What would you consider a North American Christmas classic? Maybe cookies and milk are left out for Santa, a Turkey dinner, and everyone enjoying their stocking stuffers. But around the world, Christmas doesn’t look the same. Greenland’s whale blubber delicacy, Martinique’s la ribote, and El Salvador’s fireworks display are just a few ways to enjoy the season worldwide. Here’s a rundown of 12 Christmas traditions from different countries around the world. Which will inspire you?
12 Christmas traditions from across the globe
1. Ethiopia
Following the Julian calendar, Ethiopians celebrate Christmas Day on the 7th of January, when Christ’s birth, Ganna, is celebrated in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Everyone dresses in white, and most Ethiopians don their traditional shammas, thin, white cotton wraps with vibrant-colored stripes on the ends. On January 19th, 12 days after Ganna, there’s a three-day celebration called Timkat commemorating the baptism of Christ with more celebrating.
2. Sweden
Christmas begins early in Sweden, with December 13th being St. Lucia’s Day, celebrating the patron saint of light. On this day, the eldest daughter of the house wakes before dawn and dresses in a long white dress as the Queen of Light. She sings “Santa Lucia,” wears a crown of leaves, and goes to each bedroom to serve coffee and treats to each family member, with the younger children in tow, helping.
It’s also a Swedish tradition for the whole family to select the Christmas tree together a day or two before Christmas.
3. Japan
The North American Christmas dinner tradition may involve turkey, but not in Japan—it’s all about KFC chicken! In December 1974, the American fast food chain began promoting itself as the “place to eat the ideal Christmas meal,” sparking a trend among Japanese families. Since then, the annual Christmas trip to KFC has become the norm for many Japanese people. Pre-orders for KFC on Christmas need to be made weeks in advance, as an estimated 3.6 million families partake in the tradition each year.
KFC even creates festive packaging for the day, and Colonel Sanders acts as a “Santa Claus” himself.
4. Greenland
Christmas dinners differ dramatically around the world. In Greenland, you’ll find kiviak and mattack for Christmas. Kiviak is made from the fermented raw flesh of a small Arctic bird called the Auks. These birds are buried in sealskin long before Christmas and then dug up to eat after reaching a particular stage in the fermentation process. Mattak is whale skin with blubber attached. It tastes like coconut and is intended to be chewed, but because of its toughness, it is often swallowed whole.
In addition to traditional Christmas foods, the people of Greenland have an annual Christmas Eve tradition of wearing national clothing to church. For men, that means wearing a white anorak, a color chosen by hunters to blend into the snowy environment.
5. South Africa
South Africa’s yearly traditional food is a favorite among the local children—seasonal fried caterpillars! The Pine Tree Emperor Moth, also known fondly as the Christmas Caterpillar, is covered in Christmas colors and gives all who swallow some good luck in the next year.
6. New Zealand
In New Zealand, it’s all about Christmas decor. New Zealanders take the traditional Christmas Tree and give it a beautiful twist. In December, they decorate a pōhutukawa, a beautiful tree indigenous to New Zealand with bright red flowers and strong gnarled roots. This tradition gained traction when Austrian geologist Ferdinand von Hochstetter spread the word after noticing its use in churches and homes in 1867.
Nowadays, the tree is a strong holiday symbol, and the pōhutukawa is featured in Christmas carols, cards, decorations, and other festive imagery.
7. Philippines
North American communities may put up lights or simple Christmas decorations, but the Philippines goes all out. The Ligligan Parul, or Giant Lantern Festival, occurs yearly in San Fernando. The festival features intricate lanterns (parols) that symbolize the Star of Bethlehem.
Each giant lantern displays thousands of spinning lights that illuminate the night sky. Thanks to the Giant Lantern Festival, this city is known as the Christmas Capital of the Philippines.
8. Portugal and Brazil
Every Christmas Eve, Portuguese and Brazilian families celebrate and eat dinner late, typically as late as 10 p.m. At exactly midnight, when Christmas has officially arrived, they exchange gifts and toast while individually wishing each other a Merry Christmas. These celebrations at home are followed by a midnight mass called Missa Do Galo (Rooster Mass), which is a chance to come together with extended family and neighbors. A fireworks display usually follows the well-wishes, merriment, and church service in the town’s square.
9. Martinique
In Martinique, families celebrate with la ribote, a longstanding tradition of visiting neighbors on New Year’s Day and during Advent. On the visits, families bring holiday foods like yams, pâtés salés, pork stew, and boudin créole. Christmas carols are sung together each night they gather, often until the early morning hours. Fun creole verses are added and edited from traditional lyrics, making the holiday extra personal and unique.
10. Mexico
In various parts across Mexico, churchgoers put on Shepherd’s Plays (also known as Pastorelas) as an annual retelling of a Christmas story. In Mexico, the Christmas season begins earlier in December with Las Posadas, a religious march that retells the journey Mary and Joseph made before the birth of Jesus.
Many Mexican families also celebrate by decorating the house with vibrant red poinsettia flowers, which are strewn throughout the community.
11. Latvia
It’s common for mummers to roam the streets of Latvia during Christmastime. This tradition is popular in many European countries, including the UK, and involves groups getting together, dressing in disguise, and going from house to house during the 12 days of Christmas.
Groups typically dress in masks depicting animals or figures like corpses. They’re offered food and drinks at the houses they visit and invited inside for treats in exchange for a performance, usually a dance! If a person is recognized underneath their disguise, they must remove the costume.
The tradition says that if you treat these roaming mummers well, they will ward off evil spirits, bring blessings, and encourage fertility in the house. This tradition is rooted in a 19th-century tradition called the Kekatas. Although it once started to die off, the tradition has resurged since the 1970s.
12. El Salvador
In El Salvador and some other Central American countries, it’s common to toast the holidays with grand fireworks displays on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Children celebrate with volcanos, smaller firecrackers, and estrellitas (little stars). Older children and adults shoot larger firecrackers and light Roman candles. It’s a beautiful display and celebration between extended families and communities.
What does your family do to celebrate Christmas? Drop us a comment below! From the Under the Hard Hat team, we wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Don’t forget to subscribe to our weekly newsletter for the latest tips and advice for construction professionals.
