Does your family do something creative for the Christmas holidays? Christmas is a magical time of year and with its various oddities comes all sorts of traditions. Some families sit around a fire and roast marshmallows while others take part in watching holiday-themed movies such as Charlie Brown.

            Many traditions we do today have been carried throughout the generations. Leaving cookies out for Santa Claus and decorating a fresh pine tree are two of these well-known traditions, but there are all sorts across the globe.

            For instance, Italy is unique with their female version of Santa, known as La Befana. La Befana was said to have helped the three kings with shelter and upon being asked to go with them to find the Christ child, she declined. Later, she changed her mind and set out to look for the three kings and the baby, but never found them. To this day, it is believed she still searches for him and leaves the good children toys while the bad receives coal.

            Most people nowadays have heard of The Nutcracker play. The Nutcracker began in Russia written by a man named Tchaikovsky and later performed in the United States in 1944. The actual play did not become a smash hit in the USA until 1955 when a fellow named Balanchine choreographed the ballet and put it on in New York. There has not been a year since that the ballet was not performed.

            Many of our traditions today, here in America, originally came from across the world. So as you hang garland, listen to festive music, or open gifts, thank the various countries across the globe and throughout the centuries for their influence on today’s holiday.