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Many families begin the celebration on Heiligabend (literally, Holy Evening, or Christmas Eve) in the afternoon or evening. Although there are two legal holidays in Germany, [Austria], most cantons of Switzerland and Liechtenstein for Christmas, Christmas Eve is not one of them, and in Switzerland, many companies and stores are open for a half-day in the morning until 4 p.m, after which ...
Observance of Christmas in various locations around the world. The observance of Christmas around the world varies by country. The day of Christmas, and in some cases the day before and the day after, are recognized by many national governments and cultures worldwide, including in areas where Christianity is a minority religion which are usually found in Africa and Asia.
Neapolitan presepio at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh. The practice of putting up special decorations at Christmas has a long history. In the 15th century, it was recorded that in London, it was the custom at Christmas for every house and all the parish churches to be "decked with holm, ivy, bays, and whatsoever the season of the year afforded to be green". [4]
<i>Caga Tiós</i> on display at the Santa Llúcia Christmas market in Barcelona in 2006. Credit - Greg Gladman—Flickr. C hristmas is one of the most globally celebrated holidays in the world ...
In Finland (and many other countries around the globe), St. Lucia Day on December 13 is one of the main events of the holiday season. On this date, the eldest girl in each family sometimes dons a ...
Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition. Back in the 1600s, trees displayed in homes were not decorated with glass ornaments, but rather fruit.
Donald Heinz, a professor at California State University, Chico, states that Martin Luther "inaugurated a period in which Germany would produce a unique culture of Christmas, much copied in North America". [47] Among the congregations of the Dutch Reformed Church, Christmas was celebrated as one of the principal evangelical feasts. [48]
The status of quiet days is also given to festivities joyous in nature: in Hesse, the highest Christian holidays are half-quiet days (until midday) and in Rhineland-Palatinate, Easter Sunday and Christmas Day are two-thirds-quiet days (until 4 pm). For details see the German article on the Tanzverbot ("dancing ban").