Christmas Traditions Around the World

In a magazine we get (the Friend), the December 2009 issue had a list of Christmas traditions people do around the world. I though it was fun to read and wanted to share. I think it would be fun to implement traditions from cultures that you have family heritage from. I also think it would be a fun thing to do to help teach about different cultures.
Japan: Children love to eat Christmas cake with strawberries and whipped cream

Finland: Families visit cemeteries on Christmas Eve and lace candles on the graves of loved ones

India: People put small clay lamps on the roofs of their homes to show Jesus is the Light of the World

Ireland: Families place candles in the windows of their homes to show that they would have welcomed Mary and Joseph

Germany: Children leave their shoes or boots by the fireplace or outside their front doors. The next morning, the shoes are filled with candy

Australia: Many people go to the beach and sing Christmas carols

Argentina: Families light diamond-shaped paper balloons called globos on Christmas Eve and release them into the night sky

Venezuela: Children roller-skate in the streets early on Christmas morning

United States: People decorate evergreen trees with small lights, tinsel, and ornaments

Philippines: Families decorate with parols, which are star shapes made out of bamboo and tissue paper and lit with tiny lights

Liberia: Families eat dinner outside, sitting in a circle. A traditional Liberian Christmas dinner includes biscuits, rice, and beef


Bulgaria: Everybody at the table stands at the same time when dinner is over

Sweden: A young girl wears a white dress with a red sash and serves bread and biscuits

Holland: Families celebrate on Christmas Eve by drinking hot chocolate and eating banketletter, a cake that looks like the first letter of the family's last name

Norway: Children eat rice pudding. The child who finds the hidden nut wins a candy pig or a piece of chocolate

Mexico: Families cut designs in paper bags to make lanterns, or farolitos. Candles are placed inside the farolitos, which line the sidewalks, windows, and rooftops

Spain: Children are given toys, sweets, or small instruments as they go from house to house reciting versus or singing carols


Italy: One week before Christmas, children dress as shepherds and go from door to door singing songs and reciting poems

England: Children receive a paper-covered tube, called a Christmas cracker, at Christmas dinner. The tube cracks loudly when pulled apart. A paper hat, poem, or small toy is inside

New Zealand: Many cities have celebrations in parks. People listen to well-known singers sing Christmas carols

Tonga: Families get up early to make and deliver breakfast to their neighbors. Children are excited to deliver these breakfasts and see what the neighbors bring

Paraguay: People decorate their homes with coco flowers

Lebanon: Chickpeas, wheat, beans, and lentils are planted two weeks before Christmas. The sprouts are used to surround the nativity scene in the home

Ghana: Families stay up all evening playing games. Just before midnight, the family counts down the seconds until Christmas Day