During the Christmas season, many families will attend Christmas religious services around the world. There are some very famous, unique and unusual traditions and services that take place every year. Here are eight interesting traditions from around the world:

1. In Austria – Religious service famous for its music! Midnight mass, a tradition on Christmas Eve, features trumpeters playing choral music from the town tower or the main church’s bell tower. Often the service features music written by Franz Bruber, who composed the famous and popular Silent Night. He also wrote nearly 100 masses, hymns, and Christmas carols. On Christmas Eve Silent Night it is heard for the first time on the radio and is repeated every hour. It is eagerly awaited and the effect is known to be mesmerizing!

2. In England: You must attend a Church service, but you must not use a vehicle! The Holy Days and Fast Days Act of 1551, Great Britain (which has not yet been repealed) states that all citizens must attend a Christian religious service on Christmas Day and must not use any type of vehicle to get to the service .

3. In Egypt: a tradition is to wear a new outfit to mass! Christmas is celebrated on January 7, its official holiday. It is tradition that everyone, on Christmas Eve, goes to church in a completely new outfit. The service ends at midnight marked by the sound of the church bells when everyone goes home for a feast called “Fata” consisting of bread, rice, garlic, and boiled meat. On Christmas morning they visit neighbors and friends with their popular “kaik”, a type of sweet cake eaten with a drink called a “shortbat”.

4. In Italy – Famous for its elaborate and artistic food scenes! People on Christmas Eve go from church to church seeing elaborate and artistic scenes from the manger. Each has a display of figures made of clay and plaster. An ox and a donkey are included, as legend has it that they warmed Baby Jesus with his breath! Occasionally local heroes are added to scenes and given special boons. Competitions are usually held between churches in the same town for the best nativity scene.

5. In Russia – Traditional parade of lanterns and candles! After the Christmas Eve service, people holding lanterns and candles parade around the church and then back inside to sing Christmas carols before going home for a late Christmas Eve dinner. On Christmas Day it is popular for children and the church choir to go door to door singing Christmas carols “The Nativity” or “Tu Nacimiento”.

6. In Spain – The mass described as a single pure voice! A tradition of ringing bells at midnight interrupts the merriment of Christmas Eve, calling everyone to the Christmas mass service called “La Misa Del Gallo” or “Misa del Gallo.” A rooster announces the new day by singing and likewise the Misa Del Gallo announces the new day. The loveliest service is at the Montserrat monastery near Barcelona, ​​highlighted by a children’s choir performing the mass described as “a pure voice.” This is followed by the main Christmas dinner where they feast until the wee hours of the morning. An old Spanish verse says: “This is the good night, therefore, it is not for sleeping.”

7. In Wales: 3am service revived today! Old traditions often remain strong in rural Wales. One of such ancient and popular traditions was the main Christmas service called “Plygain”. It begins in the dark hours of Christmas Day from 3 a.m. to sunrise on Christmas morning; usually around 6 am. The highlight of the service is the singing of Christmas carols by individuals, trios, quartets or choirs. While this candlelit service was popular in ancient times, it was discontinued in the 19th century. The service was revived in later years by the Methodist Chapels.

8. In Syria – The Ring of Peace Christmas Ceremony! Mass is held early on Christmas morning. In the center of the church a bonfire is lit and ancient hymns are sung as the celebrant carries an image of the infant Jesus in a joyous procession around the building. This is followed by the tradition called “Touch of Peace” whereby the celebrant touches the closest person who then passes the touch of peace from one to another until all are touched.