It’s the most wonderful time of the year. For a couple of weeks every year the world takes on a magic glow, people seem merrier and even winter somehow feels cozy. Christmas is celebrated everywhere in the world but its tradition vary from country to country.
This year I asked on Instagram if some of you wanted to take part in sharing your Christmas traditions. I got many positive reactions and I want to thank @lovealwaysjoann for giving me the idea to write this post. Out of all the people who were willing to take the interview, I picked five random ones. Let’s find find out who they are, how they celebrate Christmas, if they do and where they come from.
First one is @martheschippers from the Netherlands.
What holiday do you celebrate if you don’t celebrate Christmas?
Although we do celebrate Christmas in the traditional sense that stems from the religious origins, we have another holiday that is similar to the secular version of Christmas people celebrate in the U.S.
During this holiday, called Sinterklaas, we celebrate the birthday of an old saint that supposedly came from Spain by boat. He knows if you’ve behaved or misbehaved in the past year and brings presents accordingly (like Santa). His birthday is on the 5th of December instead of during Christmas. Unfortunately, this holiday is extremely controversial and causes riots each year, because Sinterklaas’ helpers (Zwarte Pieten or ‘Black Petes’) are supposed to be black from the chimney, but in fact people wear blackface. I’m really ashamed of this tradition and only take part in the gift-giving with my friends and family. Other than that, I think it’s insane that many people in the Netherlands (which seem so tolerant and respectful) fight so hard to keep this racist tradition in place.
What are some of your holiday traditions (food, gift exchange, decorations, etc.)
For the above reason, many Dutchies have switched to the non-religious celebration of Christmas. For me and my family, it is a bit of a mixture! We have a lovely Christmas tree and decorations that don’t focus on religion. The most important part of Christmas is to spend time with family and enjoy an amazing meal. Usually, my family and I prepare a huge meal, with a lot of different dishes that everyone can enjoy. Each member of the family prepares one part of the meal. I’m often responsible for the first course J The most Dutch thing to eat during Christmas is to “Gourmet” (see picture below), although my family and I don’t like it very it much. It is essentially a table grill and everyone prepares their own food. It means your whole house will smell for the week to come).
Although we don’t usually do a gift exchange for Christmas (because we already do that for Sinterklaas), my mom buys each of us a cheap lottery ticket and a book, wraps it up and puts in under the tree. We are allowed to open it on the “Second Christmas Day” (for U.S. I think this might be boxing day?) and usually spend the whole day reading the book, and I love that.
Besides this non-religious part of Christmas, me and my family do still go to church on Christmas eve and sometimes Christmas morning. I think we mainly do it because it is tradition. Church during Christmas Eve is my favorite and only time during the year I go to Church, because the local orchestra plays all Christmas songs and it’s just much more jazzy than usual! So, during Christmas, even atheists sometimes go.
Who do you celebrate with?
I tend to celebrate it with my close family only (my brother, sister, parents, and grandma), but this varies across the country. Fun fact: besides Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Dutchies have a “Second Christmas Day” to rest from a full belly or to make it easier for people that have two families to go to, to spread it over two days. We don’t celebrate with an entire, big group of multiple families, so if you’re in a relationship you usually spend one night at your own family, and one night at your partner’s family.
Do you celebrate at your home or somewhere else?
At home! It’s cozy with the Christmas tree and lights on everywhere.
What is your favorite part about the holidays?
Spending time with my family who I don’t see every day! That, and preparing a meal together with each their own responsible dish. It’s busy in the kitchen but there’s nothing I love more.
Is there any place you’d like to visit for the holidays?
Last year I was in Australia for Christmas, the year before that I was in Florida. It’s fun, but too hot to actually feel like Christmas. To be honest, I am extremely happy to be back in my own, cold, dark country for the holidays this year! There’s no place like home. However, I would love to go to an actual cold, snow-packed place like Sweden or Norway for the holidays at least once 🙂
Do you have any special holiday memories you would like to share for the blog?
When I was really young, my parents would wake me up each year on Christmas eve at midnight. A small band of the Orchestra would walk through town and stop in a neighborhood to play some Christmas songs in the middle of the night. They always stopped directly in front of my house, so I could see and hear them from my bedroom window. It was so magical to hear them play “Silent night” each year, in the cold, in the middle of the night.
Next one is @steveng427 from Chicago, Illinois.
What holiday do you celebrate if you don’t celebrate Christmas?
Christmas
What are some of your holiday traditions (food, gift exchange, decorations, etc.)
Every year my family, which is pretty large, partakes in a white elephant gift exchange. It is fun to see the goofy and unique gifts people find.
Who do you celebrate with?
My partner and I celebrate together on Christmas Day and then we travel to each other’s families.
Do you celebrate at your home or somewhere else?
We celebrate in Chicago and the near by suburbs.
What is your favorite part about the holidays?
My partner and I love decorating our apartment. It’s so nice to come home and relax after work with all of the Christmas lights on.
Is there any place you’d like to visit for the holidays?
We plan a vacation to somewhere warm each year after Christmas. This upcoming vacation is at Puerto Vallarta in Mexico!
Do you have any special holiday memories you would like to share for the blog?
A special memory that comes to mind is opening my stocking every year when I was a kid. There were always special items in there, aside from a ton of candy, that I still have today that remind me of growing up.
Follow up, there’s Lorena from Bergamo, Italy.
What holiday do you celebrate if you don’t celebrate Christmas?
N/A
What are some of your holiday traditions (food, gift exchange, decorations, etc.)
When I was a child, decorations like Christmas tree and the crib. Something that remains nowadays is making lasagna and roast for Christmas lunch and gift exchange with my parents and close relatives that I considered part of my family.
Who do you celebrate with?
Relatives and in-laws, the more the merrier.
Do you celebrate at your home or somewhere else?
At my grandma’s home.
What is your favorite part about the holidays?
Spending time with my family, telling memories and have a lot of fun.
Is there any place you’d like to visit for the holidays?
Somewhere with a lot of snow!
Do you have any special holiday memories you would like to share for the blog?
My beloved grandpa who returns from the hospital only to celebrate his last Christmas with us.
Then we have @globetrottersm from India
What holiday do you celebrate if you don’t celebrate Christmas?
In India there are many major festivities. We celebrate Christmas since there are many Christians living in India, also this is a public holiday. Apart from Christmas, Eid, Diwali (The festival of lights), Holi (The festival of colors) and Durga Puja (The festival of the Goddess who won over evil).
What are some of your holiday traditions (food, gift exchange, decorations, etc.)
Apart from food, gifts and decorations there is also one more aspect that is of buying new clothes. Each festival is marked by the colorful clothes that people wear.
There is something special called plum cake made during Christmas in the
southern state of Kerala. It is a cake made with fruits and nuts soaked in alcohol (rum or brandy). I absolutely love this fruitcake.
Who do you celebrate with?
Normally with family and friends.
Do you celebrate at your home or somewhere else?
In India festivals either mean you are celebrating at home or many people use the occasion to visit their relatives or go on vacation and celebrate it there. In my home state (Eastern part of India) on 25th December a lot of people go on picnic as the weather is pleasant around this time.
What is your favorite part about the holidays?
Undoubtedly food and the festive atmosphere in general.
Is there any place you’d like to visit for the holidays?
Someplace where one can immerse oneself in the festive atmosphere.
Do you have any special holiday memories you would like to share for the blog?
I was convent educated, so Christmas was a special time for us. We would love to decorate cribs at school, wait to have the delicious cakes at the convent where nuns lived and visit the orphanage or children’s home to celebrate with them.
Also, at home we had this tradition of baking cake and preparing lots of food on Christmas day which included fragrant, nutty rice pudding, rich mutton (goat) curry and a typical vegetable fried rice, that looked really colorful, as it was onset of winter and there were a lot of fresh seasonal vegetables available in the market. It was a public holiday which meant that everybody was at home to enjoy the food.
Last but not least, we have Natalia from Warsaw, Poland. Though her traditions are influenced by southwestern ones from Silesia.
What holiday do you celebrate if you don’t celebrate Christmas?
N/A
What are some of your holiday traditions (food, gift exchange, decorations, etc.)
Food – due to christian background, there must be 12 dishes on the table (representing 12 apostols) on Christmas eve, including a variety of rustic hearty (pescatarian) food… like pierogi (doughy delicious dumplings [half moon or tortellini shape] stuffed mashed potato cottage cheese and onion, or minced mushrooms; beetroot soup; several types of fish (traditionally carp [which one used to buy alive and keep it in a bathtub until Xmas eve] but it is now rare); smoked fruit compote; any polish cake (too long to describe); an amazing dessert from minced poppy seed and barley with honey, raisins, nuts and dark chocolate… aaand I’m sure there’s more.
*the pictures below are from a celebration in England so you’ll see Xmas crackers, which are definitely not Polish 🙂
We decorate the house in a typical Christmasy way in predictable colours ranging from red, green to dark blue and autumnal BUT it’s mostly the tree that’s sparkly (AND the windows! all houses must be polished clean and fabrics ironed for the birth of Jesus!).
We always leave one empty table cover for a possible stranger to come and join us (aka Jesus). Before eating we all wish each other well and exchange blessings. We exchange gifts after dinner on Xmas eve after the first star comes out on the sky and enjoy the evening together (young ones singing carols), then proceed to eat what we cooked for at least two days!
Who do you celebrate with?
Exclusively family; friends have access before or after Christmas eve
Do you celebrate at your home or somewhere else?
Always at home; or grandparents house
What is your favorite part about the holidays?
The food, definitely the food – it’s hundreds of years of Polish rural goodness and i love the preparation process – it’s long and calming. and polish versions of carols are amazing.
Is there any place you’d like to visit for the holidays?
I’d like to go to the German Christmas markets! but otherwise, somewhere warm ;)! (as many people do in PL)
In addiction, down south in Krakow (the old capital of Poland) the markets and nativity expositions are also very beautiful and there is bound to be more snow, so I wouldn’t mind going there! Gorgeous old area.
Do you have any special holiday memories you would like to share for the blog?
I had once cooked the entire Christmas dinner on my own and I don’t recommend it to anyone! By present-exchange time I was dozing off! Involve your loved ones!
But otherwise, I always loved being the youngest as a kid, I was the ‘star’ whose job it was to give presents from under the tree to the right people 🙂
Merry Christmas, Buon Natale and Happy Holidays to all of you!!
Love it! Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome! Thank you for reading it 🙂 Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Jeanne!
Christmas Day is observed around the world, and Christmas Eve is widely observed as a full or partial holiday in anticipation of Christmas Day. Together, both days are considered one of the most culturally significant celebrations in Christendom and Western society .
I agree, they are celebrated in so many different ways and Christmas Eve maybe even more!