Christmas Traditions Around the World: Readers Share Their Own

Christmas Traditions Around the World: Readers Share Their Own

What do you do for Christmas every year? Whether you celebrate with the in-laws at home or fly the kids somewhere warm over Christmas break, traditions can change quite significantly depending on where you celebrate the holidays. Here are some Christmas traditions from different cultures around the world, as well as some from our reader rewards members! 

Venezuela 

It is customary for families to roller skate to daily church services. This Venezuelan tradition, called Las Patinatas (The Skating) is so beloved that some streets close to cars so skaters can safely reach church. 

Netherlands 

In the Netherlands, Dutch children celebrate the appearance of Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas), who is said to arrive by steamboat to deliver small gifts and treats to children. 

Iceland

During Iceland’s beloved “Jólabókaflóð,” or “Christmas Book Flood,” people exchange newly published books as Christmas presents on Christmas Eve. 

Ethiopia 

Ethiopia follows its own ancient, 13-monthed calendar, so Christmas, also called Ganna, falls on January 7th. One Ethiopian Christmas game closely resembles field hockey and is tied to the shepherds’ story from the Nativity. 

Syria 

In Syria, the children await a visit from the Christmas Camel, one of the three camels that carried the three wise men to Bethlehem. It is said that Jesus blessed the weary camel and now the Christmas Camel takes gifts to children who leave hay and water out on Christmas Eve to welcome him. 

 

In a recent Reader Rewards activity, we asked what traditions make Christmas come alive for our members. While specific traditions differed, many responses centered around the same theme: togetherness. Whether through Christmas morning cinnamon rolls with the family, caroling with friends, or special services with a church community, the theme of togetherness wove itself through almost every answer. 

Here are some of the different ways in which Tyndale reader rewards members spend their holiday season: 

 

“Homemade kolache from my great grandmother’s recipe from Czechoslovakia.” 

“A favorite childhood Christmas tradition was to go with our dad on Christmas eve to get our Christmas tree.  We took it home and decorated it.  I later found out that we always waited to get our tree on Christmas Eve because trees were marked down in price then.  Money was tight then, but we kids never realized it.  We were loved and happy.  My mom served oyster stew, a tradition that I didn’t like.  The oyster stew was a tradition from her childhood. She could have saved that money as far as I was concerned.” 

“Playing white elephant game, everyone donates something they don’t want.” 

“We eat Aebleskiver, which originated in Denmark.” 

“One of our family’s Christmas traditions is going up on top of the orphanage roof (we are missionaries in Guatemala) & watching the city’s fireworks display at Midnight on Christmas day.” 

“Going to church on Christmas morning for a service and singing the “Hallelujah Chorus” together. This has been happening at my church as long as I can remember.” 

“Hiding a pickle ornament in the tree.” 

“On Christmas morning prior to exchanging gifts, we read the story of Jesus’ birth from the Bible.  When a grandchild is old enough to read, they are asked to read the story.  It is quite an honor, and the children look forward to when they are old enough to read the special story. My father-in-law started this with my children when they were young.” 

“Oyster stew and Lefsa on Christmas Eve. A Norwegian tradition from my mom.” 

“My oma taught us the Dutch version of ‘Silent Night’ to sing each year: ‘Stille Nacht’.” 

“Posole and Tamales on Christmas Eve, red and green Chile on the table with the meal on Christmas day.” 

“We collect money among our family to help the poor. It started with my grandmother.” 

“Well as a Puerto Rican we have the longest Christmas in the word. Ours start basically before Thanksgiving. For King’s Day (January 6) the night before the kids pick grass in a box for the camels. And it basically ends in middle February.” 

“We live in Mexico and in Mexico they have Posadas which came from the idea that there was no room for Jesus at his birth, so we open our homes to show we have room for him and friends too.” 

“I didn’t grow up celebrating Christmas, but since I’ve had children, I started celebrating Advent.  I love these days of reading Scripture and anticipating Christmas Day with my little ones.” 

“My family is a mix of Puerto Rican, Italian, and European. We live in Puerto Rico, and we have a different tradition than most families. We buy sushi fixings and everyone participates making rolls.” 

“Our Christmas tradition is to make lots of different kinds of Christmas cookies and deliver them to the neighbors. It’s a tradition that my husband started on his own because he loves to try out different recipes. However, everyone’s favorites seem to be peanut butter balls and toffee bars, so he has to make them every year.” 

“Waiting for midnight, the beginning of December 25th, to eat together as a family. In the Philippines we call the meal noche buena.” 

 

 

Discover books, both fiction and nonfiction, with new Christmas traditions!