Advent calendars, singing carol songs, Putting up and decorating your Christmas tree, baking holiday cookies, and opening presents are known annual Christmas traditions. Still, that isn't all Christmas is, and some of the ways Christmas is celebrated in other places around the world might surprise you. Different cultures across the globe have a specific way they spend their holidays, and you might find most of these odd, but to some people, it isn't Christmas without these traditions. After reading this article, try some of these traditions for yourself. It is always fun to learn new things. 

 

 Finnland: On Christmas morning, families traditionally eat a porridge made of rice and milk topped with cinnamon, milk, or butter. Whoever finds the almond placed in one of the puddings "wins." It is customary to warm up in a sauna together. In Finland, Santa is called Joulupukki. This means 'Christmas Goat' as it used to ask people for presents - and certainly didn't give them! Joulupukki might also be called 'Pukki'!

 

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Denmark: On the evening of December 24, Danish families place their Christmas tree in the middle of the room and dance around it while singing carols. In Denmark, many people go to a Church Service on Christmas Eve at about 4.00 pm to hear the Christmas sermon or talk. It's also an old, traditional custom to treat animals on Christmas Eve, so some people go for a walk in the park or woods, and they might take some food to give the animals and birds. You might also go for a walk to provide you with an appetite for the Christmas meal! In Denmark, children believe their presents are brought by the 'Julemanden' ('Christmas Man' or 'Yule Man'). He looks very similar to Santa Claus and travels with a sleigh and reindeer. He lives in Greenland, likes rice pudding and is helped by 'nisser' who are like elves.

 

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Martinique: In the French Caribbean island of Martinique, la ribote is a longstanding tradition where families visit their neighbours during Advent and on New Year's Day bearing holiday food like yams, boudin créole, pâtés salés, and pork stew. They sing Christmas carols together in the early morning, adding their creole verses to traditional lyrics.

 

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Nigeria: Christmas in Nigeria is a family event when many family members come together to celebrate and have fun. Most families, that live in cities, travel to the villages where their grandparents and older relatives live.Many different languages are spoken in Nigeria. In Hausa Happy/Merry Christmas is 'barka dà Kirsìmatì'; in Yoruba it's 'E ku odun, e ku iye'dun'; in Fulani it's 'Jabbama be salla Kirismati'; in Igbo (Ibo) 'E keresimesi Oma'; in Ibibio 'Idara ukapade isua' and it's Edo it's 'Iselogbe'. Happy/Merry Christmas in lots more languages.

Many families will throw Christmas parties that will last all night long on Christmas Eve! Then, on Christmas Morning, they go to church to give thanks to God. Homes and streets are often decorated. Most homes will have an artificial Christmas tree. Children love to play with firecrackers at Christmas. The church choir may visit the church congregation in their homes to sing Christmas carols to them. Christmas cards are sent to friends and family members. Presents are exchanged amongst family members and some families may take their children dressed in new outfits to see Santa Claus. In addition to serving turkey, a traditional Christmas meal in Nigeria may include beef, goat, sheep, ram or chicken. Other dishes might have pounded yam, jollof rice, fried rice, vegetable salad and some type of stew.

 

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Barbados: A Christmas table in Barbados isn't complete without a baked ham decorated with pineapple and sorrel glazes, a rum cake, and Jug Jug, a dish inspired by the Scottish influence on the island combining pigeon peas, guinea corn flour, herbs, and salt meat.

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Philippines :People in the Philippines like to celebrate Christmas for as long as possible! The carols in shops can start in September! The formal Christmas celebrations start on 16th December when many people go to the first of nine pre-dawn or early morning masses. The Christmas celebrations continue until Epiphany is celebrated on the First Sunday in January. In the Philippines the early masses held before Christmas are called the 'Misa de Gallo' or 'Simbang Gabi' in Filipino. Most Filipinos are Christians with about 80% of people being Catholics. It's the only Asian country with so many Christians. Because of this, Christmas is the most important holiday in the Philippines. December is actually one of the 'cooler' months of the year in the Philippines. The Philippines only has two real seasons, wet (June to October) and dry (April and May). December is one of the months in between the wet and dry seasons.

 

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Botswana: Botswana is in the southern hemisphere, so Christmas comes during the summer when it is very hot. During the spring, families who own cows and goats take their livestock to live far away from their fields in a place called cattlepost. Some cows and goats always live at the cattleposts, but others are moved to the cattlepost in the spring and back to the village area in the fall. About one third of people live in the cities of Gaborone, Francistown Jwaneng and Lobatse. About a week before Christmas, most people from these cities travel back to their home villages. And then, people from the villages travel out to their cattleposts for several days after Christmas. The churches in the villages have special services on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Eve, the church is usually more full than on any other day of the year. Sometimes three different choirs will sing during the Christmas Eve Service: the regular choir, the youth choir and a children's choir.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Dominican Rebuplic : It's warm at Christmas time in the Dominican Republic. Because there are no fir trees, the Dominican Republic has unique Christmas decorations called 'Charamicos' (a slang word for a dry tree branch). These started as hand made small Christmas trees made from straw, branches and bendable wood, which were painted white - to look like snow! But now you can get Charamicos in all shapes like balls, stars, angels, animals, and trees. Charamicos can also be very brightly colored as well as white.

 

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Portugal and brazil :Brazilian and Portuguese families come together on Christmas Eve to eat dinner as late as 10 p.m. Then, at exactly midnight, they exchanges gifts, toasts, and wish each other a Merry Christmas. Midnight mass, Missa Do Galo (Rooster Mass), is a chance to meet up with neighbors and extended family to wish them well for the holiday season. The service is often followed by fireworks in the town square. Pictured: Cathedral Square in Mariana, Minas Gerais, Brazil

 

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South Africa: While the traditions around South Africa vary by region and culture, most families come together for a cookout, called braaing, on holiday. Marinated steaks and boerewors sausages serve as the main course, followed by a customary dessert of malva pudding (pictured) served with a custard. In addition, traditional fir Christmas trees are decorated with various baubles, including hand-beaded African ornaments.

 

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El Salvador: Central American countries like El Salvador toast Christmas with fireworks displays on December 24 and 25. Children celebrate with smaller firecrackers called volcanos (little volcanos) and Estrellita's (little stars), while those who are a little older tend to prefer the larger varieties and Roman candles. Pictured: A Christmas tree in front of the National Palace at the historic center of San Salvador, El Salvador.

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