S for Sauerkraut

 This post relates both to My Polish and My Texas Alphabets.

A few days before Christmas, we were invited to the Christmas song concert which took place at Pecan Grove Store. While waiting for the program, we ordered something to eat. On the menu, I saw one item served with sauerkraut - it was ”Fred Dog”. The sauerkraut caught my attention so I thought I would  give it a try. I had not eaten good sauerkraut in 15 years. Last time, it was when I was still in Poland. I had tried to find some after I cane to Texas, but with no satisfying result.

T & C Miller at Pecan Grove - Christmas program

To my utter surprise, the Fred Dog was sooooo delightfully  good! It was the good brand of sausage and, most of everything, the super tasty sauerkraut. I ate it all very quickly. That was it! The sauerkraut – not to sour, not too sweet, perfectly thin pieces of cabbage. Just right! It was so delicious and I was so happy having it, I almost ate the aluminum foil the dog was wrapped in.

The music program was very nice and Christmassy. We also really enjoyed the instrumental part presented by T. Miller, not to mention the time spent with friends. However, the culinary experience both unexpected and wonderful.

at Pecan Grove Store

After the music performance, I talked to the owners, praising their sauerkraut. It tasted just like home made stuff served by my mom long time ago. The man showed me a jar of the product – Bavarian Sauerkraut, made in Germany. One of its ingredients is wine, instead of commonly used vinegar. To my total surprise, the jar was also gifted to me. Thank you so very much! I am now enjoying eating the sauerkraut again and again!

About Gifts and Giving

The time of getting and giving presents has come again. Some people may sigh, “Socks again!” or “Another tie?!”, being frustrated about the gift exchange idea, and/or the anticipated item they will be given.

Are you one of those persons? Perhaps, the reason of such frustration is you, not the gifter or the gifts you get.

A lady I know, used to bring me a bar of white chocolate every time we met. The white chocolate gifting lasted long, for about a year. I had no idea why she was giving me it again and again. Finally, I asked her about that. Her answer was, “You like it best, don’t you?” 

I found her thoughtfulness wonderful. She believed I loved that treat so she made an effort to get that type of chocolate. Just to please me and make me happy!  Finally, I got it, and I appreciated it a lot. Both the gift and her intention.

It did not matter that the lady’s assumption was not exactly correct. Actually, I do not know where she took the “white chocolate idea” from. 

It is the intention beyond the gift that matters, not the gift itself. We might never know what made somebody think we would like the item they have for us. Perhaps, this is what they would like to get? We may not understand another person’s mindset regarding the choice of presents. Nevertheless, what we can do is shift our perspective. From the gift to the intention beyond it, and to the exchange of good feelings. The good energy we give each other is often very much underestimated/lost in the process. If you feel upset about the present you are getting, it is because you choose to feel and see things in that certain way. Choose differently! 

Stay positive and enjoy the holiday season!

Some people do not like getting cash. They take it as an impersonal attitude of the one who is giving it. Again, change your perspective. Perhaps, the giver wishes to avoid buying you what you do not like? Or is it what hurts, is knowing how much money that somebody intends to spend on the gift for you? Shift your focus! From your ego and from what it is telling you, to the entire occasion and the offering aspect. Well, if you still do not like the cash, send it to me (joking of course).

You may say, “I cannot afford to buy presents/ I have nothing to give to others”. You could not be more wrong. Material gifts are just a symbol of something else. A smile, kind word, a helping hand cost nothing, but can make a difference and turn someone’s dark moment into a lighter and easier one. In that meaning, each of us is full of gifts which are priceless. Give them to others every day, not only at Christmas.

Merry Christmas from the Bobos!

Good Tidings To You

During the year, while doing all the research dedicated to the dear departed ones, I often had a thought, "Perhaps, I should spend more time with the living". 

The season came to do so (which brings less of my online activity here).

The holiday period has been very busy in a nice way - with cooking, baking, season's meetings, visiting, tasting delicatessens made in somebody else's kitchen, and Christmas caroling. I do enjoy it all even when it makes me a bit tired.

In 2025, I am planning to reactivate my corners of the Internet and create some more posts, regarding our direct ancestors and non-relations as well. My plan is also to continue my two Alphabet and "They Lived in Texas" series, among others. How I will manage, the time will show.

⭐

Wishing all our close and distant relations, friends and acquaintances, and last but not least, the followers of my Internet pages, who kindly spare their time to read my posts - a blessed holiday season and a prosperous New Year, with good days only.

Good tidings to you all!

 

A Christmas (Related) Story

My auntie had a Nativity set. 

During non-Christmas time, she kept it on the top of the wall unit in their living room. Once, in the summertime, I visited her (I think I was about 5 then). The aunt told me not to touch the Nativity set figurines. Being made of holy communion-type wafers, they were fragile. 

I was too little to see what exactly was up there on the furniture. The aunt's remark made me curious, though. When nobody else was in the room, I took a chair, climbed up, and aahhhh! There they were! Jesus looked so good to me! So good that I ate him. The figurine was a bit dusty, but tasted really good! Baby Jesus was the smallest of them all so I thought little damage was done. 

When my aunt found out that Jesus had disappeared from the crib, she knew it was me. Well, the lady was very displeased, to say the least. My thought then was - auntie should not have told me about the wafer figures. Did I feel guilty? Not really. However, I was ashamed I ate Jesus. 

Dear Aunt, God bless your soul.

Photo: from Nativity display at Holy Ghost Lutheran Church

 

"Messiah" Christmas Concert

On Sunday, we enjoyed the music by Handel. "Messiah" was presented by the Fredericksburg United Methodist Church and Fredericksburg Chorale. The concert  at the United Methodist Church was truly splendid. We had never had such premium seats and never sat so very close to the orchestra. The concert at the United Methodist Church was truly splendid, and it added greatly to this year's Christmas spirit!

The shaky part in the video is the moment when all the audience was standing up. 

 

C for Christmas Eve and Christmas

This post is also the "C" entry of "My Polish Alphabet".

 

"C" for Christmas Eve and Christmas.

Somebody has asked me what the Christmas traditions were in my family home in Poland. Well, here's more about that.

 

6 December - St. Nicholas' day

 

On the 5 December evening, we - kids cleaned our winter boots and placed them in the hall, near the main door for St. Nicholas to find them. He filled them with sweets, tangerines, and little gifts in the night but only when the boots were clean. In the morning on 6 December, we rushed to our boots to see what St. Nicholas brought us in the night. We were good children, so St. Nicholas never brought us a tree rod instead of candy. The wooden rod was meant for the bad ones only.

24 December - Christmas Eve - the main part of Christmas celebrations.

 

In the morning, the Christmas tree was put up and decorated. In the evening, the festive Christmas Eve supper and family gathering took place. According to a tradition, the meal always started when the first star appeared in the sky. When the table was set, we were looking in the dark sky through the windowpane and waiting for that star to show up. At that time, mom was finishing all the cooking. Another tradition - an additional plate was placed on the table for an unexpected guest (who never came). The initial moment of the supper was sharing the Christmas wafer with each and every guest/family member who was present at the table (provided by the church) and greeting each other. Then the meal started.

 

Christmas wafer

 

The menu: 12 dishes were served (symbolizing 12 months of the year/12 apostles). The counting included drinks, sides, and bread as well. For good luck in each month of the new coming year, everybody was supposed to taste at least each of the 12 dishes.

Some of the traditional Christmas Eve (meatless) menu items which we did not particularly like, were replaced with the ones of our choice - we had canned peaches in syrup instead of dried fruit compote, and fried cod instead of fried carp.  Some of those dishes were made only once a year - so, in that way, they were really special. My favorites were boletus soup with homemade pasta and noodles with poppy seeds, honey, and raisins. 

 

Boletus soup with noodles

 

Other dishes were more common, like for example herrings with oil and onion, potatoes, and potatoes-and-vegetable salad. All the dishes (besides canned peaches) were made from scratch by mom. On Christmas Eve, alcohol was not drunk in our home.

Although we sometimes made gingerbread cookies, Christmas in Poland is not exactly about cookies, but it is about seasonal cakes.

 

Poppy seeds logs - making them was very time-consuming. First, we ground the poppy seeds and shelled, and chopped walnuts - that was the kids' job. Then, mom cooked the ground poppy seeds in a very big pot. When it was ready, she added the walnuts, honey, vanilla sugar, and raisins to the seeds and mixed it all.

 

From the right: keks (fruitcake,), popy seeds log, gingerbread

 

Next, it was time to make (by hand) yeast dough for the logs. All in all, it always took hours before the three logs were baked and ready to be iced. I loved them. There was always more poppy seed filling in them than the yeast cake.

Gingerbread with a plum marmalade layer inside - like everything else - was made from scratch.

Polish type of fruitcake (keks), totally different from the Texas one - it was a loaf type cake full of dried fruit and raisins. 

Keks

If it was not enough, there were also traditional Christmas snacks, a must-have of the season: apples, tangerines, and shelled walnuts.

After the meal carols were sung and presents were opened. The latter had been brought by Starman (Gwiazdor), who looked exactly like St. Nicholas (and Santa Claus - the difference was a long robe of the previous two gift-givers).

 

 

Around midnight, we all went (on foot) to church for Midnight Mass. Decades ago, winters were much colder in Poland, I recall the sound of crunchy frozen snow that accompanied us while we were walking for the service.

After the mass, we visited with our neighbors. The place of the meeting changed every other year - it was either our home or theirs. Anyway, then, we had some cooked sauerkraut with sausage and other hefty food. Adults talked sitting at the table, kids played around or sometimes under the table. Around 3 a.m. the visit was over.

 

Gingerbread cookies

25 December - Christmas Day - was the time of staying at home, visiting family, and enjoying the holiday time. No extra food was cooked as there were plenty of delicious leftovers from the Christmas Eve supper.

26 December - Second Day of Christmas was a day off/state holiday as well. More time for festive celebrations and friends and family gatherings.

 

Christmas Event in Fort Martin Scott

So nice that the Christmas event at Fort Martin Scott is back! Last year, it was canceled due to the covid related limitations, and it was quite a disappointment.

This year the place was crowded with kids, their parents, and other visitors like us. Despite that, we managed to meet Texas Santa Claus in person and talk to him for a little while.

Later, we walked around the fort ground - we had been there before, but always enjoy visiting the place.

 

Prison cell in one of  the fort buildings

 

There, we met the Texas Rangers, an Infantry and Dragoon men (members of the reenactment group). Talking to the men was really interesting.

 

 

Then, there was the presentation which included a brief lecture and weapons demonstration.

The original cannon cartridge is quite big and filled with metal balls

That was a good visit, we had a nice time. Merry Christmas!

My Favorite Carols

Christmas in Poland is a big family thing. The main celebrations start on Christmas Eve, with the festive supper and gathering. Traditionally, on the Christmas Eve table you can find 12 dishes, which symbolize 12 months of the new coming year, and 12 disciples as well. Before the meal begins people share holy wafer "opłatek", wishing each other all the best. It is also the time to forgive and to be reconciled with the ones whom we have had argued with.

After the meal, presents from Santa are opened. Later, some families sing Christmas carols together. The carols are religious songs, not pop tunes of course. We used to sing them after the Christmas Eve supper in my home when I was little. We often played a vinyl album by Mazowsze as well. You can see the folk song and dance group in the videos below.

When I listen to the Polish carols, they bring to my mind all the Christmas scents and flavors of my childhood: poppy seed log - so delicious (and time-consuming considering how long it took to make the logs), noodles with poppy seeds, raisins, almonds, and honey, mushroom soup, and many more......

Here are my favorite Polish carols + a Polish version of Stille Nacht/ Silent Night.

 Lulajże, Jezuniu / Sleep, Little Jesus (lullaby) - composed/written in the 17th century


Wśród nocnej ciszy / In the Silence of the Night (18th/19th century)


 Dzisiaj w Betlejem / Today in Bethlehem - author unknown


Gdy śliczna Panna  / When the Lovely Virgin Mary (music and lyrics written at the beginning of the 18th century).

Przybieżeli do Betlejem / Shepherd Have Come to Bethlehem (early 17th century)


Cicha noc / Silent Night - I like this Austrian carol, also in Polish - no matter in what language it is sung. Lyrics by Joseph Mohr, music composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber.

English Carols

During all those years when I worked as a teacher of English as a second language, every Christmas, besides various Christmas vocabulary, I also taught my students several Christmas songs/ carols. Most often they were also listening comprehension exercises - before we sang them, first, students listened to the lyrics and found what the missing words (on their exercise sheets) were. The ones which we listened to and sang in the classroom were:

• Jingle Bells - of course,
• Away in a Manger,
• Deck the Halls,
• White Christmas,
• Happy Xmas by John Lennon,
• The First Noel,
• Feliz Navidad,
• We Wish You a Merry Christmas,
• Santa Claus is Coming to Town,
• Mary's Boy Child,
• Little Drummer Boy,
• Auld Lang Syne.

The kids enjoyed them and I like them too. However, I listened to my favorite English carols at home mostly. These days I also love singing them at church.

O Come, All Ye Faithful - music and lyrics by Frederick Oakeley, 1841.

Joy to the World - first published in 1719

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - first published in 1739, music by F. Mendelssohn

Silent Night - English version



Besides them, I also like

O Tannenbaum - O Christmas Tree which is a German carol. Its modern lyrics, based on the 16th century Silesian folk song, were written in 1824 by Ernst Anschütz.

Merry Christmas!

 

Sectret Santa with Klub Polki

It has been the second year since Klub Polki na Obczyźnie (Polish Ladies Abroad Club) organized a Secret Santa mail exchange. This year my Santa arrived with his gifts from Ireland on 6th December. In Poland, it is the day on which St. Nicholas presents children with gifts. So he really knew when to come!

Look what he brought me. Such nice gifts!

• Fragranced Sachet - Christmas fragrance of cource,
• Cute wine glass decorations - Christmas ornaments,
• Delicious Irish truffles - hmmmmmmm so good :-)
• and a very nice card with the greetings from my Secret Santa.

Thank you Santa! The package from you made my day.

Christmas Spirit in Central Texas

Recently we have visited the Texas Hill Country and looked for Christmas Spirit there. And we found it in many places!

• On the buildings

Old library building

• In local  shops

• In the park 

German style Christmas tower

Oh, so beautiful!

• In The Rockbox Theater, where we watched a funny one-act Christmas play and quite a moving holiday songs and carols concert. 

Great actors and singers they have there, make sure you do not miss the theater when you happen to visit this beautiful town of Fredericksburg.

There is always something new to see and experience in Luckenbach. This time it was traditional Texas style Christmas decorations - really cute!

The Luckenbach stage had new features too. We did not even had to bring our guitars there. They had already been fixed. Obviously, we played country Christmas Carols too.

Both of us very much enjoyed the visit, the weather was cooperating and we had a great time!

To sum up, if you do not know what to do with your money, you can help us get a brand new house in the Hill Country. We could move there. Your donations are very much welcome!

Previous posts on our visits in the Hill Country:

Fredericksburg - National Museum of The Pacific War 

Fredericksburg - Side Streets & Roads 

Fredericksburg TX & Its Main Street 

Everybody Is Somebody in Luckenbach, Texas 

Deep in The Heart of Texas

Our Christmas in Poland

In Poland, Christmas Eve supper is the main part of the celebrations, considering family gatherings as well.

When I was little, the Christmas Eve supper started when the first star appeared in the sky (usually it was about 6 PM). That was why my sister and myself watched the sky, through a closed window, to let everybody know when it was time to begin the festivity. The waiting part was tough - we could not wait to see the star!

Before the meal everybody shares a piece of the holy wafer, wishing each other all the best and good health in the new coming year. All quarrels, bad blood which happened earlier are supposed to be forgiven.

Sharing the Christmas wafer with you - God bless you all!

According to tradition, an empty plate/ additional seat at the table is prepared, in case if an unexpected visitor came for supper. Nobody should be alone on Christmas Eve. Another custom is to put some hay beneath the table cloth (for good luck). I guess it has some connection with the stable where Jesus was born.

The Christmas Eve menu varies, depending on the region of Poland but, traditionally it is always a meal which consists of twelve meatless dishes. The number (12) relates two the twelve apostles and twelve months in the year. In connection to the latter one, everybody should eat at least a bit of each of the twelve dishes, to have good luck thorough the entire next year.

What we had on the menu at our family home:

• Mushroom soup, made from pieces of dry boletus and home made (by mum of course) pasta  - so delicious!

• Noodles with poppy seeds mixed with honey, raisins, chopped nuts and some vanilla extract - my dreamy Christmas dish.

• Fried fish with boiled potatoes - traditionally carp is eaten on Christmas Eve, but we did not care for it too much (it has a kind of silt taste due to its life habitat) so we preferred fried cod.
• A salad made of sauerkraut and grated raw carrot + a bit of sugar (which is usually served with fried fish).
• Compote (based on dried fruits) to drink. 
• Herrings - I like them made in different ways: herrings in cream with chopped onion and pineapple pieces, herrings in oils with onion rings, so called 'Jewish style' herrings - sooooooooooo good!

Big plate: pierogi stuffed with sauerkraut and mushrooms

• Fish balls in aspic.
• Bread.
• Vegetable salad.

Cakes:

• Poppy seeds yeast log.
• Cheesecake
• Ginger bread

After the supper it was time to open the presents which had been placed by Saint Nicholas under the Christmas tree. It was a reason why the kids (including myself) did not want to eat much - we were simply eager to finish the supper quickly and open the gifts. But it was allowed only when everybody finished their meal.

And then, all the family sang carols, enjoying the holiday meeting and being together.

We most often did not go to bed as we waited till midnight to go to church for the Midnight Mass. The winters at that time were mostly freezing and snowy so when we were walking from the church, the frosted snow under our boots was making crunchy sounds and the white, fluffy snow was shimmering magically in the night street lights. When I was little a part of our Christmas tradition was meeting our neighbours after the midnight service (every other year we went to their place/ or they visited us). We talked and have some holiday food including meat and sauerkraut stew and more cakes. It was such fun!

It is said that the Christmas night is the only night in the year when all the animals can speak like humans - so beware what you can hear from your pet, in case if they have been mistreated in any way! Our dog never said anything but at the time when we were unpacking presents, he was surprisingly  sad when he found nothing for himself under the Christmas tree. The dog was actually a puppy then and it was his first holiday at our home. He seemed to be really sorrowful so we put a rubber toy under the tree and called our puppy. How playful he got when he saw the 'gift'! Since then, every Christmas, we always prepared a little something for him too. Nobody should be forgotten at this time of the year!

All in all, due to all the Christmas Eve excitement, we most often did not get up early on Christmas Day. And there was no reason to do it. All the presents had been received, so Christmas day was the time of relaxing or meeting some relatives again.

26 December is called 'the second day of Christmas' and it is a day off/holiday too. Another day to enjoy and celebrate with family and friends. Not to mention having more festive food!

Wesołych Świąt Bożego Narodzenia!

Secret Santa with Polish Ladies Abroad / Secret Santa z Klubem Polki

This holiday season I have been part of Secret Santa at Polish Ladies Abroad Club. The idea was to send each other small gifts to be open on December 6th. The date was chosen because it is St. Nicholas Day, traditionally observed in Poland. On Dec. 6th, St. Nick brings little items, sweets and fruits to good children. The holiday action has spread in time though and some of us (the Club members) are likely to receive their gifts around Christmas.

I am very happy to tell you that my Secret Santa package arrived yesterday (from a Santa in Germany). He wrote on the envelope: 'Do not open before Christmas', but who could wait so long?!!
What I found inside - see the picture below - such cute chocolates and Christmas socks 'design yourself' set!
I am going to share the sweets with my husband, we will enjoy them at Christmas. My self designed socks are going to be beautiful, not ugly! When I finish decorating them, I will post the picture of my special socks to share it with you.

Thank you Santa!

So much joy your gift has brought!

Pierwszy raz w tym roku uczestniczę w świątecznej 'akcji' Klubu Polki na Obczyźnie zwanej Secret Santa. Jeśli ktoś pamięta z czasów szkolnych losowanie karteczek, komu zrobimy paczkę na Mikołaja, to mniej więcej o to chodzi. Z tą różnicą, że nasz klub to 'Mikołaje' mieszkający na całym świecie, a nie w pobliskim rejonie szkolnym. Poza tym, w odróżnieniu od mikołajek klasowych, nasze są naprawdę 'secret', czyli do samego końca nie wiemy, od kogo przyleci do nas prezencik.

Wczoraj dostałam podarunek od mojego Secret Santa. Gwiazdor napisał na kopercie 'Nie otwierać przed gwiazdką, ale kto by tak długo wytrzymał? Co znalazłam w środku, widać na zdjęciu. Bardzo fikuśne i urocze czekoladki oraz zestaw do kreatywnego ozdobienia świątecznych skarpet. Nie wiem czemu swetry i owe skarpety nazywane są 'ugly' (brzydkie), ja je lubię. A moje skarpety mikołajowe będą piękne!

Czekoladkami podzielę się z mężem - będziemy się nimi delektować w Święta. Po udekorowaniu skarpet od Mikołaja, oczywiście zaprezentuję Wam na blogu rezultat mojej kreatywności.

Dziekuję Mikołaju - Twój podarunek sprawił mi wiele radości!

No i zdobienie przede mną, ale uciecha!

Santas from All Over The World - Part 2

Yesterday I posted the first part of my 'story' about Santas and their helpers in different countries of the world. Here is part #2 and some more info about Christmas gift-givers.

 

Italy

Italian Santa - Babbo Natale  - comes with presents for kids on Christmas Eve. Another (female) gift-giver, called 'la Befana' arrives on January 6.

Lapland

Joulupukki (accompanied by a reindeer) wears snowshoes. He has many helpers - elves - who are also his assistants. They make toys and check what the good kids would want to get for Christmas. Joulupukki lives in the snowy Lapland countryside and has many reindeer. Of course the animals pull Joulupukki's  sleigh on Christmas Eve.

Luxemburg

St. Nicholas Day is November 6. St. Nick comes at night and puts small gifts into children's slippers. That is why kids put them in front of their bedroom doors on the night of Dec.5. Besides, they also place plates on the table (in the kitchen or dining room) as they hope Saint Nicholas will fill it with some sweet goodies. And he does it of course - if the kids have been good.

New Zealand

Christmas takes place in the summer in this part of the world. Father Christmas wears his usual red robe with fur trim. A traditional Christmas cake in New Zealand is Pavlova - a rich, sweet treat made of baked whipped egg whites and sugar, decorated with fruits and whipped cream.

Christmas Father appears twice a year in New Zealand - second time during the festivities in June (wintertime there).

Norway

In Norway Christmas celebrations start on December 21 at the time of the solstice.
In the old days, Julenisse, an elf-like character, arrived on Christmas Eve and placed bunches of barley in various spots of the homes and farmyards for good luck. Nowadays, he brings straw dolls instead of barley stocks. Only kittens are allowed to watch Julenisse when he arrives with presents.

Poland

St. Nicholas brings small gifts and sweets on December 6 (good children only of course). The ones who have been bad may find a birch lest by St. Nick instead of a nice present.
On Christmas Eve, which is also the day of the main family celebrations, St. Nicholas puts his gifts under the Christmas tree. The gifts are unpacked on the same day, usually after the festive supper.
The name of the Christmas Eve gift bringer varies depending on a region. So, instead of St. Nicholas, you may be met by Starman ("Gwiazdor" who wears a long red robe and a bishop's hat) or an Angel for example.

Portugal

Padre Nicholas/ Pai Natal brings presents on Christmas Eve and leaves them under the Christmas Tree or the shoes placed near the fireplace (if there is one of course).

Romania

Caroling is a popular Christmas season custom in Romania. The carolers' leader usually carries a wooden star attached on a stick. The star is often decorated with a picture of the Holy Family. Romanian Santa, called Moş Crăciun/Moş Nicolae, comes on December 26.

Russia 

In modern times, Russian Died Moroz brings presents for children on New Year's Eve.

According to an old legend, Kolyada (an elf-like, beautiful lady) comes on Christmas Eve to present kids with holiday gifts. To honor her (and to make her arrive faster), children sing songs/carols.
Kolyada is also known as Christmas caroling - a custom observed mainly in villages
In pre-Christian times Kolyada was a winter festival which was later transformed into Christmas.

Scotland

Many centuries ago, Christmas was merrily celebrated in Scotland. Later, Hogmanay/ new Year's Day became a most popular festival. The most important person of Hogmanay is so called The First Footer - the first visitor which happens to visit us on new Year's Day. The person is supposed to bear good luck, that is why they should bring some good luck gifts such as a piece of coal, bread, some money or salt.

 

Sweden

Although Saint Lucy/Lucia is neither a Santa nor a gift giver, she is an important character of the Christmas season in Sweden. Lucia was a Christian virgin and martyr (she lived in the early 4th century). The feast dedicated to her is celebrated on December 13. The day also marks the winter solstice. It is said that, in the old days, in the evening on December 12, St. Lucia, wearing a crown of light, was seen in the snowfields of Sweden. That is why, every year on Dec. 13 Swedish girls, dressed in white robes, wear wreaths of holly and blazing candles on their heads.

Thailand

In Thailand Santa arrives on January 6. His outfit is red, but instead of the white fur trim, it is often decorated with Asian motifs.

  

The Philippines

In the Philippines Christmas season starts on December 16 and lasts till January 6 or the feast of Black Nazarene (Jan. 9) or the feast of the Santo Niño (the third Sunday of January). The Philippino Santa looks like his western relative. However, considering the climate in the Philippines maybe he would feel better in a liter outfit.

  USA

The name Santa Claus comes from the Dutch 'Sinterklaas'. The latter one was brought to the USA by the immigrants from The Netherlands. Later, due to pronunciation differences and mix-ups, Sinterklaas was transformed into Santa Claus.

Wales

The arrival of the Welsh Father Christmas is often proceeded by traditional Christmas songs concerts in which everybody, willing to sing, can participate.

You can read the first part of the 'story' about Santas from All Over The World here.

Happy Holidays!