There are many customs around the world. Many of them stem from the earlier discussed festivals that began in Babylon. Many South American and Central American countries are predominately Roman Catholic so their Christmas celebrations are similar. For instance, Christmas in

COLUMBIA:
   The Christmas season in Colombia starts on December 7th when families light candles in honor of the Virgin Mary. The church celebrates the 8th of December as the day of the Immaculate Conception. (see below)If this is their belief and it took place on the 8th of December how can that day be considered the conception of Jesus and the 25th of December is the birth. Was the pregnancy 17 days or was it 382 days.
(This is what I find astonishing. The Catholic Encyclopedia defines "Immaculate Conception" as the doctrine that Mary was free from original sin and sinless in her entire life, and then on the same page under Biblical proof they state that there is no Biblical proof of their doctrine. Some believe that the term "Immaculate Conception" means that Jesus was conceived without mans involvement but by the Holy Spirit alone.)(my belief also!)

ECUADOR:
    The ranch will have a presebre (manger scene) and the guests will bring gifts of fruit and produce to lay before the image of the Christ Child. Children often make speeches to the Holy Infant, asking for blessings upon their family and their livestock.

PERU:
    A Bullfight and a huge procession through the streets with the statue of the Virgin Mary on a solid silver platform highlight Christmas Day festivities in the capital, Lima. In Asia:

JAPAN
    Christmas is not officially celebrated in Japan due to the small percentage of Christians there. There is a secular observance of Christmas due to the influence of Americans after the war. Of course Japan supplies America with many trinkets and decorations for its holiday. A Christmas tree and turkey became part of Japanese custom as it was absorbed into their own beliefs. Hoteiosho, one of the gods from the Japanese pantheon, brings the gifts. Since he has eyes in the back of his head, He can observe the behavior of the children in Japan.

MONGOLIA
    Mongolia is in Northern Asia, between China and Russia. It is predominantly Tibetan Buddhist with 4% Muslim. There is virtually no Christmas here. There is, sadly, also no concern for Christ there.

EGYPT
   They celebrate Christmas on January 7th.

In Europe:

RUSSIA
   Most Christian Russians belong to the Eastern Orthodox Church. Christmas is celebrated on January 7th. Since they still use the old Julian calendar, their Christmas celebration is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar that we use.

PORTUGAL
    "Some believe in Santa Claus, others believe in Jesus."

ITALY
    "Saturnalia" (a winter solstice celebration) once was very popular in Rome. La Befana who would distribute toys in honor of Epiphany, January 6th. In other areas (Venice and Mantova) St. Lucia distributed gifts and in some regions Gesu' Bambino, or Child Jesus, brought Christmas gifts.

   Many people in Russia name their child Nicholas after the Saint. It is a very popular name in Italy also. In many Central & South American countries the name Jesus (pronounced hay-soos) is given to children but I find it rather rare in North America for an Anglo-Saxon to be named Jesus. On very rare occasions a leader of a cult may call himself Jesus and may even add Christ later on. I believe that when they take the name of Jesus for their own, they are trying to set themselves up as equal to Jesus. This will never happen but it tells me a lot about them. First of all, it tells me that they aspire to the greatest personality of all time. That’s very good, but they can never be His equal except is their own mind. Concerning Jesus, He is perfect. Concerning mankind, all fall short of the glory of God. Calling yourself Jesus and expecting to be the Christ is like standing in a garage and expecting to become a Ford. It ain’t gonna happen.

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