| In many countries, businesses, schools, and | | | | Bishop of Myra. He was imprisoned during the |
| communities have Christmas parties and dances in | | | | persecution of Diocletian and released after the |
| the weeks before Christmas. Christmas pageants | | | | accession of Constantine. He may have been |
| may include a retelling of the story of the birth of | | | | present at the Council of Nicaea, though there is |
| Christ. Groups may visit neighborhood homes to | | | | no record of his attendance. He died on |
| sing Christmas carols. Others do volunteer work | | | | December 6 in 345 or 352. In 1087, Italian |
| or hold fundraising drives for charities. | | | | merchants stole his body at Myra and brought it |
| On Christmas Day or Christmas Eve, a special | | | | to Bari in Italy. His relics are preserved in the |
| meal of Christmas dishes is usually served. In | | | | church of San Nicola in Bari. An oily substance |
| some regions, particularly in Eastern Europe, these | | | | known as Manna di S. Nicola, which is highly valued |
| family feasts are preceded by a period of fasting. | | | | for its medicinal powers, is said to flow from his |
| Candy and treats are also part of Christmas | | | | relics."Nicholas of Myra", Catholic Encyclopedia, |
| celebration in many countries. | | | | 1998. |
| Many people also send Christmas cards to their | | | | The Dutch recognized a Saint Nicholas, or |
| friends and family members. Many cards are also | | | | Sinterklaas, who gave gifts on the eve of his |
| produced with messages such as "season's | | | | feast day of December 6. He became associated |
| greetings" or "happy holidays", so as to including | | | | with Christmas in 19th century America and was |
| senders and recipients who may not celebrate | | | | renamed Santa Claus or Saint Nick. In the |
| Christmas. | | | | Anglo-American tradition, this jovial fellow arrives |
| In the United States and Europe, rolls of paper | | | | on Christmas Eve on a sleigh pulled by reindeer, |
| with secular or religious Christmas motifs are | | | | and lands on the roofs of houses. He then climbs |
| manufactured for the purpose of wrapping gifts. | | | | down the chimney, leaves gifts for the children, |
| Common motifs include Christmas trees, wreaths, | | | | and eats the food they leave for him. He spends |
| Santa Claus, the Nativity, angels, Christmas tree | | | | the rest of the year making toys and keeping |
| ornaments, candies, stars, snowflakes, snowmen, | | | | lists on the behavior of the children. |
| and penguins. | | | | One belief in the United Kingdom, United States, |
| Christmas trees may be decorated with lights and | | | | and other countries passed down through the |
| ornaments. The interior of a home may be | | | | generations is the idea of lists of good children |
| decorated with garlands and evergreen foliage, | | | | and bad children. Throughout the year, Santa |
| particularly holly and mistletoe. In Australia, North | | | | supposedly adds names of children to either the |
| and South America and to a lesser extent | | | | good or bad list depending on their behavior. When |
| Europe, it is traditional to decorate the outside of | | | | it gets closer to Christmas time, parents use the |
| houses with lights and sometimes with illuminated | | | | belief to encourage children to behave well. Those |
| sleighs, snowmen, and other Christmas figures. | | | | who are on the bad list receive a booby prize, |
| Since the 19th century, the poinsettia has been | | | | such as a piece of coal or a switch with which |
| associated with Christmas. Other popular holiday | | | | their parents beat them, rather than presents. |
| plants include holly, mistletoe, red amaryllis, and | | | | The French equivalent of Santa evolved along |
| Christmas cactus. | | | | similar lines, eventually adopting the Santa image. |
| Municipalities often sponsor decorations as well. | | | | In some cultures Santa Claus is accompanied by |
| Christmas banners may be hung from street | | | | Knecht Ruprecht, or Black Peter. In other |
| lights and Christmas trees placed in the town | | | | versions, make the holiday toys. His wife is |
| square. In the U.S., decorations once commonly | | | | referred to as Mrs. Claus. Many shopping malls in |
| included religious themes. This practice has led to | | | | North America, the United Kingdom, and Australia |
| many lawsuits, as some say it amounts to the | | | | have a Santa Claus children can visit to ask for |
| government endorsing a religion. In 1984, the US | | | | presents. |
| Supreme Court ruled that a city-owned Christmas | | | | In many countries, children leave empty |
| display, even one with a Nativity scene, does not | | | | containers for Santa to fill with small gifts such as |
| violate the Amendment, Lynch (1984) | | | | toys, candy, or fruit. In the United Kingdom, the |
| Although Christmas decorations, such as a tree, | | | | United States, and Canada children hang a |
| are considered secular in many parts of the | | | | Christmas stocking by the fireplace on Christmas |
| world, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia bans such | | | | Eve because Santa is said to come down the |
| displays as symbols of Christianity. | | | | chimney the night before Christmas to fill them. In |
| Gift-giving is a near-universal part of Christmas | | | | other countries, children put their empty shoes |
| celebrations. The concept of a mythical figure | | | | out for Santa to fill on the night before Christmas, |
| who brings gifts to children derives from Saint | | | | or for Saint Nicholas to fill on December 5, the |
| Nicholas, a bishop of Myra in fourth century Lycia, | | | | eve of his saint's day. Family members and |
| Asia Minor. He made a pilgrimage to Egypt and | | | | friends also bestow gifts on each other. |
| Palestine in his youth and soon thereafter became | | | | |