Christmas is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the world, but how people mark December 25 varies dramatically from country to country.

From midnight feasts and church services to parades, fireworks, and even witch-like gift-bringers, Christmas traditions reflect the unique cultures that celebrate it.

Here’s a look at how Christmas is celebrated around the world, from snowy Europe to sunny beaches in the Southern Hemisphere.

United Kingdom: A Feast and the Queen’s (Now King’s) Speech

In the UK, Christmas combines family, food, and festive traditions.

• Christmas dinner usually features roast turkey, stuffing, and Christmas pudding.
• Children pull Christmas crackers at the table, complete with paper crowns and jokes.
• The King’s Christmas Speech (previously the Queen’s) is broadcast across the nation on December 25.
• Boxing Day (December 26) is also a public holiday, often filled with shopping and sports.

United States: Lights, Santa, and Stockings

In the USA, Christmas is celebrated with plenty of sparkle.

• Homes and neighborhoods are decorated with extravagant lights.
• Santa Claus is central, delivering gifts on Christmas Eve.
• Children hang stockings by the fireplace to be filled with treats.
• Christmas dinner varies, but ham, turkey, and pumpkin pie are common.

Germany: Advent Calendars and Christmas Markets

Germany is home to many beloved Christmas traditions.

• Advent calendars and Advent wreaths mark the countdown to Christmas.
• Christmas markets fill town squares with stalls selling mulled wine, gingerbread, and ornaments.
• On December 5, children leave shoes out for St. Nicholas Day; good kids find treats, naughty ones may get coal.
• The festive season ends with Epiphany, celebrated by groups of children singing carols door to door.

Italy: Midnight Mass and La Befana

Italy’s Christmas is steeped in Catholic traditions.

• Families attend midnight mass at churches, with St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome drawing global attention.
• Nativity scenes (presepi) are displayed in homes and town squares.
• Instead of Santa Claus, many children receive gifts from La Befana, a kindly old witch who delivers presents on Epiphany (January 6).

Spain: Three Kings and Parades

In Spain, Christmas is celebrated with flair, but the biggest day for children comes later.

• On January 6, Three Kings’ Day (Día de los Reyes Magos) marks the arrival of the Wise Men.
• Parades with floats and sweets fill cities on January 5.
• Traditional foods include turrón (nougat) and roscón de reyes, a sweet bread with hidden surprises inside.

Mexico: Las Posadas and Piñatas

In Mexico, Christmas blends Catholic rituals with festive celebrations.

• Las Posadas is a nine-day reenactment of Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter, ending in parties with piñatas.
• Christmas Eve (Nochebuena) is celebrated with a late-night feast and midnight mass.
• Families enjoy foods like tamales and bacalao (salted cod).
• Fireworks and colorful decorations brighten the season.

Philippines: The Longest Christmas Season

The Philippines has the world’s longest Christmas celebration, starting as early as September.

• Simbang Gabi, a series of dawn masses, leads up to Christmas.
• Lanterns called parols, shaped like stars, are displayed everywhere.
• Christmas Eve is marked by Noche Buena, a big family feast after midnight mass.
• With over 80% of the population Catholic, it’s the country’s biggest holiday.

Australia and New Zealand: A Summer Christmas

In the Southern Hemisphere, Christmas falls in the middle of summer.

• Families often celebrate with barbecues on the beach instead of fireside dinners.
• In Australia, Carols by Candlelight is a beloved tradition, with outdoor concerts held nationwide.
• New Zealand embraces Pōhutukawa trees, which bloom bright red during December, as a festive symbol.

Japan: KFC for Christmas Dinner

Although Christmas isn’t a traditional holiday in Japan, it has taken on a quirky twist.

• Many families celebrate with a meal of fried chicken from KFC, thanks to a marketing campaign in the 1970s.
• Christmas Eve is seen as a romantic holiday, similar to Valentine’s Day.
• Illuminations light up city streets, making December one of the most beautiful times to visit.

Ethiopia: Celebrating in January

In Ethiopia, where Orthodox Christianity is dominant, Christmas is called Ganna and celebrated on January 7.

• Worshippers wear white robes and attend church services that last for hours.
• Traditional foods include spicy stews and injera (flatbread).
• Celebrations are more religious than commercial, focusing on faith and family.

Other Unique Christmas Traditions

• Iceland: Children are visited by the 13 Yule Lads, mischievous figures who leave treats or potatoes in shoes.
• Norway: Families hide their brooms on Christmas Eve to prevent witches from stealing them.
• Ukraine: Christmas trees are decorated with spider webs, symbolizing good luck.
• Venezuela: In Caracas, it’s traditional to roller-skate to early morning mass.
• Poland: Families share opłatek, a wafer, before Christmas Eve dinner as a symbol of peace.

Final Thoughts

Christmas may share themes of family, light, and generosity worldwide, but each culture has its own way of celebrating. From Mexico’s piñatas to Japan’s KFC feasts, these Christmas traditions around the world highlight the diversity of a holiday that transcends borders.

Whether you’re unwrapping gifts by the fire in Europe, enjoying a barbecue on the beach in Australia, or attending midnight mass in the Philippines, Christmas brings people together in unique and joyful ways.