Traditional Christmas Greeting: "Joyeux Noel" (French), "I'D Miilad Said Oua Sana Saida" (Arabic)
Location: Middle East
Tree Type: Non-Traditional / Non-Cultural

Decorations
- The decorations are white to convey the hope for peace in their land

Traditions:
In Lebanon, seedlings are the traditional ornaments of the Christmas Season. Two weeks before Christmas, families plant seeds, chickpeas, wheat grains, beans, and lentils in moist cotton wool. Someone waters them every day, until on Christmas Eve they're sometimes taller than six inches high. Once they're harvested, the seedlings are used to decorate the nativity scenes that most families set up. The people inside them are usually made from painted brown paper. Besides the seedlings, the other distinctive thing about Lebanese nativity scenes is the ornamental star (the Star of Bethlehem) hanging above each one.

The biggest Lebanese Christmas celebrations take place on the 25th. Most people spend the morning visiting friends and entertaining them in their turn. Guests fill up with the coffee, liqueur, and sweets offered at each home, but somehow still find room for the festive holiday meal that follows around midday.

For the Christmas meal, entire families often gather together, usually at the home of the eldest male relative. They feast on cooked chicken, rice, and kubbeh (crushed wheat mixed with mean, onion, and spices). Cookies and pastries follow for dessert, and families spend the rest of the evening recovering together from the year's Christmas celebrations.