I remember the magic. The inescapable lure of Christmas. We had several traditions in our family as I'm sure all of you who celebrate the holiday do as well. I clearly remember helping my father put up our blue and green Noma lights, after an hour of untangling and testing them that is. It would usually take the better part of an afternoon to put them up as it was often so cold (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in December), that we'd need to take several hot chocolate breaks. Ok....maybe we didn't NEED that many but we took them anyway.
We also had a tradition to go and cut our own tree. We'd make it a sledding day and tree cutting adventure. Every year it was up top the younger ones in the bunch to pick the tree and I can honestly say that my picks very often ended up being the Charlie Brown Christmas tree type.
Now that I'm grown with my own family we have some new traditions, but many still echo of the past. This will be my second Christmas abroad in Helsinki in what seems to becoming one of those new traditions. Helsinki, and Finland in general, have their own traditions, mostly similar to North America, and up in Lapland they have wholly embraced Christmas year round at Santa's village near Rovaniemi. We ventured there last year and loved it which you can read about here if you wish.
Nonetheless, it made me curious as to what other kinds of traditions there might be around the world so I started to read. I picked 12 because, well, 12 days of Christmas and all. Didn't find a single pear tree though.
Germany: Advent Calendars and Christmas Markets
In Germany, the countdown to Christmas begins with Advent calendars. This is a tradition that originated there in the early 19th century and it is one that has made its way into many homes globally.
Sometime in the 1920s an individual named Gerhard Lang devised the concept of adding little doors. Families would open a door each day, revealing an image, or a bible verse or otherwise. Now of course modern families open the doors to unveil a small gift or treat.
Germany is also very well known for its Christmas markets, where stalls offer handcrafted ornaments and delicious treats. The Dresdner Striezelmarkt is considered the first Christmas market in the world, dating back to 1434! Today, it's a massive multi-day event where 200+ stalls can be found selling sweet treats, Christmas tchotchkes, and more. The kids wil have fun hearing stories in the fairytale house or making crafts in the plum potato house. There is even a Ferris Wheel from which you can view the market lights. If you do find yourself browsing the colorful stalls make sure you get a mug of Glühwein to keep you warm. This hot beverage is a kind of spiced mulled wine.
Mexico: Las Posadas
In Mexico, Las Posadas, Spanish for The Inns, reenacts Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem. Families go door to door seeking shelter, singing traditional songs. There is a specific Posada litany that is sung between those outside a home and with responses from those inside.
In addition, there is a procession through town led by a small child dressed as an angel and many others bearing candles. The celebration, typically observed Dec. 16-24th, ends with a feast, and the breaking of a festive star-shaped piñata. While enjoying these festivities make sure you enjoy some tamales and wash them down with Ponche Navideño, a warm and fruity Christmas punch, which often includes ingredients like tejocotes, guavas, and cinnamon.
Japan: KFC for Christmas Dinner
Christmas in Japan involves a unique tradition – enjoying Kentucky Fried Chicken for Christmas dinner. Thanks to a successful marketing campaign in the '70s, it has become a popular tradition to order a "Christmas party barrel" from the fast food chain. It is so wildly popular as a traditional Christmas meal that orders for the buckets are placed in November!
Japan also embraces the holiday lights and even Santa Claus makes his rounds there for the children on Christmas eve. He might not be putting presents under a tree though as that is not so common in households but you will find large beautifully lit trees in shopping centers and squares. Going to nosh on some KFC there then you'd best have some Amazake on hand. A sweet, low-alcohol rice drink, it's often enjoyed hot and provides a cozy and comforting experience.
Italy: Feast of the Seven Fishes
Many Italians, and Italian Americans, celebrate Christmas Eve with the Feast of the Seven Fishes, a sumptuous seafood banquet. Families gather to enjoy a variety of fish dishes, from calamari to baccalà, creating a festive and flavorful culinary experience. It is always seafood as no meat is consumed on Christmas eve.
Why seven fish dishes? There are theories but the most common ones are that it represents the seven days of creation in the Bible, while others say it may represent the seven holy sacraments of the Catholic Church.
Another very common and extremely old tradition in Italy is the nativity scene. Churches, and much later homes, in Italy have been placing thes scenes as far back as a millennia ago. Be sure to enjoy some Vin Brulé, a spiced and heated red wine. The warm concoction, infused with cloves and citrus, is a delightful choice for your Christmas festivities.
Sweden: Saint Lucia's Day
Saint Lucia's Day on December 13th is a Swedish tradition where a young girl, dressed in a white gown and a red sash with a crown of candles, symbolizes light in the darkness. The crown is made from woven lingonberry branches which, being an evergreen, symbolize life in the depths of winter. She was a young girl who, early in the 4th century, is believed to have secreted food to Christians hiding in the catacombs of Rome. She supposedly wore the candles on her head so that her hands were free to carry more. She ultimately was betrayed to the authorities by a spurned suitor and was executed.
Villages will hold a procession with their own Lucia leading it and carol singing enhances the magical atmosphere. These Lucias also visit hospitals to spread joy and sing as well as give cookies that are akin to a ginger snap. Swedes celebrate the season with Glögg, a mulled wine infused with spices like cloves, cinnamon, and ginger. Often enjoyed with raisins and almonds, it adds a festive touch to holiday gatherings.
Ethiopia: Ganna
In Ethiopia, Christmas, known as Ganna, is celebrated on January 7th. It is a very religious holiday and is not associated with gift giving. People will often fast in the month leading up to the holiday eating only one vegan meal each day. This time period is known as the Fast of the Prophets. Christmas eve sees everyone going to church for a mass service that lasts into the small hours of Christmas morning. People will usually wear white during this period.
Interestingly there is a game, also known as ganna or “Ye Ganna Chewata” that is often played in the villages by the men and boys. It is akin to field hockey in such that a curved stick and wooden ball are used and is thought to have originated with the shepherds of long ago.
After the fast is over you can enjoy some T'ej, a traditional Ethiopian honey wine, which is a favorite during Christmas celebrations. It's crafted from fermented honey and water and holds cultural significance in Ethiopian festivities.
Australia: Beach Christmas
Christmas in Australia is quite similar to that of North America except that down under it of course falls in the summertime. The houses are all done up in lights, there are Christmas trees and wreathes and grand Christmas pageants featuring numerous Australian celebrities and singers. Gifts are exchanged on Christmas day but they don't arrive by Santa and his reindeer. It's too hot for the reindeer so the story goes that 6 huge white kangaroos, or "boomers" take their place to ensure Santa makes his rounds. I'm pretty sure he doffs his big red coat too.
On Boxing day, i.e. the day after Christmas, Australians often celebrate with friends and family by having a barbecue on the beach, enjoying the sun, sand, and surf rather than the traditional winter festivities. No hot drinks for folks here, they'll more likely opt for a refreshing Christmas Punch, blending tropical fruits and juices, perfect for sipping under the summer sun while they eat their shrimp and lobster done up on the 'barbie'.
India: Christmas in Kerala
In the southern state of Kerala, India, Christmas is a religious affair for the Christians of the region but all Keralites take part in celebrating humanity. It is celebrated with carols, lights and food. Amazing food. The Christians will observe a fast (no meat or dairy is consumed) for the weeks preceding Christmas and attend mass on Christmas eve. The fast is broken the next day by a celebration that includes many dishes from all over the region that simply explode with flavor.
Another dish that is a tradition and that Kerala is well known for is the plum cake one can find in the region. This spicy, fruity, and often boozy cake is a show stopper with everybody claiming they have perfected the recipe. You'll find a great many variations of this plum cake with some of them even including some plum. Most don't, instead using currants, raisins and candied peel to give that fruity punch.
Have yourself a toddy as well, and not it is not the hot toddy you might be familiar with. In Kevala a toddy is a type of palm wine where they extract it from palm trees and sometimes goes by the moniker coconut vodka.
Iceland: Jóltide lad or Yule Lads
Icelandic Christmas is enriched by the Jólasveinn (Jóltide lad), 13 mischievous characters who descend from the Icelandic mountains to visit children on the 13 nights leading up to Christmas. Starting December 12 one of these elfish creatures will pay a visit and stay for 13 days. Every day up until Christmas a new one will arrive and then on Christmas Day the begin to depart in the same order as they appeared. Each of these nights, children place their shoes on the windowsill, and the Yule Lads leave either gifts or rotten potatoes depending on if the child has been good or naughty. They have also been known to play tricks and cause mischief in general and bear names that indicate the kind of trouble they like to. cause.
It is just after the evening meal on Christmas eve that children will open their gifts. Traditional gifts include books, and new clothing. Getting that new piece of clothing is essential if you want to avoid a fate of being eaten by The Yule Cat, known as Jólakötturinn, which is a huge and vicious cat that belongs to Gryla, a giantess. This horrifying troll is one of the most nasty figures in Icelandic folklore, and horror stories about her are still told to children over the festive season.
She was once so frightening that the Iceland parliament made it illegal to use her as a tool to terrify your kids! For Christmas dinner you'll likely be eating a leg of roast lamb and you can have a sip of the strong alcoholic beverage Brennivín (roughly translated to burnt wine) which is akin to vodka but flavored with caraway or dill.
Brazil: Floating Christmas Tree in Rio
Rio de Janeiro boasts an iconic Floating Christmas Tree, a massive structure illuminated with millions of lights. The Árvore do Rio (Tree of Rio) holds the world’s record as the largest floating Christmas Tree in the World by Guinness. The annual lighting at Parque do Cantagal is accompanied by fireworks and music, marking a grand start to the festive season. Most people will attend a Christmas eve mass and then head out to watch firework displays.
You may end up getting a surprise gift from your secret Santa, a tradition that has become quite popular in Brazil. You'll keep on guessing who it was until the amigo secreto reveal their identity on Christmas day. The Christmas meal will usually consist of ham, pork roasts, and turkey with side dishes of rice cooked with raisins and is served Christmas eve before everyone meets up for the midnight mass.
Don't forget to try some Caipirinha. While it is a year-round favorite in Brazil, its refreshing lime and sugarcane flavors make it a popular choice for Christmas celebrations in the summer.
South Korea: Christmas Cake and Department Store Lights
In South Korea, Christmas is recognized as a holiday and the South Koreans have a day off unlike Japan. Gift giving is also a tradition that is observed and is typically given in the form of money. The department stores go all in when decorating their places with lights and other festive accompaniments and a visit to the Han River in Seoul will give you lovely lighted displays on the bridges that cross it.
Instead of a western traditional Christmas dinner, you might find the table adorned with such classics like Bulgogi, sweet potato noodles and kimchi. A particular festive favorite is tteok guk – a rice cake filled with meat or seafood and served with clear broth. Of late, Christmas has become more of a couples affair rather than a family get together and marketing there has made it similar to Valentines day in the west.
Korean bakeries will sell ssaeng-cream cakes, light sponges iced with fresh whipped cream and decorated with strawberries and sometimes white-chocolate Santas. These festive cakes are the perfect Christmas treat to share as a couple. Share it over a glass of Sujeonggwa, a traditional cinnamon punch, often served during the winter months, including Christmas. Its sweet and spiced profile adds a festive touch to the holidays.
Türkiye: Birthplace of Santa
We can't close out this list with anywhere other than the place where Saint Nicholas himself originated from. We'd have to go back to roughly 280 AD to meet him but he was born in the maritime city of Myra, now known as Demre in modern times. While the true history of the saint is unknown, the legends have it that he was a kind and benevolent man who was known to give away his wealth to the poor. Ultimately Santa Claus evolved from Dutch traditions regarding the Saint and his modern name is derived from the Dutch Sinterklaas.
Being a Muslim country the religious aspects of Christmas are not noted but the gift giving and decorating certainly are. You may see images of Santa Claus and most certainly Christmas trees decorated in Turkish homes and shopping centers. It has nothing to do with Christmas though, but rather New Years. Gift are exchanged on New Years Eve which is one of Türkiye's biggest holidays marked with family get togethers and feasts.
If you are in Istanbul make sure to head to Eminönü to buy a lottery ticket from the famed Nimet Abla. The Milli Piyango lottery on New Years Eve is a huge affair in Türkiye with millions tuning in to see if they get to start the new year as a millionaire. They also make for nice gifts.
Speaking of gifts, don't be surprised if someone gives you a gift of red underwear. It is considered good luck to put on a pair at midnight to usher in a prosperous new year. Ring in the New Year with a glass of the Turkish spirit Rakı, an anise flavored beverage made from distilled grapes.
Conclusion
As we journey through these 12 countries, each Christmas tradition offers a glimpse into the unique ways people around the world come together to celebrate this joyous season. Whether through festive foods, cultural customs, or communal gatherings, the spirit of Christmas truly knows no borders.
Happy (or should I say Merry) Travels!
Looking for some gift ideas for the traveler on your list then check out a couple of our other posts:
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