Christmas

Christmas (mostly as indicated by Roman Catholics), Christmas (Feast) (mostly as indicated by Protestants) or the feast of the Lord is an important feast in theChristian liturgical year.

At Christmas by Christians celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ . The Gospels of Matthew and Lucas describe the birth of Jesus. Especially Lucas gives broad attention tothe birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.

The Christmas party is in the Western-Christian world and in some churches of the Eastern Christianity celebrated on 25 december. In those Oriental Churches that use the Julian calendar for the liturgical calendar (like the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ethiopian Orthodox tewahedo Church), the celebrated 13 days later. In many areas, there are also special celebrations on the night before (Christmas Eve, midnight smis) and/or on the day after. In Western Europe, 25 december as Christmas day and regarded as boxing day 26 december .

Different elements in the way that one Christmas celebrates go back on for Christian and Germanic traditions. The party is in recent memory in large parts of the Western world largely secularized.

Although Easter theological seen is far more important, is the Christmas party outside the Liturgy celebrated in the West much more emphatically. In the Christian East is also more important outside the Church Easter and the feast of Epiphany also plays a more important role. In the Ethiopian Orthodox tewahedo Church is Epiphany (Timket in Amharic) even the most important Christian holiday.



Content
[hide] *Origin 1  ==Origin[ Edit] == Combustion of a Sun wheel during apagan Yule by groups in Germany.The Teutons celebrated around Midwinter (21 december) already midwinter-or joel events (winter solstice) in which the evil was driven away and the light was greeted. In the Scandinavian languages is called Christmas until today jul.
 * 2 use and Christmas symbols
 * Christmas Eve service 2.1
 * 2.2 Christmas speech
 * 2.3 Christmas star
 * 2.4 Nativity scene
 * 2.4.1 Stable or cave?
 * 2.5 Christmas tree
 * 2.6 Christmas decorations
 * 2.7 Santa Claus and his gifts
 * 2.8 Christmas music
 * 2.9 Christmas poems
 * 2.10 Christmas delicacies and dishes
 * 2.11 Christmas Getaways
 * 3 Christmas party in certain countries
 * 4 Spelling according to the Green Book
 * 5 Christmas wishes
 * 6 see also
 * 7 external link

In the fourth century Emperor Constantine the great and took care of the bishops of the early Church freed from prosecution sure Christmas would be celebrated on december 25. On this date was around the Mediterranean until then the Sun God worshipped under many different names such as Ra in Egypt and Helios in Greece. In the late Roman Empire was this especially the Sun God Sol Invictus (= the invincible Sun). Because Jesus was called the light of the world [1], Constantine I would-according to certain authors[source? ] -have decided that the birth of Christ on this day should be celebrated. In addition-and this fact is more influential in the rise of the celebration of the birth of Christ were the days around 25 december as Christmas-already the free holidays of Saturnalia. Adoration of the child Jesus toBethlehem by the angels.

Hugo van der Goes, 1480.The birth of Jesus took in the church calendar there is no special place, although they are celebrated, and to this day is Easter in Christianity actually as much more substantial than Christmas. Jesus according to the Gospel was at the end of the Jewish (or Roman) year born, but by the time the calendar changes and differences in account, the transfer shall be deemed to be not very accurate, especially since is also reported by sheep herds in lower (and warmer) fields around Bethlehem. Grazing sheep in Palestine is around december 25, although now rare, but at that time not entirely impossible-the sheep for the sacrificial service in the Jewish Temple were bred, grazed all year round, also near Bethlehem (Beth Lechem-House of bread). In addition, the month of december in Palestine not so cold. The date is not certain to label as non-genuine, because from the ancient Christian liturgies-which dates from before the fourth century-already the celebration ofEpiphany (6 January) in the same winter time. Sextus Julius Africanus calls the birth of Christ as falling on december 25, in one of his writings dated to ad 221 .[2]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The appealing themes and the already existing traditions have, however, to the main Christmas celebration in the year created. The current traditions around the Christmas party are also different from country to country, as they are not all the same age. What is clear is that the American popular and commercial Christmas customs, within the framework of the ongoing globalization, penetrate everywhere else, even in Netherlands.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The word ' Christmas ' actually means ' Christ-mass ', because this festival dedicated to the birth of Jesus the Christ (the anointed) is called. The word ' Christmas ' is created from the word Christ ; for example, means "christianize" make "Christian". The Wrong is the Christian celebration of the sacrifice of the Eucharist, in which at the end of the service said or sung "Ite missa est" (TRANS. goes, it is the removal of the Lord or: go, the sacrifice is consummated). ==Christmas use and-symbols<span class="mw-editsection" len="342" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == ===Christmas Eve Service<span class="mw-editsection" len="331" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">On Christmas Eve and Christmas day churches in many a Christmas Eve service place. It is often one of the busiest church services of the year in many churches, both in the Protestant and Catholic churches. ===Christmas Speech<span class="mw-editsection" len="329" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Keep various heads of State and monarchs on Christmas day a Christmas speech broadcast on radio and television that often. The Pope also keeps track of the St. Peter's Basilica a Christmas speech, gives his blessings and wishes everyone a Merry Christmas, often in several languages. Christmas Star (Euphorbia pulcherrima)===Christmas Star<span class="mw-editsection" len="324" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The Christmas star is directly attributable to the Christmas story, such as that described in the Gospel of Matthew. The Star of Bethlehem, the place where the King of the Jews would be born. The three wise men would follow through this star according to Matthew King Herod to visit the baby Jesus to reveal this then birthplace to Herod so that the child could be killed. The sages did not come back to Herod, so following the infanticide of Bethlehem so that the prophesied Messiah would perish. The Savior of the Jewish people would be if it deemed this reign, and King Herod announced a threat to its influence.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The lighting of candles and other light also has to make with old for Christian midwinter traditions. Even if the plant is Euphorbia pulcherrima known as Christmas star because of the red flowers that look like a star. The wise men from the East===Nativity Scene<span class="mw-editsection" len="324" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">A direct representation of the Christmas story Nativity scenes which forms the especially in Catholic countries are manufactured. These are from a variety of materials and sizes. Also Nativity scenes with living persons and animals occur. The presence of the os and thedonkey in the stable has no biblical origin. They were placed there because of the phrase from the Old Testament where the ProphetIsaiah says: the ox and the donkey know better their Master than Israel. That of the shepherds with their sheep is based on the Gospel, as well as those of the three wise men from the East (see also three kings & Mat. 2: 1-18). The decor of the Christmas story is often adapted to local conditions. In Netherlands and Belgium means that a winter, harsh environment. Moreover, it can also snowing and freezing Holy Land, although it is rather zeldaam. ====Stable or cave?<span class="mw-editsection" len="328" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] ==== <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The Nativity scene is an idea by Francis of Assisi in 1223 on the idea came a live Nativity scene in the village of Greccio (Italy) to set up. The idea stems from the translations of the Gospel according to Lucas, stating that Jesus was laid in a Manger, because there was no room in the Inn. The place of a manger is the stable, what seems a logical choice as the Inn itself is full. Especially in Catholic families, it is common to put down a Nativity scene.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Another tradition allows the birth taking place in a cave. This data goes back to Justin Martyr (c. 150 ad) who wrote, "because there was nothing to be found for Joseph to spend the night, he went but as long as a cave in nearby Bethlehem". Justin is based on Isaiah (33,16): "he will live in a high Cave of a strong Rock". This phrase involves Justinus on Jesus. Who makes rotspapier, a cave follows Justin.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Although clearly the traditions differ, their origins are not necessarily contradictory. In the Near East were at that time and later caves indeed as a stable used (for equipping a long schaapsherderdag): there were even entire houses and even villages that were carved in rocks.

<p lang="en" len="155" style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">For the time of Francis were the pictures of the Christmas scene often two-dimensional and it was more usual to depict the environment as cave. A Danish Christmas tree===Christmas Tree<span class="mw-editsection" len="324" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The Christmas tree (a spar, and no Christmas tree) goes back on a fertility symbol. About the age of the use as Christmas tree walking the sources widely. The Germans had probably already for the Christianization around the time of winter solstice (Yule or Yule) an evergreen tree in the home or in the yard. Because of these pagan roots, theRoman Catholic Church banned the tree for a long time from the Christianity.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Luther stated early sixteenth century the Christmas tree to symbol of the birth of Jesus. First stood the tree only in the churches; He pulled out at the end of the 19th century, first of all in Protestant countries, within the living room.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The Christmas tree reminds the Christian according to Luther to the tree in paradise; the Christmas tree balls to the fruits of which Adam and Eve ate. The peak in the tree represents the Minister who point the way pointed to the birthplace of Jesus; Therefore the peak is sometimes replaced by a star.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The Catholics gave previously to the Nativity scene, possibly with green ornaments, the place of honor in the home, only since 1982 is also in the Vatican a Christmas tree.Protestants, however, Wagner in general the images of the Nativity scene, because of prohibition, hence their images had the Christmas tree at them more success.Incidentally, there was around the ever-Green coniferous tree in the warmer, Southern Catholic countries also no history or the Germanic pagan folklore as in northern countries.

Candle in a Christmas piece<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The Christmas tree is decorated with candles, garlands, balls and chains, Angel Hair Christmas balls. Related to fire prevention, there is also special Christmas tree lighting in prevalent, consisting of small electric lights in plastic case.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The Christmas tree is now also called theological interpreted as for image of the wood of the cross of Christ's suffering and sacrificial death; In addition, the Green wood referred to the Manger and the eternal life that was brought about by Jesus and earned, according to the Christian view. ===Christmas Decorations<span class="mw-editsection" len="332" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Next to the Christmas tree, there are numerous Christmas decorations, which can be hung indoors such as resin and a Christmas piece or a swag on a fireplace when thefireplace, along the front door or staircase. They may include candles or lights, baubles, Holly branches et cetera. Also posting a Christmas village is becoming increasingly popular.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">One set down on Snow Globes Christmas decorations. Also put one often a glass candle holder with a tea light down to the cosy in the dark days before Christmas. Christmas lights hung in many places is public, especially to a shopping center, a shopping street or on a square.

<p lang="en" len="293" style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In many places In Germany Christmas pyramid is put down, in a House on the market in a smaller variant and a larger one. ===Santa Claus and his gifts<span class="mw-editsection" len="346" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Gift giving around Christmas goes back to ancient times, but in Netherlands was for a long time especially the Saint-Nicholas party gift party. The twentieth century seemed to end Santa Claus Santa Claus to go out.In so far as it is not come, but many give each other (also) with Christmas gifts. This habit has led to criticism that the party would have become too commercial. In many companies is the traditional Christmas giftthank you for the work done in the last year.

The Christkind and Hans Trapp<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Santa Claus is a descendant of Saint Nicholas and is also associated with elves (Nisse or Tomte), as Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra on Saint Nicholas, dating back. The sinterklaas use is taken by emigrants to America. In America was Saint Nicholas Santa Claus. Santa has about the same use as Sinterklaas, give as gifts, a long beard and a red suit, but he has since been stripped of all religious symbolism.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Santa Claus originated in the United States, in the form known to us at the end of the nineteenth century and touched by the advertisement of Coca-Cola spread worldwide.So it may be that in a green suit in his Santa Claus images, while the American Santa Claus wearing red nowadays exclusively with white (such as the Coca Cola logo). Santa Claus has a (flying) horse-drawn sleigh pulled by reindeer and is helped by Elves at the North Pole.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In many countries, the commercial Santa Claus (Santa Claus), however, the original Santa Claus unrepressed, remember the Joulupukki in Scandinavia or Father Christmas in England. Here are still clearly in the Christmas for Christian elements included. It is also certainly not so, that Santa Claus around the world wearing red and white. Santa Claus in many countries still wears blue, gold or green (or another color) clothing.

Christkind<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In Austria and Germany is not Santa Claus but the Christkind (Christ child). This brings on 24 december presents. While the original thought was that the Christ Child gives gifts as he has done with his life, the last 50 years the figure of the Christkind experienced a metamorphosis. Instead of the invisible Christ-Child it's become to an angelic figure. Christkind has in recent years affected by the ongoing Americanization of Santa Claus. So there is an association pro wants to combat the Christkind Santa Claus. ===Christmas Music<span class="mw-editsection" len="327" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === Just like the famous Lucia party in Scandinavia (see photo) has his own Christmas repertoire<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">With Christmas special Christmas music is often released. Sometimes it sounds that the image of a horse-drawn sleigh to calls (ringing bells, etc.). For example, a children's choir music or pop music but also Latin vocals.

<p lang="en" len="63" style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Some examples of traditional Christian carols:

<p lang="en" len="38" style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Examples of secular Christmas songs:
 * " Silent night, Holy Night ", here are several versions of the.
 * "The shepherds went layers at nights".
 * "Glory to God".
 * "Honor to God (Gloria in Excelsis Deo)".
 * "There is an Infant born on nature".
 * " How Lakai this Infant", (Flemish, Catholic, 1897).
 * " Now are wellekome"(medieval).
 * " Adeste fideles"(Dutch: we come together) with chorus " Venite adoremus " (" come let us worship him ").
 * " Vom Himmel hoch da komm ' ich her"(Martin Luther, Northern Germany, especially Prussia, 16th century)
 * "Joy to the world, the Lord has come "(US)

<p lang="en" len="26" style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Examples of pop music:
 * "O Christmas tree"
 * "Jingle Bells"
 * "White Christmas"

===Christmas Poems<span class="mw-editsection" len="330" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In addition to song texts, there are also many poems about Christmas. Some with a high content of romance and sentimentality, other more literary in nature. Two anthologies are: such as never a star (2001) byRien van den Berg and a child with the eyes of God (2005) by Stephen Lamah. ===Christmas delicacies and dishes<span class="mw-editsection" len="346" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">A Christmas dinner is often a festive and extensive evening meal, which is often eaten together with family around and during Christmas. The meat dish can be Turkey , pheasant or rabbit or deer but also.
 * "Last Christmas"
 * "All I Want for Christmas Is You".
 * " Thank God it's Christmas"(Queen)

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">On the other hand, applies In the United States as the day on which Thanksgiving Day Turkey is eaten. That day is somewhat comparable to the prayer day and Thanksgiving for Crop and labor in Netherlands, but there is that not having a full meal celebrated.

<p lang="en" len="29" style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Other Christmas treats are:

===Christmas Getaways<span class="mw-editsection" len="327" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">A visit to a Christmas market is often done in order to come in a kind of Christmas spirit . Both in Belgium, Germany and Netherlands are there are many organized. For decorations one visits often a Garden Centre.
 * Banquet bar
 * chocolate coins
 * Dominosteine (Germany and Austria)
 * Christmas leaves/hulstblaadjes
 * Christmas bread
 * Christmas parties of chocolate, fondant, foam or cake
 * Christmas pudding
 * Christmas star
 * Eggnog
 * Yule log or Bûche de Noël
 * kerststrudel
 * mantecados
 * panettone
 * turban
 * turrón
 * vánocka (Czech Christmas bread)

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Around Christmas are various Christmas circuses held in Netherlands. Many people with (young) children visit a Christmas circus, it is a popular family event. Also popular are Christmas get-togethers and Christmas concerts. ==Christmas in certain countries<span class="mw-editsection" len="345" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == Festive Christmas decorations inMedellín, Colombia<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In England, the United States and France a mistletoe hangs on in house. This Evergreen epiphyte is the symbol of friendship and fertility. A girl who accidentally under the mistletoe must be kissed by a boy. And vice versa of course.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In Russia and other Eastern Orthodox countries in Eastern Europe has one instead of Santa Claus Father Winter, those in the second half of the twentieth century is equal to the "Coca-Cola Santa Claus". Father Winter by the Communist Governments was originally distributed as atheist folkloristic alternative to the Orthodox Christmas celebration.Christmas is celebrated 13 days later, also because in Russia until 1917 in the Gregorian rather than the Julian calendar was used. The Julian calendar still defines the Russian church year. ==Spelling according to the Green Book<span class="mw-editsection" len="350" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">According to the Green Book gets Christmas as party a capital letter; the wrong that is the Christmas on Christmas Eve, gets no capital letter. Also all compound and derived forms get a small letter: Christmas, Christmas Eve, Christmas gift, Christmas tree, Christmas ornament, Santa Claus, Christmas Child, Christmas dinner and Nativity scene. ==Christmas Wishes<span class="mw-editsection" len="327" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The typical Catholic Christmas greeting is "Merry Christmas" or "Merry Christmas". Protestants and non-believers bring less worn more frequently with the words "Merry Christmas", "Fine Christmas" or "Merry Christmas" on their Christmas wishes. Other<sup class="noprint nopopups" len="332" style="line-height:1;">[source? ] Protestant groups also use the more worn text "blessed Christmas". These wishes can also be found on Christmas cards.