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Fascinating Christmas Traditions From Around The World

There are many exciting and unique Christmas traditions all over the world. You probably already know that every country has its own way of celebrating Christmas. Travel the world with us and discover these traditions from different cultures and parts of the world.

Also read, Top 10 Interesting Facts About Christmas

Christmas Traditions In Italy 

Along with the Christmas tree, the Italians set up the nativity scene. which was invented in Italy in the Middle Ages. Naples is famous for its Nativity scene called Presepe Napoletano.

In Italy, children not only believe in Santa Claus, but also in La Befana. Children in Italy receive gifts on the night between 5th and 6th January from a witch known as La Befana. It is believed that La Befana flies around on a broomstick. She brings candy to good children and charcoal to the bad ones. She puts these in a sock that is hung on the night before. In modern Italy, La Befana is known as the Christmas Witch.

Norway Christmas Traditions

Say hello to Nisse! Nisse is a mythological creature from Scandinavian folklore similar to a gnome. According to tradition, Nisse protects the house and the family and brings presents for the children. Norwegians leave a bowl of oatmeal for Nisse under the Christmas tree. If Nisse does not get his bowl of oatmeal, it will get naughty and break things in the house. On December 23 which is celebrated as Little Christmas Eve, Norwegian families decorate the tree together and make a sweet gingerbread house. The main celebrations are on Christmas eve, rather than December 25.

The Netherlands Christmas Traditions

Sinterklass (St. Nicholas) brings children presents in the Netherlands on 5th of December. Children usually leave a shoe out by the fireplace or window sill, filled with carrots for Sinterklass’s horse.

It is popularly believed that Sinterklass lives in Spain and every year arrives at a different harbour in the Netherlands. Children play treasure hunt games to follow the clues to find their presents.

Christmas Traditions In Greece

In addition to decorating the Christmas trees, the Greeks also decorate Christmas boats. Greece is a

country of sailors and in the olden times men were often sailing for several weeks in winter. When they returned home, small boats were decorated inside the house to honour their courage.

Iceland Christmas Traditions

Modern equivalent of Santa Claus in Iceland is known as the Yule Lads. In Iceland, Christmas is celebrated for 13 days and the celebrations start on December 12. Each night before Christmas, children are visited by 13 Yule Lads. Children leave their shoes under the window, hoping to receive sweets from 13 mischievous trolls called the Yule Lads. If they have been good, they will receive sweets but if they have been bad, the Yule Lads leave them a rotten potato.

Christmas Traditions In Japan

Even though Christmas is not a religious holiday in Japan, it is celebrated and gifts are exchanged.

The Japanese have found an interesting and innovative way to celebrate Christmas. Rather than gathering around the table for a turkey dinner, families head out to their local Kentucky Fried Chicken. The tradition originated in 1974 after a successful marketing campaign called “Kurisuma-su ni wa kentakkii!”, means Kentucky Fried Chicken for Christmas.

Germany And Austria Christmas Traditions

People in Germany and Austria celebrate St. Nikolaus Day on December 6. St. Nikolaus and his companion Krampus come and visit children to reward those who have been good and punish those who have misbehaved. On the previous evening, children put their polished shoes outside the front door and St. Nikolaus fills them with sweets, fruits, and small presents.

The main presents will be given to the children on Christmas eve. Traditionally, Christmas gifts are brought by the Christkind (child of Christ). Santa Claus also exists in Germany and is simply called the Christmas man (Weihnachtsmann).

Catalonia, Spain Christmas Traditions

Old Caga Tió or Tió de Nadal (Christmas log) is a cheerful character known for his generosity in offering gifts and treats to small chil-dren, despite their poor treatment of him.

Basically it is a small wooden log covered in a blanket with a warm smiley face. Caga Tió usually arrives at homes in early December and families take care of him until Christmas day, by feeding him dry bread, orange peel or dried beans. However, for Caga Tió to produce gifts, children are instructed to beat him with a wooden stick and sing to him, ordering him to poop presents.

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He said that “India will leave no stone unturned in the preparation for the successful organisation of the Olympics in 2036 – this is the dream of the 140 crore Indians”. No firm time frame has been set by the IOC for when the hosting rights for the 2036 Games will be award-ed. The 2036 Summer Games is the next available edition: Paris will host in 2024, Los Angeles in 2028, and Brisbane in 2032.

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Some scientists believe that asteroids like Bennu could have been responsible for bringing important materials to Earth – like water to help kick-start life around 4.5-bil-2 lion-years ago. The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft had left the Earth in 2016. It reached Asteroid Bennu and collected samples in 2020. It then took nearly three years for the NASA spacecraft to travel back to the Earth and drop off the sample at a military base in the US.

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According to UNICEF’s “Children Displaced in a Changing Climate” report, 43 million children have been forced to leave their homes because of extreme weather events between 2016 and 2021. The report has predicted that 100 million more children will be displaced over the next 30 years due to climate change. UNICEF has stated that:

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• More needs to be done to help children affected by climate change.

• 95% of the children displaced were due to floods and storms.

• Two million children were displaced due to droughts and wild-fires.

• The highest number of children displaced were recorded from China and the Philippines.

The report has asked governments to protect children from the adverse effects of climate change, help them prepare to deal with climate change, increase participation of children in conversations about climate change, and give priority to children and young people when preparing action plans.

Word Check

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