| Christmas is a Christian holiday that
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| | enthusiasm. Children sing "Christmas
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| celebrates the birth of Jesus. This feast
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| | Carols" in the streets, they eat the
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| was created by the pope to promote
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| | famous "Christmas Pudding" at the end the
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| Christianity and remove pagan festivals
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| | Christmas Dinner. In England, Santa Claus
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| celebrated at the winter solstice.
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| | fills the English children socks with
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| During the IVth century, the pope decided
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| | gifts. British people also exchange
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| to bring the Christmas day on December
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| | greeting cards; which are a British
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| 25th.
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| | creation.
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| Christmas has always been represented by
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| | Spain:
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| religious ceremonies and gifts and
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| | If Santa Claus has little importance in
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| greetings exchange.
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| | Spain (Magi distribute gifts to children
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| Here are some Christmas symbols:
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| | on January 6th), Spanish people decorate
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| * The Advent consists of a burning candle
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| | the streets with lights during the month
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| each Sunday four weeks before Christmas;
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| | of December. The windows of the shops are
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| which symbolize the rebirth of light
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| | filled with lots of gifts and Spanish
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| after the winter solstice.
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| | celebrate the Christmas Evening with
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| * The December 24th Christmas Mass; which
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| | their family.
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| celebrates the birth of Jesus.
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| | Portugal:
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| * The Christmas Crib; which symbolizes
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| | Christmas Eve is a holiday. The
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| the birth of Jesus in Christian homes.
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| | Portuguese attend the Christmas Midnight
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| * The Christmas tree, a symbol from the
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| | Mass; which is the "Missa Do Galo." If
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| pagan celebration and representing life.
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| | there is no Christmas tree in Portugal,
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| * The Yule log; which represents the log
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| | there is nevertheless a "Wooden
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| that we put in the fireplace to warm up
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| | Christmas".
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| on Christmas Eve.
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| | Italy:
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| * Santa Claus, an American creation,
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| | Christmas lasts three days, from December
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| inspired by the Christian Saint Nicholas
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| | 24th till 26th. However, Christmas
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| (celebrated in Belgium, Netherlands,
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| | traditions vary from one region to
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| Germany and Alsace. This character wears
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| | another one and, depending on the region
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| a luxurious red cape, he has a long white
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| | it is Babo Natale (Father Christmas) or
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| beard and wears a red miter, he also
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| | the "Gesu Bambino" (Little Jesus) who
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| holds a golden crosier. Saint Nicholas
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| | brings gifts on December 25th. The
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| rewards good children while his companion
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| | Italian Christmas dessert is "Panettone".
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| Père Fouettard/Black Pete punishes nasty
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| | Scandinavian Countries:
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| children) and the elf Yule Goat,
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| | During the Christmas Dinner, Scandinavian
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| celebrated in Scandinavian countries.
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| | people reserve a place for the souls of
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| Over the centuries, Christmas has evolved
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| | the deceased members of their family.
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| and Christmas Eve with our family,
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| | Once they finish to eat, they read the
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| replaced the religious ceremonies.
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| | bible. The whole family is singing
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| The gift exchange: luxurious for the rich
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| | Christmas songs and dance around the
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| people and useful - sometimes only one
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| | Christmas tree.
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| orange - for the poor people, has been
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| | Other European countries:
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| replaced by the modern marketing. People
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| | In Romania, on December 24th, there is a
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| not only buys gifts but also spend lots
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| | Christmas candle burning until the
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| of money in decoration items, food,
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| | morning of December 25th. In Russia,
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| drink...
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| | Christmas Day happens on January 7th,
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| The secularization of our society removed
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| | according to the Orthodox calendar. In
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| the true meaning of Christmas Time; which
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| | Greece the Christmas period begins on
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| is, obviously, becoming a pagan feast.
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| | Christmas Eve and ends at the Epiphany.
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| Here are some countries which celebrate
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| | Christmas is less important than Easter.
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| Christmas:
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| | USA:
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| Belgium:
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| | The Saturday after Thanksgiving, Santa
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| We have a festival especially dedicated
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| | Claus is coming to announce the beginning
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| to children; which is Saint Nicholas
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| | of the Christmas shopping season.
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| (Sinter Klaas) on December 6th. The Great
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| | American people love to celebrate
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| Patron of Schoolboys, who is supposed to
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| | Christmas and set up a decorated
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| bring candies in their shoes, brings in
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| | Christmas in their home. Children hang
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| fact toys by the thousands to our
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| | empty stocks empty on the fireplace and
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| children.
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| | on the Christmas morning they find them
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| In Belgium, Christmas is rather reserved
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| | filled with candy and small toys.
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| for adults: the streets are decorated and
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| | Canada:
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| illuminated, we decorate our houses,
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| | Houses, shops and streets are decorated
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| windows, gardens, Christmas trees.
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| | with lights. Canadian people decorate
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| Belgium seems to forget that it is a
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| | their house with a Christmas tree, a
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| Catholic country and closes more and more
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| | Christmas wrap, a Christmas Crib... After
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| churches, therefore, the Midnight Mass on
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| | the "Midnight Mass" people have a
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| December 24th usually happens at 6 or 8
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| | Christmas Eve with their family. Turkey
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| PM. We then eat with our family and at 12
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| | and the Christmas log are the essential
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| PM we exchange our gifts. Children
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| | ingredients of a Canadian Christmas
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| usually receive a book or some clothes.
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| | Dinner. They send greeting cards to their
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| Christmas Day has little meaning but
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| | friends and family who live far away.
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| practicing Catholic go to church. Belgian
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| | South America:
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| people visit their family on January 1st.
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| | Peruvian people have Christmas parties
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| In the Belgian Ardens, people celebrate
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| | but also learn to live better on
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| December 31st and not Christmas.
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| | christmas time. Their Christmas season
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| France:
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| | lasts a full week. Mexican people
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| Christmas is dedicated to children. The
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| | celebrate Christmas with Las Posadas
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| streets and the houses are decorated
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| | (pilgrimages representing the path by the
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| several weeks in advance. French people
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| | Mary and Joseph). They celebrate the last
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| have lots of Christmas customs: Christmas
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| | Posada on the Christmas morning and then
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| Markets, the Christmas tree, the
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| | start the Christmas dinner. I Guatemala,
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| Christmas Dinner, Père Noël, Christmas
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| | immigrants have imported their German
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| gifts, stories, songs, Christmas turkey,
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| | customs and the Christmas tree is
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| The Christmas Crib, the Yule Log, and so
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| | essential but the Christmas gifts are
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| on. In Alsace, however, Saint Nicholas
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| | reserved to the children. Gift exchange
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| predominates on Santa Claus.
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| | for adults is on January 1st.
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| The Netherlands:
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| | Australia:
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| They organize their St. Nicholas (Sinter
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| | Christmas happens during the summertime,
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| Klaas) festival: the old bearded man
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| | so Australian people celebrate Christmas
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| traveling by boat and accompanied by many
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| | at the beach. People eat cold turkey and
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| black aids, who distributes gifts to good
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| | pudding.
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| children. Dutch people reserve the big
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| | New Zealand:
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| gifts for Christmas Time because they
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| | If there are few decorations, New Zealand
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| profit for some great bargains after
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| | people organize Christmas parades and
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| Sinter Klaas.
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| | people sing in the parks. They also
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| Germany:
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| | organize their famous "Christmas
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| Christmas in Germany lasts two days. On
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| | barbecue".
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| December 26th they visit their family and
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| | Japan:
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| their friends. Christ-Kind offers gifts
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| | Christmas is merely commercial
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| to the children on December 24th families
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| | significance in Japan. This festival
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| and friends. Germany has also a Saint
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| | represents Saint Nicholas and it is an
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| Nicholas festival on December 6th.
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| | opportunity to offer gifts to small
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| Great Britain:
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| | children.
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| Christmas is celebrated in England with
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