Until recently the peace of Christmas also meant a once a year cease fire for the people of Northern Ireland.

Hi I'm Rick Steeves and Merry Christmas.

Today on Travel with Rick Steeves, we conclude our series of how holiday traditions endure through changing times for our friends in Europe.

Up ahead, it's Christmas in the north of Ireland, in the heart of Italy, and in Greece, where it sure ain't

Santa Claus who's trying to come down the chimney.

It's one big celebration of the 12 days of Christmas and maybe even more.

Of course, the simple pleasures of what's on the table as the family

gathers together makes Christmas special throughout the world.

Panetone, Pandora, Torone, Pampepato, Cantuccine, while elsewhere While elsewhere, memories of the Christmas feast might be a little more austere.

I remember it's just one big huge turkey sitting there with decorated with brussels sprouts.

Celebrate the holidays with us.

It's Travel with Rick Steves. Oh, December 25th is only day number one of the 12 days of Christmas.

And as we'll find out in a moment, the Greeks have some truly unique ways to celebrate.

Hi, I'm Rick Steeves. Today on Travel with Rick Steeves, more of our friends from Europe are here to remind us of the many

ways their traditions make the season special.

In the hour ahead, we'll look for some common threads and discover some unfamiliar and intriguing

customs that make the holidays particularly festive for our European friends.

And if you're ready to make plans for New Year's Eve, later this hour,

we'll get inspired to bring in the New Year with some traditions from Sweden,

Iberia, Great Britain, and even Croatia.

And Christmas is celebrated with a little special twist in Greece.

And I'm joined today by Anastasia Gaetano from Thessolaniki to talk a little bit about how her family

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