UKRAINE

Celebrations of Christmas around the world often include acts of charity. Ukrainians traditionally hang spider web-shaped decorations on the tree. This reflects their legend of the poor widow who didn’t have enough money to decorate her tree, but when her children awoke on Christmas day, the tree was covered in webs that glistened gold and silver in the new day’s light.

JAMAICA

Jamaicans dress in elaborate costumes to celebrate Christmas with parades and “Junkanoo” dancers, which is based on African dances. The December 26th festival may have started as early as the 16th Century.

SPAIN

The Spanish dish, turrón, a sweet dish made from honey, egg white, sugar, and toasted almonds, is served during Christmas. Recipes date back to the 16th Century.

GREAT BRITAIN

Mistletoe was first hung as a Christmas decoration in Great Britain. However, the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe is thought to have originated in other parts of Europe.

HOLLAND

Children in Holland receive presents from Sinterklaas on December 5, rather than on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. And if they leave carrots for Sinterklaas’s horse, he’ll leave sweets for the kids.

ICELAND

Thirteen jólasveinarnir, or “Christmas Lads,” deliver presents to children in Iceland. Originally, the Christmas Lads were pranksters. Each showed up on a specific day around Christmas and performed a trick.

JAPAN

Children in Japan receive their Christmas presents on their pillow during Christmas night. Many Japanese families serve fried chicken as their traditional Christmas meal.

NORWAY

In Norway, people hide all the brooms in the house on Christmas Eve to prevent witches from stealing them for a midnight ride. It’s also a Christmas Eve tradition to leave a bowl of porridge in the barn for the gnome who protects the farm.

GERMANY

In Germany, it is traditional for children to decorate their Christmas lists with pictures and then leave them on the windowsill overnight. Then, the Christkind delivers gifts at Christmas. Also in Germany, it’s a tradition to leave a shoe or boot outside the front door on December 5, so that Sinterklaas will put small presents in their shoes for the following morning (Saint Nicholas Day).

RUSSIA

Here, Christmas is celebrated on January 7, and Babouschka brings gifts to children. Babouschka, meaning old woman or grandmother in Russian, is based on the biblical story of the woman who didn’t give a gift to the baby Jesus. So, to repent, she gives gifts to children. Wonder why we celebrate Christmas on December 25 anyway? Here’s where the tradition came from.

POLAND

The traditional Christmas meal in Poland is called the Wigilia. Held on Christmas Eve, Wigilia is derived from the Latin phrase “to watch.” Families here believe that what happens during Wigilia festivities predicts the coming year.

ITALY

Italian families celebrate Christmas Eve with the Feast of the Seven Fishes and eat lentils during the holiday season to ensure luck and wealth for the following year. The children in Italy receive gifts from La Befana during Christmas.

IRELAND

It’s traditional for Irish families to leave out mince pies and pint of Guinness as a snack for Santa. As kids get older, this tradition may come to an end and continue to be passed on. Learn about what to say when your child asks, “Is Santa real?”

FINLAND

In Finland, families decorate the holiday tree with geometric mobiles made out of straw. It’s also customary to enjoy a sauna on Christmas Eve before Santa’s visit; according to the ancient custom, this ritual cleanses the body and mind.

Merry Christmas!