Christmas is one of the most celebrated and anticipated holidays of the year. The usual American tradition is putting up a Christmas tree, hanging lights outside the house, buying a bunch of big presents, hanging stockings and much more. However, not many countries do this. Instead, they all have many different types of traditions that not many people outside of that country know about.
Japan
Japan’s Christmas is more based on romance and fun than religion or family. It mainly mirrors the traditions of Valentine’s Day in the USA and UK.
Sophomore Mariko Uriu says, “In Japan we usually eat KFC and usually stay with your boyfriend or girlfriend.”
Christmas in Japan is mainly couples-based and includes key traditions of going on dates on Christmas Eve and exchanging gifts with each other. Some non-couples-based Christmas traditions include eating sponge cake, visiting Tokyo Disneyland, and taking down all Christmas decorations on Dec. 26.
Australia
Christmas in Australia is during the beginning of their summer holidays. Children have their holidays from mid-December to early February. Australians have a unique summer celebration of traditional European customs, with outdoor vibes featuring beach BBQs with prawns and ham, pavlova for dessert, light displays and big family meals often with cricket matches or swims.
One fact about Australia is that they have Christmas carols with original Australian specials due to most carols being about snow and cold winters. Australian carols’ lyrics are often changed to Australian lingo or even original carols just for the country.
Jamaica
Christmas in Jamaica is taken seriously, with radio stations playing carols all throughout the Christmas season. Many people paint their houses, hang up new curtains and decorate for Christmas. Most people spend Christmas day with their friends and family members at home.
In every town and city within Jamaica, there’s a cross between a festival and a market. During the day people go shopping for Christmas foods, sweets and toys.
The ‘Grand Market’ happens at 6 p.m. and lasts until the morning. Everyone will come out in their new or best clothes to celebrate and party all night. Food vendors are normally there selling food like jerk chicken, boiled corn and sweets such as candy and sugarcane. Following the Grand Market, some people might go to a midnight mass church service, others will party all night, or church services will happen on Christmas morning before the end of the Grand Market.
Belgium
Christmas, St. Nicholas’ Eve and St. Nicholas Day are separate occasions in Belgium. Christmas is more of a religious holiday, while St. Nicholas Day is for kids. On St. Nicholas’ Eve and St. Nicholas Day, children in Belgium believe that Sinterklass/St. Niklaas, their version of Santa, brings them presents on Dec. 5 and 6, St. Nicholas’ Eve and St. Nicholas Day. Children put their shoes in front of the fireplace and put something out for Sinterklaas, such as a drawing or biscuits. They’ll even leave a carrot for Sinterklass’s horse and for his assistant, Zwarte Piet/Sooty Piet/Roetpiet.
Christmas traditions in Belgium include huge multi-course feasts on Christmas Eve with log cakes, grand Christmas markets like Brussels’ Winter Wonders and Epiphany (Three Kings Day) which is celebrated 12 days after Christmas due to the ‘Three Kings’ visiting Jesus when he was born. Traditions on this day include children singing carols door to door dressed as the ‘Three Wise Men’ for money or sweets and eating special pie with a hidden bean or trinket inside, with the holiday ending on Jan. 6. Christmas Day is a quiet family day focused on enjoying gifts and eating leftovers from the feast.
Nigeria
Christmas in Nigeria is mainly a family event, where lots of family members come together to celebrate. Most families that live overseas or in cities travel to the villages where their grandparents and older relatives live.
Families will throw Christmas parties on Christmas Eve that will last all night. Then, on Christmas morning, they’ll go to church. The church choir will visit the church congregation in their homes to sing Christmas carols.
Cuba
Christmas in Cuba was banned from 1969 to 1998. The past Cuban leader, Fidel Castro, didn’t want any religious celebrations. During the period it was banned, people still discreetly celebrated Christmas. It was later made a public holiday again in 1998 in honor of the Pope visiting the country. After the ban was lifted, the Christmas holidays became much more widespread. Before the ban was lifted, they celebrated Epiphany, a holiday where people exchange presents and children hope that the ‘Three Kings’ would bring them presents. To this day it’s still widely celebrated.
Christmas Eve is called ‘Nochebuena’ translating to goodnight in English. Nochebuena is when families have their main meal and celebrations together. The traditional dishes include roast pork, fried plantains, rice and vegetables. Desserts include rice pudding or sweet potato pudding. A popular tradition after dinner is attending a midnight mass church service.
Las Parrandas is a traditional celebration on Christmas Eve in the town of Remedios. It’s a very loud parade and party with many different neighborhoods in town. The celebration starts at 10 p.m. when the church bells ring and at midnight there are fireworks.
Guyana
In the streets of Guyana, you’ll hear the sounds of the traditional masquerade bands. The masquerade bands are a very important part of Guyanese Christmas culture. People will wear colorful costumes and play instruments like drums and flutes. They will parade through the streets, playing and dancing. Sometimes they’ll even dress up as certain characters with special dance moves.
Overall, Christmas is celebrated in many diverse ways where some prioritize family, religion, partying or love, but despite the differences, every tradition has people coming together to celebrate.