Christmas decorations around the world (photos)

Families and communities love to haul out their ornaments, lights, wreaths, inflatables and treasured objects for Christmas. It's a ritual, and these items, whether sacred or secular, are familiar and soothing.

But have you ever wondered what kinds of Christmas decorations people in other places display?

It turns out dazzling (or even gaudy) lights, nativity scenes and Santa statuary are pretty common whether you travel to the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa or beyond.

However, local customs and traditions still have their place in the Christmas decorations people put up in destinations around the world.

In one city in the Philippines, they love to display colorful, giant spinning lanterns called parols.

In Sweden, you may see native moose set up in lights.

In the United States, all types of regional interests show up in holiday decorations, such as Western-themed displays in New Mexico.

And did you know Christmas is celebrated by millions in places such as India, Kenya and Egypt?

And it's not just homes that get the holiday treatment. Parks, public squares, stores and even buses are decked out with all things Christmas.

Take a look at our gallery above and see all the ways people decorate this time of year.

 

Brazil: South America's largest country is big on bold colors, and even the buses get the illuminated Christmas treatment in São Paulo. The "Feliz Natal" sign means "Merry Christmas" in Portuguese. Click through the gallery for more pictures of Christmas decor around the world: 

Colombia: In Cali, family members light candles during Día de las Velitas (Day of the Little Candles). This traditional Colombian celebration marks the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. People light candles in their homes and on streetlights as well as visit cemeteries to decorate the graves of their dead with flowers, lanterns and candles

 
Denmark: Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen is favorite playground for Danes and tourists. And they go all-out each year decorating this longtime amusement park for Christmas. Along with enjoying the lights and other holiday decorations, kids can ride a special Elf Train.

Egypt: Christians make up about 10% of Egypt's population, and they enjoy the decorating and festivities as people do all over the world. Here, Christmas stock is displayed at a store in the Shubra district of Cairo, which has a large Coptic Christian community.

Germany: Strollers get a full-on electric show at a home in Walschleben, which is in the central part of the country. The owner of the home estimated he used around 130,000 light points and starts setting up in the middle of October. It's more likely you'll find subdued decorations in most German homes, with an emphasis on Advent wreaths and Christmas trees.

Greece: People walk past a traditional Christmas boat decorated with colorful lights docked in the Thermaic Gulf off the shores of Thessaloniki. Greeks are increasingly turning to decorating small Christmas boats instead of trees.

India: It's Saxophone Santa in Navi Mumbai (formerly known as New Bombay). Christians make up only 2.3% of India's population, but that's still about 28 million followers. You'll find Santas and other secular items in shops, while you're likely to find poinsettias in churches.

Kenya: Shoppers take photos with their mobile phones of musically inclined Santa Claus dolls in Nairobi. The website WhyChristmas says "houses and churches are often decorated with colorful balloons, ribbons, paper decorations, flowers and green leaves" during Christmas.

Mexico: Colorful, multicolored stars are displayed for sale in Mexico City. Other common decorations in Mexico during the Christmas season include pinatas, poinsettias, nativity scenes and table centerpieces, often in earth tones.

New Zealand: Like many places, homeowners in New Zealand love to decorate with a multitude of Christmas lights. They are particularly enthusiastic about this lights craft on Franklin Road in Auckland, drawing large crowds.

The Philippines: Policarpio Street in Mandaluyong City is one of the most visited roadways during Christmas because of the grandiose and well-lit houses with different Christmas themes.

Russia: Christmas baubles coated in ice hang on a tree in Manezhnaya Square in Moscow. The Russian Orthodox Church still uses the old Julian Calendar, so Christmas for most Christians in Russia falls on January 7. Nesting dolls with a Christmas theme are a popular decoration.

Sweden: Thousands of lights decorate moose statues in Stockholm. The capital of Sweden strings up lights and decorations around more than 30 streets, squares and marketplaces, glistening and glimmering of Santas, moose, stars and other decorations.

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United States: A boat decorated in Christmas lights travels down a river in Venice, Florida. Christmas boat parades are popular in warmer winter locations such as Florida, California and South Carolina.