Christmas Tradition Around The World

From Santa’s workshop to the lair of the penguins, Everyone knows about Christmas. Everyone has heard the story of the miraculous birth of Christ in the manger. All of them are sitting near the fire waiting for big old Saint Nicholas and his big red bag of goodies. But despite the pretty much homogenous story known to all, every country has its own set of Christmas traditions. Whether they are leaving cookies and milk for Santa or lighting up paper lanterns in their houses Christmas traditions around the world differ from border to border, each with their own significance. But even after all the differences; Christmas is a time for celebration, festivities, peace and goodwill to all men and hope.

Christmas has always been a time for celebration and joy. The Christmas carols ringing in every corner, the cold, the presents, the cakes and cookies, everything about Christmas makes you want to smile from ear to ear. All around the world, from one end to another, people partake of this joy and become a part of this holiday cheer in their own way. Christmas is more of a global phenomenon than a simple holiday with different cultures adopting the occasion as their own. Keep reading to know more about the massive number of different Christmas traditions around the world.

Here are some of the different Christmas traditions around the world which you may or may not have heard of.

Christmas Traditions Around The World

• Christmas traditions in the USA
  Being an international hub for cultures from around the globe, there are a large variety of Christmas traditions in the USA. The hanging stockings and leaving out cookies and milk for Santa Claus on Christmas are some pretty common traditions in families in the USA. Some families go out carolling from door to door singing Christmas carols all through the neighbourhood.  Decorations on the houses are mostly strings of lights and sometimes some statues of Santa Claus and his reindeer pulling his sleigh. Some families in the south use strings of popcorn as tree ornaments.
• Christmas Traditions in UK
  The tradition of decorating a Christmas tree actually originated in the great Britain, when Queen Victoria brought a tree to decorate to surprise her husband Prince Albert from Germany, where the practice of bringing trees inside to place on the tables inside the house was popular. The use of stockings, holly and mistletoe as decorations is also a popular English tradition that was adopted by other countries. The English also observe a rather peculiar tradition called the ‘Boxing Day’ which is usually on the first weekend of Christmas. The families pack up sweets and other eatables which are given to all who come a knocking.
• Christmas Traditions in Australia
  Christmas is a tad bit different in Australia than it is in most of the world, mostly since Christmas falls smack dab in the middle of summer. The wreath hanging is a very Australian spin on Christmas, along with the Christmas Bush, a small Australian tree with creamy white flowers that turn shiny red by Christmas. The Australians have also put their own spin on jolly old Saint Nick. Apparently by the time he arrives at Australia the reindeers get really tired and so Santa switches to Kangaroos or “six white boomers” according to a popular Australian Christmas carol.
• Christmas Traditions in Holland
  In Holland, 5^th of December is the most important holiday for the little ones. Well mostly because that’s the day when Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas) comes with presents. The name Santa Claus is actually a derivative from Sinterklaas. Children leave out Clogs or shoes outside their house with carrots in them for Sinterklaas’ horses. The entire concept of Santa Claus actually originated from the legends of Sinterklaas. Families in Holland also bake Peppernoot, a Christmas cookie and Kerstkrans, a kind of ring shaped Christmas cake.
• Christmas Traditions in France
  The French ‘Joyeux Noël’ is a pretty classy affair. The French like most countries also decorate their houses with nativity scenes, but the figurines used are mostly clay. The French also burn Yule logs made out of cherry wood. The Logs are sprinkled with red wine because apparently they smell nice. The French Christmas meal is called the Revellion which is roast turkey with chestnuts, oysters, foie gras, lobster, venison and cheese. In some parts of France, people make 13 different deserts from 13 different kinds of nuts.

Although there are many different ways of celebrating Christmas, the sentiment is still the same. Christmas still represents peace and hope. No matter where you are Christmas is and has always been all about peace and good will to all men.