Christmas may be a global celebration, but no two countries observe it in the same way. While some hang stockings and roast turkey, others read books all night, walk to mass on roller skates, or eat fried chicken from a chain restaurant.
Here are ten Christmas traditions around the world that show how rich and varied the festive season really is.
1. Germany — Christmas markets and the Adventskranz
Germany gave the world both the Christmas tree and the Christmas market. From late November, towns light up with stalls selling mulled wine, gingerbread and handcrafted ornaments. At home, an Adventskranz — a wreath with four candles — counts down the four Sundays before Christmas.
2. Iceland — the Yule Book Flood
On 23 December, Icelanders take part in Jólabókaflóðið, literally “Yule Book Flood”. Friends and family exchange books on Christmas Eve, then spend the rest of the night reading in bed with hot chocolate. Iceland publishes more new titles per capita in autumn than almost any other country.
3. Mexico — Las Posadas
For nine nights leading up to Christmas, Mexican families re-enact Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter. Processions move from house to house singing carols, until one finally welcomes them in for a meal and the breaking of a piñata.
4. Sweden — Saint Lucia
On 13 December, the eldest daughter of the family wakes everyone wearing a white robe and a crown of candles, serving coffee and saffron buns. Schools and churches stage Lucia processions that mark the start of the Christmas season in Scandinavia.
5. Japan — KFC on Christmas Eve
Christmas is not a public holiday in Japan, but a 1974 marketing campaign turned fried chicken into a tradition. Today, millions of families pre-order a Christmas KFC bucket weeks in advance and queue patiently to collect it.
6. Italy — La Befana and the Feast of the Seven Fishes
In Italy, gifts are brought twice. Babbo Natale comes on Christmas Eve, then on 6 January La Befana — an old woman riding a broomstick — fills children’s stockings. Christmas Eve dinner traditionally features seven different fish dishes.
7. Philippines — Simbang Gabi and the parol lanterns
Filipino Catholics attend Simbang Gabi, a series of nine dawn masses from 16 to 24 December. Streets and balconies glow with parols — star-shaped lanterns made of bamboo and paper that have become a national symbol of Christmas.
8. Venezuela — roller-skating to mass
In Caracas, the streets close to traffic on Christmas Eve morning so worshippers can roller-skate to early mass. Children tie string to their toes and dangle the ends out of windows so passing skaters can give them a friendly tug as a wake-up call.
9. Ukraine — the Christmas spider web
Ukrainian trees are decorated with artificial spider webs, in memory of an old folk tale of a poor widow whose bare tree was covered overnight by helpful spiders, the cobwebs turning to silver in the morning light.
10. Australia — Christmas on the beach
With Christmas falling in midsummer, many Australians swap the roast turkey for prawns on the barbecue, hold “Carols by Candlelight” concerts in parks, and head to the beach for a swim. Bondi Beach in Sydney sees tens of thousands of revellers in Santa hats every 25 December.
Frequently asked questions about Christmas traditions
What are the most unusual Christmas traditions around the world?
The Yule Book Flood in Iceland, KFC dinners in Japan, roller-skating to mass in Venezuela and the spider-web tree in Ukraine are among the most original.
How is Christmas celebrated differently across cultures?
The date, the food, the gift-giver and the music all vary. Some countries give gifts on Christmas Eve, others on Christmas Day or 6 January, and some celebrate over twelve days.
Which countries do not celebrate Christmas?
Christmas is not a public holiday in much of Asia and the Middle East. Saudi Arabia and Brunei restrict public celebrations, while Japan and Vietnam celebrate it as a secular romantic holiday rather than a religious one.
Article written and edited by The Christmas Dream editorial team, updated 28 May 2026.