World
United States of America
The first Christmas observance in what is now the United States was celebrated in an authentic Spanish style.
United Kingdom
No other people have observed the Christmas season with such wild abandon as the English, and they have been celebrating it for more than a thousand years. According to legend, King Arthur made merrie in York in 521 surrounded by "minstrels, gleemen, harpers, pipe-players, jugglers, and dancers."
France
Christmas Day is celebrated in France with all of the family coming together. On Christmas Eve, French children put their shoes (sabots) in front of the fireplace. They hope Pere Noel (Father Christmas) will fill them with presents. His partner Le PERE Fouettard (Father Spanker) would "reward" bad children with a spanking.
Spain
In Spain, the Christmas holiday season is full of the usual Christmas festivities, but there is one tradition, not at all common elsewhere. Named Hogueras (bonfires), this tradition originated long before Christmas itself. It is the observance of the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year and thebeginning of winter. It is characterized by people jumping over fires as a symbolic protection against illness. This fire-jumping can be seen primarily in Granada and Jaen.
Germany
When the Christmas Markets open, that's a sign that Advent is here and Christmas is not too far off. In larger German cities, the market is open seven days a week until just before Christmas. In smaller towns, the market opens on weekends.
Italy
Located in Southern Europe, Italy is a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia.