up after attending midnight mass with the family. It consists of cheese balls and ham
Scandinavia
Christmas in Scandinavia is called Yule and has a long tradition. It stems from old harvest and midwinter customs of baking Yule bread, brewing Yule beer and scattering Yule straw in the Yule room.
Yule ends on January 13 with a hearty feast.
Typical Finnish: the communal sauna bath on the 24th and "baked swede", the festive pork dish.
One of the most important days of Christmas in Sweden is December 13 - Saint Lucia's Day. The celebration of light commemorates the longest night of the year.
On the morning of Lucia Day, the eldest daughter of the house goes through the house dressed as a saint and wakes up the family. To do this, she distributes Lucia pastries.
The highlight of the festivities is Christmas Eve. This is when the traditional dishes are dished up.
After the meal, the family gathers around the Christmas tree and opens the presents brought by Jultomten, the Swedish Santa Claus.
In Denmark, on Christmas Eve, people eat a rice porridge in which an almond is hidden. Whoever finds the almond will be lucky the following year.
In Norway, Christmas preparations include a big clean of the house and chopping wood, because the fire is not allowed to go out during Christmas.
On Christmas Eve, children are given presents by the Julenissen, a cross between Secret Santa and Saint Nicholas
Find more Christmas traditions from around the world HERE
More Christmas specials:
The Great Frankfurt Tip Christmas Special: Introduction and Origins
The Christmas Tree and Other Christmas Symbols
Christmas greetings from all over the world