Christmas Around the World
What is the traditional Christmas meal in Japan?
- Despite not being a Christian country, Japan has a unique tradition of eating KFC on Christmas, thanks to a successful marketing campaign from the 1970s.
In which country do people traditionally hide brooms on Christmas Eve?
- Norwegians hide their brooms on Christmas Eve to prevent witches and evil spirits from stealing them for a midnight ride.
Which country celebrates Christmas with a festive spider web decoration?
- Ukrainian Christmas tradition includes decorating the Christmas tree with a spider web to symbolize good luck.
In what country is it traditional to eat a dessert made of wheat, honey, and poppy seeds during Christmas?
- In Poland, a traditional Christmas dessert is Kutia, a sweet grain pudding typically made from wheat, honey, and poppy seeds.
Which country celebrates Christmas by lighting a Yule log?
- England has a tradition of lighting a Yule log on Christmas Eve, symbolizing warmth and light during the winter's darkness.
Where is it common to celebrate Christmas with a beach barbecue?
- Given the warm weather during December, Australians often celebrate Christmas with a beach barbecue.
In which country do children leave shoes out for the Three Wise Men to fill with gifts?
- In Mexico, children leave their shoes out for the Three Wise Men to fill with gifts on the night of January 5.
Which country celebrates Christmas on January 7 due to the Orthodox Church calendar?
- In Russia, Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7 due to the use of the old “Julian” calendar.
Which country traditionally celebrates Christmas with a pickled herring dish?
- In Sweden, a traditional Christmas dish is pickled herring, commonly served as part of a Christmas smorgasbord.
In which country is it traditional to break a pomegranate for good luck on Christmas?
- In Greece, a common Christmas tradition is to break a pomegranate on the doorstep of the house for good luck.
