People in Poland consider Christmas the most important holiday. It is similar in the USA and in Great Britain. People all around the world celebrate Christmas. It is a holiday, which is supposed to remind us about the birth of Jesus Christ. Nowadays, even people, who do not believe in God and are not Catholics, celebrate Christmas.
Already at the beginning of December, in the shops and on the streets there are numerous Christmas trees, lights and Santa Clauses. People buy presents for their relatives and friends. All buildings are decorated. One can hear Christmas carols everywhere. In shopping centers there are crowds of people. Apart from presents, they buy carps and Christmas trees.
There is a tradition of sending post cards to friends and relatives. Everyone wishes each other Merry Christmas. On the post cards there are pictures of snowman, Santa Claus, trees or little Jesus with his mother.
Christmas time in Great Britain
For the British people Christmas is the time of meeting their families. Several day before Christmas, people work on preparing food and cleaning their houses. The 24th December is called Christmas Eve. The children hang up special colorful stockings, to get the presents. Most people go to the midnight mass to the churches.
The day of greatest importance for the Brits is 25th December. All children get up very early in the morning so as to check, what presents they got. The families gather to eat a dinner together on that day. They eat turkey, Brussels sprouts, roast potatoes and apple pie. The desert traditionally consists on different puddings. The favorite pudding of the British people is chocolate one. In the evening of that day, the queen has a special speech in TV. It is believed that if someone kisses the other person under the mistletoe, they will be happy together.
In Great Britain, the 26th December is known as Boxing Day. On that day, the dustmen and paperboys are given presents. It is a day to rest before going to work. Many people visit friends on that day. Some stay at home and watch TV.
Christmas time in Poland
In Poland there are numerous traditions concerning Christmas. Polish people celebrate the Christmas Eve and they consider it the most important part of Christmas. On that very day, all families decorate Christmas trees with glass balls, nuts, toys and paper decorations. They also prepare special dishes for the supper. When we lay the table, we put some hay under the table cloth. Many people have one additional place by the table- it is believed that an unexpected guest may come to every house. We all share the wafer wishing one another health, happiness and all the best. According to tradition, there should be twelve dishes served for that supper. In my family, we eat red borsch, pierogi, sour cabbage cooked with mushroom and pees, fried fish, and many kinds of cakes. There is also kutia- a dish consisting on nuts, dried fruit, almonds, honey and cooked wheat. People give each other presents. Many people go to the church for the mass at midnight. On 25th December people spend time with their families, they eat, talk, sing the carols and go for long walks. On the next day at the churches St Stephen is reminded. People continue eating, enjoying themselves and visiting their families and friends. It is the special time, when people have time to rest and enjoy being with their families. Everyone tries to be kind and friendly to the others.
Christmas time in the USA
Late in the evening, on 24th December there comes a Santa Clause on the sleigh and he brings presents to every child. In many families the parents read the story "The Night Before Christmas" to their children, before they go to sleep. On 25th December people open their presents and they dedicate their time to their families. They eat a big dinner together- consisting on turkey, many kinds of vegetables, potatoes and pies.
