More than 2 billion people around the world celebrate Christmas. Each country has their traditions when it comes to the holiday. Isn’t it interesting and enlightening to discover how Christmas is celebrated around the world. Learning about other cultures and traditions opens minds and helps us understand things. Discussing with our children about other countries cultures will raise open-minded (hopefully) adults. So let’s see how Christmas is celebrated around the world.
Related: Best Christmas Events Throughout the U.S.
How Christmas is Celebrated Around the World
Greece-
The majority of people that live in Greece are part of the Greek Orthodox Church. On Christmas Eve, children go from house to house singing kalanda, similar to Christmas carols, which is done to bless each home. Christmas dinner usually consists of Christopsomo bread with orange, cloves and cinnamon.
Russia-
Christmas Eve is celebrated on January 6th in Russia and consists of people attending long church services. Upon returning home, the traditional Christmas Eve dinner features 12 dishes, one representing each of the apostles. A traditional dish served on Christmas is a goose with sour cream sauce.
South Africa-
South Africa is somewhat similar to that of the United States when it comes to Christmas since it is celebrated on December 25th; people have Christmas trees in their homes and kids leave stockings out for Santa to fill with presents on Christmas Eve. What differs is the Christmas meal, which consists of turkey, roast beef or mince pies with Christmas pudding for dessert.
Singapore-
The popular shopping area, Orchard Road and the area of Marina Bay will display Christmas lights and decorations from the early part of November until the early part of January. Other Christmas activities in Singapore include parades, concerts, and caroling.
El Salvador-
Children celebrate Christmas in El Salvador by playing with sparklers and firecrackers while older folks use Roman Candles or other large fireworks. Traditional Christmas dishes include tamales, sautéed turkey sandwiches with lettuce and radishes and sweet bread. On Christmas Day, everyone gathers around the tree to open presents at 12 am.
New Zealand-
In New Zealand, the two statutory holidays are Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Christmas in New Zealand mirrors that of Australia. The people in the country combine local imagery with winter imagery. The Christmas tree of New Zealand is known as the pohutukawa, a plant that produces large crimson flowers.
Did you know these interesting facts about how Christmas is celebrated around the world?
I love this. I find it so interesting how people in other countries celebrate the holidays . What;s the same. What’s different. I shared your post on Facebook on my Chasing Joy page.
I didn’t know about how christmas is celebrated in other countries. I love learning new things like this, It’s interesting for me to see the things we do differently and also the similarities.
What a neat post! I loved reading about the traditions around the world.
I love Christmas, and all of the traditions that make it feel like the holidays to me. It’s fun to read about how others make the holiday merry!
So cool to learn about the history of other countries and how they celebrate Christmas. I guess I never really thought about it before. Sounds like some places celebrate Christmas sort of like how we celebrate 4th of July.
That was very interesting. My niece loves facts like this I will have to share this with her.
I love hearing about cultural diversity for Christmas. How meat to hear how others celebrate around the world
I love learning about different cultures traditions. This is a great post. I did not know most of these.
I always wonder about other country’s customs. This is so interesting.
This is so neat! I always love learning about other countries and how they celebrate certain holidays.
This is great info. I wold love to see this studied in the class room and taught to the kids so they could see how other cultures operate with the same holiday to compare and contrast!
Mitch
I love learning new traditions about other countries and cultures. I am more than half Russian and had no idea how they celebrate Christmas before this post!
It’s so interesting to see how other people celebrate around the world. I think I want to go to Russia with all that food in their festivities!
These are some really cool traditions. I bet there are some pretty big differences in cultures throughout the U.S. too.
What an informative post. I would be okay with having 12 dishes for Christmas dinner.
This is so fun! My daughter and I were talking about this the other day. I’ll have to read this to her!
That was such a fun read. I always love reading about how other cultures celebrate holidays.
My daughter is doing a project on Christmas in Italy.
It is so fun reading about the different traditions of different countries.
I loved reading this! I always think about other countries’ celebrating the same holidays I do, as well as the ones I don’t!
I love hearing how other cultures celebrate. I think it;s interesting how they are all so unique.
I did not know these countries Christmas celebration traditions, Thank you for sharing this information, it was very interesting!
I hope everyone from around the world remembers the true meaning of Christmas, Celebrating Christ’s birth!