Christmas Traditions Around the World and in the USA

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Well, it will be soon! YAY!

Christmas is a time to come together with family and friends, make new memories, and carry on beloved traditions. But have you ever wondered how people celebrate the holiday in different parts of the world? In this blog post, we'll explore Christmas traditions from around the globe as well as some popular customs here in the USA.

Let's start with some international Christmas customs!

In Sweden, the holiday season kicks off on December 13th with Lucia Day, named after Saint Lucia. To celebrate, girls dress up in white gowns and wear a crown of lighted candles on their heads. They then go singing from house to house, offering coffee and saffron buns. 

In Germany, many families have an Advent wreath with four candles. Each Sunday leading up to Christmas, one more candle is lit and families spend time together, singing songs, and preparing for the holiday.

On the other side of the world, in Australia, Christmas in the summer months means a lot of outdoor activities. Many people go to the beach or have a barbecue with family. The traditional meal is a roast turkey, but it's often served cold with salads and seafood.

In Japan, where only 1% of the population is Christian, Christmas is more of a commercial holiday. Couples often take a romantic walk around the city, eating KFC and cake for dinner.  "KFC?: You ask. Me too! Apparently this started in the 70's when some tourists where in Japan over Christmas. Unable to find turkey, they opted for some fried chicken. Shortly after, KFC saw a great opportunity for serving special Christmas KFC meals on the big day! 

Now, let's talk about some holiday customs here in the USA. In many households, decorating the Christmas tree is a tradition that has been passed down through generations. Families will often have special ornaments with sentimental value that they place prominently on the tree each year. Another popular tradition is sending out Christmas cards to friends and loved ones. People often include family photos and a personal note to those they may not see often.

One of the cutest traditions the USA has is the gingerbread house. Probably not unique to America alone but the USA took it to another level with their gingerbread houses. These houses are made using candy and gingerbread paste cemented together with edible glue, sweet! It was initially created to represent tables on Christmas.