In Argentina, the weather in December is more suited to swimming that snowball fights. Roast suckling pig or roast peacock is served outside under the open sky. Peacock feathers decorate the Christmas table. And so that people remember snow, at least for a while, they put fluffs of cotton wool on the Christmas tree.

Following the orthodox calendar, Christmas in Bulgaria takes place on the 6^th of January. Bulgarian children do get presents from Grandpa Koleda. The Bulgarian people eat usually pork, lentils, beans, rise, and cabbage. In the country, it is still the custom to put straw on the floor to commemorate the manger where Jesus was born. The lady of the house covers this straw with a needlepoint table cloth, and on it she sets the Christmas meal. The celebrations start after the oldest member of the family blesses the food.

The weather in Brazil is very hot at this time of year, as it is Brazilian summer. However, many people represent the falling snow by putting little pieces of cotton wool on Christmas pine trees. They also put lights and decorations on trees. On Christmas table in Brazil there is a variety of food which reflects the different cultures within Brazil - turkey, chicken, ham, rice, salad and fresh or dried fruit. Port and beer are drunk with the meal.

In Denmark, the traditional Christmas meal is rice pudding with a single almond baked in it. The one who gets the almond in his serving gets a special present, julemand. Usually it is a marzipan pig.

The equivalent of Santa Claus in France is Pere Noel. Presents are put into the shoes which children put beside their beds or fireplace on the 24^th of December. With Pere Noel comes Pere Fouettard, Father Slap, who gives naughty children instructive smacks. At midnight, the French eat reveillon, a meal composed of oysters, sausages, wine, baked ham, salad, fruit, and sweets. On many tables turkey or snails are popular. The custom is to invite someone needy to the Christmas table, a homeless person, orphan, prisoner or poor person.

The most popular tradition in Latvia is the masked parade. It brings the house blessings, fertility, prosperity, and protection from bad spirits and bad luck. You can also come across a group of people pulling a log somewhere behind the village. A log is a symbol of problems and bad luck. People from the village then meet around the log, and together they burn it to chase away all the problems for the coming year. Then the Latvian people go home where a feast awaits them, pig’s head cooked with mashed barley.