December 24th is Christmas Eve,

a time when the world is shopping mad, 

as they push around the supermarket trolley,

the more and more they add.

Most of this is for Christmas dinner,

when all the family congregate,

to spend precious time together,

and enjoy what's on their dinner plate.

Christmas Eve marks at the end of the advent period before Christmas that started on the 4th Sunday before Christmas Eve. In Lebanon, Christian Lebanese attend midnight mass, Santa Claus is known by his French name Papa Noel. In Norway they had a custom where households would hide all their brooms because they believed that witches  came out and stole them, in Japan they have a custom of eating strawberry shortcake and fried chicken on Christmas Eve, Father Christmas is known as Uncle chimney. In Latin America Christmas eve is known as Nochebuena and a time for families to attend a late mass called Miss de Gallo.

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