GEO,

Thank you my friend as so many friends here from around the world it is awesome of your to share this forum with us all .

On Christmas morning, boys and girls around the world will waken early and run excitedly downstairs to see what Santa Claus has left for them on Dec 25th

Well, that's not exactly how it goes -- for around the world children celebrate the Christmas holidays in many different ways.

In Germany, the 6th of December is a special day:

...There's a special tradition all over Germany on December 6th. [On] the evening of December 5th you put your cleaned (big) boots outside the house in front of the door (or inside). Some people also put a plate there or on the windowsill. The bread in the plate is for the white horse of Santa Claus ... In the morning you see that Santa Claus really was at your house and put nice things into the boots or plates, e.g., all kinds of nuts, oranges, apples, sweets, chocolate, small presents ... But if you [weren't] well behaved the whole year you only get a switch so that your parents can punish you, but they don't!
Kristine and Wiebke, Germany

And in Italy, January 6th is a day long-awaited by many children:

The 6th of January is the day on which the three Wise Men arrive at the Bethlehem cave in which kid Jesus is and give him gold, incense and myrrh and for this reason in Italy children receive presents traditionally brought by the "Befana," a good old witch who comes into their homes through the chimney. This is the last day to the Christmas holiday in Italy.
Elisbetta, Italy

In Sweden, December 13th is a special day that children look forward to all year long:

Saint Lucia [Day] is celebrated all over Sweden on December 13th. The custom with the girl dressed in white with candles on her head has a complicated background ... In our school we celebrate Saint Lucia Day outside very early in the morning while it's still dark. Our Saint Lucia is coming in a carriage pulled by a very small horse. She is followed by Santa Claus on a big horse and a lot of girls and boys in white gowns and a lot of candles. They all sing traditional Christmas songs and read poems. After the ceremony we all eat ginger cookies and bread with saffron. To celebrate is very important to Swedish people.
Class 4c in Nasbyparksskolan

Any many more around the world.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OUR ADLAND FAMILY OF FRIENDS

Gods speed :-) Lee

Hello Georgios and all friends,

This is a Christmas story that must surely be spiritually correct.

I once heard it and I believe the story to be beautiful.

Please accept my dismal poetical competence!

                         ~~~~~~

 

The donkey and the bull where the only source of warmth on that night

She was still in pray and wonder about her virginal birth giving

The child was seemingly at ease, and that was his right

The Shepherds had come and gone with no misgivings

 

Then came a woman with all respect and saw the manger

The virgin did not know from where or of her name

She looked at the child and was on the brim of tears

Some knowledge beyond common must exist with this Dame

 

Mary watched her every movement, so did the Donkey and bull

The Dame slowly and with all respect handed a present to the child

Mary could not see, but the graceful gesture was wonderful

The child seemed to have accepted, for his first smile was only mild

 

The Dame stood up and turned to take her leave

Only then did Mary see her face. Her age seemed beyond all reason

Was it possible to live to such an age? One must believe

Mary approached the manger to fore come her fear of treason

 

The child held the present in his hands and watched his mother

Their eyes met with the complicity beyond all because of that secret

Because the present was an apple, the object and cause above all other

All hope, and faith is now entrusted to our charitable Redeemer.

 

The promised Ave has succeeded to the Eva.

Hello Joe Downing!

What a nice card. WOW. You said it many variations. Lots of nations. I will chose one. Don't be surpised. Let's see how some Celtic people celebrate Christmas.


MERRY CHRISTMAS
Georgios

Hello Patricia!

Thank you for sharing this nice angelic message. Well, you Angelic smiling face of a woman and mother. Feel like a goddess. What more than goddess Isis can I dedicate to you. Her son Horus was born at December 25th.

 

              MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!             CRACIUN FERICIT !!!

 "...Carols form an important part of the Romanian folklore. Romanian carols are not simple songs (a sort of invocation in verse sung by children and lads, on the evening of Winters Holidays) with religions origin, but wide windows through which we are allowed once in a year to go by the immaculate snow-towards the evergreen Heaven and to eye-touch God at least for an instant , in order to give us the power to surpass the life's obstacles. Carols put people in the mood for a perfect communion with the simple and healing greatness of Jesus' Birth..."

     Here you are a carol from Romania called " White Flowers ". Click on :