In France, they use Christmas trees just like we do. It's used as a symbol of showing what creation has to offer: light and the movement of angels, the gifts of orchard and field, forest and sea, all topped off by the star that pointed to the end of the journey, the place of peace. The ornaments are called "kugels", a glass ball believed to protect houses against evil spirits. They use electric lights after real candles proved a fire hazard. The custom of gifts being given on Christmas Day is fairly new. It used to be done on New Years'. They also replaced shoes by the chimney with stockings. They called Santa Claus "Pere Noel" (Father Christmas). Reveillon was a meal that was served after Midnight Mass. They fix a wide variety of foods such as blood pudding, white pudding, sausages, patties, meatballs of finely minced meat to be served in a stew with pigs' trotters, tourtieres (meat pies) crackling or potted meat and headcheese or pates. Christmas Day there would be

Germany celebrates Christmas so much they start on December 6. This day is St. Nicholas' Day. This is different from Santa Claus. On the eve of Dec. 6, children put a shoe by the door or fireplace. During the night, St. Nicholas supposedly goes from house to house on a sleigh, or on a donkey (the real St. Nick actually rode from house to house, giving food and clothing to those who could not afford it) rewarding those who are good, and punishing those who are bad. The good children receive tiny presents and candy of all sorts. Bad children receive birch bark and other little twigs. There are actually 3 days on Christmas in Germany. the first one starts on December 24, Christmas Eve. This is when most families exchange gifts, go to church and have a great dinner, usually consisting of fish or suckling pig ,sweet cinnamon rolls, white sausage, macaroni salads and many other things. There is a tradition the if people don't eat well this day, they will be haunted by demons during the night. In some families, the parents send the child out of the room and close the doors. They bring in a tree and decorate it with app

Some common words found in the essay are:
Christmas Eve, Christkind December, Christmas Day, France Christmas, Midnight Mass, St Nick, Santa Claus, St Nicholas, Christ Germany, , santa claus, christmas day, birth christ, house house, families parents, bad children, children receive, bad children receive, christmas eve,
Approximate Word count = 761
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)