This year, we at GRL didn’t quite have our act together enough to post a Christmas article on the 24^th.  Lucky for us, in many countries the party doesn’t stop until January 6^th (or sometimes even later).  For those of you who aren’t ready for Christmas to be over, yet, here are 5 countries that continue the celebration into January.

1. During the Victorian period in Britain and the United States, there was a different celebration on each of the 12 days. Some notable feasts take place on December 27^th, the Feast of St. John, December 28^th, The Feast of the Holy Innocents (commemorating the slaughter of children by King Herod), January 1^st, celebrating St. Mary, and January 3^rd, celebrating the official naming of Jesus.  January 5^th, or Twelfth Night, was a night for large celebrations, rich food, and loud music.
2. In Mexico, children wait for the three kings to arrive on Día de los Tres Reyes Magos (Three King’s Day on January 6^th). The night before, children leave a shoe in the entryway for the wise men to place candy and small gifts inside.  Water and grass is left out for the kings’ camels.  That morning, a King’s Cake, a sweet bread in the shape of a crown and decorated with candied fruit, is served.  In one of the slices is hidden a figure of the baby Jesus.  Whoever gets this slice must prepare tamales on February 2^nd.
3. In Belgium, children dress up as the three kings on Epiphany and go from door to door singing songs and begging for candy and money. The Belgian King’s Cake is a puff pastry with almond filling, and is decorated with a paper crown, and may be baked with a single bean in place of a baby to represent Jesus.  Whoever gets the bean becomes king or queen for the day and claims the crown.  Doors and windows are also opened on this day to let in good luck.
4. In Egypt, Christian’s follow the Coptic calendar, which places Christmas Eve on January 6^th. Starting on November 25^th, Egyptian Christians abstain from eating any animal products until after the Christmas Eve service, which may start as late as 10:30 at night.  After this service, the fast is broken with a large feast.  The following morning, people exchange sweet biscuits, throw parties, and have their houses blessed.
5. In Ukraine, the Ukrainian Orthodox calendar also places Christmas Eve on January 6^th. During the day, people fast, drinking only holy water that has been blessed by their church.  However, as soon as the first star appears in the night sky, everyone sits down to a large meal, where 12 dishes are served to represent each of the 12 Disciples.  After dinner, Ukrainians sing Christmas carols and decorate their tree.  One decoration unique to Ukraine are spider webs, which may be small and made from silver wire or paper, or may knitted or crocheted from fine yarn large enough to drape over the entire tree.  This custom comes from the story of the Christmas Spider, wherein a poor widow could not afford to decorate her Christmas tree for her children.  The spiders took pity on them, and spent the night covering the tree in webs to decorate it.  In the morning, the first rays of sunlight turned the cobwebs into strings of silver and gold, and the family never lived in poverty again.  Because of this, cobwebs in a Christmas tree are considered good fortune.

Merry Christmas!