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Christmas Traditions Around the World at Santa's Net.

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Christmas Traditions Around the World at Santas.Net Home of everything to do with christmas and Santa Claus and How Christmas is celebrated around the world.

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Christmas around the World on whychristmas?com

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Find out how Christmas is celebrated Around the World in lots of different Countries, Traditions and Cultures.

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Though belonging to the Christian faith, but Christmas is celebrated and observed all over the world, in both Christian and non Christian countries, with a few exceptions. Such is the festive attraction of the festival that people from all faith and ethnicities immerse in the celebration of Christmas, though the activities and traditions may vary from place to place. Along with prayers and wishing everyone, feasting, carolling and giving Christmas gifts to near and dear ones also from as important activities for the season. It is of particular importance to students, who goes abroad to study, or takes trips in the Christmas holidays. They keep keen knowledge on the local celebration flavours of different places, so that they can have the best of merry making. For kids too, this is a special time, for they can have the most of parties and get the most of gifts at this time. Across the world, the spirit of Christmas remains unchanged. While most of us celebrate it as a festive season spreading over a week, for some it is a month long festival that starts with the Advent on Sunday next to November 26 and ends on January 6 with the feast of Epiphany. Read on to have a glimpse over the different ways in which it is celebrated in different countries and places around the world.

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Christmas Around The World | Christmas traditions all over the world

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Christmas around the world - how Christmas is celebrated across the world. Christmas Traditions and history in different countries and cultures round the world like Brazil, America, Australia, Bahamas, Russia and many more! All the world comes together to celebrate in their own unique way. Discover the origins of Christmas traditions.

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This is a collection of historical Christmas celebrations for many different countries. The celebration or activity is the earliest history for each country and may not represent the current Christmas celebrations of today. Visit over 30 different countries and see how they celebrated Christmas! If you wish to add a country's historical Christmas tradition to this section or have any comments, please contact us.
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Christmas traditions Around The World. christmas traditions. traditional christmas

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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. Some people write on cards: Merry Xmas! Xmas stands for Christmas, the X represents the cross.

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

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Christmas Around the World | Christmas Traditions | Merry Christmas

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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.

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Happy Hanukkah! Explore Activity Village's collection of Hanukkah colouring pages, puzzles, fun printable worksheets and other activities, and original Hanukkah crafts for kids.
In 2018, Hanukkah will begin on 2nd December and finish on 10th December.
What is Hanukkah?

Hanukkah (also known as Chanukah) is the Jewish Festival of Lights and lasts eight days. It usually falls in late November or December.

Jews celebrate Hanukkah to commemorate the Miracle of the Oil. The Hebrew word Hanukkah means "dedication". Over 2000 years ago, in 165 BC, the Jews in Judea rebelled against their Syrian ruler, Antiochus, because he insisted that all Jewish people must worship Greek Gods. After three hard years of fighting, the Jews defeated Antiochus and, to celebrate, they restored the Temple of Jerusalem - which had been taken over by the Syrians - and rededicated it to their God.

As part of the celebrations they lit an oil lamp which should have been kept burning all the time, even though they could only find enough oil to keep it burning for one night. But a miracle occurred, and the oil lamp stayed lit for eight days, which was the time it took to make new oil for the lamp. This was the Miracle of the Oil.

It was then declared that every year, Jews would remember the day with an eight-day Festival of Lights and celebrate the miracle of the oil by placing eight candles in a Menorah (a special candlestick) and lighting one candle for each evening of the celebration. Electric lights are sometimes used, especially where where an open flame might be dangerous, such as a hospital room. The Hanukkah lights are meant to remind those walking by the home about the holiday's miracle, so the Menorah is displayed at a prominent window or near the front door.

During Hanukkah, people exchange gifts and give to the poor and needy.

Spinning the dreidel, a traditional Hanukkah symbol

Whether you are celebrating Hanukkah as a family, or learning about Hanukkah, we hope that you will find our Hanukkah activities useful! Explore below.

Our Hanukkah Activities

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Happy Hanukkah! Explore Activity Village's collection of Hanukkah colouring pages, puzzles, fun printable worksheets and other activities, and original Hanukkah crafts for kids. In 2018, Hanukkah will begin on 2nd December and finish on 10th December. What is Hanukkah? Hanukkah (also known as Chanukah) is the Jewish Festival of Lights and lasts eight days.

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Honoring the values of ancient African cultures

by Holly Hartman

The year 2016 will see the 50th annual Kwanzaa, the African American holiday celebrated from December 26 to January 1. It is estimated that some 18 million African Americans take part in Kwanzaa.

Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, nor is it meant to replace Christmas. It was created by Dr. Maulana "Ron" Karenga, a professor of Black Studies, in 1966. At this time of great social change for African Americans, Karenga sought to design a celebration that would honor the values of ancient African cultures and inspire African Americans who were working for progress.

Kwanzaa is based on the year-end harvest festivals that have taken place throughout Africa for thousands of years. The name comes from the Swahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza," which means "first fruits of the harvest." Karenga chose a phrase from Swahili because the language is used by various peoples throughout Africa.

The Seven Principles (Nguzo Saba)

Each of the seven days of Kwanzaa honors a different principle. These principles are believed to have been key to building strong, productive families and communities in Africa. During Kwanzaa, celebrants greet each other with "Habari gani," or "What's the news?" The principles of Kwanzaa form the answers.

The Principles of Kwanzaa

Colorful Celebrations

Families gather for the great feast of karamu on December 31. Karamu may be held at a home, community center, or church. Celebrants enjoy traditional African dishes as well as those featuring ingredients Africans brought to the United States, such as sesame seeds (benne), peanuts (groundnuts), sweet potatoes, collard greens, and spicy sauces.

Especially at karamu, Kwanzaa is celebrated with red, black, and green. These three colors were important symbols in ancient Africa that gained new recognition through the efforts of Marcus Garvey's Black Nationalist movement. Green is for the fertile land of Africa; black is for the color of the people; and red is the for the blood that is shed in the struggle for freedom.

The Seven Symbols

Celebrants decorate with red, black, and green as well as African-style textiles and art. At the heart of Kwanzaa imagery, however, are the seven symbols.

The Seven Symbols of Kwanzaa

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Kwanzaa: History, Food, Colors, Candles, Symbols, Activites, Crafts, 7 Principles

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by Holly Hartman The year 2016 will see the 50th annual Kwanzaa, the African American holiday celebrated from December 26 to January 1. It is estimated that some 18 million African Americans take part in Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, nor is it meant to replace Christmas.

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Celebrating Kwanzaa with the kids? We've got information, some fun colouring pages, puzzles, worksheets and other printables to make your celebrations special!

What is Kwanzaa?

Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday celebrated mainly in the US for the week between 26th December and 1st January each year.

The holiday was established in 1966 to help African Americans remember and celebrate their heritage. The word "Kwanzaa" comes from the Swahili language and means "first fruits". Each day of the seven days is dedicated to one of "The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa", which are

1. umoja - to maintain unity in the family and community

2. kujichagulia - self-determination, to be responsible and speak for oneself

3. ujima - collective work and responsibility, to build and maintain a community

4. ujamaa - economic co-operation, to help and profit one another

5. nia - purpose, to build and develop the community for the benefit of the people

6. kuumba - creativity, to do everything possible to leave the community more beautiful and beneficial for future generations

7. imani - faith, to believe in parents, teachers and leaders.

A candle is lit each day on the special candlestick, the "kimara", to represent these principles. The kimara is placed on a mkeka, a traditional straw mat, and one ear of corn is also placed on the mat for each child in the family. A fruit basket, called a "mazao", is also displayed, along with a special "unity" cup, out of which everyone drinks. Families decorate their homes with traditional African crafts. The colours red, green and black - representing the African flag - are used. Gifts, known as "zawadi", are given on the last day of Kwanzaa.
Kwanzaa yenu iwe na heri!

MLK Day

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Celebrating Kwanzaa with the kids? We've got information, some fun colouring pages, puzzles, worksheets and other printables to make your celebrations special! What is Kwanzaa? Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday celebrated mainly in the US for the week between 26th December and 1st January each year.

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The Emergent Reader Research Solution - PebbleGo | Capstone

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PebbleGo's first Spanish language module! Translated by a team of Spanish language professionals, each article features both Spanish text and read-aloud audio recorded by professional voice over artists.

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The Emergent Reader Research Solution - PebbleGo | Capstone

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The Emergent Reader Research Solution - PebbleGo | Capstone

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The Emergent Reader Research Solution - PebbleGo | Capstone

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PebbleGo's first Spanish language module! Translated by a team of Spanish language professionals, each article features both Spanish text and read-aloud audio recorded by professional voice over artists.

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The Emergent Reader Research Solution - PebbleGo | Capstone

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Christmas around the World on whychristmas?com

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Find out how Christmas is celebrated Around the World in lots of different Countries, Traditions and Cultures.

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How many of these can you understand? Music: Warmest Greetings Warner // Chappell Production Music -------------------------- GET MORE BUZZFEED: www.buzzfeed.com www.buzzfeed.com/video www.youtube.com/buzzfeed www.youtube.com/buzzfeedvideo www.youtube.com/buzzfeedyellow www.youtube.com/buzzfeedpop www.youtube.com/buzzfeedblue www.youtube.com/cnnbuzzfeed BUZZFEED YELLOW Tasty short, fun, inspiring, funny, interesting videos from BuzzFeed.

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Elmo's World Happy Holidays - Just Savitzky Family

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German for kids - Episode 7: Christmas special!

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Clubhousenews.com: Around The World- Christmas Traditions Around The Globe

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John Farrell / Bridges of Peace and Hope