As Christmas nears, I am humming carols, connecting with family and braving the crowds to buy gifts, alongside so many others. Around this time of year, it is common that we quietly start to worry about children – are they becoming obsessed with getting gifts? Are we endorsing this too much? Should we do more to make them appreciate our traditions? This can lead most parents living in western society to consider to how they address two main topics: Santa and Christianity. Most households in the UK observe traditions related to at least one of the two, and so if we want to redirect our children’s focus away from the promise of presents, then those seem to be the natural places we start.
Parents who are concerned that commercialism might be getting the better of their child, might start to wonder if maybe this year is the year to tell them the big secret of Santa Claus, in the hopes it might make them less expectant in the future. Or, parents might decide to make more of an effort to communicate the ‘true meaning of Christmas’ and hopefully shift their child’s focus onto other traditions and beliefs, possibly even a sense of selflessness. Then of course, there’s the comparison model – showing a child poverty and requesting their gratitude and self-moderation in return. I’m aware, of course, this is not the only time or reason such topics get raised – they likely will be anyway – but I’ve merely observed from the parents around me that they also seem to help serve as go-to ‘redirection” responses after a child’s dream toy list begins to read more like a list of demands. After all, what else could we do about it? I grew up in a house where we got just one gift each, and every second year it had to be homemade. (I highly recommend this, it was always great fun for everyone!) But even then, nothing quite grips you as a child like the anticipation of receiving. It’s hard to point to any other moment in the Christmas season and say “please get more excited about this than that shiny box with your name on it”. I’m one of those that supports putting a few healthy boundaries on how much is bought or request-able in the home – but c’mon, everyone enjoys unwrapping something! We live alongside our kids in a culture where that is normal this time of year. It would be extreme and unrealistic to drop that part of the tradition entirely, simply because we’re concerned they’re “buying into it” too much. It did make me think though – what’s an alternative way we could redirect their attention, and make Christmas more than just a game of “what’s in the bag?”
When I was in primary school, I stumbled upon one method accidentally. At lunch, I asked my friend if she had requested anything specific for Christmas. She shrugged, “we don’t really get, like, stuff – but my cousins are coming over and of course we’ll eat red food”. Another friend chimed in, “huh, we don’t eat red food, we eat KFC, I can’t wait!” I was hooked. We swapped stories and invites, but I was curious to see if there were even more traditions out there, so after school I looked through the library’s “cultures of the world” section. Across hundreds of nations, the only common Christmas activities seemed to be families spending time together, eating traditional foods. I couldn’t believe how many interesting customs were out there.
Perhaps, enlightening your kids on a few might just expand their understanding of this season. I’m not saying it’ll turn off that “gimme” switch, but the opposite of “mine” is “yours”. It’s invaluable for a child to be able to understand their own traditions and cultures, but it’s also important for them to be able to recognise that those are just some of many. They are part of a global community. There are far more interesting things happening all around us at this time of year, than toys being ticked off a shopping list. Below are just 10, but pick any country to research and you might be surprised!
However you spend it, I wish you a very merry Christmas season.
Traditions around the world
INDIA
While Christmas is not widely celebrated in India, it is still a public holiday and is particularly popular in Goa. The state developed a tradition of hanging star-shaped paper lanterns to adorn buildings, trees and streets. These became so popular and iconic that a wide range of bright designs are now sold nationwide during the holiday. Banana and mango trees are also often decorated with lights and some families decorate their home with mango leaves.
ARGENTINA
In Argentina, Christmas is mainly celebrated on the 24th December. Gifts can be given during the day on behalf of the Baby Jesus or Father Christmas, however some children wait until Epiphany on 6th January for the ‘Reyes Magos’ (Three Wise Men) to bring their gifts. A main meal is eaten late at night (10pm-11pm). Common Christmas foods include roast goat, ‘vitel toné’ (sliced veal with anchovy cream sauce), tuna sandwiches, stuffed tomatoes, ‘torre de panqueques’ (a ‘cake’ of layered tortillas with different fillings), panettone and mantecol (peanut butter nougat). At midnight there are fireworks and many go to a midnight mass.
ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA
These neighbouring countries celebrate Christmas on January 7th. This is because the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church uses the Geez Calendar, which is similar to the Julian Calendar followed by Eastern Orthodox Church. For many services, attendees wear traditional all-white outfits and afterwards families gather to eat together. The common Christmas meal can take some days to prepare in advance. In Eritrea it involves brewing Swa (homemade beer), baking Injera (fermented flatbread) and cooking Zigni (a hot meat stew) from animals which are usually slaughtered on Christmas Eve. In Ethiopia, many people observe an Advent fast called Tsome Nebiyat (‘Fast of the Prophets’) during the 43 days before Christmas, starting on 25th November. During this time, traditionally only one vegan meal is eaten each day and foods including meat, dairy, eggs and wine aren’t eaten. Gifts are not usually exchanged in either country.
JAPAN
Christmas has only been widely celebrated in Japan for the last few decades. Most schools are on holiday as it is near the start of the school year, but businesses continue operating. Christmas Eve is thought of as a romantic day, during which couples spend time together, view public light decorations and exchange presents, a bit like Valentines Day. Eating out is most common, with fried chicken being particularly popular on Christmas Day. It is the busiest time of year for restaurants such as KFC and people usually have to place orders at their local fast food restaurant in advance! A sponge cake with strawberries and cream is often eaten for dessert and families might gather to sing Deutch lyrics to Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.
ICELAND
Christmas is called ‘Jól’ (Yule) in Iceland. This stems from ancient winter solstice celebrations, that were taken over by the early Christians and involves many customs and traditions. 23rd December marks the day Iceland’s major saint the Bishop of Skálholt died and many people observe this by eating skate and decorating a Yule tree. Yuletide celebrations start at 6.00pm on Yule Eve (24th December) and children can open presents after the evening meal. Naughty children are given rotten potatoes! Public entertainment is considered inappropriate on Yule Eve and Yule Day (television even used to stop broadcasting) as it is a time for extended families to spend quality time together. Common foods include lamb, gamebird and ‘Laufabrauð’ (‘leaf bread’, made from leaves of pastry). On Boxing Day, dancing is again allowed in public! On New Years Day, communities gather to light bonfires and children are told that cows are able to talk, seals take on human form, the dead rise from their graves and the Elves move house. The last day of Yule is Epiphany.
ESTONIA
In Estonia, families have a unique way of celebrating Advent. Children put their socks on window ledges and every night until Christmas Eve, an elf puts sweets inside them. Families usually meet on Christmas Eve and in the evening Santa visits and requests that people tell him poems in exchange for gifts. A traditional Christmas food is blood sausage, which is made from blood, oats and pork. Others include sauerkraut, tangerines and gingerbread and mulled wine is a popular drink. Although subject to debate, many Estonians believe the country was home to the first Christmas tree.
THE PHILIPPINES
The Philippines holds the world record for annually celebrating the longest Christmas season on the planet. Filipinos start decorating the streets and radio stations start playing Christmas carols as early as September, often all the way through to the first Sunday in January when Epiphany or the Feast of the Three Kings is celebrated. The most popular decoration is the ‘parol’ – a bamboo pole or frame with a cellophane star on it. This represents the star that guided the Wise Men. Many people stay awake all night into Christmas day and enjoy a midnight feast called Noche Buena. This features foods including ham, fruit salad, bibingka and puto bumbong (special Christmas rice cakes).
ISRAEL
The Jewish festival of Hanukkah (Festival of Lights) is often celebrated around the same time as Christmas and is popular in Israel. This celebrates an ancient miracle where a small amount of oil burned for eight days. In 2025, Hanukkah will be from Sunday evening, 14th December until Monday evening 22nd December. In 2026, it will be from Friday evening 4th December until Saturday evening 12th December. A nine-branched candelabrum is used, with one candle lit each night. Fried foods like Latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyots (jelly donuts) are eaten to remember the oil. Children play a traditional game with a spinning top called a dreidel and chocolate coins are given as gifts.
GREECE
On Christmas Eve, children might sing ‘kalanda’ (carols) in the streets while playing drums and triangles. Sometimes they will also carry traditional model boats decorated with nuts which are painted gold. If they sing well, they might be given money, nuts, sweets or dried figs by the public. Decorated ships are seen across Greece and reflect a time when small ships were kept in homes after sailors had returned safe from a year of voyages. Another very traditional decoration is a shallow wooden bowl with a piece of wire suspended across the rim. A sprig of basil, wrapped around a wooden cross, hangs from the wire. Water in the bowl keeps the basil fresh. Once a day, a family member dips the cross and basil into holy water which gets sprinkled in each room of the house. This is believed to keep the ‘kallikantzaroi’ (bad spirits) away. The kallikantzaroi are said to appear only during the 12-day period from Christmas to Epiphany. They come from the centre of the earth and access homes through the chimney, causing trouble such as putting out fires and souring milk. Having a fire burning through the 12 days of Christmas (especially burning old shoes) also helps fend them off!
IRAN
Christmas itself isn’t widely celebrated in Iran and is not a public holiday, however it is a very special time of year. On 21st December, Irani and Persian cultures celebrate ‘Shab-e Yalda’ or ‘Shab-e Chelleh’ which marks the winter solstice. Yalda means “birth” and reflects the birth of Christ and Chelleh means 40 and marks the 40th night of winter. Eating pomegranates and watermelons are important at Yalda/Chelleh as the red colour reflects dawn rising after the shortest day of the year. Yalda cakes are a common treat, decorated to look like watermelons! In some parts of the country, it’s tradition that 40 different types of food (mostly fruit and nuts) be served. After eating, many families read poetry and tell each other stories, which can go on until dawn.
