圣诞节各国习俗
圣诞，英文是CHRISTMAS，美国韦氏辞典，认为这个字是由CHRIST＋MASS合成的，其意义是"基督祭典"，而英国牛津辞典亦做相同解释。央格鲁撒克逊语"圣诞"一句，也一样是基督祭典之意。其它非英语系统国家，如法国、西班牙、意大利等，"圣诞"则有"生日"的意思。至于德国人，称圣诞节为"圣诞季"，但其原文则含有"圣夜"之意。圣诞节是一个普天同庆，人人皆欢乐的日子。世界上每一个国家或民族因为传统习惯的不同，其圣诞节习俗也各有差异。
英国：他们认为圣诞节必须吃得痛快。所以圣诞大餐极为丰富，包括猪肉、烤火鸡、圣诞布丁、圣诞碎肉饼......等等。家里每一个人都有一份礼物，连仆人也有，礼物都在圣诞节的早晨分赠。有时逢唱诗班逐门逐户唱圣诞歌时，他们也会被主人请进屋里，招待茶点或赠予小礼物。
法国：在圣诞节前夕都要到教堂参加午夜弥撒。弥撒后家人同往年长兄家中团聚共享圣诞餐，并分享一年来家中要事。偶有家人不和之事，亦常因圣诞欢聚而尽释前嫌，言归于好。故圣诞节在法国人眼中，视为仁慈和睦的日子。
意大利：在意大利，每逢圣诞节，大家都喜欢在家中安置一些关于耶稣诞生故事的模型。圣诞的前夕，家人团聚吃大餐，到午夜参加圣诞弥撒，然后大家去访问亲戚朋友，但只有小孩和老人得到礼物。在圣诞节意大利有一种好风俗，孩儿为感谢父母一年来的教养，会在未吃圣诞大餐前将他们的作文或诗歌，暗藏在
餐巾、桌布或碟子里。吃完大餐后便将它取出朗读。
西班牙：该国的孩童常将鞋子放在窗口或门外，以接受圣诞礼物。在许多城市中，男孩子也常备有许多高级礼物，要送给美丽女子。"牛"在圣诞节也受到最好的待遇。因当地有一传说："耶稣降生时，曾有一只牛向他吐气，使他得到温暖"。
瑞典：在圣诞佳期中，瑞典人非常好客，每一个家庭不论贫富都欢迎朋友来访，甚至连陌生人都可以进来吃东西。他们将各样的食品都摆在桌上，任人自由选择。
瑞士：该国的圣诞老人穿白长袍，戴假面具。它们往往由贫苦人装扮，成结队向富人讨取食物和礼物，散队时才平分所得物。
丹麦：最先出版圣诞邮票的国家。这种圣诞邮票的发行是为筹措防痨经费。丹麦人寄圣诞贺卡、邮件，都喜欢贴这种邮票。
智利：该国在庆祝圣诞节时，必备一种"猴子尾巴"的冷饮。这种饮料是用咖啡、牛奶、鸡蛋、酒及已经发酵的葡萄制成。此饮品为何叫"猴子尾巴"已无人知晓。
挪威：在圣诞节前夕，家中每一份子就寝前需将鞋子由大到小排成一列。挪威人认为家人如此做可以在未来的一年里得到和睦与安宁。次日早晨，家人见面就互唱最喜爱的圣诞歌曲。
爱尔兰：该国的家庭在圣诞前夕，会将一支蜡烛或灯放在窗门架上，表示欢迎圣婴降生。
苏格兰：圣诞节前需将家中借来的物品一一归还原主。礼物是在新年的头一星期赠给小孩及仆人。
荷兰：该国人赠送圣诞礼物往往出人意外，礼物甚至会藏在布丁、羊肠里呢！
德国：圣诞树的发源国。基督徒的家里定会放置一颗美丽的圣诞树，圣诞饼亦多款且讲究。
美国：一个自由且多彩的国家，圣诞节是他们快乐狂欢的日子。美国的民族复杂，所以其庆祝方式常因移民的不同而有所差异。大部分室内都有别致的布置，门外悬挂着美艳的花环及绮丽的饰物。
梵谛冈：如果你想在世界最大的圣彼得教堂参加由教皇亲自主持的圣诞弥撒，虽然那里可容纳三万五千人但仍需预先定位。其圣诞弥撒大多在十二月二十五日零时举行，教皇坐在八个侍从抬着的轿子上穿过众，一边向信徒们祝福一边走上祭坛。教皇着白袍外罩金黄祭服，登上圣彼得大教堂的祭坛，以拉丁语念出祷告词。零时整，号角手吹响的喇叭，安放于大祭坛上的摇篮本被覆盖着。这时，圣婴耶稣身上的白布被徐徐除下了。教堂内的各国信徒眼眶里含着热泪，以各自的语言唱出悠扬的"平安夜"。世界各地的天主教徒均视前往圣彼得大教堂，亲谒教皇，受其祝福，为一生中最大的荣幸。
日本：虽然日本非基督教国家，但战后日本过圣诞节的风气十分风靡。原因之一与各大商家的促销有关。有的百货公司以圣诞树作装潢，在店内布置雪景，增加银圣诞的气氛。各茶店、夜总会、酒吧
也都安置一株圣诞树以应景。十二月中旬各商店人山人海，大家为准备圣诞礼物赠送亲友而忙碌。善心人士亦趁机致赠礼品予东京室内五十二所肢体及心智障碍的儿童。
纽西兰：该国圣诞节有二周的假期。圣诞节前夕，家人朋友共聚一堂开"派对"庆祝。纽西兰的法律明文规定，庆祝圣诞需在家中举行，故酒楼、茶馆在下午六时一律打烊。普通商店营业时间最迟也只能到晚上九时为止。街上可见到穿着苏格兰短裙的乐队巡回演奏。
非洲摩洛哥：在摩洛哥，平时不与平民见面的王族，在圣诞节当天，公主会在数千儿童的同乐大会上给贫苦儿童发礼物。
波兰：波兰人分为两派。在圣诞前夕，一派吃圣诞大餐；另一派整日斋戒虔诚祈祷。
菲律宾：该国过圣诞节从十二月十六日就开始。做九天的祈求，虔诚的教徒每天早晨四
时就起床祈祷。他们相信如此可得圣婴耶稣及圣母马利亚的特别恩泽，直到二十二日为止，在三天来朝日才结束圣诞庆典。
；哥伦比亚：他们以化装舞会来庆祝圣诞。各人戴着假面具尽量不被人认出，凡能认出最多的人就可得到奖品。
澳大利亚：适婚年龄的女子，在圣诞节时将溶锡倾入冷水中，看它的形状，来预测未来夫婿的外貌，高矮胖瘦。
捷克：圣诞节未婚的捷克少女，把削好的苹果皮，抛在背后。她们以为这样做可以看出未来夫婿的姓氏之第一个字母。
苏联：圣诞前夕，家人围绕着象征"新岁的树"，给孩子讲述荒诞的老祖父拓荒故事。在圣诞节当天，中产阶级以下的人，争往大商店抢购礼物互赠亲友。
圣诞节的习俗：各国圣诞风俗大比拼（英语版）
圣诞节虽然是西方的一个重要节日。但是随着西方文化的传播，越来越多的中国人开始接受并且喜欢上这个节日。圣诞节如此受人们欢迎是为什么呢？你想不想知道各个国家的人们是如果看待圣诞节以及渡过的吗？希望了解更多，就往下看吧!!!
Christmas was brought into China several years ago and only celebrated by a few people to begin with but it is now almost universally accepted.
In China, Christmas has been well received because the people already enjoyed giving gifts to each other.
Santa Claus has been easily accepted by Chinese people - a kindly man who carries a huge pack with red hat and black boots.
In England
Christmas is celebrated on December 25th.
Children write letters to Santa detailing their requests for Christmas gifts.
Gifts are traditionally opened on Christmas afternoon.
Stockings are hung up and filled w ith small gifts, fruit and nuts.
Christmas carols were first sung.
People like to kiss under the mistletoe.
Boxing Day is a unique holiday for this country. Boxing Day was traditionally a day for giving to the less fortunate.
Christmas dinner is usually a Roast Turkey with Christmas pudding and mince pies for dessert.
Christmas decorations must be taken down on the Twelfth Day after Christmas otherwise it brings bad luck for the rest of the year.
Santa is known as Father Christmas.
In Australia
It never snows at Christmas.
Christmas is in the summer holiday.
Christmas is always early.
A traditional Christmas dinner is often held in the backyard for BBQ's, picnics in the garden or even on the beach.
A typical Christmas menu could include cold meats, pasta, salads and fruit.
Santa is also known as the Swag Man.
The first official Christmas was on December 25th 1788.
We do not follow the American ritual of having real Christmas trees.
There is a harmonious mix of ethnic groups, so there are many culturally diverse Christmas celebrations.
People call the Christmas season the "silly season".
In Spain
Christmas is a deeply religious festival.
The Christmas season officially begins on December 8th.
Christmas Eve is known as the "Good Night". It is a time for family members to gather together to rejoice and feast around the Nativity scenes that are present in nearly every home.
A traditional Christmas treat is turron, a kind of almond candy.
December 28 is the feast of the Holy Innocents. Y oung boys of a town or village light bonfires and one of them acts as the mayor who orders townspeople to perform civic chores such as sweeping the streets.
Refusal to comply results in fines which are used to pay for the celebration.
Children receive gifts on January 6th - the feast of the Epiphany.
Children leave their shoes on the windowsills and fill them with straw, carrots, and barley for the horses of the Wise Men.
Their children's favorite Wise Man is Balthazar who rides a donkey and is the one believed to leave the gifts. People say "Feliz Navidad" for Merry Christmas.
Santa Claus is called Papa Noel and some children will also receive presents from him on December 24th.
In Russia
St. Nicholas is extremely popular.
St.Nicholas is also known as Grandfather Frost.
New Y ear Day is the main holiday.
Father Frost delivers presents on New Y ears Eve.
Traditionally a figure called Babushka gave gifts to the children. Babushka is an old woman or grandmother with a headscarf tied under the chin.
Christmas is celebrated on January 7th.
Christmas day begins at midnight with churches ringing in the day with magnificent choral chanting.
Christmas Eve dinner does not contain any meat.
People eat a special porridge called "Kutya." This is made of wheat berries or other grains, which symbolize hope and immortality, and honey and poppy seeds, which ensure happiness, success, and untroubled rest.
圣诞布丁A ceremony involving the blessing of the home is fre
quently observed. A priest visits the home accompanied by boys carrying vessels of holy water, and a little water is sprinkled in each room.
In Germany
They hold special markets every December that specialize in selling decorations and other Christmas related paraphernalia.
The people make and drink a spiced wine, which is called "mulled wine" in English and "Gluhwein" in their own language.
One of the famous traditional Christmas toys is the Nutcracker doll that now comes in many different styles.
The "Advent Calendar" originated here and is now used by children in many other countries that celebrate Christmas.
The Advent Calendar is used for counting down the days to Christmas and has twenty-four little doors with a picture and sometimes chocolate behind each one.
Children leave out a sock on December 6th for Saint Nicholas to fill with candies.
Families gather together on Christmas Eve to open their presents.
A traditional cake is eaten at Christmas time, called "Stollen" cake. It is very rich, fruity and coated with marzipan and icing sugar.
The Christmas tree originated.
At Christmas time if you been a bad boy or girl you will be visited by the evil Hans Muff and receive nothing.
In France
Every home displays a nativity scene featuring little clay figurines made in the south of this country.
The Christmas tree has never been popular here.
In many areas children receive gifts from Pere Noel.
They receive gifts on both December 6th and Christmas Day.
In other regions the gifts are delivered by "Le petit Jesus".
There is a traditional grand feast every year held after midnight mass on Christmas Eve.
A world famous cake is baked for the Christmas season in the shape of a log, usually coated in chocolate and extremely delicious.
One part of the country celebrates Christmas by eating turkey and chestnuts.
The capital city celebrates by eating oysters.
Adults wait until New Y ears Day to exchange gifts.
Christmas celebrations around the world
It is interesting to see how different countries celebrate Christmas. We asked some of our friends to explain what
happens in their countries.
This is what they told us: