Christmas traditions around the world: The countries celebrating in January and waiting for gnomes rather than Santa

Saint Nicholas is escorted by his three assistants called "Zwarte Piet" during a traditional parade in central Brussels
As Brits hit the shops for last-minute Christmas gift buying and prepare for a hearty roast and maybe a visit to church on the big day, it is worth remembering not everyone celebrates Christmas like us.
In fact, not everyone even celebrates Christmas on December 25, and for them Christmas is still a few weeks away.
Across the world, some countries celebrate Christmas on January 7 and use a whole host of traditions that are different from the Santa and his sleigh and mistletoe we are familiar with.
These countries mark Christmas differently because they use the Julian calendar rather than the Gregorian one.
We take a look at the different days Christmas is celebrated across the world, as well as how traditions vary.
The Netherlands
Here, the most important day of the festive season is December 5, when Sinterklaas, or St Nicholas, arrives by steamboat from his home in Spain.
Until the 19th Century, Sinterklaas operated alone, bringing well-behaved children presents and apparently spiriting bad youngsters away in his sack for re-education and a beating.
However, in 1850, children's author Jan Schenkman drew him with a black servant, who later became known as Zwarte Piet or Black Pete.
It became Zwarte Piet's job to go down the chimney to deliver presents and catch the less fortunate children.
Iceland
Iceland's first Santa of 13,
The land of ice and snow has no fewer than 13 Santa Clauses.
Thirteen days before Christmas, the first Santa descends from the mountains and visits each house to put treats in children's shoes while they sleep.
Well-behaved children get presents such as mandarins and sweets, while bad kids typically receive something less attractive, such as a potato.
The next day the second Father Christmas comes to town and so on.
Then on December 25, the first one goes back, the next day the second one goes back.
January 6 is called "the thirteenth" and is the last day of Christmas because that day the last Santa goes home.
Germany
Here, Christmas Eve is the most important day of the festive season.
Families traditionally mark the occasion with a feast and a visit to church for midnight mass.
Some families will sing at Christmas but in general the mood is one of contemplation and reflection.
Poland
Thousands of people from Poland and across the globe go to Warsaw to see the annual Christmas tree lighting the day before the Feast of St. Nicholas
For Polish children, there's less second guessing what they might receive on Christmas Day as presents can start arriving on December 6.
That's because this is St Nicholas Day, or Sw. Mikolaj Day and St Nicholas is known as the original Father Christmas.
Unlike Santa in the UK, this character dresses in the white and gold of a Bishop, rather than red and white.
Families traditionally enjoy 12 dishes - including the country's famous pierogi dumplings - on Christmas Eve.
The feast is preceded by Opłatek, a type of Christmas wafer.
Pierogis
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