In the Middle East the Christian community gets in the Christmas mood a month before. Then they go through the whole Christmas eve and Christmas day program, but unlike the West that's only the beginning of their Christmas celebration. It's a tradition to visit one another to wish people Happy Christmas. These 'Christmas' visit may go on till February!!! They keep the trees up till around that time. It was an extremely sad time for us as kids to see the tree go.I was shocked to find out Christmas in the US was pretty much over on Christmas day!