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Native Bolivians celebrate Christmas more as a harvest festival. Thanks are given for completion of the year’s work. They give an account of the work done during the year and propose what is to be done the next year. Christmas tends to become a feast of adoration of the Goddess Mother Earth, who is asked to bring a fruitful harvest, to keep away plagues, and to give a prosperous year.
In Brazil Santa Claus is little known and those who do know of the jolly fellow call him Papa Noel.
The children have no Christmas trees, but they do have a crèche or Presepio, representing the Christ-child’s birth. Gifts and toys are exchanged during the holidays after which the Presepio is put away until the following Christmas.
In Ecuador the children write letters to the Christ-child and place shoes in the window in which he may place toys as he passes by on Christmas Eve. Noise-making toys are common and are used with much energy on the streets on Christmas morning.
Since the weather is very warm, most celebrations are in the streets. There are firecrackers, brass bands, and dancing. At midnight everyone goes to Mass. after which the family dinner is enjoyed.
