Christmas is one of the most celebrated holidays in the world. However, not every country celebrates Christmas like America. Some countries designate Christmas as an official holiday, while others incorporate their own cultural traditions into the Christmas celebration. Even Christian countries have different ways of celebrating Christmas.

Reading the article while listening happy Christmas songs.

Let us explore from Asia and then go to Europe and Africa.

Asia

Japan

Christmas in Japan is often seen as more commercial, fun, and romantic than holy. Thanks to a successful campaign in 1974 that associated Christmas with fried chicken, many families now choose to have a fried chicken feast for their Christmas dinner.

South Korea

Christmas is a significant day for Christians in South Korea. Since Christianity is one of the largest religions in the country, many people celebrate Christmas, and it is also an official holiday in South Korea.

Malaysia

Singapore

Malaysia and Singapore stand out as the only two Southeast Asian countries that celebrate all faiths due to their rich cultural diversity. In both nations, Christmas is recognized as an official holiday, and it's accompanied by beautiful fireworks displays on Christmas Day.

Some Asian countries fully embrace Christmas and designate it as an official holiday, such as South Korea and Singapore. However, in most Asian countries, Christmas is celebrated more as a secular festival rather than a religious one. For instance, in China, Christmas is more like Valentine's Day.

Interesting Facts

Europe

Since the origins of Christmas stem from Roman and pagan traditions, Christmas is the most significant event for most Europeans. Many of the Christmas traditions we are familiar with also have their roots in Europe. Nevertheless, Europe features interesting and unique Christmas cultures.

Interesting Facts

German

Germany has a tradition of hanging a pickle ornament on Christmas trees. The glass pickle-shaped ornament is traditionally hidden last, after the rest of the tree has been decorated. On Christmas morning, the child who finds the pickle first either receives an additional present or gets to open their gifts first.

France

France has a law that requires a response to every letter sent to Santa. This law was passed in 1962. French children typically receive postcards along with gifts.

Iceland

Each year on Christmas Eve, Icelandic families exchange brand new books with one another and spend the rest of the evening cozily indoors, reading. This tradition originated during WWII when paper was one of the few items not in short supply, making books a practical gift choice

Ukraine

Ukrainians believe that spider webs can bring good fortune for the New Year. As a result, they decorate Christmas trees with ornate cobwebs and sparkling spiders.

North America

Christmas is the biggest festival in North America. Almost every American and Canadian family celebrates it with delicious foods and thoughtful gifts. Here are some interesting facts about Christmas in North America.

Interesting Facts

America

3 billion Christmas cards are sent in the U.S. each year.

Alabama was the first state to officially recognize Christmas in 1836. Oklahoma was the last, in 1907. 

Canada

Every year, the Canadian province of Nova Scotia gifts a Christmas tree to the U.S. city of Boston in appreciation for the help provided by Boston residents after a ship exploded in Halifax in 1917. Additionally, in parts of Quebec, a traditional Christmas meal consists of a stew made from pigs' feet.

South America

Christmas is also known as Navidad in Spanish and Natal in Brazil. Because of South America’s European colonial past, Christmas is primarily still a religious rather than a commercial festival in South America. Therefore all kinds of religious activities takes place in December in South America. Some of the Christmas cultures are similar with North America or Europe, but there are definitely a lot of unique Christmas cultures in South America. 

Interesting Facts

Los nacimientos, los belenes, or los pesebres are nativity scenes that families put together in their homes. 

No Sleep

No sleep on Christmas. People in South America would like to stay up late during Christmas Eve and wait for midnight to open your presents.

Misa de Gallo

Some families stay up all night to attend Misa de Gallo that usually takes place in the early morning.

Nativity Scenes

Africa

Interesting Facts

Zambia

Church service is one of the most important aspects of Christmas in Africa. Many churches in Zambia hold nativity plays and display a nativity scene in the church.

Zimbabwe

In Zimbabwe, for many people, Christmas Day starts with a special church service. Children dress in their finest attire and sing the songs they have practiced for this special day.

Tanzania

Just like in other countries, the Christmas feast is always well-prepared and delicious in Tanzania. However, unlike people in North America who buy food from grocery stores, people in Tanzania purchase a cow or a goat in January, feed it for Christmas, and consume it on Christmas Eve.

Christmas traditions in Africa vary widely due to the continent's diverse cultures, religions, and geographical regions.

Sources

1. How Do Asians Celebrate Christmas?,Asian Inspiration, https://asianinspirations.com.au/experiences/how-do-asians-celebrate-christmas/#:~:text=Although%20not%20an%20official%20holiday,Hong%20Kong%2C%20Macau%20and%20Taiwan.
2. Five Bizarre European Christmas Traditions, Spotahome, https://www.spotahome.com/blog/5-bizarre-european-christmas-traditions/
3. 12 Unique Christmas Celebrations Forms Latin America, Homeschool Spanish Academy, https://www.spanish.academy/
4. 6 Christmas traditions you’ll only find in Africa, The Real World, https://www.trafalgar.com/real-word/african-christmas-traditions/
5. Familiar and exotic South American Christmas Cultures, SA Expeditions, https://www.saexpeditions.com/blog/post/familiar-and-exotic-south-american-christmas-traditions
6. 10 Christmas traditions From Europe to try at home, Norwegian Reward, https://blog.norwegianreward.com/en/reward/10-christmas-traditions-europe/
7. Why Venezuelans roller skate to mass on Christmas Eve, Metro, https://metro.co.uk/2017/12/20/christmas-around-the-world-why-venezuelans-roller-skate-to-mass-on-christmas-eve-7018407/