1   This date was the old mid-winter festival in pre-Christmas times, around the time
of the longest night and the shortest day. Christmas in the 21st century has many traditions:
Christmas trees, cards and presents. Shops can make about 60 percent of their year's income
in the three months before Christmas, so most shops get ready for it in October.    2   The first
time this happened was in 1867 when Macy's famous shop in New York, stayed open until
midnight on Christmas Eve.
    By mid-December, almost every shop and street has a Christmas tree.     3   In the northern
countries, winter is cold and dark and most trees are decorated with lights and colored glass
balls give people hope that spring will come.
    Father Christmas is known across the world with his white hair, red coat and big bag of toys.
Young children are told that he lives in the north of Finland and makes toys for them.    4  
   On Christmas Day a traditional meal is eaten, usually a turkey and a rich, spicy cake. Some
 people hate Christmas.     5   They love seeing family and friends; they also love the traditions.
Love it or hate it, Christmas is a time to look back over the old year and forward to the new one.