Argentina comprises of the almost entire southern part of Latin America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay. Argentina is a country with many enriching cultural influences. So its Christmas customs are varied and difficult to generalize. Unlike United States, Argentina has a summer time Christmas. Despite this the customs and traditions are quite similar. People celebrate it with dedication and delight. In some areas evergreen trees are decorated with cotton to replicate the snow found on the trees in the forests of the Northern Hemisphere. The ritual of Nativity scene and Xmas tree, gift giving, picnics and banquets, champagne and cakes, and fireworks at around midnight are some of the popular practices around Christmas time in Argentina. "Feliz Navidad" means "Merry Christmas" in Argentina. People usually choose any artificial or live tree to display in home. These trees are ornamented with colored lights, knick-knacks and candles. All Christmas gifts are placed under the tree. Many people set up the Nativity scene, a model of the manger where Jesus Christ was born. The pious Argentines also attend a Christmas church service. Families attend a Christmas celebration at church before coming together to share Christmas dinner. Many plan a picnic or barbecue as their Christmas meal to take advantage of the lovely weather. Christmas dinner in Argentina may be served in a garden area along with the special and usual holiday foods. After dinner delicious cakes are served along with Sidra or Champagne to drink.

AUSTRALIA

Christmas customs in Australia are the descendants of the traditional British Christmas. A traditional meal includes a turkey dinner, with ham, and pork along with a Christmas plum pudding for dessert. In the Australian gold rushes, Christmas puddings often contained a gold nugget. Today a small favor is baked inside. Whoever finds this knows s/he will enjoy good luck. Another treat is Mince Pies. One tradition that is purely Australian began in 1937 by a radio announcer, Norman Banks who saw a lonely old woman listening to Christmas carols on the radio while a lone candle burned forlornly in her window. The following Christmas Eve he broadcast a great carol sing by all who want to join in, from the Alexandra Gardens along the banks of Melbourne's main river. "Carols by Candlelight" became a joyous annual event and was eventually broadcast in many other countries around the world. Australians surround themselves with Christmas Bush, a native plant that has little red flowered leaves.

AUSTRIA

BANGLADESH

As Bangladesh is mainly a Muslim country, there is no official celebration of Christmas. However, Christmas is celebrated as a gift-giving ceremony. Christians in Bangladesh decorate mango or banana trees at Christmas time. Sometimes they also decorate their houses with mango leaves. Capital Dhaka becomes colorful during Christmas Evening.

BELGIUM

In Belgium, St. Nicholas pays two visits to each house. On December 4 he comes to check the behavior of each child, to find out if they have been naughty or nice. Then on December 6, he returns with just rewards for all, either presents or switches, which he leaves in the shoes or small baskets that have been placed inside near the doorway, where he will easily find them. In return there are snacks of hay, water and carrots left for his horse or donkey. Christmas Day is reserved for religious celebrations and nativity plays sponsored by the churches. They are often performed in 16th century costumes. In small villages, there are often three virtuous men chosen to portray the three Wise Men and go throughout the town, caroling at each door and receiving small gifts of food.

BRAZIL

Christmas comes at the beginning of their summer season. It is a time for boating, picnicking and other summer festivities. Eucalyptus leaves and brilliant red flowers of different sorts provide the red and green of Christmas decorations. Father Christmas is called Papai Noel. A special Christmas meal generally will be chicken, turkey, ham, rice, salad, pork, fresh and dried fruits, often with beer. Christmas evening can be spent outdoors in the balmy weather and is a great time for fireworks. The people of Northern Brazil, as in Mexico, enjoy a version of the folk play Los Pastores ("The Shepherds.") In the Brazilian version, there are shepherdesses rather than shepherds and a gypsy who attempts to kidnap the Christ Child.

CHINA

Christians in China celebrate by lighting their houses with beautiful paper lanterns and decorating their Christmas trees, which they call "Trees of Light," with paper chains, paper flowers, and paper lanterns. Chinese Children hang muslin stockings and await a visit from Santa Claus, whom they call Dun Che Lao Ren (dwyn-chuh-lau-oh-run) meaning "Christmas Old Man." The non-Christian Chinese call this season the Spring Festival and celebrate with many festivities that include delicious meals and pay respect to their ancestors. The children are the main focus of these celebrations; they receive new clothes and toys, eat mouth-watering food and watch firecrackers displays.

DENMARK

Christmas is the main festival of the year in Denmark. Danes celebrate Christmas Eve on December 24 and prolong the Christmas through December 25 and 26. Though many longstanding traditions have disappeared over the years, many traditions such as the family gathering at Christmas, lighting Christmas tree candles, and the month-long calendar candy are celebrated today also. On Christmas Eve, after a splendid of traditional goose, Danish families light candles on the beautifully decorated Christmas tree. After dancing round the tree, singing traditional songs, the members of the family exchange gifts. Some of the family will probably have attended church services in the afternoon.

EGYPT

Christmas Day is celebrated on the 7th of January, equal to the 29th of the Coptic month Khiahk. On this day people distribute zalabya (donughts) and bouri (mullet fish). The churches have always been decorated with special lamps and candles. Copts also give candles to the poor.

At midnight the Coptic Pope holds a special service. After the service families go home to break their fast. Children receive new clothes and gifts. Copts also eat special sweet biscuits marked with a cross. Those biscuits are called Kahk and were originally eaten by Moslems on Eid el Fitr when Moslems too break their fast.

ENGLAND

Father Christmas, who reigns in the place of Santa Claus or St. Nicholas, is depicted wearing long robes with sprigs of holly in his long white hair. Children who want to make sure he has got their order right send letters to him. These letters are not mailed though; they are thrown into the fireplace. If they go up the chimney, the wish will be granted; if not, one's wish goes not granted. Stockings are hung by the chimney or at the foot of the child's bed to receive small presents, which are opened on Christmas morning. The Christmas tree has occupied a central position in the festivities; however, it has never completely replaced the combination of greenery & mistletoe called the kissing bough. In the countryside, Christmas mummers can be found who perform plays and waits still carol through the streets. The church bell is rung once for every year since Christ's birth with the last stroke timed exactly for midnight. The Christmas meal consists of roast turkey or beef and desserts are mincemeat pies and plum puddings.

FINLAND

Though not celebrated as fervently as in many other European countries, Christmas in Finland has its own charm. The houses become clean and smell good with the aroma from the decorations filling the ambience. The Christmas tree is usually decorated a few days before Christmas. At breakfast, on the Christmas Eve morning, natives of Finland have rice porridge, cinnamon and sugar and milk. An almond is hidden in the porridge and whoever finds it first is believed to have great luck all through the following year, and can even get married.

Visits are paid to relatives and friends on Christmas morning. It is also customary to visit the gravesites of departed family members and light candles. Before the Christmas dinner, children play the piano and sing Christmas carols. Boys often put up the play called the Tiernapojat, which is about the three wise men from the east. The Christmas meal is customarily quite heavy and delicious.

FRANCE

Nearly every French home at Christmas time displays a Nativity scene or crèche, which serves as the focus for the Christmas celebration. The crèche is often decorated with little clay figures called "little saints." An extensive tradition has evolved around these little figures, which are made by craftsmen in the south of France throughout the year. In addition to the usual Holy family, shepherds, and Magi, the craftsmen also produce figures in the form of local dignitaries and characters. The Christmas tree has never been particularly popular in France, and though the use of the Yule log has faded, the French make a traditional Yule log-shaped cake called the buche de Nol, which means "Christmas Log." The cake, among other food in great abundance is served at the grand feast of the season, which is called le rveillon. French children receive gifts from Pere Noel who travels with his stern disciplinarian companion Pre Fouettard. In some parts of France Pere Noel brings small gifts on St. Nicholas Eve (December 6) and visits again on Christmas. In other places it is le petit Jesus who brings the gifts.

GERMANY

Germans love to decorate their houses in various ways at Christmas. Many houses will have little wooden frames holding electric candles and colorful pictures of Santa Claus in their windows. They will have a 'Adventskranz' - a wreath of leaves with four candles. Advent means 'coming'. On each Sunday of Advent, a candle is lit. Most homes will also have little wooden 'cribs' meaning a small model of the stable where Jesus was born, with Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, and animals. After people have been to a church meeting, they get together under the Christmas tree. One person in the family will ring a bell and call everyone to come to the room to have verities of delicious food.

HOLLAND

In the Netherlands St. Nicholas is known as Sinterklaas. To the Dutch, St. Nicholas' Day is the time of greatest festivities in the Christmas season. St. Nicholas comes on the last Saturday of November by steamer. As he comes into the port of Amsterdam, all business and traffic stops and people pour out to greet him. The Christmas tree is the center of the home celebration, which consists of carols and story telling in the afternoon. December 26 is also a holiday, called Second Christmas Day, and is a time to relax and probably go out to eat. The people in east Holland hold a special Advent ceremony in which special horns are blown to chase away evil spirits and to announce the birth of Christ. Horns are homemade out of one-year-old saplings and are three or four feet long. Blown over wells, they sound a deep tone, similar to a foghorn.