Let\’s broaden our horizons here, and have a look at some other countries\’ Christmas customs.

The Mexican piñata easily springs to mind. When I was a kid, we had a big book of Christmas stories. One was about a little Mexican girl named Pepita. Pepita was staying with her grandmother in the United States, and wanted a piñata for Christmas; but was too young to explain what a piñata was.

Just before Christmas, her parents sent her a big piñata. A note told what to do with a piñata. The neighbors were invited to Grandma\’s house; and everyone had a good time trying to be the one to break the piñata. Feliz Navidad!

We have Germany, among other countries, to thank for the Christmas tree; and the carol Silent Night comes from a little village in neighboring Austria. The story: on the night of Christmas Eve, the village priest discovered that a mouse had chewed a hole in the organ bellows; and the instrument was unplayable.

Midnight Mass without music was unthinkable; but what to do? The beautiful, still night inspired the priest to write a poem; and he asked a friend who played the guitar to set the poem to music. If that\’s true, \”Three cheers for the mouse!\” Fröhliche Weihnachten!

We looked forward to the visit from Santa Claus; but children in Italy wait for Babbo Natale. He, too, has reindeer; and Italian children put out stockings for him to fill. Buon Natale!

It sounds as though Christmas in France is a more subdued holiday than in some countries. Nothing wrong with that! Pere Noel comes to the children of France, who put out wooden shoes for him to fill. Joyeux Noel!

I hope we\’ve broadened our horizons a bit now. Merry Christmas!