TREES LIGHT UP CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS AROUND GLOBE.

Byline: Kevin F. Sherry Daily News Staff Writer

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library is offering a special holiday attraction giving visitors views of Christmas around the world.

Through Jan. 4, the library will have 30 Christmas trees on display, each decorated with a different theme. ``The Nutcracker,'' ``The Wizard of Oz,'' Disney and a children's theme are represented, while the remaining trees represent the holiday traditions of nations across the globe.

The exhibit opened Sunday to crowds excited to learn about the different ways that countries celebrate Christmas.

A short information card accompanies each tree, to help visitors compare and contrast the various holiday traditions around the world. For example, depending on the country, anxious children can expect gifts from St. Nicholas, Santa Claus, the Christ Child or Black Peter.

Interesting similarities also appear. The Russian tree, for example, explains the legend of Babouska, a woman who supposedly declined to accompany the three wise men on their visit to the manger.

The Italy tree recounts a similar story, only in that country she is known is Befana.

The Iceland tree is covered with iciclelike ornaments, and the Canada tree is covered in moose, snowflakes, Mounties and pine cones.

But countries in the Southern Hemisphere, like Australia and Brazil, are in the middle of summer when Christmas comes, and their trees reflect the warm-weather holiday.

The United States tree is decorated in red, white and blue, while the Kwanzaa tree uses traditional African patterns. Each tree was decorated by a different individual or agency, and many have unique handicrafts.

The Lithuania tree is entirely covered with intricate white ornaments. Only a close inspection reveals that each ornament is made entirely of drinking straws. The Switzerland tree features crocheted snowflakes.

The display honors countries with heavily Christian populations, like Poland, to those that have just a small percentage of the population celebrating the holiday, such as Morocco.

Each tree is distinctive not only for its holiday traditions, but also for cultural heritages. The Scotland tree features tartan bows, the China tree has paper lanterns and pandas, and the Germany tree highlights gingerbread men.

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos

PHOTO (1 -- color in Simi only) Hieu Nguyen, 3, of Canoga Park watches as a miniature train circles 30 Christmas trees with different themes at the Reagan Library.

(2 -- color -- Simi only) Chinese ornaments add color to a tree representing the traditions of China at the library display.

(3 -- Simi only) Esther and Ed DeVine stroll through the Christmas Around the World exhibit, running until Jan. 4.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News