Christmas Around the World

Christmas Around the World

Australia
• The temperature in Australia on Christmas Day can
range between 30-40°C with the hottest temperature
recorded on Christmas Day in South Australia at
40.7°C.
• Children have their summer holidays from mid-
December through to early February
• Some people go camping over Christmas!
• Bondi Beach is famous for families having their
Christmas lunch on the beach.
• A typical Christmas menu could include seafood,
glazed ham, cold chicken, duck or turkey, cold deli
meats, pasta, salads, desserts of all types, fruit salad,
ice cream plus Christmas treats such as mince pies.
Some Australian families follow tradition of a roast
dinner and Christmas pudding even in the warm
summer weather.

“Bondi Beach, Sydney” by Robert Linsdell is licensed under CC BY 2.0

 Christmas Around the World

Australia
• Some Australian families have the tradition of
creating Christmas light displays in their
streets for everyone to enjoy. One street in
Sydney has raised more than $35,000 for
charity by charging an entry fee to see their
light displays on the homes in the street.

• When Santa gets to Australia he

changes into a t-shirt, shorts and
thongs (flip-flops). He then gives
his reindeers a rest, calling on the
help of his kangaroo friends or as
they are known as the ‘Six White
Boomers’ (a popular Australian
Christmas carol).

“Sppedwell Street Fairy Lights” by Chris Fithall is licensed under CC BY 2.0

 Christmas Around the World

China
• Christians in China often celebrate by lighting
their houses with paper lanterns.
• Christmas trees are called ‘trees of light’ and
are decorated with paper chains, paper flowers
and paper lanterns.
• Lots of people in China do not celebrate
Christmas. The main winter festival is called
Chinese New Year and takes place in February.
Many Chinese people worship their ancestors
during Chinese New Year.
 Christmas Around the World

Denmark
• The Christmas feast in Denmark is usually
celebrated at midnight on Christmas Eve.
• It is common to have special rice pudding
dessert in which a single almond is hidden.
Whoever finds the almond will have good luck
for a whole year.
• Instead of Santa Claus, the bringer of gifts in
Denmark is known as Julemanden.
• Julemanden arrives in a sleigh drawn by
reindeer and a sack over his back.
• Julemanden has lots of elf helpers, named Juul
Nisse, who are said to live in attics.

“Christmas Tree” by Kristian Mollenborg is licensed under CC BY 2.0

 Christmas Around the World

France
• Most French homes at Christmas time have
nativity displays with clay figures called
santons. Craftsmen make the santons all
throughout the year to sell at annual Christmas
fairs.
• Many homes also display a festive wreath and
a Christmas tree.
• Many people in France celebrate by making a
traditional log shaped cake called a ‘bûche de
Noël’ (Christmas log).

“Crèche - Marie enceinte“  by Eusebius is licensed under CC BY 2.0

 Christmas Around the World

France
• Christmas dinner varies in different parts of
France. Some favourites are goose, turkey and
oysters.
• Many French
children receive
gifts from Père
Noël. He travels
with a stern friend,
Père Fouettard,
who reminds him
how well behaved
each child has been.

“Le marché de Noël européen au Trocadéro“ by Jean-Pierre Dalbéra is licensed under CC BY 2.0
 Christmas Around the World

Germany
• According to legend, on Christmas Eve in Germany,
rivers turn to wine, animals speak to each other, tree
blossoms bear fruit, mountains open up to reveal
precious gems and church bells can be heard ringing
in the bottom of the sea. Only the pure of heart can
witness the Christmas magic.
• In many homes, children will be distracted while a
Christmas tree is brought out and decorated on
Christmas Eve. Presents are then put underneath.
Traditionally, plates are laid out for each member of
the family with fruit, nuts, chocolate and biscuits.
Often, carols are then sung, sparklers are lit, the
Christmas story is read and then the gifts are opened.
 Christmas Around the World

Germany
• On Christmas Day, many families enjoy a
banquet of roast goose, breads and marzipan.
• There are lots of huge Christmas fairs in
Germany which are very beautiful.
• After the presentation of the tree, there is a
huge feast of dishes like suckling pig, white
sausage, macaroni salad and many more.
 Christmas Around the World

Italy
• The Christmas season is celebrated from early
December until 6th January.
• During the Christmas period, in some areas of
Italy, shepherds come into the towns and play
bagpipes and sing carols.
• Most churches, town squares and houses will
have a model of the nativity scene called a
‘presepe’. This is seen as the most important
decoration at Christmas time.
• In Italy, the traditional Christmas cake eaten is
called a 'panettone’. It is a sweet cake filled
with candied fruit.

“Presepe Piumazzo“ by Marcello is licensed under CC BY 2.0

 Christmas Around the World

Italy
• In Italy, most children receive gifts on the 6th
January. This day is called ‘Epiphany’. ‘La
Befana’ traditionally brings presents.
• Legend says ‘La Befana’ is an old, kind witch
who flies on a broomstick. Long ago, the three
wise men stopped to ask her for directions to
the stable where the baby Jesus had been born.
She didn’t know the way, but offered them
shelter and food. They asked her to join them
on their journey but she was too busy. Later
that day she set off on her broomstick, with
presents for the baby Jesus, to follow the wise
men but could not find the baby. She is said to
still be flying around, searching for the baby
Jesus.

“Photo” by ThemeParkTourist is licensed under CC BY 2.0

 Christmas Around the World

Spain
• In Spain, the main Christmas meal is usually eaten
on Christmas Eve.
• Cities in Spain decorate their streets with beautiful
lights and a lot of people enjoy walking around to
discover them.
• 'The Day of Innocent Saints' is on 28th December.
On this day, many people remember the innocent
babies who were killed by King Herod as he
searched for baby Jesus. Some people try to trick
each other with pranks, similar to how others
celebrate April Fools' Day.
• Most families eat together in Christmas time.
Normally, families reunite on Christmas Eve and
Christmas Day, whereas in New Years Eve, some
people tend to go out with their friends. It’s a very
typical Christmas tradition to have Churros con
chocolate as breakfast on New Years Day.
 Christmas Around the World

Spain
• On 6th January, Epiphany is celebrated in Spain. In
Spain, this is called ‘The Festival of the Three Magic
Kings’. This day celebrates the wise men bringing
gifts to baby Jesus.
• Usually, children in Spain receive a few gifts on
Christmas Day but most on the 6th of January for
Epiphany. Tradition says that the three kings travel
around, continuing the tradition of giving gift, just
like they did for baby Jesus.
• On the night of the 5th of January, children leave their
shoes out before they go to bed to be filled with gifts.
• On the 5th of January, all cities and towns in Spain
organise parades to welcome the Three Wise Men,
who bring presents to children that day or the
morning of the 6th of January.

“Arrival of the King“ is licensed under CC BY 2.0

 Christmas Around the World

India
• Many Christians in India choose to decorate
mango and banana trees at Christmas time.
• Decorations are colourful and bright.
• In some parts of India, small clay oil-burning
lamps are used as Christmas decorations. They
are placed on the edges of roofs and on the
tops of walls.
• Churches are decorated with poinsettias (red
Christmas flowers) and candles for the
Christmas Evening service.

“India – Kerala” by McKay Savage is licensed under CC BY 2.0

 Christmas Around the World

Japan
• Lots of people in Japan celebrate Christmas,
although only 1% of the population is
Christian.
• Lots of homes are decorated with Christmas
trees and mistletoe.
• Lots of people in Japan enjoy exchanging gifts
at Christmas.

• On Christmas Day, many people in Japan eat

fried chicken for dinner! Local fast food
restaurants can be fully booked months in
advance.

“Tokyo Tower and Roppongi Christmas illumination” by Manish Prabhune is licensed under CC BY 2.0
 Christmas Around the World

Mexico
• Several weeks before Christmas, there are
huge markets set up in towns and cities in
Mexico which offer crafts, food and flowers
for the Christmas season. Some people travel
for days to get to these markets.
• The poinsettia is a red flower native to Mexico
that is used widely in Mexico as a Christmas
decoration. It has been connected with
Christmas since the
17th century.

“Parroquia San Pablo Apóstol,Cuauhtémoc,Ciudad de México” is licensed under CC BY 2.0

 Christmas Around the World

Mexico
• The main Christmas celebration in Mexico is
called Las Posadas. People re-enact Joseph and
Mary’s search for somewhere to stay in
Bethlehem. They go house to house getting
refused until they finally reach a house where
an altar and nativity scene have been set up.

• Once they have

reached the right
house, a traditional
prayer is spoken and
the party begins. Food
and drink are served
and then children take
it in turns to break
open the piñata.

“Templo Santa María Nenetzintla,Acajete,Estado de Puebla,México ” is licensed under CC BY 2.0

 Christmas Around the World

Netherlands
• In the Netherlands, Santa Claus is known as
‘Sinterklaas’.

• Sinterklaas arrives three weeks before the

5th December on a steamboat from Spain.

• Between his arrival and the 5th December,

many children fill their shoes
with hay and sugar for Sinterklaas’s horse
and awake to find them filled with little
presents or nuts and candy.

“Sinterklaas” is licensed under CC BY 2.0

 Christmas Around the World

Netherlands
• On the 4th December, Sinterklaas appears in
person in children's homes asking the children
about their behaviour over the past year.

• On the evening of the 5th of December,

Sinterklaas will sometimes visit the houses
to talk to the children.

• People in the Netherlands also celebrate

Christmas from 24th-26th December. 
• Sometimes, there is a 'Sunday School' service
in church where the Christmas Story is read. 
• On Christmas Eve, Many children in the
Netherlands believe Santa delivers more
presents from Lapland!

Photo by William Warby is licensed under CC BY 2.0

 Christmas Around the World

Vietnam
• In Vietnam, Christmas Eve is often more
important than Christmas Day.

• In Ho Chi Minh City, many people like to go

into the city on Christmas Eve to visit a
Catholic Cathedral.

• Many people will celebrate Christmas by

enjoying Christmas decorations and lights in
big department stores and hotels across the city.
They may also throw confetti and take pictures.

• All churches and some Christian homes will

display a nativity scene.

• At Christmas, some Vietnamese people will

share a special Christmas Eve meal called
‘reveillon’ followed by a chocolate log
for desert.
 Christmas Around the World

The Philippines
• In the Philippines, the Christmas season begins in
September. Christmas carols are played on the
radio and many people put up Christmas trees and
decorate their homes with lights and a lantern
ornament called a ‘parol’. Parols are most often
star-shaped but they can come in lots of different
shapes
and sizes.

• In the nine days before Christmas, Catholic

churches hold services at dawn (very early in the
morning). This series of masses is called Simbang
Gabi. Some people believe that if they go to all of
these services then their Christmas wishes will
come true.
•
People usually eat their Christmas meal with their
family on Christmas Eve. They call this Noche
Buena. They eat traditional dishes and also fruits
like grapes and apples.

Photo by Rusty Ferguson is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

 Christmas Around the World

Hong Kong
• Christmas services are held at the
cathedral and other churches. Some
services are in Cantonese and some are
in English.

• Hong Kong is decorated with lots of

lights and decorations. Shops and
attractions take part in a big celebration
called ‘Winterfest’.

• Boxing Day is a public holiday in

Hong Kong.
 Christmas Around the World

Brazil
• Each Christmas, thousands of
people go to see the world’s
tallest floating Christmas tree in a
lagoon in Rio de Janeiro.

• It is 85 metres tall and contains

3.1 million bulbs.

Photo by Leandro’s World Tour is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

 Christmas Around the World

Nigeria
• The Christmas meal in Nigeria is
usually roasted goat meat and chicken
with rice.

• Special events and dances take place.

There are masquerade displays where
dancers perform wearing masks.

• There is a festive atmosphere with lots

of sparklers and fireworks to celebrate
the day.
 Christmas Around the World

Ethiopia
• Christmas is celebrated on 7th January in the
Ethiopian Orthodox Church. It is called
Ganna or Genna.

• Many Christians fast for up to 44 days

before Christmas. During this time, they
don’t eat meat, fat, eggs and dairy products
and they pray and try to do good things.
They break their fast with the Christmas
feast.

• The Christmas feast often includes injera (a

traditional Ethiopian flatbread) and w’et, a
stew made with chicken, beef, lamb or other
meat, plus vegetables and peas or lentils.

Photo by mmmavocado is licensed under CC BY 2.0

 Christmas Around the World

Botswana
• Many people in Botswana travel to spend
Christmas with their families. They
sometimes spend this time in their ancestral
homelands, away from
the cities.

• Seswaa is a stew made with beef or goat

meat that is very traditional at Christmas.
Barbecues or braai are also becoming more
popular. People share their feasts with the
whole family or sometimes even the whole
village.
 Christmas Around the World

Democratic Republic of the Congo

• Christmas is a very important religious
festival for Christians in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo. It is traditional to
have a Christmas feast with meat (often
chicken or goat) and to wear new clothes.
Many people save up or buy in advance as
these things can become expensive at
Christmas when lots of people want them.

• Many people attend church services on

Christmas Eve. These can last into the early
hours of Christmas Day and feature choirs
and nativity plays telling the story of the
Bible from the creation to after the birth of
Jesus.
 Christmas Around the World

English Spanish Mandarin

Merry Christmas Feliz Navidad Shèng dàn kuài lè

Vietnam French Dutch

Giáng sinh vui vẻ Joyeux Noël Vrolijk Kerstfeest

Italian German

Buon Natale Fröhliche

Weihnachten

Japanese

Merii Kurisumasu