# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
It's the most wonderful time of the year. For a couple of weeks every year the world takes on a magic glow, people seem merrier and even winter somehow feels cosy.

Whether you're celebrating a religious festival, like Hanukkah or Christmas, or a more secular occasion, you're sure to have your own selection of rituals or customs that make the holiday season so special. Our favorite Christmas traditions around the world are loud, proud, and guarantee oodles of festive fun.

Giant Lantern Festival, Philippines

The Giant Lantern Festival (Ligligan Parul Sampernandu) is held each year on the Saturday before Christmas Eve in the city of San Fernando - the "Christmas Capital of the Philippines." The festival attracts spectators from all over the country and across the globe. Eleven barangays (villages) take part in the festival and competition is fierce as everyone pitches in trying to build the most elaborate lantern. Originally, the lanterns were simple creations around half a metre in diameter, made from 'papel de hapon' (Japanese origami paper) and lit by candle. Today, the lanterns are made from a variety of materials and have grown to around six metres in size. They are illuminated by electric bulbs that sparkle in a kaleidoscope of patterns.
Find a flight to Manila
Gävle Goat, Sweden

Since 1966, a 13-metre-tall Yule Goat has been built in the center of Gävle's Castle Square for the Advent, but this Swedish Christmas tradition has unwittingly led to another "tradition" of sorts - people trying to burn it down. Since 1966 the Goat has been successfully burned down 29 times - the most recent destruction was in 2016.

If you want to see how the Goat fares this year when it goes up on December 1st, you can follow its progress on the Visit Gävle website through a live video stream.
Find a flight to Gävle
Krampus, Austria

A beast-like demon creature that roams city streets frightening kids and punishing the bad ones - nope, this isn't Halloween, but St. Nicholas' evil accomplice, Krampus. In Austrian tradition, St. Nicholas rewards nice little boys and girls, while Krampus is said to capture the naughtiest children and whisk them away in his sack. In the first week of December, young men dress up as the Krampus (especially on the eve of St. Nicholas Day) frightening children with clattering chains and bells.
Find a flight to Klagenfurt
Kentucky Fried Christmas Dinner, Japan

Christmas has never been a big deal in Japan. Aside from a few small, secular traditions such as gift-giving and light displays, Christmas remains largely a novelty in the country. However, a new, quirky "tradition" has emerged in recent years - a Christmas Day feast of the Colonel's very own Kentucky Fried Chicken.

The festive menu will soon be advertized on the KFC Japan website and, even if you don't understand Japanese, the pictures sure will look delicious with everything from a Christmas-themed standard bucket to a premium roast-bird feast.
Find a flight to Tokyo
The Yule Lads, Iceland

In the 13 days leading up to Christmas, 13 tricksy troll-like characters come out to play in Iceland. The Yule Lads (jólasveinarnir or jólasveinar in Icelandic) visit the children across the country over the 13 nights leading up to Christmas. For each night of Yuletide, children place their best shoes by the window and a different Yule Lad visits leaving gifts for nice girls and boys and rotting potatoes for the naughty ones. Clad in traditional Icelandic costume, these fellas are pretty mischievous, and their names hint at the type of trouble they like to cause: Stekkjastaur (Sheep-Cote Clod), Giljagaur (Gully Gawk), Stúfur (Stubby), Þvörusleikir (Spoon-Licker), Pottaskefill (Pot-Scraper), Askasleikir (Bowl-Licker), Hurðaskellir (Door-Slammer), Skyrgámur (Skyr-Gobbler), Bjúgnakrækir (Sausage-Swiper), Gluggagægir (Window-Peeper), Gáttaþefur (Doorway-Sniffer), Ketkrókur (Meat-Hook) and Kertasníkir (Candle-Stealer). Visit Iceland this Christmas and catch them all!
Find a flight to Reykjavik
Saint Nicholas' Day, Germany

Not to be confused with Weihnachtsmann (Father Christmas), Nikolaus travels by donkey in the middle of the night on December 6 (Nikolaus Tag) and leaves little treats like coins, chocolate, oranges and toys in the shoes of good children all over Germany, and particularly in the Bavarian region. St. Nicholas also visits children in schools or at home and in exchange for sweets or a small present each child must recite a poem, sing a song or draw a picture. In short, he's a great guy. But it isn't always fun and games. St. Nick often brings along Knecht Ruprecht (Farmhand Rupert). A devil-like character dressed in dark clothes covered with bells and a dirty beard, Knecht Ruprecht carries a stick or a small whip in hand to punish any children who misbehave.
Find a flight to Nuremberg
Norway

Perhaps one of the most unorthodox Christmas Eve traditions can be found in Norway, where people hide their brooms. It's a tradition that dates back centuries to when people believed that witches and evil spirits came out on Christmas Eve looking for brooms to ride on. To this day, many people still hide their brooms in the safest place in the house to stop them from being stolen.
Find a flight to Oslo
Lighting of National Hanukkah Menorah, Washington, D.C. - US

The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah is celebrated with much fanfare across the United States with one of the most elaborate events taking place on a national stage. Since 1979, a giant nine-metre Menorah has been raised on the White House grounds for the eight days and nights of Hanukkah. The ceremony in Washington, D.C. is marked with speeches, music, activities for kids, and, of course, the lighting of the Menorah.

The lighting of the first candle at the White House takes place at 4pm, rain or shine, and an additional candle is lit each successive night. The event is free to attend, but tickets must be booked in advance.
Find a flight to Washington, D.C.
Venezuela

Love Christmas, but think it could be improved by a spot of roller-blading? If the answer is yes, visit Caracas, Venezuela this year. Every Christmas Eve, the city's residents head to church in the early morning - so far, so normal - but, for reasons known only to them, they do so on roller skates. This unique tradition is so popular that roads across the city are closed to cars so that people can skate to church in safety, before heading home for the less-than-traditional Christmas dinner of 'tamales' (a wrap made out of cornmeal dough and stuffed with meat, then steamed).
Find a flight to Caracas
Day of the Little Candles, Colombia

Little Candles' Day (Día de las Velitas) marks the start of the Christmas season across Colombia. In honour of the Virgin Mary and the Immaculate Conception, people place candles and paper lanterns in their windows, balconies and front yards. The tradition of candles has grown, and now entire towns and cities across the country are lit up with elaborate displays. Some of the best are found in Quimbaya, where neighbourhoods compete to see who can create the most impressive arrangement.
Find a flight to Armenia, Colombia
Cavalcade of Lights, Toronto

In wintry, wonderful Toronto the annual Cavalcade of Lights marks the official start to the holiday season. The first Cavalcade took place in 1967 to show off Toronto's newly constructed City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square. The Square and Christmas tree are illuminated by more than 300,000 energy-efficient LED lights that shine from dusk until 11 pm until the New Year. On top of that, you'll get to witness spectacular fireworks shows and engage in some outdoor ice skating.
Find a flight to Toronto
Looking for more festive inspiration?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The top 11 Christmas traditions around the world | momomdo Discover

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
It's the most wonderful time of the year. For a couple of weeks every year the world takes on a magic glow, people seem merrier and even winter somehow feels cosy. Whether you're celebrating a religious festival, like Hanukkah or Christmas, or a more secular occasion, you're sure to have your own selection of rituals or customs that make the holiday season so special.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
by kidworldcitizen

Christmas around the world is celebrated with such fascinating, distinct traditions! From carp in the bathtub, popping crackers at the dinner table, to piñatas and pig roasts: learn how each country celebrates this important Christian holiday. Click on the pictures below to learn how 31 different countries celebrate Christmas, including their traditions, yummy recipes, customs, and unique activities.

CLICK the country titles or photos for MORE INFO!

Las Posadas Bilingual Minibook

Learn even more about Christmas in Mexico! In this bilingual Spanish-English minibook, kids will get a feeling for how Las Posadas is celebrated at Christmas in Mexico. It's a great project for school or home use. Las Posadas is a beautiful cultural tradition that is both unique and festive!
Go now >

So many distinct and beautiful traditions, recipes, and crafts for Christmas around the world! Do you have a favorite tradition that we missed? Let me know in the comments and I will try to include it! 🙂 I am constantly adding to the list, so check back for future Christmas around the world additions.

Related

Filed Under: Tagged With: Africa, Christmas, traditions Arts and Crafts, Asia, Australia, Australia and Oceania, Canada, Celebrations, China, Europe, Food, France, Germany, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Latin America, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, The Netherlands, The Philippines, UK

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Christmas around the World with Recipes, Crafts, Activities, and Traditions!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
by kidworldcitizen Christmas around the world is celebrated with such fascinating, distinct traditions! From carp in the bathtub, popping crackers at the dinner table, to piñatas and pig roasts: learn how each country celebrates this important Christian holiday. Click on the pictures below to learn how 31 different countries celebrate Christmas, including their traditions, yummy recipes, customs, and unique activities.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Christmas around the World on whychristmas?com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Find out how Christmas is celebrated Around the World in lots of different Countries, Traditions and Cultures.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
How Children celebrate Christmas

On this page you can read some fun facts about Christmas around the world. Read how kids celebrate Christmas in different parts of the world and get some interesting insights about Christmas traditions and celebrations.

At Christmas, Christians all over the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Traditional Christmas decoration often can be admired and festive celebrations can be joined in most countries, even in many of the countries where Christianity is not the religion of the majority of people. Christmas trees are a popular decoration as are tiny sparkling lights in windows and on walls.

Christmas all over the world: 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. Below you will find some interesting Christmas facts for various countries. If you want to learn more about other interesting Christmas traditions in those countries simply click on the links to go to our country-specific Christmas pages.

Christmas Around the World:
France

In many regions in France, Christmas celebrations start with St Nicholas day on the 6th of December. Then children get sweets and little gifts.

Many cities in France are decorated during the weeks leading up to Christmas and children love to open the 24 little windows of their Advent calendar. In the Alsace region, the tradition of putting up decorated Christmas trees dates back as far as the 14th century. Towns and cities are also illuminated with Christmas lights.

On Christmas eve, Children put their polished shoes out in front of the chimney and hope that ' Père Noël' (Father Christmas) fills the shoes with sweets. Christmas Day, 25th of December is a public holiday and families get together for a big feast. On this day also presents are exchanged.

A special outing for many families during the festive season is this year an evening visit to the magical illuminated world of the Jardin des Plantes in Paris.

Read more about French Christmas traditions on our Christmas markets and Christmas food pages.

Christmas around the World:
Italy

In Italy, a nativity scene, a ' presepe ', is usually put up in churches, town squares and often in homes. This is for many the most important part of the Christmas decorations.

The nativity scene display with a crib filled with straw, originally stems from Italy and is now common occurrence in many countries around the world. In Italy, ' Babbo Natale', that's how Father Christmas is called in Italian, hands out presents to children on Christmas Day. Still in many families, gifts are exchanged only on 6 th of January which is the Day of Epiphany. In Italy, t he people wish each other ' Buon Natale', which means 'Merry Christmas'.
Read more about traditions and celebrations for Christmas in Italy
Christmas in Germany

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, festive Christmas markets are set up on main squares in many cities.

Houses are often decorated with fairy lights and festive ornaments in December, however, in Germany the Christmas tree is usually only put up and decorated at the homes in the morning of the 24th of December.

Festive Christmas celebrations in Germany begin on the 24th of December, on Christmas Eve. Shops close early on Christmas eve, so remember that you have to get your Christmas shopping done until lunchtime. The 26th of December is a public holiday in Germany too and many families celebrate on this day together, go to Church or enjoy a little excursion to a nearby park.
Read here how Christmas is celebrated in German families.
Christmas in England

In England, most people start with Christmas decorations early, that is as early as mid of November. Many families decorate their houses with lots of fairy lights and sparkling displays.

Often the house owners collect donations from visitors to their displays in aid of local charities. So remember if you like a display place some spare coins into the honesty boxes and help the good causes.

Christmas is celebrated on Christmas Day, the 25th of December. 26 December is a bank holiday as well. On Boxing Day, the 26th of December, friends and family are usually visited to exchange gifts.

Christmas in Norway

In Norway, children wait for ' Julenisse', the Norwegian Santa Claus. On Christmas Eve, the ' Julenisse ', brings presents to the children.

During the month of December, children wait eagerly for ' Jul', that is how they call Christmas.

The Norwegians wish each other God Jul! which means Happy Christmas!

Christmas in Iceland

In Iceland, children put their shoes on the windowsill so the ' Juletide Lads', the Santa Claus, fills the shoes with little goodies.

Christmas celebrations in Iceland start on 24th of December, Christmas eve. Families get together and enjoy good food and many visit midnight mass.

Christmas in Portugal

The Portuguese celebrate Christmas on 24th of December. Houses are decorated for Christmas and many families put up a nativity scene (presépio), where Baby Jesus is added to the crib after the family attends Midnight mass. Children put out their shoes for Baby Jesus, not Santa, and gifts are exchanged after the family has attended a Christmas service on Christmas eve. In some towns and villages, the community gathers then also around a fire in the church car park that has been lit and wish each other ' Feliz Natal'. Read more here.

Christmas markets are not this common in Portugal, however, the capital city Lisbon is known for its huge artificial tree has been which is sparkling with with thousands of green lights.

Christmas in the Philippines

In the Philippines there is a special tradition of having a Christmas lantern, which is called ' paról '; the lantern is star-shaped, remembering the star of Bethlehem, and mainly made out of bamboo and paper. In the image below you can see how the lanterns look.

The Christmas lanterns are on sale during Christmas time in the many markets in the Philippines.

Christmas around the World:
Singapore

In Singapore, about two in ten people are Christians. Christmas, however, is very commercialised in Singapore and Christmas decorations are abundant in the city with masses of tiny fairy light decorations.

Stunning decorations can be seen everywhere in the main shopping district, Orchard Road as you can see in the image below. Or visit the Gardens on the Bay for a truly stunning Christmas Wonderland with light installations and concert. The display there is open until 26 December.

Christmas around the World:
Australia

In Australia , it is tradition in the weeks up to Christmas to join in Christmas picnics organized by various churches and sing Christmas carols on the beach. As Australia is in the southern hemisphere, the festive season is during summer time and thus it is easy to understand that during Christmas time friends and family often gather at the beach.

Young people, families and friends gathering in Bondi Beach near Sydney on Christmas Day.

Christmas in Brazil

, you will often find a ' presepio', a crib or nativity scene, in front of a church. ' Papai Noel ', or Father Christmas, travels from Greenland to Brazil to give presents to Brazilian kids. Many cities display Christmas trees during the month leading up to the '' and often the year end is celebrated with fireworks. The floating Christmas tree in Rio de Janeiro is said to be the largest Christmas tree in the world. It will be lighted on 14 December 2019.

In Brazil, you say ' Bom Natal' or ' Boas Festes ' if you wish somebody Merry Christmas.

Christmas in South Africa

In South Africa, the weeks before Christmas, people celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December. On Christmas Day the family gathers at a 'braai', which is the South African version of a barbecue (BBQ). In South Africa it is summer season in December. Many people visit Christmas mass on Christmas day as well. There are few natural Christmas trees, but some people put up decorated artificial trees in their homes.

Many shopping centres are transformed with Christmas decorations. Above you can see the modern Christmas tree which was standing in front of the V&A Waterfront Shopping Centre in Cape Town. In 2019, however, the shopping centre is decorated with African crafts such as woven baskets made by the Zulu people and other installations by local designers who use recycled material.

There are many festive concerts as well as gifts and arts & crafts markets held during the weeks leading up to Christmas Day.
Read more about Christmas in Cape Town here.
Christmas around the World: Christmas in the USA

In December many families decorate their houses with Christmas ornaments and Christmas lights. Read more about Christmas traditions here.

Christmas is celebrated on 25th December. On Christmas Day, families get together for a festive meal after exchanging gifts.

It is customary to send and give Christmas cards. People write on cards: 'Merry Christmas!' or 'Merry Xmas!'

Xmas stands for Christmas, the X originates from the Greek letter ' Chi' which represents the word ' Christós' or which means Christ in English.
Read here how people wish Merry Christmas in other languages.
Fun Christmas time in the ice-rink at Rockefeller Centre in New York City.

Image credits for Christmas Around the World: own images and shutterstock.com
Back from Christmas Around the World to KidsWorldTravelGuide Homepage

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Christmas Around the World | Christmas Traditions | Merry Christmas

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Our Christmas Around the World page will show you how people celebrate Christmas in many countries around the world.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
See how children celebrate christmas aorund the world. Millions of children have discovered how Christmas is celebrated world wide.