歐洲過(guò)圣誕
北歐
在瑞典，傳統(tǒng)上公司會(huì)在圣誕節(jié)前一星期邀請(qǐng)員工參加一個(gè)圣誕午餐(julbord或jullu nch)。為了防止圣誕節(jié)期間可能導(dǎo)致的食物中毒，瑞典報(bào)紙傳統(tǒng)上每年都要不遺余力的作一些實(shí)驗(yàn)室試驗(yàn)有關(guān)的報(bào)道，警告市民冷肉和蛋黃醬這些東西不要放在室溫條件下以防變質(zhì)。圣誕節(jié)在瑞典任何一個(gè)地方都是享受美食時(shí)節(jié)，圣誕節(jié)盛宴上的重點(diǎn)還是以烘烤火腿為主，但是哪一天享用它在不同的地方卻也不同。不過(guò)在瑞典有一個(gè)約定俗成的慣例，那就是圣誕前夜這一天也就是12月24日下午3點(diǎn)準(zhǔn)時(shí)收看迪士尼的特別節(jié)目。
挪威的圣誕大餐會(huì)在12月24日舉行，挪威各個(gè)地區(qū)都有自己特定的食物做為圣誕晚餐，然后"Julenissen"(jule是圣誕的意思,nissen是挪威傳說(shuō)中的精靈)會(huì)帶禮物給表現(xiàn)好的小朋友。經(jīng)過(guò)安靜的與家人團(tuán)聚的12月25日，節(jié)禮日后會(huì)有另一場(chǎng)大型慶祝，兒童們會(huì)在此時(shí)在鄰居中挨家挨戶接受款待。Joulupukki(或圣誕山羊)是芬蘭版的圣誕老人。他坐在馴鹿拉的雪橇里給表現(xiàn)好的小朋友發(fā)送禮物。
南歐
希臘的圣誕船裝飾意大利人的圣誕節(jié)柔合了現(xiàn)代傳統(tǒng)及羅馬祖先遺留下、慶祝Natale(譯者注：圣誕節(jié)的意大利文)的習(xí)俗。圣誕的降臨節(jié)同日從古羅馬的神農(nóng)節(jié)(Saturnalia)中的異教徒慶典由來(lái)的可能性，而她們的假期就從這天開始一直到顯現(xiàn)節(jié)。食物、宗教儀式、圣誕擺設(shè)和送禮都是重點(diǎn)項(xiàng)目。在某些地區(qū)，禮物是由La Befana(譯者注：意大利傳說(shuō)送禮物給小朋友的老婦)于顯現(xiàn)節(jié)時(shí)送出的，其他的地區(qū)則由小耶穌于圣誕節(jié)或平安夜送出。而近年，他們的位置漸漸被Babbo Natale——一個(gè)像圣誕老人的人物——取代。
在希臘，縱然樹木是要進(jìn)口的，但船是圣誕的傳統(tǒng)像征。
中歐
在捷克，人們主要是在12月24日或圣誕夜(?tědrý den意思為慷慨的一天)慶祝圣誕節(jié)，這天晚上大家會(huì)相互贈(zèng)送禮物.雖在12月25號(hào)和26號(hào)也可以.根據(jù)傳統(tǒng),禮物是由Je?í?ek(“小耶穌”)或帶來(lái)的.為了使節(jié)日更豐富有趣，很多古老的圣誕傳統(tǒng)保存了下來(lái).人們被告戒在正式的晚宴準(zhǔn)備好前,圣誕夜里不能吃任何東西，為了能看見閃閃發(fā)亮的烤豬.禮物被安置在圣誕樹下(通常是云杉或松樹).人們將會(huì)在晚餐后開啟自己的禮物.
另外捷克的圣誕傳統(tǒng)習(xí)俗還包括對(duì)來(lái)年的預(yù)測(cè).他們將蘋果切開,如果第一下能看見蘋果核就預(yù)示來(lái)年具有好運(yùn)氣，如果沒有就表示來(lái)年的不順.女孩們將她們的鞋子從肩頭拋過(guò),如果鞋尖指向門的方向，就預(yù)示著著女孩來(lái)年將會(huì)出嫁.另一個(gè)傳統(tǒng)是將一點(diǎn)熔鉛倒入水中,根據(jù)鉛在水中形成的形狀來(lái)猜測(cè)來(lái)年的運(yùn)式.
在波蘭，圣誕夜是宴會(huì)的第一天.宴會(huì)是從圣誕夜第一顆星星出現(xiàn)時(shí)開始的,然后大家開始互贈(zèng)禮物.在第二天人們會(huì)走訪親戚朋友們.
在斯洛伐克,圣誕節(jié)是一個(gè)大型的家庭，食物,宗教慶典.2001年，一個(gè)大型的耶穌誕生場(chǎng)景在布拉迪斯拉發(fā)造建并展出,還計(jì)劃將它封裝以在其他城市展出.
圣誕節(jié)英語(yǔ)短文
It is interesting to see how different countries celebrate Christmas.We asked some of our friends and this is what they told us about their Christmas celebrations：
Belgium On Christmas Eve,it starts with a drink and “nibbles1)”,followed by a “starter” course such as seafood,and then stuffed turkey.The dessert is a kind of cake made with cream.Father Christmas is called “Saint Nicholas” and he brings presents to children on Dec ember 6th,“St.Nicholas Day,” a long time before Christmas.
Brazil Father Christmas is called Papai Noel.Many Christmas customs are similar to those in the USA or UK.For those who have enough money,a special Christmas meal will be chicken,turkey,ham,rice,salad,pork,fresh and dried fruits,often with beer.Poorer people will just have chicken and rice.
Finland Finnish people believe that Father Christmas(Santa Claus)lives in the north part of Finland called Korvatunturi,north of the Arctic Circle.People from all over the world send letters to Santa Claus in Finland.There is a even big tourist theme park called “Christmas Land” in the north of Finland,near to where they say that Father Christmas lives.Everyone cleans their houses ready for the three holy days of Christmas--Christmas Eve,Christmas Day,and Boxing Day2).Christmas Eve is very special,when people eat rice porridge3) and plum4) fruit juice in the morning.They will then decorate a spruce5) tree in the home.Many families will visit cemeteries and graveyards to place a candle onto the burial graves of family members.Cemeteries are very beautiful at Christmas-time.
France In France,everyone has a Christmas tree,sometimes decorated in the old way with red ribbons and real white wax candles.Fir6) trees in the garden are often decorated too,with lights on all night.Father Christmas is called Père Noel.The Christmas meal is an important family gathering with good meat and the best wine.Not everyone sends Christmas cards.
Germany Germans love to decorate their house sat Christmas.Many houses will have little wooden frames holding electric candles in their windows,and coloured pictures of paper or plastic which look beautiful from the outside at night.Father Christmas brings presents in the late afternoon of Christmas Eve(December 24th),after people have been to a church meeting.The presents are then found under the Christmas tree.One person in the family will ring a bell and call everyone to come to the room.On Christmas Day,fish(carp7))or goose will be cooked.
Latvia Latvians believe that Father Christmas brings presents on each of the 12days of Christmas starting on Christmas Eve.Usually the presents are put under the family Christmas tree.The special Latvian Christmas Day meal is cooked brown peas with bacon(pork)sauce,small pies,cabbage and sausage.
Portugal People pretend that Father Christmas brings presents to children on Christmas Eve.The presents are left under the Christmas tree or in shoes by the fireplace.A special Christmas meal of salted dry cod-fish8) with boiled potatoes is eaten at midnight on Christmas Eve.
Russia In the days of the Soviet Union,Christmas was not celebrated very much.New Year was the important time--when “Father Frost” brought presents to children.Now Christmas can be openly celebrated--either on December25th;or more often on January 7th.This unusual date is because the Russian Orthodox church uses the old“Julian”calendar9) for religious celebration days.Special Christmas food includes cakes,pies and “meat dumplings.”
Sweden The most important day is Christmas Eve.A special Christmas meal is eaten on Christmas Eve--ham(pork),herring10) fish,and brown beans--and this is the time when families give presents to each other.Many people attend a church meeting early on Christmas Day.