Christmas Traditions Around the World
December 18, 2017
People from different parts of the world celebrate Christmas in different ways. Here are a few of their more interesting traditions:
United States
Sending Christmas cards
Listening to Christmas music
Decorating the inside and outside of houses–main decoration is a Christmas tree
Santa Claus bringing presents down the chimney
Opening gifts on Christmas day
Typically eating ham on Christmas day
France
Decorating houses with nativity crib
Burning Yule logs made of Cherry Wood in homes
Calling Santa Claus “Père Noël”
Calling main Christmas meal “Réveillon”
Eating 13 different desserts
Germany
Advent calendars–having a small present for each day leading up to Christmas
Bringing Christmas tree into home on Christmas Eve
Singing Christmas songs such as O Tannenbaum, Ihr Kinderlein Kommet, and Stille Nacht
Der Weihnachtsmann (Santa) bringing presents on December 24th
Italy
Decorating homes with nativity cribs
Eating a Christmas meal with meat is rare, seven fish dishes are eaten
An old lady called Befana bringing gifts for children
Mexico
Celebrating from December 12th to January 6th
Celebrating Christmas day with fireworks
Decorating homes with poinsettia flowers
China
One percent of people celebrate Christmas
Santa is called Sheng dan lao ren
Apples given as gifts
Midnight church services are popular