Yule Love These 11 Christmas Traditions from Around the World
Have You Heard of These Holiday Customs?
One of the most beautiful and exciting things about travel is that you get a chance to learn about different traditions and cultures. Christmas is a favorite holiday of many around the world, but it can certainly look different depending on where you are. Read on for a look at Christmas traditions around the world and you’re sure to be in the festive spirit in no time.
Christmas in Germany
In Germany, Christmas is called Weihnachten and is considered by many to be the most important holiday on the calendar. Advent, the weeks leading up to Christmas, is a vital part of German Christmas traditions. To mark the beginning of Advent, many people will bake Christmas cookies and make gingerbread houses.
Most homes will also track the days of Advent with a special calendar or wreath. One of the highlights of Christmas in Germany are the amazing Christmas markets which pop up in nearly every town around the country. Locals and tourists alike flock to the markets to enjoy traditional food, sweet treats, Christmas decorations, handcrafted toys, hand-blown glass Christmas ornaments and much more.
Christmas in Mexico
Christmas in Mexico is celebrated over a series of weeks beginning on December 12th and finishing January 6th with one related holiday, Candlemas, falling on February 2nd. During this entire season, visitors to Mexico will see Nativity scenes, poinsettia flowers (which originate in Mexico), Christmas shoes and a variety of festive foods.
There is a church service and midnight meal on Christmas Eve, and Christmas presents are typically opened at the strike of midnight. Christmas Day is much quieter as families recover from the night before, relax and enjoy leftovers from the Christmas Eve feast.
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Christmas in France
In France, people usually decorate their homes with a Nativity crib with clay figures in them. French Nativity scenes are unique in that they often feature additional figures from daily French village life such as a baker, policeman, butcher and priest.
France has one of the Europe’s largest Christmas markets which is called “Christkindelsmarik.” People come from all over the world to shop and experience the market. The main Christmas meal is eaten after the midnight church service on Christmas Eve and includes a variety of festive foods, not the least of which is the famous “Buche de Noel,” a chocolate sponge cake which is usually decorated like a log.
Christmas in Italy
Like many countries, Christmas in Italy is celebrated over several weeks from early December until the day of Epiphany (January 6th). Christmas trees are put up in homes and a massive one is erected in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. Festive markets sell various sweets, gifts and other foods.
Many Italians will attend Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve; the service led by the Pope at the Vatican is a ticketed event that is sure to sell out. Many children write letters to St. Nicholas early in the season and if they have been good they will be rewarded with fruits, sweets or nuts.
Christmas in Spain
As Spain is a mostly Catholic country, most people will go to Midnight Mass, or “La Misa Del Gallo,” on Christmas Eve. Most families eat their main Christmas meal on Christmas Eve before the service. Historically, the Christmas dinner was turkey stuffed with truffles or a roasted young hen. However, now traditions vary widely depending on the family and region.
December 28th is the Day of the Innocent Saints, which is comparable to April Fool’s Day in the US and the UK. Children open some presents on Christmas, but most are saved to be opened at Epiphany, which is a day to celebrate when the Kings or Wise Men brought gifts to the baby Jesus.
Children believe that the Kings bring presents to them at Epiphany, so they write letters to the Kings asking for toys or presents. In the nights before Christmas Eve, children may go and sing carols around their neighbors hoping to get some money.
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Christmas in Australia
Being in the Southern Hemisphere, Australia celebrates Christmas near the beginning of the summer holidays. The weather is quite hot and some people may even be camping during the holiday. Australians adorn their front doors with wreaths and decorate Christmas trees.
Houses are also decorated with lights; taking a drive around to look at the light displays is a popular activity during this season. Some go out caroling on Christmas Eve.
Many fun, festive activities are scheduled around Christmas. For instance, each state capital city hosts a Carols by Candlelight service as well as many festivals, Christmas pageants and parades. When Santa gets to Australia, he parks his reindeer and uses kangaroos to get around and also trades his thick, fuzzy coat for less hot clothing.
Most families try to be home together for Christmas and the main meal is normally eaten at lunch time. Boxing Day is another popular holiday that’s held near Christmas and most people go to visit friends and often have barbecues at the beach. Some may go watch the famous yacht race held each year from Sydney to Hobart in Tasmania.
Christmas in Poland
The Christmas season in Poland is marked by the beginning of Advent. During these weeks leading up to Christmas, many Poles will focus on being peaceful, meditating on the real reason for Christmas and may try to live a bit more simply or give up a favorite food or drink.
Many special church services are held during the Advent and Christmas seasons. Before Christmas, school children often participate in Nativity plays.
Christmas Eve is a very important day. It is a day of fasting and traditionally no food is eaten until the first star appears in the sky. The main Christmas meal is eaten on Christmas Eve evening and traditionally includes 12 dishes. The meal is traditionally meat-free and the main dish is usually carp, although having a bowl of beetroot soup is a must!
People open gifts after the Christmas dinner and the day is finished by attending Midnight Mass at church.
Christmas in England
In the UK, families often celebrate Christmas together by opening gifts around the Christmas tree. Most villages and towns are decked out with Christmas lights with some having especially impressive light displays, such as the famous one on Oxford Street in London.
Like many other countries, Nativity plays and carol services are very popular at Christmastime. Many churches will also have Carols by Candlelight and Christingle services.
Children believe Father Christmas, also known as Santa Claus, leaves presents in their pillowcases or stockings. These are normally hung by the children’s beds or near the fireplace on Christmas Eve. Children write letters to Santa, but toss them in the fireplace instead of mailing them. Then on the night he is expected to visit, they leave out mince pies and brandy for him to enjoy when he stops by.
The main Christmas meal is typically eaten at lunchtime on Christmas Day. The meal usually consists of a roast turkey, vegetables and a dessert of traditional Christmas pudding. The dinner table is decorated with a Christmas cracker for each person as well as flowers and candles.
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Christmas in Russia
In the days of the Soviet Union, Christmas was not celebrated very much as it was banned as a religious holiday in 1929. Instead, New Year’s was made into an important holiday. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, people have been permitted to celebrate Christmas again, but it remains a quieter and smaller holiday than the huge New Year’s celebrations.
Since the Russian Orthodox Church uses the old Julian calendar for holidays, Christmas is celebrated on January 7th. Rather than visiting on Christmas, the Russian Grandfather Frost brings gifts to kids on New Year’s and is always accompanied by his granddaughter named Snegurochka.
The main Christmas meal is enjoyed on Christmas Eve and following the meal many people will attend midnight church services.
Christmas in Ireland
In Ireland, many people celebrate Christmas in much the same way as people in the UK and the US, but they also have many of their own unique traditions. The season is celebrated from Christmas Eve until the feast of Epiphany on January 6th.
According to the old tradition, some Irish houses burn a candle in their largest window for the entire night between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to welcome Mary and Joseph. St. Nicholas or Father Christmas is said to visit on Christmas Eve and leave presents for children.
The day following Christmas is known as St. Stephen’s Day in Ireland (it’s known as Boxing Day in many other places). It’s a very important holiday in Ireland and most people celebrate by watching football games and horse races. Christmas dinner usually includes a turkey as well as spiced beef that is eaten either hot or cold and dessert is usually a Christmas pudding.
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Christmas in Sweden
During the Christmas season in Sweden, one of the biggest days is St. Lucia’s Day. This holiday is celebrated by a girl dressing in a white dress with a crown of candles on her head. Many villages, towns and even the country as a whole choose their own “Lucia” to represent them. The Lucias visit different hospitals and nursing homes to sing holiday songs and bring good cheer.
Christmas Eve is when the main holiday meal is had. Often a buffet spread is served at lunchtime. Cold fish is an important part of the buffet and the spread often includes several varieties of herring, gravlax and smoked salmon. Other dishes include cold meats, cheeses, liver pate, pickles, salads and different types of bread and butter, as well as a selection of warm dishes.
Presents are typically exchanged on Christmas Eve and the whole family often gathers around to watch an episode Donald Duck! On Christmas morning, many families attend church.
In Sweden, Santa is known as Jultomten or just Tomten which means “The Christmas Gnome” or “The Gnome.” He brings gifts with the help of other gnomes and elves. The season is officially over on January 13th which is when people usually take their Christmas tree down.
