Christmas Traditions Around the World – Part 1

Christmas: for many of us, it is the most important holiday of the year and we like to spend it with family. While for all of us living in the Northern Hemisphere, the days grow shorter and colder, there is more reason than ever to light candles, enjoy home-made Christmas cookies, pastries and hot drinks, put up decorations, and sing Christmas carols. And look forward to exchanging presents and feasting on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day! However, traditions vary widely from country to country. Find out how Christmas is celebrated in Sweden, Spain and the UK! 

UNITED KINGDOM: MERRY CHRISTMAS!

While from early November you can find Christmas decorations in shops and town centres, in British homes they are usually put up in early December. Christmas lights, holly, ivy or mistletoe are most common, and so are Christmas trees: With their roots in early modern Germany, they became popular in Britain in 1841 when Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s husband, brought a Christmas tree over from Germany and put it in Windsor Castle.

The Brits are very fond of Christmas cards, sending more than a billion cards every year. Charities often sell their own cards as a way of raising money. Letters to Father Christmas, however, are not posted but tossed in the fire instead – Santa can read the children’s wishes in the chimney smoke.

On Christmas Eve, carolers go from house to house ringing handbells and singing Christmas songs. Children hang up their stockings before they go to bed, hoping that Father Christmas will fill them with presents. Often, mince pies and sherry (or milk) are left out for Santa, and carrots for his reindeer. Come Christmas morning, the presents are unwrapped!

Christmas Day dinner with the family, usually eaten at lunchtime, is an opulent meal, including the traditional roast turkey with all the trimmings and Christmas pudding, mince pies or chocolates for dessert (recipe mince pies). Christmas crackers with their hidden trinkets, paper crowns and bad jokes are the source of a good deal of merriment (Christmas crackers DIY video).

Many people watch or listen as the Queen delivers her Christmas message, a tradition that goes back to 1932 when the first speech was broadcast on the radio by King George V. Moreover, watching television on Christmas Day has itself become a tradition: Many popular films are broadcast as well as Christmas specials.

Traditionally, Boxing Day (Dec. 26) – also a bank holiday – is a day to visit friends and family but nowadays it is also a shopping holiday as shops hold sales with dramatic reductions. Horse races, football and rugby matches also take place on Boxing Day.

SWEDEN: GOD JUL!

The Christmas period in Sweden starts with the first Sunday of Advent, four weeks before Christmas, when the first candle is lit on the Advent candlestick. Glögg (a hot, spicy mulled wine with almonds and raisins) and pepparkakor (ginger snaps) help to get in the Christmas spirit (recipe Pepparkakor).

On December 13, Saint Lucy’s Day, Sankta Lucia – an ancient mythical figure – is celebrated. Her feast once coincided with the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, and it has become a festival of light. According to pagan myths, this was a night when evil dark spirits liked to roam and animals became possessed and started to talk.

In order to dispel the darkness, Lucia wears “light in her hair”. Girls dress up as Lucia with a white gown and a crown of (electric) candles in their hair. Her handmaidens also hold candles, and boys join the band as Santas, star boys or gingerbread men. All over the country, such Lucia processions take place, spreading light and songs. Saffron buns and ginger snaps are eaten with glögg or coffee.

Christmas is the main family event of the year in Sweden. During the holiday period (starting on Christmas Eve and ending the first week of January), quite a bit of travelling is happening in order to see friends and family. Christmas is a bright and lively occasion, with an abundance of food, numerous presents, snow and a beautiful Christmas tree, the symbol of Christmas.

Santa Claus himself comes on Christmas Eve to wish everyone “God Jul!“ and distribute the presents.

SPAIN: FELIZ NAVIDAD!

Apart from Christmas decorations such as trees, fairy lights and, most importantly, Belénes (nativity scenes) in public places, the time leading up to Christmas is relatively quiet, although the Anglo-American influence has gained ground in recent years. In Spanish homes, the most important decoration is still the Belén although nowadays more people also put up Christmas trees.

In Spain, Christmas begins with a rather peculiar event: On December 22, the numbers and prizes of the Lotería de Navidad (Christmas lottery) are announced by children, who deliver them in song. This hugely popular national lottery is the second longest continuously running lottery in the world (since 1812). Measured by the total prize payout, it is also the biggest lottery worldwide.

On Nochebuena (Christmas Eve), the whole family comes together (meaning a great number of people) to feast on exquisite delicacies. This lively and joyful family affair carries on until late at night. On this night, the King of Spain delivers his annual Christmas speech to the Spanish people. Many people attend the Misa de Gallo (midnight mass) during which Christmas carols are sung, accompanied by traditional instruments including the tambourine and the guitar.

On Christmas Day, there are more reunions and lavish meals of several courses with the family, most typically Christmas lunch. As a result of the Anglo-American influence, Papá Noel (Santa Claus) brings some presents to open on Christmas Day.

Yet traditionally, Spanish children get presents on January 6 from the Reyes Magos, the Three Kings. The day before, the Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos takes place in Spanish cities, a very popular parade in which the Reyes and their pages ride through the streets and shower delighted children with candy.

A traditional specialty eaten on January 6, the Kings’ Day (Día de Reyes), is the Roscón de Reyes, a ring-shaped cake with decorations of dry fruits that symbolise the precious stones on the Kings’ mantles (recipe Roscón de Reyes) . There is a small figure hidden inside and whoever finds it is crowned king or queen of the celebration. But beware: If you find the hidden dry bean, you will have to pay for next year’s roscón!

Roscón de Reyes

What is your favourite Christmas tradition? Let us know in the comments!

Find out more about Christmas traditions in other countries in Part 2 and Part 3 of the blog series!