Christmas Customs & Traditions Around The World

Do you have Christmas Traditions? Do you have traditions that came from other cultures and still exist in your family? My mom is from Mexico, and I am bringing some traditions I grew up with to my boys. Hubs family is from Michigan, and they have lots of traditions for Christmas Day.

Christmas Customs & Traditions Around The World
Photo by (Augustin-Foto) Jonas Augustin / Unsplash
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This post contains significant updates.
First published November 24, 2020 at https://techiemamma.com/christmas-customs/
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Do you have Christmas Traditions? Do you have traditions that came from other cultures and still exist in your family? My mom is from Mexico, and I am bringing some traditions I grew up with to my boys. Hubs family is from Michigan, and they have lots of traditions for Christmas Day. Read on to learn more about traditions around the world and from some of our readers!

Christmas In Mexico

a building with a clock tower decorated with christmas lights
Photo by Wonderhunt / Unsplash

From Posadas, to the most elaborate dinner on Christmas Eve, Mexico is full of traditions for Christmas. Growing up I LOVED these traditions. My favorite is the tradition of Baby Jesus bring gifts along with the Three Kings on Epiphany on January 6th! I keep this tradition alive with my boys. Helps spread out the Christmas season just a little longer.

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Christmas in Germany

carousel with string lights
Photo by cmophoto.net / Unsplash

Germany is another place where I am connected with their customs. Spending a year abroad in Germany and having a childhood best friend who is German, we started integrating some traditions. Hubs is also from German descent a little, so I am continuing that legacy.

My favorite custom in Germany is Sankt Nikolaus. This happens in early December on his feast day, December 6th. The tradition comes from St. Nicholas coming to everyone’s house and checking if the children are behaving. If they are they get a small gift and if they aren’t then his companion Krampus could take the children away or give them a switch. So children would pick up toys, polish shoes, and prepare a verse. Today the tradition is still alive, little kids put their polished shoes or socks outside the door or window on December 5th, and at night St. Nicholas fills them with little gifts.

a group of people in costume at a party
Photo by Evgeniy Smersh / Unsplash

View the two videos below to learn more about German traditions.

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Christmas In Ghana

woman standing beside doll
Photo by Muhammad-Taha Ibrahim / Unsplash

Did you know that traditional food in Ghana for Christmas includes stew or okra soup, porridge and meats, rice and a yam paste called ‘fufu’? Ghanaian’s celebrate Christmas for several weeks, spanning from the 20th of December to the first week of January.

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Christmas In Sweden

closeup photo of religious figurine
Photo by Dave Lowe / Unsplash

Traditions in Sweden and Norway are similar. Discover how Swedes celebrate Christmas!

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Christmas In Japan

a woman in a red sweater is holding a present
Photo by morefun_boy / Unsplash

Discover how Japanese celebrate Christmas!

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Christmas In Philippines

a flag on a pole
Photo by iSawRed / Unsplash

Discover how Filipinos celebrate Christmas!

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Christmas In France

a group of boats that are sitting in the water
Photo by Herve Renard / Unsplash

Discover how the French celebrate Christmas!

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Christmas In Brazil

a large christmas tree with lights
Photo by Christian Maass / Unsplash

Did you know that every year, Rio de Janeiro lights up the largest Christmas tree that is floating? Check it out in the video.

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Christmas In Australia

A man dressed as santa claus waves to the crowd
Photo by Michael SKOPAL / Unsplash

Discover how Aussies celebrate Christmas!

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Christmas In Russia

A large building with a clock tower in the background
Photo by Francesco Asmaryan / Unsplash

Read this about Russian Christmas traditions. Carols in the Russian Orthodox Church are only sung a cappella, because according to Smithsonian Folkways, ‘only human voices are allowed to take part in the worship of the Lord.’ The video below gives the experience of a Christmas Orthodox Service.

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