Baking Christmas cookies, opening gifts and eating roast turkey are all Christmas traditions we’re all well accustomed to in the west, however, have you ever wondered what Christmas traditions there are around the rest of the world?
Here, we’ve put together 8 Christmas traditions from around the world.
Norway
In Norway, it’s a tradition that people hide their brooms on Christmas Eve. The tradition dates back centuries, to when people believed that witches and evil spirits came out on Christmas Eve, looking for brooms to ride on.
Japan
While Christmas isn’t a national holiday in Japan, the Japanese have still found a quirky way to celebrate… Instead of feasting on turkey on Christmas Day, Japanese homes will feast on their local Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Austria
St. Nicholas festivities in Austria begin on December 6, with children creating lists of their good and bad deeds. Good children are rewarded with lollies, apples and nuts, while bad children worry that Krampus might frighten them with clattering chains and bells.
Barbados
A Christmas feast in Barbados just wouldn’t be complete without a few key additions…. Namely, a baked ham decorated with pineapple and sorrel glaze, a rum cake and Jug Jug, a Scottish inspired dish that combines pigeon peas, guinea corn flour, herbs and salt meat.
Finland
On Christmas morning, Finnish families will eat a bowl of porridge for breakfast. One bowl will have an almond placed inside it, making the family member who finds the almond the ‘winner’.
Philippines
Every year on the Saturday before Christmas Eve, the city of San Fernando celebrates the Giant Lantern Festival, which features spinning lights and lanterns that symbolize the Star of Bethlehem.
Iceland
Similar to how we celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas, in Iceland they celebrate 13. Each night before Christmas, children in Iceland are visited by “Yule Lads”. Children will place their shoes by a window each night; in the morning they have either received lollies if they’ve been good or shoes full of rotten potatoes if they’ve been bad.
Venezuela
Every Christmas Eve, resident’s of Caracas head to church early in the morning …. On rollerblades. The tradition is so popular that roads across the city are closed to traffic, so that people can get to and from church safely, before heading home to enjoy a traditional Christmas dinner of tamales.
