Christmas Traditions

The Yule Goat has been a .......Christmas symbol.Each year, the massive goat is constructed in the same spot. Fans can even watch a livestream from the first Sunday of Advent until after the New Year when it's taken down.

• Swedish

• Italian

• Hungarian

• Greek

Every year, the city of San Fernando holds Ligligan Parul (or Giant Lantern Festival) featuring dazzling parols (lanterns) that symbolize the Star of Bethlehem.The festival has made San Fernando the "Christmas Capital of the ........"

• Philippines

• United States

• Finland

• Norway

Although Christmas isn't a national holiday in .........., its citizens still find an interesting and delicious way to celebrate.Rather than gathering around the table for a dinner, families head out to their local Kentucky Fried Chicken.

• Vietnam

• Korea

• Japan

• China

In ............., children place their shoes by the window. In the morning, they'll either have received candy (if they're good) or be greeted with shoes full of rotten potatoes if they're bad.

• Sweden

• Spain

• Iceland

• Germany

On Christmas morning, .......families traditionally eat a porridge made of rice and milk topped with cinnamon, milk, or butter. Whoever finds the almond placed inside one of the puddings "wins"—but some families cheat and hide a few almonds so the kids don't get upset.

• Finnish

• Swedish

• German

• Hungarian

Because summer falls during Christmas Time, a number of their traditions center around a grill, where families and friends gather for a casual cookout of fresh seafood, meat, and seasonal vegetables.

• China

• New Zealand

• England

• Canada

On the evening of December 24, .......families place their Christmas tree in the middle of the room and dance around it while singing carols.

• Japanese

• English

• Danish

• Swedish

In ....., the Christmas season, called julebord, begins Dec. 3, filling up local bars and restaurants throughout the month. Families celebrate Little Christmas on Dec. 23; each have their own ritual for the day that may include decorating the tree, making a gingerbread house, and eating risengrynsgrøt (hot rice pudding).

• Denmark

• Sweden

• Norway

• England

Traditional Christmas fare in .... often includes homemade roast goose, vegetables, cranberries, and potatoes.

• Ireland

• England

• Norway

• Germany

In ......, dinner may not begin until the first star appears in the night sky and, traditionally, an extra setting is left at the table should someone show up uninvited.

• Hungary

• Slovenia

• Poland

• Italy