Most Egyptian Christians belong to the "Coptic Orthodox" Church and they have some very unique traditions for Christmas,
Christmas Day isn't celebrated on the 25th of December but on 7th January,like in Ethiopia and by some "Orthodox Christians"
In Russia and Serbia, these countries mark Christmas differently because they use the Julian calendar rather than the Gregorian one.
A traditional Christmas means something slightly different to each family in the UK, and something even more different to people in countries across Europe.
So we take a look at what other people do at the festive time...the strangest ways Christmas is celebrated across the continent..
AUSTRIA
The Krampus, while St Nicholas is busy piling gifts into the shoes of children who have been good, the Krampus-a half-goat-demon with horns and fangs, visits naughty children and beats them with branches!
ICELAND
During the 13 days before Christmas, children leave their shoes on the windowsill for the troll like creatures called the Yuke Lads to fill with toys and sweets, if they have been good, naughty children get a potato.
UKRAINE
The story goes, a poor widow and her children couldn't afford to decorate their tree, so spiders did it for them! To,this day Ukrainians honour the Legend of the Christmas Spider and add fake spiders and webs to their trees.
CZECH REPUBLIC
Before Christmas, single women stand in front of their homes and throw a shoe over their shoulder, if the toe points towards the door, it means they will be married within a year.
Also in the hope they will see an apparition of The Golden Pig before Christmas dinner, people fast all day, if they are lucky enough to see the special sow, they'll have good luck through the year.
ICELAND
The evil Yuke cat prowls the Icelandic landscape hunting for people who haven't recieved new clothes before Christmas Eve.
GERMANY
In the Bavarian highlands the , villagers put on their 'lederhosen' and fire hand held mortars into the air to welcome in Christmas. Legend has it that, in the night before Christmas, Germans hide a pickle somewhere in the tree, the first child to find it in the morning gets a prize.
NORWAY
Norwegians hide their brooms to stop witches and evil spirits from stealing them and haunting the skies on Christmas Eve.
Forget 'Jingle Bells' in Norway they sing a song Calle 'Musevisa' or 'The Miuse song' about little mice
getting ready for Christmas and being warned to steer clear of mousetraps!
FRANCE
Provence, a region in South-eastern France, takes the nativity scene extra seriously, alongside the usual starring members, they incorporate figures that depict everyone from the village, fishwife to the chestnut seller.
MONTENEGRO
Traditionally, people in Montenegro bring their yuke logs to the local church and gather outside to hold a community bonfire.
ITALY
At Castel Sant'Angelo, in Rome, cannons are fired to mark the beginning of the Christmas festivities.
SWEDEN
A peeled almond is hidden in ris a' Malta, a traditional Swedish pudding, whoever finds it will be married in the next year or
if you are already hitched, you will be blessed with good luck.
SLOVAKIA
Before Slovakians sit down to their Christmas meal, the man of the house throws loksa , a kind of pudding, at the ceiling If it sticks, it's a sign that it will be a good year.
Carp is the traditional Christmas dish here, some people keep a fish as a guest in their bathtub
before killing it and cooking it on Christmas morning!
PORTUGAL
At Portuguese tables, extra places are set to honour departed loved ones during the Christmas feast.
lATVIA
Children open their presents beside the tree, but before they tear off all the paper,they might have
to recite a poem,sing a song or perform a dance.
GREECE
Between Christmas Day and January 6th, Kallilantzaroi (evil goblins) rise from underground to do
mischievous things like make milk go sour, the Greeks keep a fire burning to discourage them.
Traditionally, Christmas is the day the men do the cooking while the women sit back and relax,
The menu? A delicacy called Kiviak, seal skin, stuffed with sear birds and fermented for 7 months.
FINLAND
Finnish families visit graveyards and light candles at the headstones of departed relatives to create
a beautiful sentimental display.
Whatever Christmas you celebrate I hope it is a good one.
A thought..a flicker in the mind
A subtle gesture, meant in kind
A touch of hand
A smile beguile
A hope of kindness
A truth not lie
Acceptance, forgiveness
A sympathetic ear
A generous spirit
A much need embrace
A word of comfort
A tear to share
Love not hate
To all mankind
Make our world
A better place