Christmas Cultures
Argentina 
Armenia 
Australia 
Belgium 
Brazil 
Canada 
China 
Costa Rica 
Czech Rep. 
Democratic Republic of the Congo 
Denmark 
Egypt 
Ethiopia 
Finland 
France 
Germany 
Ghana 
Greece 
Greenland 
Guatemala 
Holland 
Hong Kong 
Hungary 
Iceland 
India 
Ireland 
Italy 
Jamaica 
Japan 
Latvia 
Lebanon 
Madagascar 
Mali 
Malta 
Mexico 
New Zealand 
Nigeria 
Norway 
Pakistan 
Palestine 
Philippines 
Poland 
Portugal 
Romania 
Russia 
Serbia 
Slovakia 
South Africa 
South Korea 
Spain 
Sri Lanka 
Sweden 
Taiwan 
Trinidad and Tobago 
U.K. 
U.S.A. 
Venezuela 
Vietnam 
Zambia 
Zimbabwe
Christmas in South Africa
Because South Africa is in the Southern Hemisphere, Christmas comes in the summer. So there's lots of sun and beautiful flower in full bloom.
The schools are closed for the Christmas holidays and some people like to go camping. Going carol singing, on Christmas Eve, is very popular in towns and cities. Carols by Candlelight services are also popular on Christmas Eve. And many people go to a Christmas morning Church Service.
Traditional 'fir' Christmas trees are popular and children leave a stocking out for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.
The Christmas meal is either turkey (or duck), roast beef, mince pies or suckling pig with yellow rice & raisins and vegetables, followed by Christmas Pudding or a traditional South African desert called Malva Pudding (sometimes also called Lekker Pudding) - get the recipe. People also like to pull Christmas Crackers! The meal is often eaten outside in the summer sun! If it's really hot they might even have a BBQ or 'braai'.
South Africa laos has several other UK Christmas traditions, because of its history with the UK.
On Christmas day afternoon, people visit family and friends or might go for a trip into the country side to play games or have a swim.
Boxing Day is also a public holiday in South Africa and again people like to be 'out and about' having a good time!
In Afrikaans (one the languages spoken in South Africa) Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Geseënde Kersfees'. Happy/Merry Christmas in lots more languages.
Santa Claus is also known as Sinterklaas & Kersvader.
