• In USA
The Dutch knew St Nicholas as Sintaklaas. When they immigrated to United States in the 17th century, they took the traditions of St Nicholas with them. However, it was in 1809 that Washington Irving introduced St Nicholas in his novel with his original description. He smoked a pipe and flew around the world in his wagon (with no reindeers) and gave presents to children every year. Sintaklaas became popular with the novel. It was in 1863, Santa Claus was born in US in his modern incarnation, with a white beard, red suit, a big belly, pipe in his mouth and a sleigh to which reindeers are harnessed.
Traditional American Christmas dinner consists of roast turkey with vegetables and sauces, goose, duck, or ham served with cranberry sauce, and rich fruity Christmas pudding, such as plum pudding with brandy sauce, pumpkin pie, mince pies, pastries are offered as desserts, followed by chopped dried fruits and nuts. Americans visit family and friends and share gifts and greetings on Christmas. In some regions, Christmas Eve to Midnight Mass is the most important part of the festival season. Since it snows in many states on Christmas, dinner is usually set indoors.
• In Poland
In Poland, Advent is an important season in which special church services known as Rororaty are held every morning at 6 am. The four Sundays of the holy month of Advent symbolise 4000 years of waiting for Christ. On Christmas Eve, there is a Polish superstition that if bees wax is poured on water, emerging shapes and forms can predict your future. People bake special Christmas honey cake as a custom known as Piernik.
Pierniki can be made in variety of shapes and forms such as hearts, animals and St Nicholas figures. Polish people also love to make handmade Christmas decorations during Advent, that include Pajaki or spiders, stars and decorated eggshells. Christmas trees are decorated with shiny apples, gifts, walnuts, wrapped chocolates in different shapes, homemade decorations and candles, and are kept outside homes and churches. At the top of the tree, is a sparkling Christmas ornament, usually a star.
Gwiadorze or star carriers go from door to door during the Advent season until Epiphany. They sing carols, recite verses, perform puppet shows, known as Szopi, and put up Nativity scenes, known as Herody. The customs of Szopi and Herody evolved from traditional manger scenes and Jaselka or crib.
The highlight of Christmas celebrations in Poland is the Christmas Eve known as Wagilia. The traditional Christmas dish in Poland is Oplatek, a piece of bread pressed with a holy picture on the surface. People carry it from house to house and share it with their family members, friends and immediate neighbours, and wish them a Merry Christmas.
• In Australia
Temperature in Australia often soars up to 30 degrees Celsius during Christmas season. Traditional Christmas dinner includes turkey, ham and pork. Christmas plum pudding serves as desert and served enflamed. During the times of Australian gold rushes, Christmas puddings often had a gold nugget inside them, which are now replaced with small favours. Anybody who finds the favour is believed to have good luck throughout the coming year.
Mince pies are also popular as treats there.
Australians, especially tourists, love to have their Christmas dinner at midday on a local beach. The hot favourite beach for the purpose is the Bondi Beach, situated in Sydney's eastern suburbs. Many families enjoy picnics together or spend their days swimming in pools, playing cricket or indulging in other outdoor activities.
A new Australian tradition was evolved in 1937. On Christmas Eve, thousands of people used to gather in the city of Melbourne for the Carols by Candlelight event, and to sing their favourite Christmas songs. All members have a lit candle in their hands and it look as if the stars have come down to earth from the sky.
In the weeks before Christmas, similar events are arranged in Sydney and the other capital cities. Christmas bush, a native plant with little red flowered leaves, is used to decorate the houses.
• In Guyana
Christmas and Easter are the major Christian festivals in Guyana. At Christmas time, people would normally do general cleaning of the house, repairs, and any other cosmetic work on their homes. The women put up clean curtains and scrub the floors. Plans for making the famous Black Cake are put into works. Fruits are soaked in rum days before the cake is actually baked. Garlic Pork is another popular dish at Christmas.
Normally a few nights before Christmas, the older folks start going from house to house singing carols. There are lots of eating and drinking among the men folk, at this time. There is a famous phrase in Guyana that is played on the radio at this time.
"Christmas comes once a year
And every man must have his share
Only poor Willy in the jail, drinking sour ginger beer."
Parents take their kids to see Father Christmas at a department store in the city. The kids normally get a small gift. There are also lots of parties and dances planned for the season. Churches hold services, and the people of the Christian faith attend. All in all, it does not matter what religion you are, everyone celebrates the season.