Joyeux Noel! Nollaig Shona Dhuit! Wesolych Swiat! Merry Christmas! Whatever the language, Christmas is a holiday that went global long ago. Around the world, even in nations that are not predominately Christian, the Yuletide season is celebrated as a time for family, love and sharing gifts. But even countries where Christmas is a cultural transplant enjoy the holiday simply as a way to have a good time. One nation that makes merry with gusto at Christmastime is Japan, says Jeff Matsui, owner of the business Web site Japan Market Intelligence.com. (By the way, the polite greeting at Christmas is, “Shinnen omedeto, kurisumasu omedeto,” or “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”) Christmas is not a holiday (workers don’t normally get the day off), but it is a major retail and cultural event complete with store choirs singing advertising jingles to the tune of Christmas carols, Colonel Sanders dressed in a Santa outfit (KFC once promoted fried chicken as the “traditional” Christmas meal) and elves decorating bottles of sake. “It’s also safe to say that Christmas, as a concept, is not terribly well understood in Japan,” says Matsui, who says that the Japanese practice of celebrating Christmas was introduced by Christian missionaries, then gained greater momentum during the American occupation of Japan after World War II. Christians comprise only about 1 percent of Japan’s population. Still, Christmas is a wildly popular event with couples exchanging gifts (the emphasis is on cute -- teddy bears or other stuffed toys), Japanese office workers purchasing Christmas cakes, and even the family pooch enjoying fukubukuro, the “bag of happiness” that includes dog treats and toys. However, traditional customs remain strong. In nations where Christianity is the predominate religion, the holiday maintains its religious underpinnings, even if most people celebrate the day simply with good food and plenty of gifts. Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, a Frankenmuth, Mich., retailer that bills itself as the world’s largest Christmas store, lists some of the following customs at its Web site. FRANCE In France, the greeting is “Joyeux Noel” and the creche (manger) occupies a place of prominence in the home. Terra-cotta figures known as santons (little saints) represent the Holy Family. The Buche de Noel, a log-shaped cake, has become a favorite Christmas delicacy. Children leave their shoes by the fireside on Christmas Eve, hoping Pere Noel (Father Christmas) or le Petit Noel (the Christ child) will fill them with gifts before morning. Their parents attend Christmas Mass at midnight and return to a late supper known as le Reveillon. IRELAND The Irish greet one another with the Celtic, “Nollaig Shona Dhuit.” On Christmas Eve, the youngest family member is chosen to light a candle in the window in honor of the infant Jesus. The light is a welcome to any who, like Mary and Joseph, might be looking for shelter. After church services on Christmas Day, families distribute baked goods to friends and relatives. On December 26, St. Stephen’s Day, children participate in a custom called “Feed the wren.” With a wren in a cage, they proceed from door to door singing carols and collecting money for charity. The season ends on January 6, which is known as “Little Christmas.” POLAND Poles greet each other with “Wesolych Swiat.” The Star of Bethlehem is the most popular Christmas symbol and the holiday is called Gwiazda, or “Little Star.” The first star in the Christmas Eve sky signals the end of a daylong fast of Wigilia and celebrations begin. Before the Christmas Eve meal is served, the head of the house distributes an oplatki (a wafer) symbolizing friendship and peace. A straw-strewn place setting is reserved for the humble Christ. Decorations include an elaborate creche and choinka (Christmas tree) decorated with straw stars, fruit, nuts, cookies and intricately painted eggs. Often, young men carry a lighted star on a pole en route to Pasterka (Shepherd’s Mass) at midnight on Christmas Eve. ENGLAND England is the home of many American customs, as well. The tradition of sending Christmas cards originated in England. Window candles attract carolers, called waits, who fill the air with Christmas music. A Yule log finds its place in the hearths of some homes in England and Wales. Children hang stockings by the chimney or their bed, hoping Father Christmas will bring gifts. Before the use of the Christmas tree, the main decoration was the kissing bough, made of evergreens, holly and ivy. Christmas feasting includes the wassail bowl and flaming plum pudding. On Boxing Day, December 26 (St. Stephen’s Day), gift boxes and alms are distributed to the needy.