Christmas Traditions From Around The World!
We all know Christmas is about family, good food, and the occasional argument over board games. But have you ever stopped to wonder how others celebrate? Spoiler alert: it’s not all mince pies and crackers everywhere!
Christmas traditions around the world can be wonderfully weird and wildly different. From unexpected party vibes to heartfelt customs, people everywhere find their own way to make this season magical.
So, if you fancy a little festive inspiration (or just want to win at Christmas trivia), let’s dive into some of the most unique and surprising traditions from across the globe.
1. The Beach Parties, Australia
Forget snowy landscapes and woolly jumpers—Christmas in Australia is all about sun, sand, and surf. December 25 lands right in the middle of their summer, making beach parties a festive staple.
Families and friends gather for barbecues, beach cricket, and dips in the ocean. Santa often makes an Aussie-style appearance, too—think swapping reindeer for jet skis or parasails in spots like Mooloolaba, Queensland.
Fun fact: Australians enjoy around 6 million kilograms of prawns over Christmas, making up 40% of their annual prawn consumption—roughly 22 million prawns in a week! That’s enough to circle the Australian coastline three times.
2. Christmas Star, Poland
In Poland, Christmas Eve, or Wigilia, kicks off with a star—literally. The family meal begins only after spotting the first star in the night sky, symbolising the Star of Bethlehem. Once it appears, a 12-course feast begins, honouring either the 12 apostles or months of the year.
Traditional dishes include pierogi, poppy seed cake, and the infamous Christmas Eve carp (yes, it’s served cold!). Another touching custom is leaving an empty seat at the table for an unexpected guest or loved one who couldn’t make it.
3. Night of the Radishes, Mexico
Source: Wikimedia Commons
On December 23rd, Oaxaca celebrates La Noche de Rábanos or the Night of the Radishes. During this event, artists carve large radishes into detailed designs. These designs can include nativity scenes, mythical figures, and famous landmarks.
This tradition originated in the 1800s when farmers began carving radishes to attract shoppers to Christmas markets. Today, it has evolved into a vibrant festival with competitions and draws large crowds eager to admire these vegetable sculptures.
Some of the radishes used can exceed 50 centimetres in length, specially cultivated for this artistic occasion.
4. Lantern Festival, Philippines
Source: Rappler
San Fernando is known as the "Christmas Capital of the Philippines." It hosts the Ligligan Parul, or Giant Lantern Festival, an important cultural event. This festival features large and beautifully designed lanterns called parols. These lanterns represent hope and unity. People make them using materials like wire, bamboo, and modern LED lights, blending traditional and modern artistic styles.
Originally, smaller lanterns guided worshippers to church during Simbang Gabi (a nine-day series of Masses). The festival has since evolved into a high-tech spectacle, with some lanterns over 6 metres tall and featuring stunning kaleidoscopic light displays.
5. Kentucky Fried Chicken, Japan
Christmas in Japan isn’t complete without… fried chicken? This finger-lickin’ tradition started in 1974 when KFC launched its “Kentucky for Christmas” campaign, and it’s been a hit ever since.
Families pre-order festive chicken buckets weeks in advance, making Christmas Eve KFC’s busiest day of the year. Interestingly, just over 1% of Japan’s population identifies as Christian, but the holiday has become a fun, secular celebration. Colonel Sanders statues even don Santa hats to join the festivities!
6. Single Women Tossing Shoes, Czechia
In Czechia, unmarried women have a playful way of predicting their romantic future. On Christmas Day, they stand with their back to a door and toss a shoe over their shoulder. If the shoe lands with the toe pointing towards the door, wedding bells might be on the horizon.
If not, it’s another year of single life (but hey, self-love is important too!). This quirky tradition is said to date back centuries, blending folklore with festive fun.
7. Skating to Midnight Mass, Venezuela
In Caracas, Venezuela, Christmas Eve comes with wheels—roller skates, to be precise! Streets close to cars so residents can skate safely to Misa de Gallo (Midnight Mass). The tradition has even inspired a local twist: children tie strings to their big toes and dangle them out of windows so passing skaters can give them a friendly tug. It’s a colourful, joyful way to combine faith with fun.
8. Masquerade, The Gambia
In The Gambia, Christmas is a unique and inclusive celebration enjoyed by both Muslims and Christians, with many festivities led by young Muslim boys and girls. The day begins with the vibrant sounds of drums, singing, and colourful masquerades performing lively dances.
A beloved highlight is the "agugu" masquerade, adorned in a dazzling gown, white gloves, and an eye-catching mask that captivates onlookers. As the "agugu" parades through the streets, it pauses at intervals to collect money and sweets thrown by the crowd, rewarding them with jubilant dances in return. This spirited tradition embodies the joy and unity of Gambian culture.
9. Letters to Santa, Canada
Canadian kids don’t just write to Santa—they hear back! Every year, volunteers help Santa reply to millions of letters addressed to the North Pole, Canada, H0H 0H0. This beloved tradition has been running since 1981, and no postage is needed!
Fun tidbit: Canada Post has replied in over 30 languages, including Braille, keeping the magic alive for children everywhere.
10. Yule goats, Scandinavia
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Scandinavian Christmas wouldn’t be the same without the Yule goat. Once thought to be a spirit ensuring proper festive celebrations, the goat evolved into a gift-giver before Santa took over. Today, straw Yule goats are popular decorations, but the most famous is the Gävle goat in Sweden—a 13-metre-tall straw goat erected annually.
Fun fact: despite tight security, it’s been famously burned down over 30 times since 1966!
11. Spider webs on trees, Ukraine
Ukrainian Christmas trees are uniquely decorated with faux spider webs, a tradition rooted in a touching folktale. According to legend, a poor widow lacked the means to adorn her Christmas tree, but a benevolent spider spun beautiful webs on it, bringing good fortune to her home.
Today, this custom represents prosperity, with decorative spiders and webs prominently featured on festive trees across Ukraine. Additionally,
Conclusion
Christmas is more than just a holiday; it's a tapestry of traditions, each reflecting the unique cultures and histories of communities around the globe. From Australia’s sunny beach barbecues to Ukraine’s spider-webbed trees, these customs remind us that joy and togetherness come in many forms. They inspire us to embrace diversity and celebrate shared humanity.
So, which of these festive traditions surprised or inspired you most? Or better yet, would you try one this year? Let’s keep the conversation going—because, after all, isn’t that the real magic of the season?
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