(Traditions, Continued from page 13) gathering around the Christmas tree. Kids in England write a letter with their wishes to Father Christmas, but unlike mailing those letters like many North American children do, English children toss their letters into a fire so their Christ- mas wishes can go up the chimney. * France: Christmas celebrations in France begin several weeks before De- cember 25, but Christmas Eve is most special to many natives of France. On Christmas Eve, church bells ring as peo- ple sing noels, or carols. The following day, a feast is enjoyed upon returning home from church.
* Germany: In Germany, the weath- er is cold during the Christmas season, and in the weeks leading up to Christmas families bake sweet bread, cakes with candied fruits and spicy cookies. Advent wreaths are popular in Germany and are purchased four Sundays before Christ- mas begins. The wreaths have places for four candles, and families light a candle on the wreath each Sunday.
* Mexico: Families in Mexico cel-
ebrate Christmas by decorating their homes with lilies or evergreens. Because the weather is warm, many families also cut designs into brown paper bags before inserting a candle and then setting the designs, called farolitos, along the side- walk, on windowsills, on rooftops, and along outdoor walls. Many communities in the southwestern United States have adopted this tradition, which they often refer to as luminaria.
* Sweden: Christmas celebrations in
Sweden begin on December 13, the day the country celebrates St. Lucia’s Day. Celebrations for St. Lucia, the patron saint of light, are intricate and involve the whole family. A couple of days be- fore Christmas is when many families select their Christmas tree.
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