Christmas is a global festival

Christmas is a global festival, but different countries and regions have their unique ways of celebrating. Here is an overview of how some countries celebrate Christmas:

United States:

• Decorations: People decorate homes, trees, and streets, especially Christmas trees, which are laden with gifts.
• Food: On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, families gather for a lavish dinner, with the main course often being turkey. They also prepare Christmas cookies and milk for Santa Claus.
• Activities: Gifts are exchanged, and family dances, parties, and celebrations are held.

United Kingdom:

• Decorations: From December, homes and public places are decorated, especially with Christmas trees and lights.
• Food: On Christmas Eve, people share a Christmas feast at home, including turkey, Christmas pudding, and mince pies.
• Activities: Caroling is popular, and carol services and pantomimes are watched. Christmas is celebrated on December 25th.

Germany:

• Decorations: Every Christian household has a Christmas tree, decorated with lights, gold foil, garlands, etc.
• Food: During Christmas, gingerbread is eaten, a snack between cake and cookies, traditionally made with honey and peppercorns.
• Christmas Markets: Germany's Christmas markets are famous, where people buy handicrafts, food, and Christmas gifts.
• Activities: On Christmas Eve, people gather to sing Christmas carols and celebrate the arrival of Christmas.

Sweden:

• Name: Christmas in Sweden is called "Jul".
• Activities: People celebrate the festival on Jul Day in December, with main activities including lighting Christmas candles and burning the Jul tree. Christmas parades are also held, with people wearing traditional costumes, singing Christmas songs. Swedish Christmas dinner usually includes Swedish meatballs and Jul ham.

France:

• Religion: Most adults in France attend midnight mass on Christmas Eve.
• Gathering: After the mass, families gather at the oldest married brother or sister's house for dinner.

Spain:

• Festivals: Spain celebrates both Christmas and the Feast of the Three Kings consecutively.
• Tradition: There is a wooden doll called "Caga-Tió" that "poops" out gifts. Children throw gifts inside the doll on December 8th, hoping the gifts will grow. On December 25th, parents secretly take out the gifts and put in bigger and better ones.

Italy:

• Food: Italians eat the "Feast of the Seven Fishes" on Christmas Eve, a traditional meal consisting of seven different seafood dishes stemming from the practice of Roman Catholics not eating meat on Christmas Eve.
• Activities: Italian families place models of the Nativity story, gather for a big dinner on Christmas Eve, attend midnight mass, and children write essays or poems to thank their parents for their upbringing over the year.

Australia:

• Season: Australia celebrates Christmas in summer.
• Activities: Many families celebrate by hosting beach parties or barbecues. Christmas Carols by Candlelight is also performed in city centers or towns.

Mexico:

• Tradition: Starting from December 16th, Mexican children knock on doors asking for "room at the inn". On Christmas Eve, children are invited in to celebrate. This tradition is called the Posadas Procession.
• Food: Mexicans gather for a feast on Christmas Eve, with the main course often being roasted turkey and pork. After the procession, people hold Christmas parties with food, drinks, and traditional Mexican piñatas filled with candy.