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. Young 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 Year Day is the main holiday.

Father Frost delivers presents on New Years 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.

A ceremony involving the blessing of the home is frequently observed. A priest visits the home accompanied by boys carrying vessels of holy water, and a little water is sprinkled in each room.

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