Christmas is a Christian holiday celebrated each year on December 25 to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. Traditions vary around the world, but generally involve family gatherings, a special meal, the exchanging of gifts, Christmas carols and prayers, and plenty of good cheer. Some of the most popular Christmas customs include Christmas trees, festive red and green decorations, mistletoe, and the fantastic story of Santa Claus and his flying reindeer delivering presents to children around the world on the night before Christmas.
Christmas at SOS
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An SOS child celebrates Christmas in Nairobi, Kenya. |
Many SOS families across the globe celebrate Christmas every year. The occasion is especially meaningful for thousands of SOS children as they share the holiday festivities with their SOS mother, brothers, and sisters.
Children write Santa letters at many villages. One boy, Thia, from the SOS village in Da Nang, Vietnam asks Santa to bring him a "small present" because he has done well in school. Zandalee, a girl from the SOS village in Cape Town, South Africa, tells Santa that the most important of part of the holiday is "spending Christmas with my SOS family."
Several other Christmas traditions take place at our villages throughout the world. The SOS village in Sicaya, Peru holds an annual Christmas play, SOS mothers prepare a delicious Christmas meal of chicken muamba (read the recipe) each year for children in Lubango, Angola and children sing Christmas carols at the village in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Christmas Cards
Send a free eCard courtesy of SOS or purchase SOS note cards to send to your family and friends.
Christmas Recipe
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| Chicken maumba |
Bake chicken maumba, a traditional Christmas recipe from SOS Children's Villages Lubango in Angola.
View a recipe on how to make chicken maumba.
Christmas Poem
Read a Christmas poem from a boy at the SOS Children's Village Maputo in Mozambique. The poem, called "The Night of Christmas", is about the love families share on Christmas.