Christmas isn't celebrated the same way in all 196 countries! Take a look below and see how different parts of the globe celebrate the holiday season.
1. Australia
Since Christmas happens in the middle of the summer in Australia, Santa changes into lighter clothing and switches from reindeer to six kangaroos, called the six white boomers.
2. The Netherlands
Santa arrives by steamboat and his elf, Zwarte Piet goes down the chimney with children’s presents.
3. Japan
Before Mr. Santa can come bring gifts, many families eat fried chicken, usually ordered from a local KFC, referred to on Christmas as “Kentucky for Christmas.”
4. Iceland
There are 13 different Santa Clauses, and each one visits homes on the 13 days before Christmas.
5. Norway and Sweden
Though Santa does exist as Julenissen, small gnomes called Nisse deliver gifts to children, but only if you leave out rice porridge for them. Swedish children believe similarly, except gnomes are called Nissar there.
6. Argentina
The most important decoration in Argentinian homes is the nativity scene, and fireworks are usually set off at midnight.
7. The Caribbean
Santa arrives in a sailboat to the islands of the Caribbean where he may change into shorts, depending on the weather, before he leaves gifts underneath palm trees in children’s backyards.
8. China
Although Christmas is not extremely popular because it is seen as a Western influence, which is frowned upon in China, some large cities celebrate Christmas Eve by giving wrapped apples to friends and family.
9. Poland
Presents start arriving on Dec. 6, St. Nicholas Day, and then Santa arrives on Christmas dressed in gold and white, right after families finish eating their 12 traditional Polish dishes.
10. New Zealand
Santa is usually seen wearing New Zealand sandals, called jandals, and a black rugby shirt and delivers presents to children, who leave out beer for him and pineapple slices for his reindeer.
11. Finland
Since the North Pole is believed to be the North of Finland for Finnish children, Santa does not have to travel far at all. He can usually deliver the presents to children personally by hand, without having to go down a chimney and leave them under the tree.
12. Philippines
Santa is not the main focus of the holidays in the Philippines because the Epiphany takes priority, seen in the most popular decoration, a bamboo pole with a colorful star-shaped lantern to represent the Star of Bethlehem that the Wise Men followed.
13. Russia
Russians eat 12 traditional Russian dishes on Christmas Eve to represent the 12 apostles before Santa, accompanied by the "Snow Maiden," his granddaughter, delivers presents.
14. Africa
Although Christmas varies slightly from country to country, most African countries celebrate Christmas with a religious undertone, usually with church services and caroling, instead of gift-giving and decorations, although the latter two do exist.
15. Brazil
Papai Noel comes and exchanges socks left by children’s windowsills for gifts.
16. Egypt
Only Christians in Egypt celebrate Christmas, and some children leave out kahk, or a special Christmas biscuit, for Santa, who swaps his reindeer for a camel.
17. Italy
Although Babbo Natale comes on Christmas to deliver presents after families have eaten the traditional seven fish to represent either the seven sacraments or the seven days of creation, the main gift-giving occurs on the Epiphany.
18. Greenland
Santa supposedly has a vacation home in Greenland, so similarly to Finland, he doesn’t have a long commute. However, he leaves presents under Christmas trees imported from Denmark because no trees can grow in the harsh snowy climate of Greenland!
19. Israel/Palestine
A huge service occurs in Bethlehem at the Church of the Nativity, built over the place where Jesus is thought to be born, and those who attend Mass can revere at the exact spot where the manager is thought to have resided.
