Christmas traditions around the world

Millions of people welcome Christmas. Christmas traditions around the world are both different, but also contain something in common. Belief in good, beliefs about health and well-being, delicious holiday meals, cozy gatherings with family. However, each country has its own peculiarities in celebrating Christmas. I offer you a Christmas trip around the world, with which I will reveal to you what the traditions are for the holiday.

Austria

On holidays at the end of the year, Austrians give each other a pig – a mascot. The tradition began many years ago, when a devoted old maid was presented with a real pig decorated with a heart made of gilded paper. After that she found a husband. Since then, the piglet is believed to bring good luck.

Today, in some Austrian villages, milk and rice are served at the Christmas table. A whole almond is hidden in it. Whoever finds it is rewarded with an almond dough piglet to bring them good luck. The pig sometimes also takes the form of a Christmas cake, seasoned with cinnamon, cloves and lemon essence. Traditionally, carp with beer sauce, gingerbread and donuts are also served on the table.

United Kingdom

The main and mandatory dish on the menu is turkey. There are many recipes and in most cases the turkey is stuffed. Turtle soup is also included in the menu before dessert.

The dessert is famous – every housewife prepares a Christmas pudding in which she puts a sixpence coin.

Netherlands

For centuries, Santa Claus has been coming to the Netherlands from Spain by mid-November. Everyone, even the queen, meets him at the port. Having just arrived, the good old man goes to check if the children are obedient. He has three weeks – until December 6 – to judge who deserves a gift and who doesn’t. However, the gifts are brought by his faithful assistant – Black Piet.

Italy

On December 24, Italians also celebrate Arbor Day. There are many customs, but what they have in common is the large panettone cake that serves as a Christmas cake. It is kept for the Lent dinner on December 24 and is preceded by various porridges and fish. The traditional turkey is served at lunch on December 25.

The Christmas markets close their doors with an incredible procession on the evening of January 5th, just before the appearance of the witch Befana, who distributes the presents in most of Italy. Disobedient children are given only a piece of coal. But it’s sugary!

Spain 

Christmas in Spain is primarily a family holiday. The feast includes moruna, chestnuts and turkey in the south of Spain, almond soup and goose in the north. What both places have in common is a hearty meal washed down with good wine. Dessert is almond cake with honey.

Germany

Preparations for Christmas start already in November. In Germany, Christmas is above all a family holiday. Everyone sits together around a rich table to eat German specialties – goose with apples, the famous stollen, which is made at least a month in advance, as well as other delicious things

Brazil                                             

If you want to see Santa Claus in a bathing suit, go to Brazil. Maybe that’s why the holiday here is unconventional. At the beginning of December, each member of the family chooses a “secret friend”Relatives gather for dinner and then everyone writes their name on a small piece of paper. The cards are shuffled and everyone takes one – the person whose name they drew is their secret friend. On December 25th, there is a special gift for the secret friend.

Egyp

In Egypt, Christmas is celebrated on January 7. It is customary for wealthier women to prepare fish and donuts and distribute them to the poor. The Christmas table also includes soup, meat and rice, as well as special cross-shaped biscuits called kahk. In addition to many toys and various other gifts, the children must also receive a set of new clothes.

India

The Christmas spirit is also felt in India, although there are few Christians there. In the southern part of the country, people have the custom of decorating houses with small gas lamps and putting colorful ribbons on the doors. In the north, every night for a week, Christians go to church, where they sing Christmas carols.

China

In China, they usually decorate their homes with huge lanterns, and the Christmas tree is called the Tree of Light. And Ding Che Lao Ren (“Old Christmas Man”) does not bring the presents until the end of January, when it is the Chinese New Year.

Portugal

The Portuguese believe that the souls of dead relatives come to visit on Christmas night. People leave bread and fruit on the table for the deceased to eat. Christmas holidays end on January 6, when women knead special bread and put a small coin in it. Whoever finds the coin has to treat the whole family and pay for the next Christmas dinner.

Greece

Greek Christmas and New Year traditions are particularly related to religion. The Christmas tree is put up on December 24 and spoiled 12 days after that – just after Jordan Day or Fota as the Greeks call it. Gifts are given out on New Year’s Day. Saint Vasilis is the favorite saint of Greek children. He is their Santa Claus. In Greece, the Christmas tree competes with the Christmas ship. The decorative vessel is made of paper or wood and decorated with small multi-colored lights. The ship is placed next to the front door of the house or near the fireplace. Its nose faces the center of the home.

Finland

The celebration of Christmas in this northern country does not begin with sitting around a festive table, but with a stay in the sauna. This is an ancient Finnish tradition.

Argentina

In Argentina, they decorate not a Christmas tree, but evergreen trees with snow made of cotton. At Christmas dinner, the whole family gathers in the summer garden. Spicy roasted pig or pieces of meat with garlic and hard boiled eggs are the traditional dishes of Argentines. The gifts don’t come until January 6th. Then the little children leave their shoes under the Christmas tree so that Santa can drop lots of toys and candies into them.

    Thank you for your attention!