Several Carolina Meadows residents have spent their Christmases in countries where the holiday is celebrated very differently.

In a French village

When doctor Gus Conley was assigned to a three year tour of duty as a pediatrician at an air force base in Lorraine, France, he and his wife Libby opted to live in a village where they could immerse themselves in life in a small French town.

They arrived in Villey St. Etienne a week after Thanksgiving, and were soon taken under the wings of their neighbors, Papa and Madam, who were also their landlords.

"Christmas was totally different from the holiday we were used to," Gus said. "There were no Christmas trees, wreaths, or lights, and no Santa Claus or Christmas stockings. Christmas began with Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, followed by a multi-course dinner at one o'clock at Papa and Madam's home. After the meal, we were taught to play cards French fashion, and then to bed at five o'clock in the morning."

"Most of Christmas day was spent sleeping," Libby said. "Presents were given to the children on Twelfth Night."

A much bigger celebration was the annual village birthday party, a two day event with all the families in the village participating.

In Oaxaca, Mexico

Most Mexican towns celebrate Christmas with calendas, a procession of people carrying torches, followed by decorated vehicles and huge dancing puppets accompanied by a band. Also, on the sixth of December, nine days of posada begin. Posadas are processions headed by children dressed as Mary and Joseph, who are seeking lodging. At a designated house they will be welcomed with food for the adults and pinatas for the children.

Jim and Dorothy Mullen were in Oaxaca to celebrate the two fiestas which are unique to that city: the Noche de Los Rabanos (the Night of the Radishes) and "the breaking of the plates."

On Dec. 23 each year, a competition is held to see which small town of the region can produce the finest scene carved from the large white radishes grown in the area.

"We have seen Columbus with his three ships and sailors, the Nativity scene complete with animals and shepherds, the Conquistadors on their horses, Montezuma and a pyramid, and anything else you can imagine," Dorothy said. The carvings are displayed in booths all around the Zocalo (main square.}

From Dec. 16 through Dec. 31, Oaxaca celebrates the "breaking of the plates." You eat a bunuelo (Christmas pastry), drink a cup of hot chocolate and then smash the unglazed pottery dishes. By midnight,the streets will be ankle deep in broken pottery.

"Don't feel bad about the breakage," Jim said. "The plates are made for that purpose."

Christmas celebrations continue until Jan. 6, Twelfth Night, when small gifts are given to the children.

In The Netherlands

Sinterklass is the Dutch name for St. Nicholas, who was a bishop of the Greek Orthodox church in Myra, Turkey long ago. He saved a village from starvation, revived three dead children, and was credited with calming rough seas.

In the Netherlands Sinterklass arrives by boat from Spain on Nov. 17. He rides all over the country on a white horse, accompanied by a black man named Zwarte Piet, who comes down the chimney to eat the goodies left for him. They and their helpers distribute gifts on Dec. 5. Then Sinterklass goes back to Spain.

Barbara Rodbell, a Carolina Meadows resident, who spent her childhood in the Netherlands, described the festivities.

"In our house we all sat around a big table nervously awaiting a knock on the door," she said. "When father opened it there was a large basket filled with gifts, each with a poem wrapped around it. The poem is a Netherlands tradition. Each gift must be accompanied by a poem written by the giver. Before the gifts were opened, the recipient had to read the poem aloud. Some could be embarrassing, as Sinterklass knew everything you had done during the year, but most were complimentary. Afterwards we sang Sinterklass songs, drank hot chocolate and ate wonderful almond cakes. It was a lovely family party."

Christmas is celebrated differently all around the world. The one thing all the celebrations have in common is that they all have the Christmas spirit. Merry Christmas!