Christmas Celebration Around the World

Christmas celebration

Table of Contents

Christmas celebration is a very popular thing; every nation has unique customs for Christmas. Every custom captures the ideals, history, and culture of the people observing.

These unusual practices highlight how many civilizations respect the Christmas season in their own particular style and share happiness and time with loved ones.

This article will teach you about Christmas celebration around the world. Every celebration—from reading books in Iceland to roller skating in Venezuela—is surprising.

Let’s analyze how Christmas celebration are around the world.

The Global Spirit of Christmas

Chirstmas

Christmas is a holiday observed in somewhat different ways all throughout the world. Every nation adds unique customs and traditions to mark this Christmas celebration of year. Christmas celebration is all about love, camaraderie, and generosity despite all the variances.

Let’s travel the globe to discover how many countries enjoy the Christmas celebration. You will find delicacies, customs, and rituals along the road that will help you to remember the season anywhere.

Christmas in Europe

Christmas in Europe

Germany

  • Christmas markets in Germany are well-known for their handcrafted goods, decorations, and festive cuisine purchased by visitors.
  • Families tally down to Christmas using Advent calendars and light candles on Advent wreaths.
  • Glühwein, a warm mulled wine spiced with cinnamon and cloves, is a favorite drink for the season.
How Germans Celebrate Christmas
  • Renowned for their Christmas markets (Weihnachtsmärkte), which define the festive season, Germany is known for handcrafted crafts, ornaments, and traditional delicacies like Lebkuchen (gingerbread) and Stollen (fruitcake) abound in these markets—those in Nuremberg, Dresden, and Cologne.
  • Using Advent calendars and Advent wreaths decorated with four candles, one lit each Sunday leading up to Christmas, families embrace the Advent custom, therefore marking the countdown to Christmas.
  • Families get together for celebratory banquets, gift-giving, and typically midnight church on Christmas Eve (Heiligabend).
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Festive Foods: Seasonal food calls for potatoes, dumplings, red cabbage, and roast goose. Festive mood is warmed by traditional beverages including Eierpunsch (egg-based punch) and Glühwein, or spiced mulled wine.
  • St. Nicholas Day (Nikolaustag): Celebrated on December 6, children place shoes or boots outside their doors thinking St. Nicholas will fill them with gifts and goodies.
  • Christmas Trees: Germany is credited for bringing the Christmas tree custom front and centre. Often set up right before Christmas Eve, trees are ornamented with tinsel, candles, and trinkets.
Seasonal Highlights
  • Krampus Night (Krampusnacht): Krampus Night (Krampusnacht) adds an exciting twist to the season in some areas when December 5 is observed with Krampus, a figure punishing mischievous children.
  • Traditional Music: Carol singing is a beloved pastime with songs like “O Tannenbaum” and “Stille Nacht” (Silent Night) front stage.
  • New Year Connection: The festive season runs until New Year’s Eve (Silvester), when Germans celebrate with food, toasts to good fortune in the next year, and fireworks.

United Kingdom

  • Christmas crackers—which feature jokes, paper crowns, and little gifts—are a particular feature of British Christmas meals.
  • Serving as a dessert is Christmas pudding created with brandy and dried fruits.
  • On December 26, Boxing Day, sports, shopping, and friend visits abound.
How the British Celebrate Christmas
  • Christmas Crackers: During Christmas dinners, these brilliantly painted paper tubes—a distinctive British custom—have jokes, paper crowns, and little presents. A “snap” at the table pulls them apart.
  • Decorations: Wreaths, glittering lights, Christmas trees. Dazzling displays found in streets and stores also add to the celebratory energy.
  • Christmas Cards: A common habit is sending and receiving Christmas cards, in which case individuals exchange pleasant wishes for the season.
  • Christmas Eve: Families often get together Christmas Eve to make Santa Claus’s stockings, lay out mince pies and a drink for him, and toss a carrot for his reindeer.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Festive Foods
    • Usually accompanied with stuffing, roast potatoes, vegetables, and cranberry sauce, roast turkey forms the mainstay of a British Christmas supper.
    • For dessert, Christmas pudding—a rich, steaming dish created with brandy and dried fruits—is set ablaze before presentation.
    • Seasonally preferred are mince pies, and tiny pastry delicacies loaded with spiced fruit.
  • Carolling: Groups of carollers publically sing classic Christmas tunes to delight local populations.
  • Christmas Day (December 25): Families exchanging presents, savoring holiday cuisine, and spending valuable time together make Christmas Day (December 25) a major day of celebration.
  • The Queen’s Speech: The Speech of the Queen: Many families, reflecting on the past year, watch or listen to the king’s Christmas message in line with a long-standing custom.
Seasonal Highlights
  • Boxing Day (December 26)
    • Boxing Day is observed with sports events, shopping, and friend and relative visits; many people love hunting (in some regions) and football matches and horse racing.
    • Popular holiday entertainment, pantomimes are funny theatre productions based on fairy tales, usually including audience involvement and slapstick comedy.
    • Cities including London and Edinburgh are well-known for their amazing Christmas light shows, which attract tourists from all around the globe.

Italy

  • Using a range of seafood dishes, Italians celebrate Christmas Eve with the Feast of the Seven Fishes.
  • Homes, churches, and public spaces exhibit elaborate Nativity scenes—Presepi.
  • Children get gifts from La Befana, a kind witch, on January 6.
How Italians Celebrate Christmas
  • La Vigilia di Natale (Christmas Eve)
    • La Vigilia di Natale (Christmas Eve): Italian festivities revolve mostly on Christmas Eve. Traditionally known as the “Feast of the Seven Fishes,” families assemble for a great feast comprising a range of seafood delicacies.
    • To welcome Christmas Day, many Italians show up for midnight mass at their neighborhood church.
  • Nativity Scenes (Presepe)
    • One beloved Christmas celebration is building complex nativity scenes. With some very beautiful and complex, these exhibits usually feature figures of the Holy Family, shepherds, and animals.
    • Particularly well-known for their handcrafted nativity statues and fairs is Naples.
  • Christmas Decorations:
    • Though Italian homes feature lights and Christmas trees, the nativity scene always takes the front stage.
    • Many times, town squares have big Christmas trees and decorations.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Festive Foods
    • Panettone: A staple Christmas dish, Panettone is delicious, dome-shaped bread loaded with raisins and candied fruit.
    • Torrone: Often savored is Torrone, a nougat dessert composed of honey, sugar, egg whites, and nuts.
    • Pasta and Roast Dishes: Christmas Day dinners sometimes call for lasagna, tortellini in Brodo (broth), or roasted meats like lamb or veal.
  • Epiphany and La Befana
    • Celebrated on January 6, Epiphany marks the end of the festive season. La Befana Folklore has it that, like Santa Claus, La Befana, a compassionate witch, gifts youngsters on this day.
  • Carolling and Zampognari: Known as zampognari, traditional bagpipers dress as shepherds and perform Christmas songs in town squares and streets, therefore imbuing the celebrations with a distinctly Italian taste.
Seasonal Highlights
  • Saint Nicholas Day (December 6)
    • This day starts the Christmas season in some areas when kids get little sweets or gifts.
  • Christmas Markets
    • Italy boasts lovely Christmas markets with handcrafted goods, festive cuisine, and mulled wine in towns including Bolzano, Florence, and Rome.
  • New Year’s Eve
    • Italians celebrate New Year’s Eve with an extravagant feast known as Cenone, which includes lentils (symbolising riches and success) and Zampone, stuffed pig’s trotter.
    • As the new year draws near, parties and fireworks illuminate the night.
Religious Significance
  • Italy stresses the spiritual side of Christmas because of its rich Catholic background. Attended by thousands and transmitted globally, the Vatican, the center of Catholicism, hosts a great midnight mass at St. Peter’s Basilica.

Spain

  • The highlight is Three Kings Day (Epiphany) on January 6, when kids collect their gifts.
  • Festivities can feature El Gordo, the biggest lottery in the world, taken before Christmas.
How Spanish Celebrate Christmas
  • La Nochebuena (Christmas Eve)
    • The height of Spanish Christmas is Christmas Eve, sometimes known as La Nochebuena. Often incorporating traditional delicacies like roasted lamb, shellfish, and turrón—a nougat-like dessert—families get together for an elaborate supper.
    • Following their dinner, many Spaniards go to Midnight Mass (Misa del Gallo, sometimes known as “Mass of the Rooster”).
  • Festive Parades and Processions
    • Certain areas have living nativity scenes and processions whereby individuals recreate biblical events.
    • Celebrating the advent of the Wise Men, the Three Kings Parade (Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos) on January 5 is a magnificent spectacle featuring floats and performers.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Decorations and Nativity Scenes (Belén)
    • Homes, plazas, and churches are adorned with belén, detailed nativity scenes that are a hallmark of Spanish Christmas. These displays often include miniature villages and elaborate craftsmanship.
    • Streets are illuminated with dazzling Christmas lights, especially in cities like Madrid, Barcelona, and Málaga.
  • Traditional Dances and Songs
    • People perform Villancicos, traditional Spanish Christmas carols, in homes, streets, and churches.
    • Folkloric dances, especially in regions like Andalusia, add vibrancy to the celebrations.
  • Epiphany (January 6)
    • Christmas celebrations culminate on Epiphany, marking the arrival of the Three Kings (Los Reyes Magos), who bring gifts to children.
    • Children leave out shoes to be filled with gifts and sweets, much like stockings elsewhere.
Seasonal Highlights
  • Christmas Foods
    • Turrón: A classic Spanish sweet made from honey, sugar, egg whites, and almonds.
    • Roscón de Reyes: A ring-shaped cake eaten on Epiphany, often containing hidden surprises like a figurine or bean.
    • Jamón Ibérico: High-quality cured ham, a festive delicacy served in most Spanish homes.
  • New Year’s Eve (Nochevieja)
    • A unique tradition involves eating 12 grapes at midnight, one for each chime, to bring good luck for the upcoming year.
    • Festivities include lively parties, fireworks, and celebratory meals.
Religious and Cultural Significance
  • Santiago de Compostela and Pilgrimages
    • Some devout Christians undertake pilgrimages to sacred sites like Santiago de Compostela during the Christmas season.
  • Christmas Day
    • December 25 is often a quieter day for family gatherings and special meals, as the main gift-giving happens on Epiphany.

France

  • Many families go to midnight mass on Christmas Eve and then have a joyful dinner.
  • A well-known treat is a Yule log-shaped cake called Bûche de Noël.
  • Père Noël brings presents; Père Fouettard is supposed to chastise mischievous children.
How the French Celebrate Christmas
  • Le Réveillon (Christmas Eve)
    • The French celebrate Le Réveillon, a grand dinner held late on Christmas Eve. This feast includes luxurious dishes like foie gras, oysters, escargots, roasted turkey, and the iconic Bûche de Noël (Yule log cake).
    • Following the meal, many attend Midnight Mass at local churches.
  • Gift Giving
    • Children traditionally leave their shoes by the fireplace for Père Noël (Father Christmas) to fill with gifts.
    • In some regions, particularly Alsace and Lorraine, gifts may also come from Saint Nicholas on December 6.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Christmas Markets (Marchés de Noël)
    • France is famous for its Christmas markets, with the market in Strasbourg, known as “The Capital of Christmas,” being the most iconic. These markets feature handmade crafts, festive treats, mulled wine (vin chaud), and decorations.
    • Smaller markets can be found in towns and villages across the country, creating a cozy holiday atmosphere.
  • Nativity Scenes (Crèches)
    • Nativity scenes, called crèches, are an essential part of French Christmas decor. In Provence, these displays include santons, and hand-painted figurines representing not just biblical characters but local villagers.
    • Churches and homes host elaborate nativity displays, often accompanied by storytelling or performances.
Seasonal Highlights
  • Festive Foods
    • Bûche de Noël: A sponge cake rolled and decorated like a Yule log.
    • Foie Gras: A rich delicacy often served as an appetizer during holiday meals.
    • Galette des Rois: A puff pastry cake with almond cream, traditionally eaten on Epiphany (January 6).
    • Seafood Platters: Lobsters, shrimp, and oysters are staples of Christmas Eve feasts.
  • New Year’s Eve (Saint-Sylvestre)
    • The French celebrate with champagne, elaborate meals, and fireworks.
    • People believe that kissing under the mistletoe at midnight brings good luck for the upcoming year.
Religious and Cultural Significance
  • Pilgrimages and Church Visits
    • Many make pilgrimages to famous cathedrals like Notre-Dame in Paris or Chartres Cathedral during the Christmas season.
  • Epiphany and Galette des Rois
    • Epiphany marks the arrival of the Magi, celebrated with the Galette des Rois. A small charm, or fève, is hidden inside the cake, and whoever finds it becomes the “king” or “queen” for the day.
Unique French Christmas Traditions
  • Christmas Shoes Tradition
    • Unlike stockings, children leave their shoes by the fire to be filled with gifts and treats by Père Noël.
  • 13 Desserts of Provence
    • In Provence, a traditional Christmas meal ends with 13 desserts, symbolising Christ and the apostles. These include nuts, dried fruits, nougat, and other sweets.
  • Feux de Noël (Christmas Fires)
    • In rural areas, large community bonfires are sometimes lit, continuing an ancient custom of gathering to celebrate warmth and togetherness.

Norway

  • Julebord, a holiday feast including traditional dishes such as pork ribs and cured fish, is enjoyed by Norwegians.
  • A distinctive custom is hiding brooms on Christmas Eve to drive away witches and ghosts.
How Norwegians Celebrate Christmas
  • Julebord (Christmas Feast)
    • Norwegians celebrate Christmas with a festive meal called Julebord, typically served over several days. The spread includes traditional dishes such as ribbe (roast pork), lutefisk (dried fish rehydrated in lye), klippfisk (dried and salted cod), and Medisterkake (pork sausage).
    • Julebord is not just a meal; it’s a festive occasion shared with family, friends, and coworkers.
  • Christmas Eve (Julaften)
    • Christmas Eve is the main day of celebration. Families gather for dinner, exchange gifts, and often attend church services.
    • Norwegians enjoy a special dessert, Riskrem (a rice pudding), sometimes served with a hidden almond. The person who finds the almond wins a prize.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Advent Traditions
    • Advent calendars are used to count down the days until Christmas. Children open one door each day to reveal a chocolate or a small gift.
    • Candles are placed in windows or on tables, and one candle is lit each Sunday leading up to Christmas.
  • Christmas Decorations and Lights
    • Homes and streets are decorated with Christmas lights, creating a warm and festive atmosphere.
    • Norwegians often decorate with traditional stjernes (star-shaped lanterns) and Nisser (gnome-like figures), which are believed to bring good luck.
Seasonal Highlights
  • Christmas Markets
    • Though not as large as those in other countries, Norwegian Christmas markets offer unique goods, local handicrafts, and traditional foods.
    • The Oslo Christmas Market is a popular destination for those visiting the capital during the holiday season.
  • New Year’s Eve (Nyttårsaften)
    • On New Year’s Eve, Norwegians celebrate with fireworks, parties, and a midnight feast. It’s also a time for friends and families to gather before the start of the new year.
Religious and Cultural Significance
  • Christmas Mass
    • Many Norwegians attend a midnight Christmas Eve mass at church. This is a time for reflection and a celebration of the birth of Christ.
  • Nisser (Christmas Gnomes)
    • A unique part of Norwegian tradition is the nisse, a small gnome-like figure who protects homes during the winter. Families often leave out a bowl of porridge for the nisse on Christmas Eve.
Unique Norwegian Christmas Traditions
  • Hiding Brooms
    • In some rural areas, it’s traditional to hide all brooms on Christmas Eve to keep away witches and evil spirits, as they were believed to be active on this night.
  • Julefrokost (Christmas Breakfast)
    • A traditional Christmas breakfast may include smørbrød (open sandwiches) and julepølse (Christmas sausage).

Sweden

  • On December 13, Swedes celebrate St. Lucia’s Day with processions of girls in white dresses and candles.
  • The Gävle Goat, a large straw goat, is built yearly, though it often faces pranks like being set on fire.
How Swedish Celebrate Christmas
  • Julafton (Christmas Eve)
    • Christmas Eve is the main day of celebration in Sweden, just like in many other Scandinavian countries. Families gather for a large feast and exchange gifts.
    • The Swedish Christmas meal typically includes Julskinka (Christmas ham), köttbullar (meatballs), prinskorv (small sausages), herring dishes, and lutfisk (dried fish).
  • St. Lucia’s Day (December 13):
    • On St. Lucia’s Day, Swedish girls dress in white gowns with red sashes, wearing wreaths of candles on their heads. Processions of children sing traditional Lucia songs, marking the start of the Christmas season.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Christmas Markets
    • Sweden boasts festive Christmas markets in cities such as Stockholm and Gothenburg, where visitors can purchase traditional decorations, candles, and handcrafted gifts.
    • Swedish Christmas markets also serve delicious treats like Pepparkakor (gingerbread cookies), glögg (mulled wine), and Iussebullar (saffron buns).
  • Advent Traditions
    • Similar to Norway, Swedish families use Advent calendars to count down the days until Christmas, and Advent candles are lit every Sunday during Advent.
Seasonal Highlights
  • Julfest (Christmas Party)
    • Swedish people enjoy festive Julfest (Christmas parties) throughout December, where friends and family gather to celebrate the season with music, dancing, and traditional foods.
  • New Year’s Eve
    • Swedes celebrate the new year with fireworks and parties, often accompanied by a traditional meal of lutfisk or gravlax (cured salmon).

Religious and Cultural Significance

  • Midnight Mass
    • Many Swedes attend Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve to celebrate the birth of Christ.
  • Christmas Carols
    • Swedish Christmas carols, or Julvisor, are sung throughout the holiday season. The songs focus on themes of peace, love, and good will, with popular carols like “Stilla Natt” (Silent Night) often sung.
Unique Swedish Christmas Traditions
  • Gävle Goat: In the city of Gävle, a massive straw goat known as the Gävle Goat is constructed every year as part of a Christmas tradition. However, the goat often becomes the target of pranks, and over the years, it has been set on fire more than once.
  • Kalle Anka (Donald Duck Christmas Special): A beloved Swedish tradition is watching the Kalle Anka (Donald Duck) Christmas special, which airs on Christmas Eve. It’s a family event, with Swedish families gathered around the TV to watch the classic cartoon.

Finland

  • Santa Claus Village in Lapland, Finland, lets guests meet Santa and view his reindeer.
  • Long-standing Finnish custom dictates families unwind in a sauna on Christmas Eve.
How Finns Celebrate Christmas
  • Christmas Eve (Jouluaatto)
    • In Finland, Jouluaatto (Christmas Eve) is the main day of celebration. Families gather for a festive dinner, which often includes Karjalanpiirakka (Karelian pasty), gravadlax (cured salmon), rösti (potato casserole), and joulupöytä (Christmas table).
    • After the meal, families attend church for a Christmas Eve service, and many Finnish people also visit the Yule Goat (Joulupukki), Santa Claus, who is believed to live in Rovaniemi.
  • Santa Claus Village (Lapland): Santa Claus is a central figure in Finnish Christmas celebrations. Visitors to Santa Claus Village in Lapland can meet Santa, see his reindeer, and experience the magical atmosphere of the Arctic Circle.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Sauna Tradition: A long-standing Finnish custom is to unwind in the sauna on Christmas Eve. It is said to cleanse both the body and the soul, and many Finnish families participate in this tranquil tradition.
  • Christmas Markets: Finnish Christmas markets are popular destinations, particularly in cities like Helsinki and Turku. Visitors can shop for handmade crafts, enjoy mulled wine (glögi), and sample traditional Finnish Christmas treats.
Seasonal Highlights
  • Joulu (Christmas Day): Christmas Day in Finland is typically quieter, with families relaxing, enjoying leftovers from the Christmas Eve meal, and visiting relatives.
  • New Year’s Eve (Uudenvuodenilta): On New Year’s Eve, Finns celebrate with fireworks and festive dinners, and many families enjoy praise and well-wishing before welcoming the new year.

Religious and Cultural Significance

  • Christmas Mass: Like many other countries, many Finnish people attend a midnight mass on Christmas Eve.
  • Joulupukki (Santa Claus): The Finnish Santa Claus, Joulupukki, is a central figure in Finnish celebrations. Children leave out porridge for Joulupukki’s reindeer and hang stockings for gifts.
Unique Finnish Christmas Traditions
  • Joulupukkinen (Santa Claus Parade): In Rovaniemi, Finland, a Joulupukkinen parade is held to celebrate the arrival of Santa Claus. The parade is a magical event filled with music, performances, and gifts for children.
  • Christmas Peace Declaration: In the city of Turku, the Christmas Peace Declaration is read out on Christmas Eve, officially marking the start of Christmas celebrations in Finland.

Christmas in the Americas

Christmas in the Americas

United States

  • Starting the Christmas season, there are parades like Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
  • Ornaments, trees, and brilliant light shows abound in homes.
  • Traditions represent the ethnic diversity of the nation by varying degrees.
How Americans Celebrate Christmas
  • Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are widely celebrated in the U.S., with families gathering for festive meals and exchanging gifts. Christmas Eve often includes attending church services, and many families enjoy a traditional dinner of ham, turkey, or prime rib. Christmas Day is marked by gift-giving and holiday meals, with a popular tradition being the opening of presents in the morning. In many homes, Christmas stockings are hung by the fireplace for Santa to fill with small gifts and candy.
  • Holiday Decorations: Americans decorate their homes with Christmas trees, lights, wreaths, and ornaments. Many families also set up outdoor displays with lights, inflatable figures, and nativity scenes. Cities like New York and Chicago are famous for their elaborate holiday decorations and light displays.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Christmas Shopping and Markets: Christmas shopping begins well in advance, with Black Friday marking the start of the holiday shopping season. Many cities host Christmas markets where shoppers can find unique gifts, crafts, and holiday treats. The Christmas Parade is another popular event in many towns and cities.
  • Christmas Movies and Music: Watching Christmas movies such as Home Alone, A Christmas Story, and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas has become a beloved tradition. Christmas music, from classic carols to contemporary pop hits, fills the airwaves and stores.
Seasonal Highlights
  • New Year’s Eve: While not traditionally part of Christmas celebrations, New Year’s Eve is a major holiday in the U.S., especially marked by the ball drop in Times Square and fireworks displays across the country.
  • Santa Claus: Santa Claus, known for delivering gifts on Christmas Eve, is central to American Christmas traditions. Children leave milk and cookies for Santa and carrots for his reindeer.
Religious and Cultural Significance
  • Religious Observances
    • Many Americans attend church services on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
    • Nativity scenes and Advent calendars are common symbols of religious observance during the season.
Unique American Christmas Traditions
  • Ugly Sweater Parties: The ugly sweater party, a fun and quirky tradition in the U.S., invites people to wear their most extravagant and garish Christmas sweaters.

Canada

  • In Quebec, the event includes ice skating and traditional cuisine, including tourtière.
  • Christmas celebrations and events among indigenous people have distinctiveness.
  • Holiday outdoor sports like tobogganing bring families together.
How Canadians Celebrate Christmas
  • Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: Much like in the United States, Christmas Eve is a time for family gatherings and church services. Many Canadians enjoy a Christmas dinner with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and strawberry sauce. On Christmas Day, people exchange gifts, spend time with family, and enjoy the festivities. Boxing Day (December 26) is a public holiday in Canada and is often marked by shopping deals and further family gatherings.
  • Holiday Traditions and Decorations: Canadians decorate their homes with Christmas trees, lights, and wreaths. In cities like Quebec, Montreal, and Toronto, winter festivals and Christmas markets are held, attracting thousands of visitors.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Christmas Markets: Christmas markets in cities such as Vancouver, Toronto, and Quebec City offer holiday shopping, food, and festive entertainment. Ice skating is also a popular Christmas activity, especially in Ottawa, where the Rideau Canal Skateway becomes the world’s largest ice rink in winter.
  • Snow and Winter Sports: In many parts of Canada, snow is a major part of Christmas celebrations. Canadians enjoy winter sports such as skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, and sledding.
Seasonal Highlights
  • New Year’s Eve (Celebrating in Quebec): In Quebec, New Year’s Eve celebrations include large public events and fireworks. Many people attend Outaouais’ famous New Year’s Eve fireworks show.
  • Santa Claus: Like their American neighbors, Canadians celebrate the arrival of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, with many children leaving out milk and cookies.
Religious and Cultural Significance
  • Church Services: Many Canadians attend midnight mass or Christmas Day services at their local churches, celebrating the religious aspects of Christmas.
  • Cultural Diversity: With a large number of immigrants, Canadian Christmas celebrations often blend various cultural influences, incorporating different food, music, and customs.
Unique Canadian Christmas Traditions

The National Christmas Tree Lighting: Ottawa’s National Christmas Tree is an important symbol of the Christmas season, with thousands attending the lighting ceremony each year.

Mexico

  • Starting Las Posadas, a nine-day dramatization of Mary and Joseph’s search for refuge, the holiday season unfolds.
  • Among the celebrations are shattering piñatas, which are stuffed with sweets and goodies.
  • On Christmas Eve, families savor Nochebuena feasts that include tamales and Ponche, a hot fruit punch.
How Mexicans Celebrate Christmas
  • Las Posadas
    • One of the most famous Christmas traditions in Mexico is Las Posadas, which runs from December 16 to December 24. It involves re-enacting Mary and Joseph’s search for a place to stay in Bethlehem. People go door-to-door singing carols until they are allowed inside to celebrate.
    • Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) is when the main family gathering and meal take place, with a dinner featuring tamales, bacalao (salted cod), Romeritos (an herb dish), and Ponche (fruit punch).
  • Christmas Day (Navidad): Christmas Day is a more relaxed day for Mexicans, often marked by extended family gatherings.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Christmas Decorations
    • Mexican homes are decorated with nativities, poinsettias, and colorful lights. Many people also have piñatas shaped like stars or other Christmas symbols for children to enjoy.
    • Feliz Navidad is the common greeting during the season, and Christmas songs such as “Los Peces en el Río” and “La Marimorena” are frequently played.
  • Religious Celebrations
    • Midnight Mass (Misa de Gallo) is a common tradition for many families on Christmas Eve.
Seasonal Highlights
  • Day of the Three Kings (Día de Reyes): After Christmas, Mexico celebrates Día de Reyes (January 6), which commemorates the visit of the Three Kings to baby Jesus. On this day, children receive gifts, and families eat Rosca de Reyes (a sweet bread shaped like a crown).
  • New Year’s Eve: New Year’s celebrations in Mexico involve fireworks, parties, and sometimes a big family dinner.
Religious and Cultural Significance
  • Religious Celebrations: Christmas in Mexico is deeply rooted in religious traditions, with church services playing a key role in many families’ celebrations.
Unique Mexican Christmas Traditions

Pastorelas: Pastorelas (traditional Christmas plays) are performed in many towns, depicting the Nativity story and the struggle between good and evil.

Brazil

  • Celebrated outside with tropical activities including picnics and beach events is Christmas.
  • Many show up for Midnight Mass (Missa do Galo), then fireworks.
  • Popular foods include Brazilian variations of French toast, farofa, and Rabanada.
How Brazilians Celebrate Christmas
  • Christmas Eve (Véspera de Natal): In Brazil, Christmas Eve is the most important celebration. Families gather for a late dinner that often includes Pernil (roast pork), salpicão (chicken salad), and Rabanada (Brazilian-style French toast). Many people attend a Missa de Gallo (Midnight Mass) at church.
  • Christmas Day (Dia de Natal): This Day is a time for family relaxation, often with another large meal. Gifts are typically exchanged after the midnight mass or on Christmas morning.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Christmas Decorations and Lights
    • Cities like Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo have spectacular light displays. Public squares are adorned with giant Christmas trees and nativity scenes.
    • Brazilian homes are decorated with Christmas trees, lights, and nativity scenes.
Seasonal Highlights
  • New Year’s Eve (Réveillon): In Brazil, New Year’s Eve is celebrated with great enthusiasm. People dress in white to symbolise peace, and celebrations often include fireworks and parties on the beach, especially in Rio de Janeiro.
  • Secret Santa (Amigo Secreto): A popular Christmas tradition is Amigo Secreto, a Secret Santa gift exchange game played by many families and offices.
Religious and Cultural Significance
  • Midnight Mass: Missa de Gallo, the midnight mass, is a key part of Christmas celebrations in Brazil.
Unique Brazilian Christmas Traditions

Festa de Natal: Brazilian Christmas celebrations also include large, family-orientated barbecues and outdoor gatherings, taking advantage of the country’s warm climate during the Christmas season.

Colombia

  • Día de las Velitas, or Day of the Little Candles, starts the Christmas season with candle and lantern lighting of streets and residences.
  • Families gather for a nine-day prayer custom known as Novena de Aguinaldos.
How Colombians Celebrate Christmas
  • Celebration Duration
    • In Colombia, Christmas celebrations begin on December 7th with La Noche de las Velitas (Night of the Little Candles), marking the start of the holiday season. This event honors the Immaculate Conception and is celebrated with processions, family gatherings, and lighting candles and lanterns along streets, homes, and parks.
    • The main Christmas festivities are celebrated on Christmas Eve (Nochebuena), which is considered more important than Christmas Day in Colombia. Families gather for a large, festive meal that often lasts late into the night. Christmas Day (Navidad) is typically quieter, with more emphasis placed on relaxation and family visits.
  • Christmas Eve Dinner: The Christmas Eve dinner is a big family affair, typically featuring traditional Colombian dishes such as Ajiaco (chicken and potato soup), Tamales, Lechona (roast pork), and Natilla (a sweet custard dessert). After dinner, many families attend Misa de Gallo, the midnight mass, to celebrate the religious significance of Christmas.
  • Gift Giving: While Christmas Day isn’t as focused on gift-giving as in other countries, Colombians exchange gifts on Christmas Eve after dinner. Gifts are often placed under the Christmas tree or handed out personally by the family members. Children eagerly await gifts from El Niño Dios (the Baby Jesus), who is believed to bring gifts during the night.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Christmas Lights and Decorations: Throughout the Christmas season, Colombian cities and towns are beautifully decorated with Christmas lights, particularly in places like Medellín, which hosts a massive Christmas lights festival called El Alumbrado. The streets, parks, and riversides are illuminated with stunning light displays, and many families decorate their homes with Nativity scenes (known as Pesebres) and Christmas trees.
  • Novena de Aguinaldos: Another cherished tradition is the Novena de Aguinaldos, a nine-night series of prayers and songs leading up to Christmas Eve. Families gather every night for these prayers, which include special songs, prayers, and a reading of biblical passages. It is a time of spiritual reflection and family bonding.
  • Music and Dancing: Christmas celebrations in Colombia are filled with Cumbia, Vallenato, and Salsa music. Aguinaldos (traditional Colombian Christmas carols) are popular during the season, and it’s not unusual for Colombians to sing and dance around the Christmas tree or during the Novena de Aguinaldos.
  • Fireworks and Bonfires: In some parts of Colombia, fireworks are part of the Christmas celebrations, adding to the festive atmosphere. In rural areas, bonfires (known as “candlelight nights”) are lit, especially on the eve of December 7th during La Noche de las Velitas.
Seasonal Highlights
  • New Year’s Eve (Año Nuevo)
    • The New Year’s Eve celebrations in Colombia are marked by large family gatherings, parties, fireworks, and street celebrations. At midnight, it’s common for people to make 12 wishes (one for each stroke of the clock) and eat 12 grapes for good luck in the coming year.
    • “El Año Viejo” is a unique tradition where families and communities create effigies made of paper, cloth, and fireworks to symbolize the old year, which is burnt at midnight to mark a fresh start.
  • Three Kings Day (Día de Reyes): Día de Reyes (January 6) is celebrated in Colombia with processions and festivities, particularly in the more rural areas. Children look forward to receiving gifts on this day as the Three Kings bring presents. Many families gather for a traditional meal to close out the holiday season.
Religious and Cultural Significance
  • Religious Observances: Christmas in Colombia is deeply religious, and many families attend Misa de Gallo on Christmas Eve, where the Nativity story is celebrated. The Novena de Aguinaldos is another important religious practice, helping families prepare spiritually for the birth of Jesus.
  • Devotional Traditions: The devotion to the Immaculate Conception on December 8th marks the start of the festive season. As a Catholic country, Colombians maintain a strong connection to the religious meaning behind Christmas, including the religious observances and processions leading up to the 25th.
Unique Colombian Christmas Traditions
  • El Niño Dios: The tradition of El Niño Dios (the Baby Jesus) being the gift-bringer during Christmas is unique to Colombia. In many families, gifts are presented to children by the baby Jesus rather than Santa Claus. This is central to the Colombian interpretation of Christmas.
  • Dulces y Sweets: During the holiday season, Colombian tables are filled with traditional sweets such as Natilla (a custard dessert), Buñuelos (fried dough balls), Tamales (cornmeal dough stuffed with meat), and empanadas. These festive foods are part of what makes Colombian Christmas unique.
Seasonal Food and Drink
  • Traditional Christmas Dishes
    • Colombians enjoy Tamales, Ajiaco, Lechona, and Natilla during the Christmas season, as mentioned earlier. Pandebonos (cheese bread) and Almojábanas (fried cheese dough) are also popular.
    • Aguardiente, an anise-flavored alcoholic drink, is often enjoyed during the holidays, especially during the celebrations of New Year’s Eve.

Puerto Rico

  • Friends get together for parades when they surprise others with late-night caroling.
  • Made with coconut milk and rum, a celebratory drink called coquito is presented during events.
  • On Christmas Eve, families go to Misa de Gallo (Rooster’s Mass).
How Puerto Ricans Celebrate Christmas
  • Nochebuena
    • Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) is the biggest celebration in Puerto Rico, where families gather for a late-night feast. Traditional dishes include lechón (roast pig), pastelón (plantain casserole), and arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas).
    • After dinner, many people attend Misa de Gallo (Midnight Mass).
  • Christmas Day (Navidad): Christmas Day is a more relaxed celebration with family, and many people visit extended family or friends.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Parrandas: Parrandas are Puerto Rican Christmas caroling groups that go door-to-door, singing traditional songs and celebrating with food, drinks, and dancing.
  • Decorations and Lights: Puerto Rican homes are decorated with Christmas trees, lights, and nativity scenes. Cities like San Juan are known for their Christmas lights and street parades.
Seasonal Highlights
  • Día de Reyes (Three Kings Day): Three Kings Day on January 6 is a major holiday in Puerto Rico, with children placing grass under their beds for the Three Kings’ camels and receiving gifts in return.
Religious and Cultural Significance
  • Religious Observance: Many Puerto Ricans attend Misa de Gallo to mark the religious significance of Christmas.
Unique Puerto Rican Christmas Traditions
  • Lechón Asado: The tradition of roasting a whole pig, lechón, is a central part of Christmas celebrations in Puerto Rico, and many families spend the entire day preparing it.

Christmas in Asia

Christmas in Asia

Philippines

  • Beginning in September and running into January, the Philippines honors the longest Christmas season in the world.
  • Deeply ingrained custom leading up to Christmas is Simbang Gabi, a nine-morning church series.
  • Parols, star-shaped lights representing the Star of Bethlehem, abound in homes and streets.
How Filipinos Celebrate Christmas
  • Early Start to Christmas: Christmas celebrations in the Philippines start early, with the season officially beginning on September 1st. This is when Christmas music fills the air and stores begin to sell decorations. The “Ber” months (September to December) are celebrated with great enthusiasm.
  • Simbang Gabi: Filipinos traditionally celebrate Simbang Gabi (a series of early morning Masses) from December 16th to 24th. These masses, followed by festive gatherings, are a way to prepare spiritually for Christmas Day.
  • Christmas Eve (Noche Buena): The Noche Buena is the highlight of Christmas celebrations, where families gather for a midnight feast. Traditional dishes include lechón (roast pig), bibingka (rice cake), puto Bumbong (purple rice cake), and queso de bola (edam cheese). Fireworks and Christmas carols are part of the festive atmosphere.
  • Christmas Day: This Day itself is spent with family, with visits to relatives and friends. It is also common to exchange gifts and enjoy meals together. Filipinos often celebrate by playing Christmas-themed games, singing carols, and spending quality time with loved ones.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Parols (Lanterns): A key Filipino tradition during Christmas is the creation of parols, star-shaped lanterns that symbolize the Star of Bethlehem. These lanterns light up homes, streets, and communities.
  • Christmas Carols: Christmas caroling is a popular activity. Groups of children and adults go from house to house, singing traditional carols, and in return, they are given treats or money.
  • Festivals and Street Parades: Cities like Manila and Cebu have elaborate street parades, light shows, and festivals, particularly during the Simbang Gabi period.
  • New Year’s Eve: On New Year’s Eve, many Filipino families celebrate with fireworks, Media Noche (a festive dinner), and unique traditions like jumping to become taller in the coming year.

Japan

  • Japan welcomes lighting; it features breathtaking light displays in parks, retail centers, and monuments.
  • Eating KFC for Christmas dinner is a unique custom based on a marketing phenomenon that started in the 1970s.
  • Like Valentine’s Day, Christmas Eve is seen as a romantic event when couples savor elegant dinners.
How the Japanese Celebrate Christmas
  • Christmas as a Romantic Holiday: Unlike many Western countries, Christmas in Japan is celebrated more as a romantic occasion than a family event. Young couples often celebrate by having dinner together, going to see Christmas lights, or exchanging gifts.
  • Christmas Eve Dinner: On Christmas Eve, many Japanese families and couples enjoy a festive meal, with KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) being a particularly popular choice. It is considered a special treat during Christmas.
  • Decorations: Christmas decorations, such as Christmas trees, lights, and wreaths, are widely displayed in homes, shopping malls, and public spaces. Christmas markets also begin to appear, inspired by European traditions.
  • Christmas Day: Christmas Day is not a public holiday in Japan, so most people work or attend school, but it’s still celebrated with festive foods, shopping, and some religious observance.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Illuminations and Light Displays: Cities like Tokyo and Kobe are known for their stunning Christmas illuminations and light festivals, attracting thousands of visitors each year.
  • Christmas Markets: Inspired by European traditions, Christmas markets in Japan offer a variety of seasonal foods, gifts, and decorations, becoming a growing trend in cities like Tokyo and Osaka.
  • New Year’s Celebrations: While Christmas is celebrated lightly, New Year’s (Shogatsu) is the major holiday in Japan, marked by visits to shrines, family gatherings, and traditional foods.

India

  • Christmas starts in areas like Goa and Kerala with midnight mass, an important celebration for Christian populations.
  • Churches and homes show Christmas stars and big lamps meant to represent optimism and faith.
  • Family and neighbors share special treats such as plum cakes and kalkals.
How Indians Celebrate Christmas
  • Diverse Celebrations: In India, Christmas is celebrated predominantly by Christians, but many other communities also participate in the festivities. Goa and Kerala are known for having large Christian populations and hosting vibrant Christmas celebrations.
  • Midnight Mass: Attending Midnight Mass is a central part of the Christmas tradition. After the Mass, families often gather for a meal, exchange gifts, and celebrate the birth of Jesus.
  • Christmas Decorations: Homes are decorated with Christmas trees, stars, and lights. Large Nativity scenes are often set up, especially in Catholic homes.
  • Christmas Feast: Traditional Christmas dishes include plum cake, sweets (like ladoos and barfi), roast meats, and appams (a type of pancake). People also prepare dishes from their regional cuisines.
  • Gift Giving: People exchange gifts, especially among families and friends. Children eagerly await gifts, often from Santa Claus or Baby Jesus.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Christmas Fairs and Carnivals: Many cities hold Christmas fairs, where families can shop for decorations and gifts and enjoy festive foods.
  • Christmas Lights: In major cities like Kochi, Mumbai, and Goa, streets and homes are beautifully lit up, and Christmas processions are held in many towns.
  • New Year Celebrations: New Year’s celebrations are also popular, with large parties, feasts, and fireworks, especially in Goa.

South Korea

  • Especially among close friends and relatives, South Koreans celebrate with gift-giving.
  • Festive illuminations in cities like Seoul help to create a happy holiday mood.
  • Reflecting South Korea’s varied culture, Christmas has religious and commercial elements in that country.
How South Koreans Celebrate Christmas
  • Religious Observances: In South Korea, Christmas is both a religious and secular celebration. Many Koreans attend church services on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
  • Christmas Decorations: South Korea embraces Christmas decorations, and you can find many Christmas trees and lights in public places like shopping malls and city streets.
  • Family and Romantic Holiday: Like Japan, Christmas is often celebrated as a romantic holiday for couples, who enjoy a dinner out, exchange gifts, and visit Christmas light displays.
  • Christmas Day: Families often gather for meals, and there’s an emphasis on enjoying Christmas cakes and other sweets, often purchased from popular bakery chains.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Christmas Lights and Festivals: Cities like Seoul and Busan hold stunning light displays and Christmas festivals. Major shopping districts are decorated with elaborate lights and offer promotions during the Christmas season.
  • New Year’s Celebrations: In South Korea, Seollal (Lunar New Year) is a more significant holiday than Christmas. However, New Year’s Day is still celebrated with family gatherings, traditional foods, and honoring elders.

China

  • Particularly in cities with a mix of cultural influences, Christmas is becoming increasingly popular as a secular event.
  • Santa statues and Christmas trees abound in shopping centers and streets.
  • As a sign of good fortune, young people sometimes trade “peace apples,” or ornamented apples.
How the Chinese Celebrate Christmas
  • Growing Popularity: Although Christmas is not an official holiday in China, it has gained popularity, especially in major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, where there are many Western influences.
  • Decorations and Lights: Christmas trees, Santa Claus, and festive lights are common in shopping malls and restaurants. However, the holiday is not centered around religious observance but more about festive displays and sales.
  • Shopping and Gift Giving: Christmas is seen as a commercial event, with many stores holding Christmas sales. Gift-giving is popular, and it’s a time for families to go out to eat and enjoy special dishes.
  • Christmas Day: Christmas Day is not a public holiday, but people may take the day off to relax, spend time with family, or go shopping.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Christmas Sales and Shopping: Christmas markets and shopping promotions dominate the season. Many cities have markets offering Christmas-themed gifts, food, and decorations.
  • New Year’s Celebrations: Chinese New Year, also called Spring Festival, is the more significant holiday. However, Western-style New Year’s Eve parties are popular in urban areas.

Lebanon

  • Attended by Christians of all stripes, midnight mass is fundamental to Lebanese holidays.
  • Christmas trees abound in homes, and occasionally families add Cedars of God, an emblem of Lebanon’s past.
  • Holiday feasts bring traditional Lebanese delicacies such as kibbeh and tabbouleh together.
How Lebanese Celebrate Christmas
  • Religious Significance: Christmas in Lebanon is a deeply religious celebration, especially for Christians. Families attend Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, where church services are accompanied by choirs singing Christmas carols in various languages.
  • Christmas Feast: A traditional Christmas meal includes dishes like Kebbeh (stuffed meatballs), roast lamb, tabbouleh, and baklava. Families gather around the table to enjoy these dishes.
  • Gift Giving: Lebanese families exchange gifts on Christmas Eve, with children especially eager for presents. Many gifts are placed under the Christmas tree.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Christmas Lights and Decorations: Major cities like Beirut are beautifully decorated with Christmas lights, and it’s common to see Nativity scenes displayed in homes and public places.
  • Festive Music and Carols: Christmas carols in Arabic and other languages are sung in churches and homes. There are also public performances and traditional music plays in public squares.
  • New Year Celebrations: Lebanese people celebrate New Year’s Eve with parties, fireworks, and family gatherings. It’s also a time for reflection and welcoming the new year with joy.

Christmas in Africa

Christmas in Africa

South Africa

  • Christmas falls in South Africa in the summer; hence, picnics and braais—barbecues—are rather common celebration activities.
  • Families go to the beach or savor outdoor events featuring traditional South African cuisine.
  • Christmas carol events are held in churches; homes are ornamented with lights and festive decorations.
How South Africans Celebrate Christmas
  • Summer Christmas: Since Christmas falls during summer in South Africa, many people celebrate outdoors with barbecues (called braais) and picnics. The weather is warm, and families often enjoy the day at beaches or parks.
  • Christmas Dinner: The traditional Christmas meal in South Africa includes roast meats (like turkey, lamb, and chicken), potatoes, vegetables, and malva pudding (a sweet sponge dessert). Christmas cake and mince pies are also popular treats.
  • Church Services: Many South Africans attend church services on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Religious observances often include carol services and midnight mass.
  • Gift Giving: South Africans exchange gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, and many families decorate their homes with Christmas trees and festive lights.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Festive Decorations: Major cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg have beautiful Christmas decorations, and shopping malls are filled with lights and displays. People decorate their homes with Christmas trees and lights.
  • Caroling and Community Events: Christmas caroling is a common tradition, and communities often hold outdoor concerts and Christmas festivals.
  • Boxing Day (Day After Christmas): Boxing Day is a public holiday in South Africa, and many people spend the day visiting relatives or relaxing after the busy Christmas celebrations.

Nigeria

  • Celebrated with great family feasts with jollof rice, fried chicken, and other traditional cuisine, Nigerians honor each other.
  • In certain areas, colorful masquerades—dancers delighting audiences—are a highlight.
  • Emphasizing harmony, communities gather for events including neighborhood parties and religious services.
How Nigerians Celebrate Christmas
  • Religious Celebrations: Christmas in Nigeria is marked by a strong religious undertone, with church services, including midnight mass and carol nights. The day begins with prayers and continues with family gatherings.
  • Christmas Feasts: The Christmas meal includes jollof rice, fried rice, goat meat, chicken, plantains, and pounded yam. Desserts like chin chin and puff puff are served, along with fruit salad and fanta (a popular soda).
  • Gift Giving: While Christmas gifts are exchanged, the emphasis is often on sharing with loved ones and communities. New clothes are a significant part of the tradition, with many Nigerians purchasing new outfits for the occasion.
  • Community Celebrations: In many parts of Nigeria, people host large family gatherings or street parties with music, dancing, and other festivities.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Decorations and Light Displays: In urban areas, you can find beautifully decorated Christmas trees, lights, and festive displays in homes, churches, and shopping centers. The Abuja National Christmas Tree is a prominent display in the capital.
  • Carols and Music: Christmas caroling is a major part of Nigerian traditions, with choirs performing at churches and other venues. Traditional Nigerian music and dance are part of the holiday atmosphere.
  • Festivals and Events: Many towns and cities host Christmas festivals, parades, and community activities, making it a time of togetherness and joy.

Ethiopia

  • Following their Ethiopian Orthodox calendar, Ethiopians observe Ganna (Orthodox Christmas) on January 7.
  • Churchgoers show up for frequently several-hour services wearing white robes.
  • Shared with family and friends, meals comprise doro wat (spiced chicken stew) and injera (flatbread).
How Ethiopians Celebrate Christmas
  • Religious Significance (Genna): Christmas in Ethiopia is celebrated on January 7th due to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church’s use of the Julian calendar. Known as Genna, it is a deeply religious holiday, with a focus on prayer, fasting, and church attendance.
  • Church Services: On Christmas Eve, Ethiopians attend a midnight church service, which is a central part of the celebration. The service includes hymns, prayers, and the lighting of candles.
  • Christmas Feast: After the fast, families enjoy a hearty meal that includes injera (a flatbread), doro wat (spicy chicken stew), kitfo (minced beef), and teff bread. The meal is often shared with extended family and neighbors.
  • Gift Giving: While gift-giving is not as common as in Western countries, children may receive small presents from their parents or church.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Genna and Timkat Celebrations: Genna (Christmas) is followed by Timkat (Epiphany), which is a significant religious festival in Ethiopia. Both holidays are marked by traditional dances, processions, and religious ceremonies.
  • Traditional Music and Dance: In the weeks leading up to Christmas, Ethiopians participate in carol singing and dancing, with much of the music focused on religious themes.
  • Decorations: Homes and churches are often adorned with Christmas candles and religious symbols, reflecting the deeply religious nature of the season.

Ghana

  • Christmas starts in Ghana with energetic parades including dancing, drumming, and brilliant costumes.
  • Bright decorations, often handcrafted, cover streets and homes.
  • Families show up for church services, then celebratory dinners featuring fufu and light soup.
How Ghanaians Celebrate Christmas
  • Religious Observances: Christmas in Ghana is celebrated by both Christians and non-Christians, but the main focus is on attending church services. Midnight Mass is popular, and church choirs sing carols.
  • Christmas Day Celebrations: The Christmas day meal is often a large, festive affair, with dishes like jollof rice, fried rice, goat meat, chicken, fish, banku, and fufu. Sweets like tubani (a local dessert) are served for dessert.
  • Gift Giving: Although gifts are exchanged, the main focus is on family, church, and community gatherings. Many families also make charitable donations to the less fortunate during the season.
  • Public Celebrations: In Ghana, Christmas is also marked by public events, including parades, live performances, and music festivals.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Christmas Decorations: Homes and public spaces are decorated with Christmas trees, lights, and festive ornaments. Some cities, like Accra, put on large Christmas light displays.
  • Traditional Music and Dance: Ghanaian Christmas celebrations include traditional music and dancing, especially during church services and community events.
  • Community Events: Many neighborhoods hold Christmas parties, with dancing, food, and celebrations that extend into the New Year.

Kenya

  • In Kenya, Christmas is mostly observed with goat roasts—where families cook Nyama Choma, grilled meat.
  • Many go to their hometowns to see relatives, therefore reinforcing their relationships.
  • Lively services including praising, dancing, and singing abound in churches.
How Kenyans Celebrate Christmas
  • Family Gatherings: Christmas in Kenya is an important time for family reunions. Many people travel back to their rural homes to spend Christmas with family and friends.
  • Religious Observance: Church services, particularly Midnight Mass, are central to the celebrations. Churches are filled with hymns and carols, and religious leaders deliver sermons focused on the birth of Christ.
  • Christmas Meals: Kenyan Christmas meals typically include roast meats, nyama choma (grilled meat), chapati (flatbread), ugali (maize meal), vegetables, and fruit salads. It is also common to enjoy sodas and fruit juices.
  • Gift Giving and Charity: Many families exchange gifts, although the focus is more on community and family than on extravagant presents. It is also common to give back to the less fortunate during this time.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Christmas Decorations and Lights: Public places, shopping malls, and homes are decorated with Christmas lights, trees, and festive ornaments. Nairobi and Mombasa are especially known for their large displays.
  • Christmas Music and Performances: Kenyan Christmas celebrations often include carol singing and public performances, including concerts and community events that feature traditional music and dances.
  • Boxing Day (Day After Christmas): Boxing Day is also celebrated with family outings, picnics, and social gatherings. Many people use the day to visit relatives or spend time in nature.

Christmas in Oceania

Christmas in Oceania

Australia

  • In Australia, Christmas is mostly about summer enjoyment; beach barbecues are a common custom.
  • Under the sky, families and groups get together for Carols by Candlelight to sing joyful melodies.
  • Embracing the summer celebrations, cities organize colorful parades and ornament public areas with light displays.
How Australians Celebrate Christmas
  • Summer Christmas: Christmas falls during the summer in Australia, so many families celebrate with beach picnics, barbecues, and outdoor activities. Christmas dinners often take place outdoors with seafood, barbecued meats, pavlova (a meringue-based dessert), and fruit salads.
  • Christmas Parades and Carols: Australians enjoy Christmas carol services in parks and Christmas parades in cities like Sydney and Melbourne. The Carols by Candlelight concert is a popular event, featuring live performances of traditional Christmas songs.
  • Gift Giving and Decorations: Australians decorate their homes with Christmas trees, fairy lights, and Santa figurines. Gifts are exchanged on Christmas morning, and many families attend church services for Midnight Mass.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Christmas on the Beach: It’s common for Australians to spend Christmas Day at the beach, enjoying the warm weather, with some even swimming or playing sports.
  • Boxing Day: The day after Christmas, Boxing Day, is marked by major sporting events, including the Boxing Day Test Cricket match and the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.
  • Festivals: In cities like Sydney, Christmas markets and light displays bring the holiday spirit, and shopping malls are filled with decorations and themed events.

New Zealand

  • Hangi feasts, a traditional Maori cooking technique employing subterranean ovens, are much enjoyed by New Zealanders.
  • With its vivid crimson blossoms, the pohutukawa tree comes to represent Christmas in New Zealand.
  • Holiday season outdoor events like camping and beach cricket are rather popular.
How New Zealanders Celebrate Christmas
  • Summer Holidays: Like Australia, Christmas in New Zealand is celebrated in the summer. Families gather for outdoor barbecues, picnics, and beach days, enjoying pavlova, mince pies, and Christmas cake.
  • Christmas Lunch: Traditional meals include roast lamb, ham, seafood, and vegetables. Many New Zealanders enjoy cold salads, summer fruits, and the famous pavlova dessert.
  • Gift Giving and Festivities: Christmas decorations fill homes, and Santa Claus is often seen at shopping malls. Many people attend church services on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Boxing Day is also a public holiday, spent relaxing or shopping.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Christmas Lights and Festivals: New Zealanders decorate their homes with Christmas lights, and cities like Auckland have impressive light displays and outdoor events.
  • Outdoor Activities: It’s a time for people to enjoy hiking, beach days, and barbecues. Christmas is also a time for road trips and family vacations.

Fiji

  • Celebrating Christmas with love meals—where food is prepared beneath banana leaves and hot stones—Fiji Fijians
  • Villages get together for shared meals, dances, singing, and events.
  • Reflecting the strong Christian faith in the nation, churches hold happy events complete with singing.
How Fijians Celebrate Christmas
  • Traditional Festivities: Christmas in Fiji is both a religious and family-oriented celebration. Many Fijians attend church services, which are followed by a large family gathering.
  • Feasting: Traditional Fijian meals include roast pig, palusami (taro leaves cooked in coconut milk), lovo (food cooked in an underground oven), and fish. Fijian sweets like pani and kava (traditional drinks) are enjoyed as well.
  • Community Gatherings: There are also community events where people exchange gifts and sing Christmas carols, often with traditional Fijian music.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Christmas Celebrations and Gatherings: The focus is on community, family, and church. Church choirs sing carols in both English and Fijian.
  • Decorations: Homes and churches are decorated with Christmas lights and festive decorations, often combined with local Fijian symbols like flowers and palm fronds.

Unique Christmas Celebrations in Other Countries

Unique Christmas Celebrations in Other Countries

Iceland

  • Iceland celebrates alongside the 13 Yule Lads, cheeky characters who leave presents in the hands of young people every night.
  • People swap books and spend Christmas Eve reading in the beloved custom known as the Christmas Book Flood (Jólabókaflóðið).
How Icelanders Celebrate Christmas
  • Festive Preparations: In Iceland, Christmas begins with the Advent period and culminates with Jól (Icelandic Christmas). Homes are decorated with candles, Christmas lights, and Icelandic Yule decorations.
  • Christmas Eve Feast: Christmas Eve (December 24) is when families exchange gifts and enjoy a traditional meal that includes roast lamb, ham, potatoes, and rice porridge.
  • Religious Observance: Icelanders attend church services, including Midnight Mass, which is a significant part of the celebration.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Christmas Traditions: Icelandic children await the arrival of the Yule Lads, who are said to bring gifts. The Yule Lads are 13 mischievous figures in Icelandic folklore.
  • Festivals and Lights: Reykjavik’s streets are adorned with festive lights, and many locals participate in Christmas markets and events.

Russia

  • Celebrating Orthodox Christmas on January 7th using the Julian calendar, Russians
  • Often accompanied by his granddaughter Snegurochka, the Snow Maiden, Ded Moroz, and Father Frost, presents gifts.
How Russians Celebrate Christmas
  • Orthodox Christmas: Russia celebrates Christmas on January 7 according to the Julian calendar. The holiday is mainly religious, marked by church services, including Midnight Mass.
  • Traditional Dishes: Russian Christmas meals include borscht (beet soup), pork, dumplings, fish, and pirozhki (stuffed pastries). A special porridge called sochivo is prepared for Christmas Eve.
  • Gift Giving: In Russia, New Year’s Eve is often the focus of gift-giving, while Christmas is more of a religious holiday.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Church Celebrations: Many people attend Russian Orthodox church services on Christmas Eve or Day.
  • Decorations: Homes are decorated with New Year’s trees and frosted windows, as well as Christmas ornaments and lights.

Ukraine

  • A 12-dish supper reflecting the apostles, Sviata Vecheria (Holy Supper) is loved among Ukrainians.
  • One unusual custom said to bring luck on Christmas trees is the spider web ornaments.
How Ukrainians Celebrate Christmas
  • Orthodox Christmas: Like Russia, Ukrainians celebrate Christmas on January 7, following the Julian calendar. The holiday is deeply religious, with church services, carol singing, and prayers.
  • Traditional Foods: Kutia (a wheat-based dish), borscht, dumplings, and herring are commonly served. The twelve dishes served on Christmas Eve symbolise the Twelve Apostles.
  • Gift Giving: Gifts are exchanged on New Year’s Eve (celebrated as St. Sylvester’s Day), while Christmas itself remains more focused on religious observance.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Traditional Customs: The tradition of carolling (known as Kolyadki) and Christmas processions is popular. Ukrainian homes and churches are decorated with Christmas lights and angels.
  • New Year’s Celebrations: New Year’s Eve celebrations are just as important, with fireworks, festive meals, and the exchanging of gifts.

Poland

  • With a vegetarian supper, Wigilia—Christmas Eve dinner—is the most significant event of Christmas in Poland.
  • Sharing the Oplatek, a tiny wafer, families wish each other good health and happiness.
How Poles Celebrate Christmas
  • Christmas Eve (Wigilia): Christmas in Poland is traditionally celebrated on December 24, known as Wigilia. Families share a special Christmas Eve dinner, which includes 12 meatless dishes. The meal is followed by midnight mass.
  • Traditional Foods: Common dishes include barszcz (beet soup), pierogi (dumplings), fish, and kompot (fruit drink). Poles also enjoy gingerbread cookies and Christmas cake.
  • Gift Giving: Gifts are traditionally opened after the Christmas Eve meal.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Christmas Decorations: Homes are decorated with Christmas trees, lights, and nativity scenes. The Christmas Eve dinner often begins with breaking a piece of opłatek (a special wafer) among family members.
  • Carolling and Festivities: Many people participate in Christmas carolling and attend Midnight Mass.

Greece

  • Stories of the Kalikantzaroi, cheeky goblins supposed to show up throughout the twelve days of Christmas, abound in Greek Christmas.
  • Some Greeks respect their maritime customs by decorating little boats rather than Christmas trees.
How Greeks Celebrate Christmas
  • Religious Traditions: Greek Christmas revolves mostly around religious events. Many show up for Christmas Eve Midnight Mass at churches.
  • Traditional Foods: The Christmas dinner calls for lamb, stuffed vegetables, meze—small dishes, and kourabiedes—Christmas cookies. Some areas bake Christopsomo, or Christmas bread.
  • Gift Giving: While Christmas is mainly centred on family and church events, Greeks distribute gifts on New Year’s Day.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Christmas Lights and Decorations: Greek houses and towns abound in Christmas trees, nativity displays, and festive lighting. Especially in coastal areas, the wooden boat is a classic ornament.
  • Carolling and Feasting: Common practice is carolling, and families—often with extended family—love feasts together.
Venezuela
  • A joyful and unusual Christmas custom, people roller skate to early morning Mass in Caracas.
  • To suit this happy activity, the roadways are sometimes restricted to traffic.
How Venezuelans Celebrate Christmas
  • Misa de Gallo: Following a midnight mass known as Misa de Gallo, Venezuelan people celebrate Christmas with a late-night supper and family get-togethers.
  • Traditional Foods: The Christmas dinner consists in pan de jamón (ham bread), turrón (a sort of nougat), and hallacas—a maize pastry loaded with pork.
  • Gift Giving: Gift giving occurs, and they also enjoy fireworks shows.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Christmas Lights and Music: Parrandas (Christmas carols) are performed on the streets of cities such as Caracas, which is bursting in lights.
  • Community Events: Many Venezuelans take part in communal events including celebrations, parades, and Christmas parties.

Greenland

  • Celebrating their Arctic heritage, Greenlandic Christmas feasts feature classic foods such as raw fish and whale skin.
  • Often adding a beautiful touch to the celebrations are the northern lights.
How Greenlanders Celebrate Christmas
  • Christmas Traditions: Danish customs have a great impact on Greenlanders’ Christmas celebrations; celebrations start on December 24 with Christmas Eve feasts and church services.
  • Traditional Foods: The dinner consists of roast meats, seafood, potatoes and rice pudding.
  • Gift Giving: Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, Greenlanders present each other.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Christmas Decorations: Homes have Christmas trees, candles, and Christmas lights, among other decorations.
  • Carolling and Community Events: Celebrations centre on church services and community events, including carolling.

Peru

  • Selling handcrafted goods for Nativity events, Santuranticuy markets are a major feature of Christmas in Peru.
  • Often featuring llamas and local settings, Andean Nativity presentations combine traditional and local traditions.
How Peruvians Celebrate Christmas
  • Christmas Eve Feast: Christmas is observed in Peru on December 24 with a family gathering and Christmas Eve dinner. Tamales, roasted pork, and panetón—Italian-style fruitcake—are favourites among people.
  • Religious Celebrations: The Christmas celebrations in Peru centre much on midnight mass.
  • Gift Giving: Gift-giving takes place on Christmas Eve.
What Happens During the Christmas Season
  • Christmas Decorations: Homes are decorated with Nativity scenes, Christmas trees, and lights.
  • Community Events: People participate in Christmas parades where fireworks shows signal the beginning of the festivities.

Why Explore Global Traditions?

One great approach to increasing our knowledge of cultural variety is learning about Christmas celebrations around the world. From the cuisine they adore to the customs they follow, every nation celebrates in its unique manner.

Learning about these special events helps us to find fresh concepts that might motivate our own holiday customs. After learning about another nation’s customs, perhaps you will start a new family ritual or include a fresh item on your dinner table.

Christmas is about sharing; hence, by learning about how others celebrate, we establish connections that unite us all. It’s also a great approach to finding out about locations you could wish to see eventually.

What to Expect in This Guide

This guide will take you on a journey throughout more than thirty nations, each with a distinct Christmas celebration around the world. From traditional cuisine to fascinating customs, you will find how unique the holiday season is made by several civilizations.

Every segment will highlight a particular area, highlighting the cuisine they adore, the decorations they hang, and the celebrations they host. You will get a glimpse of how folks in Germany, Brazil, the Philippines, and many more mark Christmas as their own.

This book has something for everyone, whether your Christmas celebration around the world calls for fresh ideas or you simply want to know how others do it. Let us delve in and investigate these incredible worldwide Christmas customs!

Conclusion

Christmas lets us see how varied and lovely customs may be found all throughout the world. Every method of Christmas celebration around the world accentuates seasonal happiness.

Try something unique this year! You might investigate a custom from another nation or provide your own creative twist.

Which Christmas celebration is your particular favorite? Tell others about it or pick up a fresh one yourself. Let us honor the season together in our unique ways!

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