Interesting Christmas Traditions from Around the World that Make the Holidays Unforgettable
Written by Kaelie Piscitello
Christmas is a season of joy, wonder, and traditions that bring people together. While twinkling lights and decorated trees are familiar to many, people across the globe have many diverse ways to celebrate it.
From parading giant lanterns in the Philippines to hiding brooms in Norway, each country infuses its flavor into this cherished holiday, celebrating cultural richness and shared humanity.
Whether you’re looking for inspiration for your celebrations or enjoy discovering new cultural treasures, these traditions will add extra magic to your holiday season.
Iceland’s Thirteen Yule Lads
Santa isn’t the only person in Iceland who bring presents to children during Christmas. Troll-like characters visit children in the 13 nights leading up to Christmas, leaving gifts or rotting potatoes in their shoes, depending on their behavior. However, today, they’re depicted more like gift givers than trolls.
Unlike Santa Claus’s jolly character, which everyone knows well, each yule lad has a distinct personality that differs from that of typical humans. For example, one yule lad loves licking spoons, and another enjoys swiping sausages. Of course, you want to avoid coming across a door slammer. Each character comes to life with the spews of mayhem they cause and the gifts they leave.
Lantern Festivals in the Philippines
In San Fernando, the Christmas capital of the Philippines, lanterns light up the night sky each Christmas during a huge festival celebrating the holidays. This tradition began in the early 1900s, and the lanterns, which can stand up to 20 feet tall, represent the star of Bethlehem.
Locals celebrate these lanterns with vibrant displays and cultural performances throughout the event. The lantern festival occurs the Saturday before Christmas Eve each year, and villages compete to create the most elaborate ones.
Roller Skating to Mass in Venezuela
Polish your wheels this holiday season; the Venezuelans are roller skating to mass! Every year, cities close their streets on Christmas Day to allow roller skaters to make it to church and home safely during the nine days leading up to Christmas.
Superstition say kids should go to bed early the night before and tie strings to their big toes dangling out the window, and skaters tug on the strings to wake them up for mass.
These festive processions put everyone in a good mood and get them excited for Misa de Aguinaldo, or early morning mass. After mass, everyone has a traditional Venezuelan Christmas breakfast with hallacas and pan de jamon to celebrate.
Italy’s Christmas Witch
On January 5, La. Befana flies through the air to deliver gifts to children every year. She rides on a broomstick and wears soot-covered clothes, and people associate her with epiphany celebrations.
While Italians still love Santa Claus, they revere La Befana as a well-loved Italian tradition. Legend says the wise men approached her on their way to visit baby Jesus, but she declined and now regrets it, so she brings gifts to children worldwide.
Eating KFC for Christmas in Japan
KFC at Christmas? The Japanese love eating this fast food chain at Christmas. This tradition started in the 1970s due to a successful ad campaign appealing to the Japanese with a “Kentucky for Christmas” slogan. The campaign originally intended to get people from the East interested in Western holidays. Because most Japanese people do not celebrate Christmas, they associate the holiday with spreading happiness and celebrating with loved ones.
The campaign worked, and Japanese people now eat KFC for their Christmas dinner, making reservations weeks out in advance because they can book out on Christmas. Everyone orders the “Christmas party barrel,” which includes fried chicken, cake, and festive holiday sides.
Krampus
Krampus is like the Anti-Santa Claus in Germany and Austria because he punishes children at Christmas for acting naughty. He carries bundles of birch sticks and sacks to carry away bad children. People consider him an eerie tradition today, but many events focused around him towards family-friendly themes with music and storytelling.
For example, Germany often hosts a Krampus parade on Christmas day with elaborate costumes and performances. In the parades, the Krampus chases spectators to scare them.
Hiding Away Brooms in Norway
Every year, Norwegians hide their brooms on Christmas Eve to prevent witches and evil spirits from stealing them on the holiday. This tradition ties to old superstitions that blend Pagan and Christian beliefs that coexist in Norway’s cultural history.
People used to believe witches, evil spirits, and other supernatural creatures roamed the earth on Christmas Eve. So, people hid their brooms under beds, in closets, or in attics to ensure witches couldn’t find brooms to ride or cause mischief during the holy night. Today, Norwegians view this tradition as more of a playful or symbolic gesture than a deep belief.
Las Posadas in Mexico
Mexicans held a nine-day reenactment of Mary and Joseph searching for lodgings to honor them during the holidays. The whole community got involved, and people carried candles, sang carols, and visited designated homes to show their search for shelter.
The people celebrate with parades, music, and pinatas, and the celebrations end when the host house welcomes them. The celebrators end the night in prayer with songs and celebration with food, drinks, and a star-shaped pinata. This tradition highlights the community and hospitality in Mexico, and different families host the festival each night.
Poland’s Wiglia Dinner
Polish people celebrate Christmas Eve more lavishly than they do Christmas Day and host a meatless dinner with 12 dishes to symbolize the Apostles. They also prepare an extra plate at the table each year for an unexpected guest.
The choice to go meatless reflects the Advent fasting period and emphasizes fish, grains, and veggies. Some of the food includes barszcz (beet soup), pierogi, and kompot z suszu (dried fruit compote).
On the eve, family members break and share oplatek (a thin wafer) and exchange blessings and wishes for the year ahead. At night’s end, people sing carols and may attend midnight mass.
Christmas Eve Predictions in the Czech Republic
The Czech Republic has many traditions associated with the holidays, and many people adhere to superstition and make predictions. For example, single women toss shoes over their shoulders to see if they’ll marry in the coming year. If the shoe lands porting towards the door, then it means they might hear wedding bells in the near future! However, if the heel points to the door, she will remain unmarried for another year.
People also slice an apple crosswise and examine the core. If the core is star-shaped, the cutter can expect to experience health and happiness in the coming year. However, a four-pointed cross is a bad omen.
People also float walnut shells with candles in water. If the shell stays afloat, the family will have a stable year. However, if it sinks, the family can expect challenges.
What are some of your holiday traditions? Comment down below.
