Christmas Cultures

• Armenia
• Australia
• Belgium
• Brazil
• Canada
• China
• Costa Rica
• Czech Rep.
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Denmark
• Egypt
• Ethiopia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Ghana
• Greece
• Greenland
• Holland
• Hong Kong
• Hungary
• Iceland
• India
• Ireland
• Italy
• Jamaica
• Japan
• Latvia
• Lebanon
• Madagascar
• Mali
• Malta
• Mexico
• New Zealand
• Nigeria
• Norway
• Pakistan
• Palestine
• Philippines
• Poland
• Portugal
• Russia
• Serbia
• Slovakia
• South Africa
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sri Lanka
• Sweden
• Trinidad and Tobago
• U.K.
• U.S.A.
• Vietnam
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

Christmas in Egypt

In Egypt about 15% of people are Christians. They are the only part of the population who really celebrate Christmas. Most Egyptian Christians belong to the Coptic Orthodox Church and they have some very unique traditions for Christmas.

For the 40 days before Christmas Coptic Orthodox Christians fast (don't eat any meat products except for fish). This is called 'The Holy Nativity Fast'. The Coptic month leading to Christmas is called Kiahk. People sing special praise songs on Saturday nights before the Sunday Service.

Christmas Day isn't celebrated on the 25th December but on 7th January (like in Ethiopia and by some Orthodox Christians in Russia and Serbia). On Christmas eve (on 6th January), Coptic Christians go to church for a special liturgy or Service. On the Orthodox Christmas Day (7th) people come together in homes for parties and festivities.