1. Christmas In Other Countries
By Rachel Byrne

2. Christmas in Madagascar

3. Christmas in Madagascar
Madagascar is a island off the coast of Africa so it is very warm at Christmas time.
Even though it is warm the common decorations include robins, holly and snow (even though they don't have any).
Most people go to church on Christmas Eve. This service starts at 5.00 and doesn't ends until after midnight!!

4. Christmas in Madagascar
In church different groups (especially children) sing song and perform plays celebrating the birth of Jesus.
Malagasy families like to eat Christmas dinner together in large groups and dress up in the best (or new) clothes. The meal is normally chicken or pork with rice followed by a special cake. Some rich people go to restaurants for Christmas dinner, but most people stay at home with their families.

5. Christmas in Madagascar
A special Christmas food in Madagascar are fresh lychees, which are bought from shops and street sellers, fresh from the trees. The streets get covered in lychee skins.

6. Fun Facts About Christmas In Madagascar.
On Christmas Day people (even strangers) greet each by saying 'Arahaba tratry ny Noely' which means ‘Merry Christmas’.
In Madagascar 'Dadabe Noely’ is Santa Claus.
Most Malagasy's only exchange small gifts.

7. Christmas In The
Czech Republic

8. Christmas In The Czech Republic
During the evening of the 5th December, children are very excited and watch for St. Nicholas to arrive.
He normally is accompanied by one or more angels and one or more devils.
He asks the children if they've been good all year and also asks them to sing a song or recite a poem, then he gives them a basket of presents (often containing chocolate and fruit).

9. Christmas In The Czech Republic
The basket normally contains small presents similar to the stockings that children receive in Ireland on Christmas day.
The main presents are often opened on Christmas eve, during the evening.

10. Fun Facts About Christmas In The Czech Republic
In the Czech language Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce’.
The main celebrations are on Christmas Eve. Some people fast during Christmas Eve in the hope that they will see a vision of 'the golden pig' appear on the wall before dinner! This is meant to be a sign of good luck!

11. Fun Facts About Christmas In The Czech Republic
The Czech traditional Christmas dinner is eaten during the evening of Christmas Eve. The meal often consists of fish soup (made of carp), and fried carp with potato salad.
There's a superstition in the Czech Republic that says if you throw a shoe over your shoulder on Christmas day, if the toe points towards the door, you will be married soon!

12. Christmas In Germany

13. Christmas In Germany A big part of Christmas in Germany is Advent.
In Germany they have a few different kinds of advent calendars.
They have ones made of card (common in most countries), ones made out of a wreath of Fir tree branches with 24 decorated boxes or bags hanging from it. Each box or bag has a little present in it.

14. Christmas In Germany
Another type is called a 'Advent Kranz' and is a ring of fir branches that has four candles on it. This is like the Advent candles that are sometimes used in Churches. One candle is lit at the beginning at each week of Advent.
Christmas trees are very important in Germany.
They were first used in Germany during the Middle Ages.

15. Christmas In Germany
If there are young children in the house, the trees are usually secretly decorated by the Mother of the family.
The Christmas tree was traditionally brought into the house on Christmas eve, and during that evening the family would read the Bible and sing Christmas carols.

16. Christmas In Germany
Germany is well known for its Christmas markets where all sorts of Christmas foods and decorations are sold.
Perhaps the most famous German decorations are glass ornaments.
The glass ornaments were originally hand blown glass and were imported in the USA in the 1880s by the Woolworth stores.

17. Christmas In Germany Santa brings the presents on December 24th.
December 6th is St. Nicholas' Day and St. Nicholas brings some small gifts, such as sweets and chocolate, to the children.

18. Fun Facts About Christmas In Germany
Christmas Eve is the main day when Germans exchange presents.
In German Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Frohe Weihnachten'.
Carp or Goose are often served for the main Christmas meal.
Stollen is a popular fruited yeast bread that is eaten at Christmas.