Children are visited by "Santaklausen" and the devil. After the children tell of their good deeds and bad, the devil prepares to strike and Santaklausen hurries them away. The children are then given fruit and candy.
A procession with bands and children cheering winds about the town, finally leading to the church. After services the merriment is continued privately in each home.
Presents are hidden throughout the house for children to search for and shoes are left outside for "Papa Noel" to fill with goodies.
Children put milk or rice pudding in the attic for the elves that live there.
Holly with prickly leaves is called "he" and the non-prickly "she". Depending on which type of holly is first brought in to the house at Christmas will determine who will rule the household for the coming year.
Tulips, hyacinths, and poinsettias are given to friends. During the festivities everyone drinks glögg--a warm, fruity, spiced red wine.
Shoes are placed by the fireplace in hopes that "Pere Noel" will fill them with gifts. If they've been naughty Le Pere Fouettard will punish them. On Christmas Eve, sidewalk cafes are open all night serving "le reveillon'. This meal includes sausage, baked ham, oysters, wine, and sweets (with variations from region to region).
Germany has given us many of our traditions. The Christmas tree is typically decorated by the mother, then brought out on Christmas Eve to surprise the family. Germans love to cook and bake. Cookies are made starting in November.
St. Basil is honored on the first day of January. Gifts are given and silver coins are baked into a special cake called a Vasilopeta.
Christmas celebrations go from December 25th to January 6th ,the Feast of Epiphany. A candle is left in the window where it burns all night to show lost souls (Mary and Joseph), their way.
Christmas celebrations go from December 17th to January 6th. A fast is observed before Christmas, then a meal of fish and seafood is served, but no meat.
Father Christmas brings gifts on each of the 12 days of Christmas.
Posadas are held for nine nights in which children dress as Mary and Joseph and angels searching for an inn to stay in. Each night they are turned away. Then on Christmas Eve, the shelter is found. Each night the parade of children ends at a different home where they celebrate with food, fun, and pinatas.
A favorite Christmas Eve dinner includes salted dry cod-fish with boiled potatoes.
Christmas is not an official holiday but winter celebrations include decorating trees. Grandfather Frost and Snow Girl shake jingle bells on New Year's Day, when toys and cakes are given to children.
Twelve nights after Christmas, children place barley in their shoes and leave them in doorways. (The barley is for the Wise Men's camels.) In the morning the barley is gone and gifts fill the shoes.
Sweden
Children wait for "Jultomten", a gnome whose sleigh is drawn by goats. The children never seem to notice the size difference when someone dresses up and delivers the gifts.
You can find numerous traditions in the "melting pot". Many families incorporate several ethnic traditions, depending on what country their families originated from. Santa Claus may bring gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
Christmas time brings songs, carols are sung in contests as part of the celebrations. The Christmas goose and taffy-pulling are Welsh Christmas traditions. Holly is not brought into the house prior to Christmas, as it is believed to bring on quarreling.