1. A Multicultural Christmas

2. Christmas in Mexico Their main Christmas celebration is called La Posada, which is a religious procession that reenacts the search for shelter by Joseph and Mary before the birth of Jesus. During the procession, the celebrants go from house to house carrying the images of Mary and Joseph looking for shelter.

3. Poinsettias Santa Claus is not predominant, but the bright red suit is represented in the traditional flower of the season. This flower is the poinsettia, which has a brilliant red star-shaped bloom.

4. The Pinata The Mexican children receive gifts. On Christmas day they are blindfolded and taken to try and break a decorated clay piñata that dangles and swings at the end of a rope. Once the piñata has been broken, the children clamber to recover the candy that was inside the piñata. Those children who have been good also on January 6th receive a gift from the Three Wise Men. Christmas Tree Pinata Reindeer Pinata Santa Pinata

5. A German Christmas Children leave letters on their windowsills for Christkind, a winged figure dressed in white robes and a golden crown who distributes gifts. Sometimes the letters are decorated with glue and sprinkled with sugar to make them sparkle.

6. Gingerbread Houses Germans make beautiful gingerbread houses and cookies. The German Christmas tree pastry, Christbaumgeback, is a white dough that can be molded into shapes and baked for tree decorations.

7. The German Santa There is also a Christmas Eve figure called Weihnachtsmann or Christmas Man, he looks like Santa Claus and also brings gifts.

8. The Advent Wreath In Germany they lay out advent wreaths of Holly with four red candles in the center. They light one candle each Sunday and the last on Christmas Eve. Children count the days until Christmas using an Advent calendar. They open one window each day and find a Christmas picture inside.

9. Christmas in Vietnam Christmas is one of the four most important festivals of the Vietnamese year. On Christmas Eve the Christians would attend a midnight Mass. After Church people would return to their homes for the most important meal the Christmas supper. The dinner usually consisted of chicken soup, and wealthier people ate turkey and Christmas Pudding.

10. Leave Your Shoes at the Door! The European customs of Santa Claus and the Christmas tree were popular and children would leave their shoes out on Christmas Eve, to be filled with surprises from Santa.

11. Kwanzaa-An African Tradition Although many people in Africa celebrate the Christian Christmas, others celebrate a holiday known as Kwanzaa, which lasts from Dec. 26- Jan. 1.

12. Symbols of Kwanzaa There are 7 basic symbols of Kwanzaa. They are: Mazao The Crops - the rewards of productive and collective labor. Mkeka The Mat -This is symbolic of the tradition and history of Africa Kinara The Candle Holder -This is symbolic of their ancestors. Muhindi The Corn -This is symbolic of the children and the future. Mishumaa Saba The Seven Candles-Represent the values by which the people live. Kikombe cha Umoja The Unity Cup- Representing Unity Zawadi The Gifts -These are symbolic of the labor and love of parents and the commitments made and kept by the children.

13. The Symbols of Kwanzaa