Traveling during Christmas is one of the best ways to experience how different cultures mark the season.
These cultures come together, blending religious faith, winter folklore and local climate. For instance, families in Italy celebrate La Vigilia (Christmas Eve) with a traditional meatless fish feast, followed by panettone and then wait for La Befana, a friendly Christmas witch.
Mexico and parts of Latin America center on Las Posadas processions, piñatas and community gatherings. Japan, however, treats Christmas as a commercial and a romantic holiday rather than a traditional one.
Central Europe feels closest to the classic winter Christmas, with wooden markets in Germany, Austria and Czechia, mulled wine, roasted chestnuts and outdoor evening gatherings.
Christmas in New Zealand and Australia takes place during the warm summer season, which includes beach barbeques, outdoor concerts and summer heat instead of snow.
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Tips to explore different Christmas cultures during this festive season
Christmas is celebrated in diverse ways through food, decorations and different activities across the world.
This Christmas, you can celebrate uniquely by exploring how different cultures mark the season. Here are some tips:
1) In Japanese culture, many celebrate Christmas as a romantic holiday rather than a religious event. In Japan, Christmas Eve is treated much like Valentine’s Day. Couples book fancy restaurants in advance, and others eat their iconic KFC meal during the holiday. You can do the same and share a KFC Christmas dinner with your loved ones or enjoy a romantic walk.
2) Germans start celebrating this festival weeks before December 24, and it spans several days. Visit or recreate Weihnachtsmärkte (traditional Christmas markets held across Germany) and count down with Advent calendars.
3) If you are planning to mark Christmas festivities in a unique way this season, then do it as the Mexicans and Latin Americans do. The festival centers on Nochebuena (Christmas Eve). Participate in Las Posadas processions, night community walks held from December 16 through December 24. They re-enact Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem and their search for shelter before the birth of Jesus Christ. Attend a late-night church service, called La Misa de Gallo (meaning “Rooster’s Mass” or “Shepherd’s Mass” in Spanish) and break open star-shaped piñatas.
4) If you have not found a suitable option yet, then follow how Filipinos observe the occasion. They celebrate the longest Christmas season in the world, marked by their Catholic faith and Filipino culture. This Christmas season, decorate your homes with Parol like the Filipinos. These are star-shaped bamboo and paper lanterns that symbolize the Star of Bethlehem. Prepare traditional treats like bibingka (baked rice cake), puto bumbong (steamed purple rice cake), lechon (roasted pig), pancit, ham, queso de bola and fruit salad.
5) Celebrate a warm summer Christmas like the Australians with beach picnics and barbeques. Friends and family gather to indulge in prawns, lobster and sing carols outdoors.
6) Sweden celebrates Christmas beginning in early December with St. Lucia’s Day. Honor St. Lucia with a morning procession where someone wears a crown of lit candles and a white robe, singing traditional songs. Host a Christmas dinner in Swedish style by preparing a massive buffet featuring Christmas ham (julskinka), Pickled herring (sill) and Jansson’s temptation (a creamy potato, onion and sprat casserole). After the meal, wash it down with julmust (a sweet, seasonal carbonated soft drink) or dark Christmas beer (julöl).
Exploring Christmas cultures from around the world makes the festive season richer and more connected, whether through a shared meal of Japanese KFC, a handmade Filipino parol or a German market stroll.
