Christmas Worldwide

South Korea.
대한 민국.

South Korea recognizes Christmas as a national holiday. Christian and non-Christian Koreans engage in some holiday customs such as gift-giving, sending Christmas cards, andsetting up decorated trees in their homes; children, especially, appear to have embraced Santa Claus, whom they call 산타 하라버지 (Grandfather Santa) in Korean, Local radio stations play holiday music onChristmas Day and a few days before, while television stations are known to air Christmas films and cartoon specials popular in the Western countries. In addition, increasing numbers of stores andbuildings are displaying Christmas decorations.
As in the West, churches in Korea hold Christmas pageants and conduct special services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Young people especially enjoythe fellowship these observances provide; after the Christmas Eve services, for example, they go caroling to the homes of older church members, where they are usually treated to hot drinks and snacks.South Korea is the only East Asian country to recognize Christmas as a national holiday.

Russia.

During the Soviet era, religious celebrations were discouraged by the officially atheist state.As as a result, Christmas celebration in Russia were not as widely followed as in Western countries. Instead, emphasis was shifted to the New Year celebration. In the Russian Orthodox Church,Christmas is celebrated on the 7th of January (which corresponds to 25 December in the Julian Calendar). The tradition of celebrating Christmas has been revived since 1992, after decades of suppression by theCommunist government. On Christmas Eve, there are several long services, including the Royal Hours and Vespers combined with the Divine Liturgy. The family will then return home for the traditionalChrismas Eve "Holy Supper", which consists of 12 dishes, one to honor each of the Twelve Apostles. Devout families will then return to church for the "всеночная" All Night Vigil. Then again, on...