Explore Christmas traditions around the world with new ways to celebrate the season through new influences, heartfelt practices, and exciting activities. It’s a beautiful way to build global mindsets in our children!
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Christmas Traditions Around the World: A Global Celebration!
Christmas traditions around the world are diverse and amazing, each showcasing a unique way to celebrate faith, culture, and different ways of life.
I just love exploring how people from different places celebrate this holiday with their own special rituals that make the season even more magical.
This holiday has such a rich history, dating back to ancient pagan festivals in Rome and Scandinavia. Thanks to Christian influence, modern revivals, and the emergence of Santa Claus in the 19th century, Christmas now has a world of traditions that we still follow today.
In this post, I’m diving deep into Christmas traditions from around the globe, offering your family some new rituals and insights into this important holiday.
From age-old practices to modern and nontraditional events, there are countless ways to celebrate the true spirit of Christmas with your loved ones!
North American Christmas Traditions
Many know the North American Christmas as the season of giving – giving gifts to loved ones, giving back to the community, and giving themselves time for rest.
Here are some of the unique traditions across North America:
United States
Some classic American traditions include gingerbread house decorating, festive holiday light displays, door-to-door Christmas caroling, and Christmas Eve church service.
More modern traditions include ugly Christmas sweater parties and “Elf on the Shelf” pranks!
In the Midwest, Christmas pickles are a big tradition, where a pickle ornament is hidden in the tree, and family members race to find it!
While some believe this practice has German origins, it’s most practiced in the United States.
Canada
Canada is big on winter festivals like the Québec Winter Carnival, celebrating with winter sports, music, and Bonhomme, the snowman mascot.
More Canadian Christmas traditions include Polar Bear Swims, Candy Cane Lane holiday light displays, and lighting the Ottawa Parliament Buildings.
Mexico
In Mexico, Christmas food comes at a high priority, serving Ponche Navideño (spiced punch), bacalao (salted codfish), tamales, rosca de reyes (sweet bread), and romeritos (herb stew) on Christmas Eve.
They celebrate through a nine-day procession called Las Posadas, symbolizing Mary and Joseph’s journey in searching for shelter.
Celebrations are marked by a seven-pointed star piñata filled with candy and small toys.
European Christmas Traditions
Diverse and colorful, European Christmas traditions include elaborate feasts, Christmas markets, and nativity scenes.
These are some of the standout European Christmas traditions:
United Kingdom
Christmas in the UK is kicked off by the monarch’s address, coupled with holiday television, a Christmas day swim, and a holiday feast (with Christmas crackers, of course!).
Christmas Pantomimes are also common; these are family shows based on fairytales.
Finally, you can expect new holiday music from your favorite artists based on the race to Christmas Number One on the music charts.
Germany
Germany is famous for its magical Christmas markets, festive advent wreaths, lavishly decorated Christmas trees, and the ringing of the Christmas Bell on Christmas Eve.
They’re also known for Krampus Night, where a spooky mythical creature comes to punish misbehaving children!
A less scary tradition is St. Nicholas Day. Kids leave a boot outside their door overnight on December 5th. When they awake, kids discover festive treats in the boots!
France
Christmas food in France is a highlight, with sweet additions including the Yule Log Cake, King’s Cake, and 13 Desserts of Provence.
Italy
An Italian Christmas upholds Catholic traditions, with living nativity scenes, Midnight Mass, and lighting the Torches of Saint Lucia.
The Feast of the Seven Fishes is also common, serving seven decadent seafood dishes that represent the seven sacraments and seven hills of Rome.
You should also expect a taste of Panettone – a sweet bread filled with dried fruits.
Asian Christmas Traditions
Blending local and Western traditions, Christmas in Asia celebrates community through festive markets, colorful decorations, and cultural events throughout the continent.
Here are some of the most popular Christmas traditions throughout Asia:
Japan
Japan celebrates Christmas through brightly lit decorations and thoughtful gift-giving.
Christmas Eve is a romantic holiday here, often spent with your partner.
Japanese Christmas Cake is nontraditional by Western standards, resembling a strawberry shortcake complete with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.
Philippines
The Philippines celebrates an elaborate Christmas holiday, celebrating with Noche Buena (Christmas Eve feast), Aguinaldo (gift-giving), and Pagmamano (blessing elders with a sign of respect).
They also celebrate nine nights of mass, called Simbang Gabi.
More symbols of the festivities include paper lanterns (parol), nativity scenes, and Christmas caroling (Namamasko).
India
Christmas is a big season of giving in India, with an emphasis on charity and spreading kindness throughout your community.
You can also expect candlelit services, sweet treats like rose cookies, and crib building to depict the nativity scene.
South American Christmas Traditions
Lively and festive, a South American Christmas includes family gatherings, street celebrations, and a strong community bond.
These are some of the most influential South American Christmas traditions:
Brazil
Christmas in Brazil is a true treat, with gorgeous floating Christmas trees, Feiras de Nata (Christmas markets) selling traditional foods and decorations, celebratory fireworks, and Brazilian Christmas music.
In coastal areas, many take part in the burning of the Vieira; folks burn a large seashell to bring prosperity and good luck in the year to come.
Argentina
In Argentina, Christmas food often contains an abundance of barbeque (called a parillada), like beef, blood sausage, and chorizo.
Other treats include alfajores (caramel cookie sandwich) and turrón (nut-filled nougat).
In Buenos Aires, you can experience Desfile de Navidad – a parade with festive dancers, floats, fireworks, and more!
Peru
On Christmas Eve, celebrations are taken to the streets, with festivals showcasing music, fireworks, dance, and community spirit.
Christmas Eve dinner traditionally consists of roast turkey, tamales, and sweets.
Another yummy snack is hot chocolate paired with panetón, a sweet bread fruit cake. There is even a tradition called Chocolatada, where folks will distribute this sweet treat to those in need.
More markers of the holiday include Indigenous celebrations in the Andean Region, the bright lights of the Festival de Luces y Colores, and the burning of firewood or dolls, which is said to bring purity and rid yourself of negativity.
African Christmas Traditions
Mixing Indigenous and Christian rituals, African Christmas traditions include delicious feasts, gift exchange, joyous dance, and church services.
These are just a few African Christmas traditions:
South Africa
As South Africa has a generally warm climate, Christmas celebrations are commonly outdoors, including picnics and relaxed beach days.
Christmas Eve Mass is a common celebration, along with candlelit Christmas carols, family barbeques, and a Christmas Day swim!
Christmas cards are also commonly exchanged, often featuring images of flora and fauna.
Egypt
Christmas celebrations are less common in Egypt because of its minimal Christian community. Those who do celebrate, however, have unique and special holiday traditions.
Traditions include a nativity fast and cultural performances in large cities. One of their most popular holiday sweet treats is kahk cookies which are filled with nuts and rolled in powdered sugar.
In some regions, folks burn a Christmas tree on the 12th night after Christmas, welcoming in the new year!
Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, families dress up in colorful embroidered garments to celebrate the Christmas festivities.
They also take part in a 40-day fast called Tsome Nebiyat, abstaining from meat and dairy. This fast is broken on Christmas Eve with a bountiful feast!
You can expect shared meals, generous gifts, incense burning, candle lighting, and celebratory parades as festive additions to the season.
Australian Christmas Traditions
Australia has some of the most low-key Christmas traditions around the world.
As Christmas takes place in Australian summer, traditions are more laid back with outdoor activities, barbecues, and beach events!
Christmas meals often feature a seafood feast with fresh catches like lobster, oysters, and prawns. Grilled meats and pavlova are also very popular.
You may recognize Australia’s version of Santa, trading his red snowsuit for a pair of swim trunks to fit the warm weather!
The Takeaway
When it comes to Christmas traditions around the world, this list is just the tip of the iceberg! There are so many more beautiful traditions to explore and celebrate.
It’s so important to encourage our children to look beyond their bubbles, helping them develop a global mindset with a deep appreciation for customs unlike their own.
I hope you can use a few of these Christmas traditions in your own celebrations as a way to have big conversations and have fun doing it!
More Christmas Traditions:
- Cutting Back on Holidays: Make it a Christmas without a Pile of Presents
- 5 Gift Rule Christmas: Want, Need, Wear & Read
- 7 Meaningful Christmas Morning Traditions for Cherished Family Memories
- 52 of the Best Holiday Traditions You Must-Do this Christmas Season
- Over 285 Easy & Fun Elf on the Shelf Ideas, Activities & Printables
- Intentional Christmas for Kids: Keeping It Simple (& Humble)
- 26 Unique Family Christmas Traditions To Make the Holidays Magical for Kids & Adults
- 6 Sibling Christmas Traditions: For Kids to Delight in the Excitement of the Holidays Together
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