So, what are some of your Christmas traditions? Eating a mince pie with a cup of tea? Gathering around the dinner table with a big roast dinner and Christmas crackers scattered amongst family members? Or maybe you’re off to see the local pantomime this weekend with your friends!?
The United Kingdom has an array of Christmas traditions a lot of us partake in every year, but did you know there’s even more traditions around the world? The holidays are almost among us and Father Christmas is getting ready to embark on his yearly adventure around the world where he’ll see millions of children with lots of different Christmas traditions- today we are going to learn about some of them!
1- Germany, The Christmas pickle.
Similar to us in the UK, Germans decorate their trees with decorations and baubles. In their tradition however, on Christmas Eve they hang a pickle ornament on one of the trees branches, the person who finds the pickle gets an extra present and is believed to have good luck for the next year.
2- Australia, Christmas Bay Watch.
In the UK at Christmas you normally find everyone with multiple layers on getting cosy around the fire, but Australians do quite literally the opposite. They layer on the sun cream, jump in their swim gear and fire up the BBQ for their Christmas day!
3- Japan, KFC to go please!
Believe it or not, the main meal eaten at Christmas in Japan is KFC and fried chicken! It’s the busiest time of year for eateries like KFC and people even place their orders in advance.
4- Sweden, the Yule Goat.
The Yule Goat has been a Christmas symbol going back to ancient pagan festivals. In 1966, the tradition got a whole new life after someone came up with the idea to make a giant straw goat, now referred to as the Gävle Goat.
5- Iceland, shoes off.
Children in Iceland are visited by the ’13 Yule Lads’ during Christmas Eve. In this tradition, they leave their shoes on the windowsill and wake up Christmas morning to find them either filled with sweets, or rotten potatoes if they’ve been naughty!
