Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!

I love giving gifts. I love going to parties, I love baking and surprising someone with some of my goodies. I enjoy giving a plate of home baked cookies, buckeyes, energy balls, and  candy canes, to my neighbors. I love my Christmas tree and all the decorations inside and outside of my home. I enjoy Christmas programs and activities at Church. But my greatest thrill is seeing and hearing how some other countries celebrate this time of year.

Christmas in America: family time, travel, gift giving, Christmas tree, attend a church service

Christmas in Europe: Family affair, spend time baking cookies, fudges and preparing a large meal.

Christmas in Africa: Is a summer holiday. Decorate with flowers,and  singing carols is the most important activity.

Christmas in South America: Christmas is a deep religious holiday. The countries celebrate in their own distinctive way.

More than two billion people celebrate Christmas globally every year.  Unfortunately, many Americans and people around the world celebrate it, but, may not know the true meaning of Christmas. They celebrate the season by buying gifts and doing good deeds.

People celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah,  and the Advent. Some countries celebrate St. Stephen’s Day (Stephen was the first martyr) and Boxing Day (Dec. 26 or Dec.27. A day of giving gifts in boxes,  to those who have served through out the year. Example: mail carrier, garbage collector, nurse, Dr. etc).

When checking on the web, about some traditions that countries engage in; during this season, I chose a few of them:

Scandinavia: They leave porridge instead of Cookies for a gnome like character.

Japan: Decorates trees with small toys, dolls and ornaments, gold paper fans, wind chimes, candles and origoni swan.

Brazil: They put presents in shoes not in stockings.

Mexico: Carving Radishes. Farming folks carve vegetables, making human figures including the nativity scenes.

Australia: They have Rudolph the red nosed Kangaroo. It is summer time, so they enjoy a barbecue on the beach.

Venezuela: Roller skate to church. In the capital city, Caracas, they close off the roads so people can roller skate to mass.

Different cultures and  different traditions, are very interesting to read about. These different ways of celebrating is by choice.

Regardless of family and country, from which we are citizens, the reason for this season is Christ.  God loves us so much that He made a way for us to live in heaven for eternity. He sent His only begotten Son, who came to earth, was born of a virgin, died on the cross, had risen again on the third day, and is coming again. That is Christmas. Without Christ, the world would not be celebrating.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.                                       For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.     John 3:16,17

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isa. 9:6

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.                                Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Matthew 1:21,23.

If you want to experience a personal real Christmas, accept God’s Christmas gift of eternal life in Heaven, through Jesus Christ. You can pray and believe:

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.                                                                 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.                     For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Rom.10:9,10,13.

Yes, Merry Christmas world. May we share the true meaning of what this December celebration is all about. God with us, has come. Let us all share the good news.

 

www.christmas-day.org/christmas-around-world.html                                 www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/…/christmas-around-the-world-how-different-countries-ce…