Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World
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Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World
Christmas
Christmas
Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World
Christmas
Christmas
History
History
Traditions
Traditions
Today
Today
Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World
Christmas
Christmas
Celebrates the birth of Jesus, Savior
Celebrates the birth of Jesus, Savior
to Christians
to Christians
Gifts are exchanged partly because
Gifts are exchanged partly because
the Bible tells of the wise men (magi)
the Bible tells of the wise men (magi)
bringing gifts to the Christ-child as
bringing gifts to the Christ-child as
they came to worship Him
they came to worship Him
Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World
Christmas
Christmas
Nativity scene comes from the Bible,
Nativity scene comes from the Bible,
especially in the books of Matthew
especially in the books of Matthew
and Luke
and Luke
Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World
Christmas
Christmas
Catholic Church set December 25
Catholic Church set December 25
th
th
as
as
the celebration date to combine with
the celebration date to combine with
the Roman holiday of the winter
the Roman holiday of the winter
solstice (when sun has no apparent
solstice (when sun has no apparent
North or South movement) in 336
North or South movement) in 336
A.D.
A.D.
Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World
Turkey
Turkey
Santa Claus comes from a real person
Santa Claus comes from a real person
in 325 A.D. – Saint Nicholas in Turkey*
in 325 A.D. – Saint Nicholas in Turkey*
Reputation for kindness and generosity
Reputation for kindness and generosity
Legends of financial miracles on behalf of
Legends of financial miracles on behalf of
the poor and unhappy
the poor and unhappy
* Mostly Christian nation at this time
* Mostly Christian nation at this time
Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World
Turkey
Turkey
Santa’s red and white suit came from
Santa’s red and white suit came from
the traditional Bishop’s robes that
the traditional Bishop’s robes that
Saint Nicholas would have worn
Saint Nicholas would have worn
Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World
Turkey
Turkey
Stockings were originally hung,
Stockings were originally hung,
hoping that Saint Nicholas would
hoping that Saint Nicholas would
bring gold coins (as legend says he
bring gold coins (as legend says he
did for three poor girls that needed
did for three poor girls that needed
money to get married)
money to get married)
Most were filled with small gifts,
Most were filled with small gifts,
especially fruit and nuts
especially fruit and nuts
Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World
Germany
Germany
Christmas tree is a German tradition,
Christmas tree is a German tradition,
dating to about 700 A.D.
dating to about 700 A.D.
“
“
Yule” log was a large foundational
Yule” log was a large foundational
log placed in the fireplace
log placed in the fireplace
Name comes from an associated celebratory
Name comes from an associated celebratory
cry heard about Christmastime because the
cry heard about Christmastime because the
nights were becoming shorter
nights were becoming shorter
Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World
Holland
Holland
Dutch name for Nicholas was
Dutch name for Nicholas was
Sinterklaas, which became Santa
Sinterklaas, which became Santa
Claus
Claus
Gifts are exchanged on Christmas
Gifts are exchanged on Christmas
day partly because of the Dutch
day partly because of the Dutch
Santa Claus legends
Santa Claus legends
Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World
Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Legends from folktales told of a
Legends from folktales told of a
magician that punished naughty
magician that punished naughty
children and rewarded good children
children and rewarded good children
with presents
with presents
Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World
Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Mistletoe was used as a Christmas
Mistletoe was used as a Christmas
decoration for years, but was
decoration for years, but was
associated with pagan rituals
associated with pagan rituals
A goddess of love – probably where
A goddess of love – probably where
kissing under the mistletoe comes from
kissing under the mistletoe comes from
Holly replaced it, where the thorns
Holly replaced it, where the thorns
remind of Christ’s crown on the cross
remind of Christ’s crown on the cross
and the red berries of His shed blood
and the red berries of His shed blood
Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World
Italy
Italy
Naughty children in Italy were the
Naughty children in Italy were the
first to get a lump of coal in the
first to get a lump of coal in the
stocking
stocking
Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World
England
England
Songs or “carols” [songs] were sung
Songs or “carols” [songs] were sung
by small choirs for the pleasure of
by small choirs for the pleasure of
those that happened to walk by
those that happened to walk by
Christmas cards started in London in
Christmas cards started in London in
1843
1843
Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World
France
France
Singing “carols” [songs]
Singing “carols” [songs]
accompanied by a group dance
accompanied by a group dance
Noel in French is translated
Noel in French is translated
Christmas
Christmas
Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World
Greece
Greece
Christmas is abbreviated Xmas
Christmas is abbreviated Xmas
because the word for Christ in Greek
because the word for Christ in Greek
is Xristos
is Xristos
Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World
Israel
Israel
Christmas eve is celebrated because
Christmas eve is celebrated because
the Jewish tradition is that the new
the Jewish tradition is that the new
day starts at sundown [therefore
day starts at sundown [therefore
Christmas eve is actually the start of
Christmas eve is actually the start of
Christmas day]
Christmas day]
Some Jews (by heritage) are also
Some Jews (by heritage) are also
Christians (by faith)
Christians (by faith)
Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World
Mexico
Mexico
Nochebuena
Nochebuena
, the Mexican name of the flower
, the Mexican name of the flower
English-speakers call poinsettia, was
English-speakers call poinsettia, was
discovered in Taxco and the valleys
discovered in Taxco and the valleys
surrounding Cuernavaca. Known by the
surrounding Cuernavaca. Known by the
Aztecs in their native Nahuatl language as
Aztecs in their native Nahuatl language as
cuetlaxochitl, it is believed that they brought
cuetlaxochitl, it is believed that they brought
the plant from the tropical climate of
the plant from the tropical climate of
Cuernavaca to their Aztec highlands for
Cuernavaca to their Aztec highlands for
cultivation in special nurseries. Prized in the
cultivation in special nurseries. Prized in the
prehispanic era for the curative properties of
prehispanic era for the curative properties of
the milk that dripped from the leaves, stems
the milk that dripped from the leaves, stems
and flowers when cut, the pigment from the
and flowers when cut, the pigment from the
red leaves was also used to dye cotton fibers.
red leaves was also used to dye cotton fibers.
Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World
Epcot Center in Florida
Epcot Center in Florida
Each country pavilion has a section
Each country pavilion has a section
dedicated to the history and
dedicated to the history and
traditions of Christmas (during the
traditions of Christmas (during the
Christmas season)
Christmas season)
Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World
Christmas in America
Christmas in America
Pilgrims did not celebrate Christmas
Pilgrims did not celebrate Christmas
Immigrants brought their Christmas
Immigrants brought their Christmas
traditions, especially in the 1700s
traditions, especially in the 1700s
and early 1800s
and early 1800s
Christmas as a national celebration
Christmas as a national celebration
gathered momentum during the mid-
gathered momentum during the mid-
1800s
1800s
Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World
Christmas
Christmas
U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, J.R.
U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, J.R.
Poinsett, imported (what became)
Poinsett, imported (what became)
the poinsettia for Christmas in 1828
the poinsettia for Christmas in 1828
Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World
Christmas in America
Christmas in America
Santa’s sleigh, reindeer, etc. came
Santa’s sleigh, reindeer, etc. came
from 2 published works in 1822 and
from 2 published works in 1822 and
1863-1886
1863-1886
1822 – “The Night Before Christmas”
1822 – “The Night Before Christmas”
1863-1886 – magazine published
1863-1886 – magazine published
pictures of Santa’s workshop, Santa
pictures of Santa’s workshop, Santa
reading letters, Santa checking his list,
reading letters, Santa checking his list,
etc.
etc.
Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World
Christmas in America
Christmas in America
Started to become popular in 1860s,
Started to become popular in 1860s,
and by 1874 Macy’s in New York
and by 1874 Macy’s in New York
developed Christmas theme window
developed Christmas theme window
displays
displays
Tree decorations became common in
Tree decorations became common in
1880 when Woolworth’s began to sell
1880 when Woolworth’s began to sell
manufactured ornaments
manufactured ornaments
Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World
Christmas
Christmas
Outdoor White House tree tradition
Outdoor White House tree tradition
started in 1923 with President
started in 1923 with President
Coolidge
Coolidge
Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World
Christmas in America
Christmas in America
Two most popular secular songs at
Two most popular secular songs at
Christmas are:
Christmas are:
Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” (1942)
Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” (1942)
Gene Autry’s “Rudolf the Red-nosed
Gene Autry’s “Rudolf the Red-nosed
Reindeer” (1949)
Reindeer” (1949)
Based upon the Montgomery Wards booklet
Based upon the Montgomery Wards booklet
of the same named given away free in 1939
of the same named given away free in 1939
– written by a father attempting to cheer up
– written by a father attempting to cheer up
a sad daughter grieving over a dieing
a sad daughter grieving over a dieing
mother
mother
Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World
Christmas
Christmas
There’s something
There’s something
to celebrate for
to celebrate for
everybody:
everybody:
Great traditions
Great traditions
incorporating
incorporating
aspects from many
aspects from many
countries
countries
Significant religious
Significant religious
events
events