Vietnam
In Vietnam, Christmas isn’t an official public holiday. With that, many people celebrate by gathering in the city center. Christmas Eve in Vietnam is more important than Christmas day. In the city center, people celebrate by throwing confetti, eating snacks from the cafes and enjoying the lights from the big hotels.
Zimbabwe
In Zimbabwe, Christmas day often begins with a church service. After church, everyone celebrates by having a party in their homes. Afterward, people go from house to house and celebrate with family and friends. It can take all day. With every house visited, presents are exchanged and the food is eaten.
Ukraine
In Ukraine, Christmas is celebrated on January 7th. The main church of Ukraine is the Orthodox church, and with the use the ‘Julian’ calendar, Christmas Eve takes place on January 6th with a Holy Supper called Sviata Vecheria. Traditionally, people fast except for drinking Holy Water. The Holy Supper usually has twelve dishes symbolizing Jesus’s twelve disciples. Christmas Trees are decorated with artificial spider webs because finding a spider on a web in a Christmas tree is meant to bring good luck.
Sweden
Around Christmas, one of the biggest holidays in Sweden is St. Lucia’s day on December 13th. St. Lucia’s Day celebrates a young Christian girl who was killed for her faith in 304. It is said that St. Lucia would secretly bring food to persecuted Christians in Rome. She also wore candles on her head, so that her hands would be free to carry food. The holiday is celebrated by having a girl dress in white with a red sash around her waist and a crown of candles on her head. A national Lucia is chosen who visits hospitals and the old.
South Korea
Christmas is an official holiday in South Korea. Churches are decorated with lights and sometimes a neon red cross. Department stores also have big Christmas displays. In Seoul, there is an amazing display of lights. Presents are exchanged for Christmas, but money is the usual gift. Santa Claus is also popular in Korea, but he can be seen wearing either red or blue.
Philippines
In the Philippines, Christmas is stretched out as long as possible. Christmas carols can start playing as early as September. Christmas celebrations formally start on December 16th when the first of nine masses begins. The last mass is on Christmas day. Christmas continues to the First Sunday in January with the Feast of the Three Kings.
Pakistan
Although Christmas is a public holiday in Pakistan, it is celebrated for the memory of Jinnah who founded Pakistan. There are Christian festivals for Christmas and Easter in St. Anthony’s Church in Lahore. It can take hours to reach the Cathedral. Before and during Advent, seminars take place to prepare for Christmas. During this time, carols are sung as groups go from house to house. In big Christian areas, houses are decorated and a star is placed on the roofs.
Nigeria
The Family is a big part of Christmas in Nigeria. Most families gather with their extended family for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Most families throw a large party that often lasts all night, and when morning comes, the entire family goes to church. Homes and streets are often decorated as well.
New Zealand
Christmas comes in the middle of summer in New Zealand, and many families often go to the beach or their holiday homes. Santa parades are also popular in many towns. Instead of leaving cookies out for Santa, a beer and pineapple chunks are left out for him, and kids put out carrots for Santa’s reindeer.
Latvia
Children in Latvia believe Santa Claus brings their gifts. While at church, presents are secretly put under the Christmas tree. Sometimes children have to sing, dance or play an instrument before they can get their present. Latvia also claims to be where the Christmas Tree originated. In fact, the first documented tree was held in the town square of Riga, Latvia in 1510.
