It is interesting for people to know how different countries celebrate Christmas.

In Belgium Santa Claus is called de Kerstman or le Père Noël. He comes on Christmas day and bring children presents. At Christmas small presents are given under the tree. People prepare special breakfast sweet bread called ‘cougnou’ or ‘cougnolle’. It is shaped as the baby Jesus.

In Brazil the people have special Christmas meal with ham, chicken, turkey, salad, fresh fruits, rice and drink mainly beer. They call Santa Claus as Papai Noel.

In France the Christmas meal is very important. The family gathers with good meal and wine. The people decorate their Christmas trees with old fashioned red ribbons and white candles. Christmas is known as ‘Noël’ and father Christmas is called Père Noël.

In Germany many houses are decorated with electric candles on the windows and with beautiful plastic or paper pictures. Very often you can see an ‘Adventskranz’ which is a wreath of leaves with four candles. It is a symbol of the 4 weeks before Christmas. Each Sunday a candle is lit. Very popular are the little wooden ‘cribs’ which are small models of the stable where Jesus was born, baby Jesus, Joseph and Mary. Father Christmas is called ‘Der Weihnachtsmann’. He brings presents in the late afternoon on December 24 and leaves them under the Christmas tree. Then somebody form the house will ring with small bell and everybody will come to the room.

In Portugal Father Christmas brings presents on Christmas Eve and leaves them under the tree. The special Christmas meal is cod-fish with boiled potatoes. It is eaten at midnight Christmas Eve. In Romania on December 25, the families attend church and eat stuffed cabbage for lunch.

In Russia Christmas was not celebrated through the Communism. New Year was more important.. Father Christmas was known as Father Frost. After the fall of Communism Christmas is celebrated on December 25 or on January 7th. January 7th is unusual date but the Russian Orthodox church celebrates Christmas on the old Julian calendar The special food includes pies, cakes and meat dumplings.