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traditions handed down from European and Native American forebears, plus the increasing
influence of American culture.
Gift giving traditions include "El Niсo Jesus" (Baby Jesus) who brings gifts to children
in Colombia, Chile 's " Viejo Pas quero" (Old Man Chris tmas ), and Brazil's "Papai Noel", the
latter two resembling Santa Claus in many ways. South American "Santas" dress more
lightly in keeping with the warmer Christmas there, and have adopted a number of means,
from ladders to trampolines, to enter homes at night. Gift giving in Argentina occurs on
January 6, their "Three Kings Day", when children leave shoes under their beds to be filled
with snacks or small gifts by the Magi, who stop off on their way to Bethlehem.
Nativity scenes are a strong feature of South American Christmas, both in homes and
in public places. In regions with large numbers of Native American descendants, such as
Peru, the figures are often hand-carved in a centuries-old style. As in Mexico, village
processions acting out the events surrounding the birth of Christ are also common. Family
Christmas meals are very important, and their contents are as varied as the number of
countries on the continent. Christmas lights are a near-universal holiday feature, and with
the summery weather, fireworks displays are also found, especially over the cities of Brazil.
Asia
In China, December 25 is the date of the signing of the Constitution of the Republic of
China in 1947. The official holiday on that date is largely treated as if it were Christmas .
Japan has largely adopted the western Santa Claus for its secular Christmas celebration, but
their New Year's Day is the more important holiday. In India, mos t educational ins titutions
have a Christmas vacation, beginning shortly before Christmas and ending a few days after
New Year's Day. Christmas is also known as bada din (the big day) in Hindi, and revolves
there around Santa Claus and shopping.
The Philippines has earned the distinction of celebrating the world's longest Christmas
season. Traditionally, Christmas Day in the Philippines is ushered in by the nine-day dawn
masses that start on Dec. 16. Known as the Misas de Aguinaldo (Gift Masses) in the
traditional Spanish, thes e masses are more popularly known in Filipino as the Simbang
Gabi. Christmas Eve on Dec. 24 is the much-anticipated "noche buena" -- the traditional
Christmas feast after the midnight mass. Family members dine together on traditional noche
buena fare, which includes the queso de bola ("ball of cheese", usually edam) and hamon
(Christmas ham).
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