Show Yule Product r I II II I Of All Lands I Myriad of Customs Add to Seasons Season's Joy Christmas in the United States Is composed of threads from many countries and reflects their customs customs customs cus cus- toms in church and home The traditional English Christmas ChrIstmas Christmas Christ ChrIst- mas calls for family reunions gifts carols parties and a pantomime for the children in hi a season of general good will Although many of the old picturesque English customs have faded they still contribute contribute contribute contrib contrib- ute to the modern holiday through Christmas pageants the designs on Christmas cards and the narratives in ballads and carols describing the festivities festivities fes- fes festivities fes fes- of the old days In Scandinavian countries preparations preparations preparations prep prep- and cooking are arc begun weeks in advance in order to stock the home for the three weeks of ot hospitality and and leisure during the holiday season The celebration itself it itself itself it- it self begins on Christmas Eve with an elaborate supper followed by bya a tree with family worship about it and singing before the gifts are distributed Early church is attended by everyone on Christmas morning because the Shepherds first to worship worship worship wor wor- ship the baby Jesus came early and then returned to their work I Traditionally Germany kept kept Christmas with much heartiness including a home festival and attendance attendance attendance at at- at church Children in the Netherlands leave their wooden shoes filled with hay for St. St Nicholas Nicholas' white horse In the Netherlands and Belgium December 6 is the childrens children's holiday with December December December Decem Decem- ber 25 reserved for the religious religIons religious ious Ions holiday Religious features are prominent during the holiday in France especially especially especially es es- es- es midnight mass followed by Christmas supper with family dinners dinners dinners din din- ners and reunions reunions on Christmas Day Christmas in Brazil south of the equator is a summer festival with fireworks picnics fiestas and boating boating boating boat boat- ing excursions In spite of the summer summer summer sum sum- mer weather Papa Noel comes dressed as Santa Claus with his reindeer and sleigh |