Christmas Around the World

Have you ever wondered how Christmas is celebrated around the world? Every culture that celebrates Christmas has their own festive ways to make the holiday special. Christmas is generally celebrated on Christmas Day, the 25th of December. Some countries however have slightly different Christmas traditions and as such festive season celebrations take place over a longer period of time, from the beginning of December to the beginning of January. Some of those celebrations involve dishes or treats that only appear once a year. Others give gifts that carry a particular meaning, and others decorate in a particular way, hold festivals, parades or parties to celebrate these fun, warm, and loving time of year. Here are some examples of how other countries celebrate the most wonderful time of year.

1. Poland

In Poland and many Polish communities worldwide, Christmas Eve dinner begins with sharing the Oplatek. An Oplatek is a paper-thin square wafer made of flour and water that has an image of the Nativity on it. Everyone at the table breaks off a piece and shares a holiday greeting before passing it along. Sometimes, even pets get in on the fun.

2. Slovakia

All over Central Europe, people enjoy carp for Christmas Eve Dinner, but rather than picking it up from the supermarket, traditionalists let the fish live in the bathtub for a couple of days before preparing and eating it. Legend has it, the scales bring luck and good fortune for the coming year.

3. Sweden

In Sweden, Finland, and Norway, St. Lucia's Day is a special part of the Christmas season that commemorates a woman said to be one of the first Christian martyrs. The celebrations involve candlelight processions being that the eldest girl in each family will have to dress up like St. Lucia in white gowns, often wearing a wreath with candles. The girls will also serve the family S-shaped Lucia buns and coffee or mulled wine.

4. Greece

In the country of Greece, decorating Christmas trees and boats has been popular for centuries. The first known Christmas tree in Greece was put up by King Otto in 1833 next to a large decorated boat, which families traditionally erected to celebrate men's return from sea voyages. Today, in cities like Athens and Thessaloniki, large lit-up boats appear alongside trees.

5. Japan

In Japan, celebrating Christmas is still relatively new. It's only been widely recognized for the past couple of decades, and is typically seen as a time to spread joy and cheer, or even a romantic couple's day, instead of a religious holiday. Many order KFC for Christmas dinner, or make a reservation at a restaurant instead of cooking a big feast.

6. Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, people celebrate Christmas (called Ganna or Genna) on January 7 in accordance with the Ethiopian Orthodox Calendar. Mass often begins with a special candlelit procession, in which participants wear a thin white shawl called a Netela and process around the church three times before the service begins. They don't typically give gifts during Ganna; it's a time for church, games and of course, food.

7. Germany

In Germany, you can do your Christmas shopping with a mug of mulled wine in one hand and a bratwurst in the other at festive outdoor markets. The sprawling seasonal markets pop up all over the country with artisans selling gifts for everyone on your list.

8. Philippines

Filipinos take the Christmas season seriously, with big Nochebuena parties (a Christmas Eve celebration for Christian Latinx populations) on Christmas Eve. Many will attend Mass, called Misa de Riso in the evening, and then feast and dance into the wee hours. Decorations often go big too, with the parol, a lighted star lantern, featuring prominently.

9. Austria

In Austria and Bavaria, St. Nicholas gifts good kids gifts, while Krampus, the half-man, half-goat comes around the drag the bad ones away. In some places, men dress up as the scary character for a Krampuslauf, or “Krampus run" in which they parade through the streets to blow off steam — and scare some kids back into line. And here we thought coal in our stalking was bad.

10. England

In Britain, kids hang their stalkings at the ends of their beds. That way, they wake up to a sweet surprise.

11. Singapore

Singapore's Orchard Road shopping district buzzes with activity all year round but during the Christmas season, it twinkles with some of the most impressive decorations in the world. Residents also visit Gardens on the Bay for a jaw-dropping Christmas village display.

12. Switzerland

Although their popularity has spread in recent years, Advent Calendars are especially big in Switzerland. Some parents make them for their children, while others purchase unique ones tailored to their kids' interests. They open a new little treat every day, with the biggest one arriving on Christmas Eve.

13. Australia

Because Christmas falls during the burning hot summer months in Australia, many residents hit the beach for a barbecue. People might play a rousing game of backyard cricket or grill up fresh seafood on the barbie.

14. Iceland

Not only does Iceland celebrate 13 days before Christmas, but children also get presents from 13 different Santa Clauses or Yule Lads. Each of these lads has his own different qualities and they can all be a bit feisty. But if good children place their shoes on the windowsill, the Yule Lads will leave them little gifts. If they haven't behaved all year, rotten potatoes show up in their Crocs.

15. Mexico

In Mexico, as well as many other Latinx and Hispanic countries, families celebrate Nochebuena on Christmas Eve. That includes a huge feast, singing and dancing — and often a piñata for the kids. More religious observers may attend midnight Mass, but it's always a time for family and togetherness.