On Christmas Eve, Santa and his team of reindeer, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph will be ready to go in celebration of Christmas Around the World.
If the weather reports fog, in any country, Rudolph’s shiny nose will lead the way through the damp, dense mist. Early on Christmas Eve morning, Mrs. Claus makes sure Santa has coffee, food, and snacks for the reindeer on the sleigh. She and the Elves have been up all night loading toys for delivery.
With a Ho, Ho, Ho, Santa, and his sleigh, are off to millions of stops on rooftops around the globe, all in one night.
How Canada, Mexico, and Argentina Celebrate Christmas
In Canada, Santa is also called Kris Kringle. Both the USA and Canada share customs. Children in Canada hang stockings the same as USA children and put out milk and cookies for Santa and reindeer food.
We are all familiar with Feliz Navidad from our neighboring country, Mexico. Christmas is celebrated for days with processions of children standing for Mary and Joseph from house to house. The procession ends at one house and a celebration is held with food and pinatas. Streets are decorated with poinsettias. Nativity scenes feature live animals.
In Argentina, kids leave hay and water for the reindeer. They put their shoes underneath the Christmas tree, or outside. Their favorite dessert for Christmas Eve dinner is pan dulce.
How Australia, Chili, and China Celebrate Christmas
While children in Argentina leave hay for the reindeer, in Australia, Santa gets fruitcake and a cold beer, as it is summer there. Christmas stockings are filled with chocolate. Families decorate the Christmas Bush, a native Australian tree. Since it is summer there, Australians go to the beach
.
In Chili, Pan de Pascua, a sponge cake, is a snack for Papa Noel. Due to the fact there are no chimneys in Chile, Papa Noel uses doors and windows to deliver gifts. It is traditional to make three rag dolls which are a symbol of The Nativity.
In China, Dun Che Lao Ren (“Christmas Old Man”), fills children’s Muslin stockings. Gorgeous paper lanterns decorate the outdoors. Children string lanterns indoors around a plastic Christmas tree called
The Tree of Light.
How Norway and Italy Celebrate Christmas
Norway children receive treats and gifts in their stockings. Santa, or Nisse as he is often called, fills the stockings hanging on the end of the children’s beds. Knitted stockings are often passed from generation to generation.
In Italy, Christmas is celebrated for a few days in December, beginning on the sixth, and the children are excited to see the houses decorated and Christmas trees put up. Each region may celebrate differently. The children write letters to St. Nicholas and hang up their socks or set a plate on the table for St. Nicholas Day. In other regions, children hang up their stockings as ‘Babbo Natale’ (Father Christmas) brings gifts on Christmas Eve.
Santa and his Elves, (Alabaster, Snowball, Bushy Evergreen, Pepper Ministix, Shinny Upatree, Sugarplum Mary, and Woodser Openslate) worked hard in Santa’s Workshop to make toys to deliver this year. See you in 2024 Santa!
Merry Christmas!
Feliz Navidad
Joyeux Noël
Merry Chrissie!
圣诞快乐
God jul
‘Buon Natale’
For additional information, here’s what Santa Claus looks like in 13 countries around the world
