Christmas is celebrated in diverse and enchanting ways around the world, blending religious customs, cultural traditions, and festive cheer. Let’s take a journey to explore how Christmas is celebrated in Germany, Italy, Spain, the Philippines, and Japan, and discover the unique ways these countries bring the holiday season to life.
Germany: The Birthplace of Christmas Markets
Germany is renowned for its enchanting Christmas markets, or Weihnachtsmärkte, which transform towns and cities into winter wonderlands. These markets date back to the 14th century and offer handmade crafts, festive decorations, and warm treats like roasted chestnuts and Glühwein (mulled wine).
Another beloved German tradition is the Advent calendar (Adventskalender), which helps families count down to Christmas. These calendars often feature small gifts or chocolates hidden behind numbered doors.
On December 6th, St. Nicholas Day (Nikolaustag), children place their boots outside the door, hoping to find them filled with candies and small gifts if they’ve been good—or coal if they haven’t!
Christmas Eve (Heiligabend) is the highlight of the season, with families gathering for a festive meal and exchanging gifts. The Christkind, an angelic figure, is believed to bring presents to children.
Italy: La Befana and Festive Feasts
In Italy, Christmas is a season rich in family gatherings, religious celebrations, and culinary delights. The holiday begins with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th and continues until Epiphany on January 6th.
A unique Italian tradition is La Befana, a kind-hearted witch who delivers gifts to children on Epiphany Eve. According to legend, she was invited by the Three Wise Men to visit baby Jesus but arrived too late, so she now brings gifts to children in his honor.
Nativity scenes (presepi) are central to Italian Christmas decor, with many families creating elaborate displays. Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve is a cherished tradition, followed by a grand feast featuring dishes like tortellini in brodo and panettone.
Spain: The Three Kings and Sweet Treats
In Spain, Christmas festivities revolve around family, faith, and food. One of the most awaited events is the arrival of the Three Wise Men (Los Reyes Magos) on January 6th, marking Epiphany. Children write letters to the Wise Men asking for gifts and leave out snacks for them and their camels.
On Christmas Eve (Nochebuena), families gather for a special dinner featuring dishes like roasted lamb, seafood, and turrón (a nougat dessert). Midnight Mass, or La Misa del Gallo (The Rooster’s Mass), is an essential part of the celebrations.
Another unique tradition is Caga Tío in Catalonia, where children "feed" a wooden log with a painted face and beat it with sticks on Christmas Eve to "poop" small gifts and sweets.
The Philippines: The World’s Longest Christmas Celebration
The Philippines is home to the longest Christmas season in the world, beginning as early as September with the Ber Months and continuing until the Feast of the Epiphany in January. The country’s deeply rooted Catholic faith shapes many of its traditions.
One of the most striking customs is the Simbang Gabi, a nine-day series of dawn Masses leading up to Christmas. Devout Filipinos attend these services, often followed by a breakfast of traditional treats like bibingka (rice cake) and puto bumbong (purple sticky rice).
Filipino homes and streets come alive with parols, star-shaped lanterns symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem. On Christmas Eve, families share a festive feast known as Noche Buena, featuring dishes like lechon (roast pig), pancit, and queso de bola (edam cheese).
Japan: A Modern and Quirky Celebration
Although not a Christian-majority country, Japan has embraced Christmas with a unique twist. Christmas in Japan is more of a secular and commercial celebration, centered around spreading happiness and love.
One of the most iconic Japanese Christmas traditions is eating fried chicken from KFC. This quirky custom began as a marketing campaign in the 1970s and has since become a beloved holiday ritual.
Christmas Eve in Japan is often treated as a romantic occasion, similar to Valentine’s Day. Couples exchange gifts and enjoy candlelit dinners. For families, decorating Christmas trees and enjoying kurisumasu keeki (a strawberry shortcake) are common activities.
While gift-giving is not as central as in Western traditions, the festive lights and decorations, known as illuminations, create a magical atmosphere in cities across Japan.
Exploring Christmas traditions around the world reveals the rich diversity and shared joy of the holiday season. Whether it’s Germany’s Christmas markets, Italy’s nativity scenes, Spain’s Three Kings, the Philippines’ parols, or Japan’s KFC feasts, these customs remind us of the universal spirit of togetherness and celebration.
How do you celebrate Christmas in your family? Let me know in the comments :)