China light their homes with vibrant paper lanterns while in Ireland placing candles near the window is a Christmas ritual in welcoming Mary and Joseph.

Christmas crackers grace every table in England all throughout the Christmas season; these fanciful paper tubes (invented by pastry chef Thomas Smith in the mid 1800’s) double as a table décor. The wrappers are decorated with every imaginable bauble to match the chosen

Christmas color scheme.

While others are freezing during the holidays, Australians are all warmed up! Christmas falls in the middle of the summer season in the Land of Oz. They often decorate their homes using the flowers of a native Australian tree called the Christmas bush. They use it as wreaths or as a magnificent table centerpiece arrangement. As a means to depict widely prevalent natural wonders in their country,

Australians decorate their Christmas trees with eucalyptus leaves and seashells.

“Unity in diversity is the highest possible attainment of a civilization, a testimony to the most noble possibilities of the human race”, so said philosopher and acclaimed author Michael Novak. One true testament to this beautiful quote is how people all over the world coalesce to celebrate a common event. It denotes peace and love - the core of Christmas.