The countdown to Christmas has begun, and people around the world may already be planning how they will spend their Christmas weekend this year and make it even more special than in 2025.
Some people follow certain traditions every Christmas, like visiting their parents, old friends and cousins. Others prefer to go on a trip and celebrate their holiday at a destination instead. Christmas is widely recognized as one of the most widely celebrated global festivals.
Celebrations look different around the globe, with places having their own traditions and cultures for celebrating Xmas. For example, people in New Zealand grill on the beaches because Christmas falls in summer; in the USA, many people hide a pickle ornament on the Christmas tree, and the lucky one to find it gets an extra present and more.
Keeping that in mind, we take a look at the seven most unique Christmas cultures in the world.
#7. Philippines’ Christmas lantern festival
In the Philippines, people celebrate Christmas by hosting a massive lantern festival in the city of San Fernando, where they light oversized lanterns together, lighting up Christmas night and creating a must-see annual event.
This famous tradition has earned San Fernando the title “Christmas Capital of the Philippines.” In the early 1900s, locals lit their way along the path before electricity arrived. After electricity arrived, people kept making oversized lanterns for Christmas as a badge of honor, turning it into a cultural tradition.
#6. Finland’s lucky almond tradition
In Finland, people begin Christmas Eve with breakfast, where the chef drops an Almond in a bowl of porridge before serving it. According to tradition and belief, the person who finds the almond in the pudding has good health and fortune for the next year.
#5. Sweden’s Yule goat
Long before Santa Claus became famous at Christmas, a magical goat was the main winter mythical character across Nordic countries. Some people in the area build Julbock (Magical Goat) from the last harvest of grain straw and place them outside their houses to bring good omens for their family.
These days, a Giant Gävle Goat made entirely of straw stands in Sweden’s Gävle Town Square, reaching 40 feet tall. Over the years, it has become a local tradition.
#4. The skating tradition of Venezuela
In Caracas, Venezuela, people celebrate from December 16 to Christmas Eve, and they have a fun tradition of heading to church on roller skates for the early-morning service. The street closes to cars until 8 a.m., giving skaters a safe place to skate. People often create great sights during their skating sessions by forming a train.
#3. South Korea’s money tradition
South Korea has a long-standing tradition of giving money to family and loved ones in a colorful envelope on New Year’s.
#2. Italy’s magical witch
Santa Claus is a world-famous mythological character who is widely associated with Christmas, and kids wait for Santa to appear and give them the presents they want. However, kids in Italy not only wait for Santa Claus, but they also eagerly wait for La Befana, a good witch who comes on a flying broomstick and delivers the gifts.
#1. Austria’s dark side
Christmas is well known for its positive, fun side, especially for kids who eagerly wait for Santa Claus to deliver the presents they want. However, for people in Austria and the Alpine region, Christmas has a darker side: Santa Claus doesn’t give presents to good kids, and Krampus, a demonic character half goat, half man, comes alongside Santa to punish naughty and mischievous kids.
