If all you want for Christmas is a long vacation, move down under to Australia. Christmas is the world’s most widely celebrated holiday, but those celebrations can be very different from the American idea of Santa and snow.
Christmas comes during summer in Australia, so kids get a six-week vacation, and Christmas dinner may be served on the beach! That’s right. Christmas in Australia is not about snow, but sand on a beach.
What do you know about Christmas customs around the globe? Try this quiz by Kenneth C. Davis, the author of “Don’t Know Much about History.”
1. What is Boxing Day?
It is an additional day of gift giving, celebrated on Dec. 26 in Britain and several of its former colonies. The name is said to come from the custom of noblemen boxing up gifts for their servants that day.
2. In what country do children put out their shoes in January instead of hanging stockings in December?
On the evening of Jan. 5, Spanish children put their shoes near a window or by the front door. The next day is Epiphany, celebrating the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus. Legend has it, the Wise Men arrive at the night and fill the shoes with small gifts.
3. Where do bad children risk a visit from Father Spanker?
On Christmas Eve, French children put their shoes by the fireplace, hoping Father Christmas (Pere Noel) will come. His partner, Father Spanker (Pere Fouettard), delivers a spanking to naughty children.
4. In what land do people fear prankish sprites that supposedly emerge from the center of the earth at Christmastime?
The answer is Greece.
5. Where are you likely to be served an eel on Christmas Eve?
In Italy, especially Rome.
6. Where do children wear lighted candles on their heads?
Sweden, where seasonal festivities begin on Dec. 13, St. Lucia Day.
In the morning, the eldest daughter in the home dresses in white and wears a wreath with seven lighted candles on her head. She serves the rest of the family coffee and buns in bed.
Christmas is celebrated all over the world with a few exceptions, of course, and in our own country, I suspect we celebrate it as early as August and end it on February.
I seem to be hearing Christmas carols being played in department stores as early as August every year. But every time it’s Christmas, I think of the inn keeper during the very first Christmas.
His business was good and his inn was full, yet he missed the greatest opportunity when he refused to allow a very young couple a place to stay so that the Savior could be born on Christmas day.
Now this is just me, but I suspect that the following are the top 10 excuses of The innkeeper:
10. The inn’s weekend family package with free breakfast buffet promotion was a bit too successful.
9. The wife of the innkeeper said he couldn’t accept wood carvings as payment anymore.
8. Too busy getting new “innkeeper’s inn” franchise going.
7. Last pregnant lady riding a donkey took all their towels.
6. Filled up for the “Caesar impersonators (not Elvis)’” convention.
5. Didn’t accept the Judean Express Card.
4. Last room left was by the ice machine.
3. Some local kids tore up the place the night before.
2. No dress code. No entry.
1. No last names, no service.
Don’t miss Jesus this Christmas just because business is too good. And don’t cook up any excuses at all.
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