11 Christmas traditions around the world

As Christmas approaches, it is good to awaken his mind. From Mexico to Iceland, discover the different Christmas traditions around the world.

Exit the iced logs, decorated fir trees, cinnamon smell, magical illuminations and santon cribs, in our neighbors, Christmas traditions are sometimes quite different! If some of our habits are identical, you will see that there are thousands of rituals and myths around Christmas. Some smile, others question or fascinate. Here's our list of eleven Christmas traditions all over the world.

1. United Kingdom Crackers, Pudding and Secret Santa Claus

Our English friends are well known for their overflowing originality. Christmas is no exception. Throughout December, they exchange gift cards, accompanied by brilliant candy: crackers. Tradition wants them to break them at meals to discover the little gifts they contain. Speaking of meals, the party star in the United Kingdom? The Christmas pudding! A cake that prepares for weeks before being eaten and contains all kinds of foods to sometimes surprising associations.

Another British tradition: the Secret Santa. This famous drawing of lots between friends, colleagues or families, where everyone draws the name of a person. He then becomes his secret Santa Claus. A mission taken very seriously!

2. Venezuela : Rollers and Little Jesus

In Caracas, Venezuelan city, the morning Mass resembles all the messes with an exception... To get to the Misa de Aguinaldo you have to put on rollerblers! "Las patinas" are among the most fun Christmas traditions in the world! In the 1950s, after Mass, the families gathered together and the children brought their gifts, including rollerblers. So why don't you do both in one?

In Vénézuéla, know also that the child’s star is not the barbu man all of red clothed, but the little Jesus himself. He comes to bring the gifts.

3. Greece : Children’s songs and the Feast of the Dead

On the twenty-four of December in the early morning, the children of Greece passed home by singing the Calanda: songs that tell the story of Christmas. In exchange, they receive typically Greek sweets ( kourabiedes and melomakarona). In the evening, families go to Mass and enjoy together another traditional nut cake: Christopsomo.

On December 25, the deceased were honoured. The Greeks go to the cemetery. And it is only on the first January that they open their gifts, brought by Saint-Basile, an erudite beggar.

4. Colombia cities on fire

In Colombia, Christmas rhymes with much more than simple light decorations. Here you are witnessing one of the most beautiful Christmas traditions throughout the world: the day of small candles. On December 8, marks the beginning of the holiday seasons and that day, all the inhabitants place candles and lanterns in front of their house. If this honors the Virgin Mary, it also gives cities a magical charm.

Over the years Colombians have decided to light candles to parks, sidewalks and porches. When you walk on the incandescent streets, traditional music accompanies your steps. Notes that make this walk even more intoxicating in the heart of what looks like a star parterre.

5. Italy A witch as a star

This very practicing country does not lessen the tradition of the Christmas tree and the Christian crib. Moreover, Naples is considered the birthplace of this tradition and you can admire the most beautiful cribs in the world.

Nevertheless, in South Italy, no Santa Claus or Little Jesus to bring gifts. It is on January 6 that Befana is responsible for the distribution of the present for the wise children. While the less nice ones receive coal. Befana is special: it is a witch that passes from chimney on its flying broom.

If the delights of Italian gastronomy are no longer to be present, their Christmas dessert is no exception: the Panettone!

6. Mexico : radis et piñatas

Here are two of Christmas traditions throughout the most original world! During the Christmas celebrations in Mexico, the inhabitants of the house in the home, looking for a place to give birth to their Jesus. They are sometimes invited to enter the houses and break a piñata filled with nuts, oranges and sugar canes. Nice delivery, right?

For Mexican children, however, it is necessary to wait on January six and the arrival of the Mage Kings to open the gifts. Meanwhile, on the twenty-three of December, the Mexicans are organizing an unlikely contest! The most beautiful radish sculpture. Works that end up in the houses as Christmas decorations!

7. Germany : two friends in the opposite

During every month of December, the crowns of Advent illuminate the German houses. On December 6, as many countries in our list of Christmas traditions throughout the world, the wise children receive their gifts from Saint Nicolas, from home to home to donkey.

Just like his brother Santa, he meets the children, distributes candy and... reprimands the turbulent children! Nevertheless, he is his friend, Father Fouettard, who is responsible for the work. The latter, a monk dressed in dark clothes, with a demonic face and with a stick, follows him during the enchanted night and terrorizes the bad muds.

8. Russia : Mr Gel ' Mrs Babouchka

Christmas is celebrated on January 6th. Russia is based on the Orthodox Christmas feast in the Gregorian calendar. But the Russian children receive their gifts on the thirty-one December, during the New Year's Eve. It is Father Gel, a cousin of our reindeer sled driver, and Grandma Babouchka who walk through this vast territory to distribute the present. The custom therefore wants the new year to be a family.

9. Philippines : a burning sky

Rare archipelago of Asia to be a Christian, the Philippines attaches great importance to Christmas. Nine days before, every morning, the Filipinos celebrate the mass of the cock. In front of each house, at nightfall, they also light lanterns symbolizing the star of Bethlehem.

However, the most magical traditions take place in San Fernando. On Saturday before Christmas, thousands of lanterns illuminate and invade the Christmas Capital. The streets are filled with real gigantic illuminations. The creations rival beauty and ingenuity, the bulbs flash in every direction. What literally put you stars full of eyes!

10. Iceland : the visit of the evil trolls

Icelandic Christmas rhyme with visit to the Yule Lads, thirteen joyous trolls full of malice. This joyous strip defies in the streets thirteen days before and after Christmas. They visit the children who took care to leave their socks or shoes in front of their door. The little mischievous trolls then give them a gift, if they were wise, or otherwise: a rotten patate.

This is not all, each of the thirteen counters has a well-defined role once they arrive in the houses: stealing pots, emptying the fridge, toquer at the doors, sting candles, etc. A hell of a gossip and a good dose of jokes.

11. Japan : a bucket in KFC

You're at Christmas, in Japan, and you see a bunch of families coming to KFC for dinner? Normal! This is our number one of Christmas traditions throughout the most disconcerting world! The crazy one? The Kentucky Fried Chicken chain receives orders from months in advance and hosts endless queues on Christmas Day!

For dessert, Japanese tradition wants Japanese to taste a genoese covered with cream and strawberries. An American cake, in Japanese colours, in memory of the time when Americans helped Japanese rebuild their country and brought some traditional pastries to the inhabitants.