Christmas Traditions Around the World

Christmas in NYC, Rockefeller Center.

In the US, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer usually heralds in the Christmas season with his omnipotent presence in the media – from TV to radio to print. He even has several songs dedicated to him, songs that most schoolchildren know how to sing by heart. With this superstar status, Rudolph is probably one of the more prominent symbols of the festivities which dictate the holiday season. But Rudolph may not have as strong a cult following in other countries around the world. Here are a few ways in which different countries around the world celebrate Christmas:

In the US, for example, the typical American family would celebrate Christmas by putting up a Christmas tree, decorating their house with Christmas lights and wreaths, and exchanging gifts on Christmas Day. Families also come together for a Christmas dinner.

In Argentina, Christmas falls in the summer, when temperatures are warm and skies are blue. So when the typical Argentinean family puts up their Christmas decorations, they might put cotton balls on the branches of their Christmas tree to simulate snow. When Christmas Eve rolls around, families light fireworks and “globos,” paper decorations which take off into the sky once they are lighted.

Globos in Argentina.

Bondi Beach, Sydney.

In Australia, another country in the Southern Hemisphere, many Australians spend Christmas outdoors to take advantage of the warm weather. Christmas dinner might be in the form of a barbecue and friends and families might gather for a day at the beach or at the park. Some families might even spend the Christmas holiday at a camping ground.

In England, Christmas preparations and traditions are similar to those of the US’s – people decorate their homes, hang stockings up, have Christmas dinner, and open presents on Christmas Day. One difference, though, is that most families would gather to watch the Queen’s speech to the Nation and Commonwealth at 3 pm on Christmas Day. On the day after Christmas, December 26^th, England observes Boxing Day, which is a day of shopping similar to Black Friday. 

In China, Christmas is celebrated mainly by Christians but the commercial aspect of the holiday has been spreading. So although there are Christmas decorations, the winter season is indicative of another holiday – Chinese New Year – for the majority of Chinese families. Those who do celebrate Christmas would most likely put up plastic Christmas trees decorated with paper chains, paper flowers, and paper lanterns and attend Midnight Mass.

A Chinese Christmas tree

In France, children put their shoes by the fireplace on Christmas Eve in the hopes that "Pere Noel,” or Santa Claus, will bring them toys. Unlike the US rendition of Santa Claus, Pere Noel is tall and thin. On Christmas Eve, there is a feast called "Le Reveillon." After this dinner, many families serve a "Buche de Noel," a sponge cake decorated like a Yule log.

Buche de Noel.

In Ghana, people celebrate Christmas from the 20th of December to the first week in January with lots of different activities. Many people travel to visit their relatives and friends in other parts of the country. But because there are so many ethnic groups in Ghana, there is no single Christmas tradition which the majority of the people who celebrate Christmas participate in.  

In India, it is mostly the Indian Christians who celebrate Christmas. Because of India’s climate, most of them decorate mango or banana trees instead of the traditional pine trees at Christmas time; they might also decorate their houses with mango leaves. Families also place “diyas,” small oil-burning lamps made of clay, on their rooftops, symbolizing their view that Jesus is the light of the world.

Banana tree with decorations.

How does your family or culture celebrate Christmas? If you don't celebrate Christmas, what are some traditions that you have for your holiday?