Christmas Customs in Australia, New Zealand, and Japan

Christmas is a time of giving, helping your fellow man and the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Do you know how other countries celebrate Christmas? Do you know there customs? In this article I will tell you how Australia, New Zealand and Japan celebrate. But first let's talk about America.

In America almost every nation on Earth has moved into the U.S. Every ethnic group has a place in our society and Christmas is celebrated in many different ways in America. But I will concentrate on the traditional American celebration.

America has a very diverse climate which sets the stage for various kinds of celebrations.
But these celebrations are traditionally about the birth of Christ with a traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings and loved ones all around. It may be a picnic on the beach in Florida or Hawaii to candles in a window and a fireplace burning with stockings hanging for Santa to fill in the colder places such as Alaska or even Ohio.

Gifts come from Santa Claus and are placed under a Christmas tree (pine) by Santa on Christmas Eve. In New York City people stop to watch skaters on the ice at Rockefeller Center. In Washington DC the highlight of the season is the lighting of the tree on the Ellipse. A large tree stands for the Nation and smaller trees represent each state.

In Australia Christmas isn't just about gifts either. It's about thinking of Jesus, helping each other and praying. Most Australians eat an English breakfast on Christmas day. Lunch in Australia is usually a cold salad type lunch preferred by most but some eat a traditional English hot lunch.

Most Australians go to the beach on Christmas or play in pools because it is so hot. Australians like Americans also decorate there homes and trees and open gifts.

In New Zealand there Christmas tree is called Pohutokawa and its flowers are a gorgeous scarlet color all during the Christmas season. In New Zealand it is summer when Christmas occurs but Santa still visits in his red and white robe.