'Santa Claus' - tagged features

Despite the lack of snow in Europe for a white Christmas, people across the continent are getting into the festive mood. In Germany drinking Glühwein - a hot spicy wine - at one of the many beautiful Christmas markets is a must in the run up to the festive days. In Paris you shouldn't miss the capital's famous Christmas decorations - every year the "Grands magasins" sees department stores battle it out for the most lavishly decorated and lit shop windows. But no matter where you are, how you celebrate Christmas often reflects both traditions and changes in society. Radio Sweden looks at how traditions in Sweden have changed over the years and the way Swedes now celebrate Christmas. 

Let's face it everywhere you turn at this time of the year you can't help but bump into a fat man with a white beard dressed in a red suit. Santa Claus is everywhere - on shopping bags, in shop windows - you name it. But Santa is a relatively new phenomenon in the Czech Republic. A similar figure, Mikulas, visits children on December 5, while presents are delivered on December 24 by the Baby Jesus. Some Czechs resent the ever-present Santa Claus - saying the figure has a negative influence on Czech kids. Taking matters into their own hands, the Creative Copywriters Club has set up a website with a simple message: Santa go home! Radio Prague caught up with David Koenig from the club at a shopping mall in the Czech capital.