During Christmas, people and families have developed their own traditions and ways of celebrating, but the general concept and celebrations surrounding Christmas in America remain the same all around. But what about other countries? Many countries celebrate Christmas in a completely different yet unique and fascinating way.
While most countries celebrate Christmas on December 25, there are some countries that follow the Julian calendar, such as Egypt and Ethiopia, so they celebrate Christmas 13 days after. In Italy, Christmas is celebrated up until January 6, which is the Epiphany, or Three Kings Day. Some parts of Russia celebrate Christmas on January 7.
Food is a huge part of Christmas all around the world. In Poland, Christmas Eve dinner consists of a twelve dish meatless feast. Christmas in Japan means eating dinner at your local KFC, a tradition that started a long time ago and has carried on. Malva pudding, a sponge cake filled with a delicious apricot jam, is a traditional Christmas dish in South Africa.People in Denmark feast on Julesild, pickled and spice herring, for lunch throughout the Christmas season.
Unlike the traditional Christmas tree decorated with lights and ornaments in America, people in Ukraine decorate their tree with spiders and webs to bring good luck, a tradition that originated from an old folktale. Due to the warm climate in India, mango trees and leaves are used as Christmas decorations. Decorations in Greece revolve around ships, and people in Norway hang paper baskets filled with candy around their houses.
Over time, countries develop holiday traditions that become a key part of their celebrations. In Iceland, kids put their shoes by the windows for the 13 Yule Lads to put candy in them if they were good. If they were bad though, they would find shoes filled with rotten potatoes. On Christmas Day in Finland, the first person to find the almond in the pudding wins, and at the end of the day it is normal for the family to warm up in a sauna. In New Zealand, Christmas fall in the summer, so families have large cookouts on Christmas day to celebrate. People in Norway celebrate Little Christmas on December 23. They spend the day decorating and eating rice pudding.
Countries around the world celebrate Christmas in different ways, but the central message about the birth of Christ remains the same. Everyone has their own special and unique way to celebrate Christmas; a time when people come together to celebrate and enjoy each other’s presence.
