Christmas traditions

Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 119. Chapters: Boxing Day, Christmas tree, Nutcracker, Yule log, Christmas card, Nativity scene, Santa Claus, Badnjak, Royal Christmas Message, Christmas lighting technology, Gävle goat, Nine Lessons and Carols, List of carols at the Nine Lessons and Carols, King's College Chapel, Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, List of Christmas markets, Star Boys' Singing Procession, Christmas gift-bringer, NORAD Tracks Santa, Singing Christmas Tree, Snap-dragon, Nativity Fast, Alternative Christmas message, Snow globe, Parol, Advent calendar, Wassailing, Christmas stamp, Advent wreath, Piñata, Christmas ornament, Regift, Las Posadas, Luminaria, Christmas in August, Christmas Seal, Moravian star, Christmas stocking, Boar's Head Feast, Yule Goat, Ndocciata, Christmas pyramid, Christmas kettle, Santa's workshop, Christmas cracker, Kraków szopka, SantaCon, Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland, Bulgarian budnik, Secret Santa, Christmas village, Vertep, Garland, Tinsel, Koleda, Koledari, Elfster, Operation Christmas Drop, Santon, Julebukking, Snow baby, Christmas Market, Stuttgart, Schwibbogen, Räuchermann, Père Noël, Orphan's Christmas, Mettenschicht, Jingle bell, Ashen faggot, Pleated Christmas hearts, Angel chimes, Cavalcade of Magi, Misa de Gallo, Weihnachtsmärchen, Watchnight service, Advent candle, Kissing bough, Julotta, Carol service, Almond present, Pasterka. Excerpt: Santa Claus, or "Santa", is a figure in North American culture with legendary, mythological and folkloric aspects who developed from an amalgamation of Dutch Sinterklaas, English Father Christmas and other traditions of Christmas gift-bringers. Santa Claus is said to bring gifts to the homes of the good children during the late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve, December 24. The figure developed in the 19th century from the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas, which, in turn, has part of its basis in hagiographical tales concerning the historical figure of gift giver Saint Nicholas. Santa Claus is generally depicted as a plump, jolly, white-bearded man wearing a red coat with white collar and cuffs, white-cuffed red trousers, and black leather belt and boots (images of him rarely have a beard with no moustache). This image became popular in the United States and Canada in the 19th century due to the significant influence of caricaturist and political cartoonist Thomas Nast. This image has been maintained and reinforced through song, radio, television, children's books and films. The North American depiction of Santa Claus as it developed in the 19th and 20th century in turn influenced the modern perceptions of Father Christmas, Sinterklaas and Saint Nicholas in European culture. According to a tradition that can be traced to the 1820s, Santa Claus lives at the North Pole, with a large number of magical elves, and at least eight or nine flying reindeer. Since the 20th century (popularized by the 1934 song Santa Claus Is Coming to Town), Santa Claus is also said to make a list of children throughout the world, categorizing them according to their behavior ("naughty" or "nice") and that he delivers presents, including toys, candy, and other gifts to all of the good boys and girls in the world, and sometimes coal to the naughty children, on the single night of Christmas Eve. He accomplishes this feat with the aid of the elves who make the toys in the workshop and the