I’ve got a real treat for you today! I am taking you on a sleigh ride to peek at how people celebrate Christmas around the world! And you don’t even need to pay for the fare. It’s my feel-good Christmas surprise for you!
I’ve got a bunch of expat friends and bloggers together to write about what Christmas is like for them in their respective adopted countries. It’s a really fun insider’s look at this lovely time of the year.
Have you ever wondered how people celebrate Christmas in other countries? Maybe you didn’t even know that the 25th December is not always a big deal in holiday celebrations at this time of year. Well then, buckle up and come along for the ride to explore Christmas traditions around the world with me!
Christmas in Australia
In case you didn’t know already, I am Australian but have been living in Germany for about 14 years now. Christmas is celebrated in both countries, but there are some BIG differences in how, and when.
“What differences exactly?”, you ask. First up: the season. Germany is in the northern hemisphere, Australia in the southern. That means an Australian Christmas is a warm and sunny one. German Christmases are not, LOL
I have another fun post with lots of details about an Australian Christmas here so I don’t need to tell you everything all over again. Just picture: 25th of December, plastic Christmas tree, sunshine, warmth, BBQs, swimming and some backyard cricket. Ahhhhhhh… 😊
Christmas in Germany
As a child I grew up watching foreign movies of white Christmases and fantasised about having one just like that too. All grown up and now living in Germany, I have come to realise that not all parts of the northern hemisphere are shrouded in snow for winter. Our part of Germany is one of those! I think out of my 14 years here I have experienced a grand total of ONE white Christmas!
Everyone decorates the inside of their homes with beautiful ornaments, lights and lovely trinkets. Perhaps something a little like this…
Many homes also decorate the outside of their home with chains of lights too. But not like this…
In the weeks leading up to Christmas, many German towns and cities host their Weihnachtsmarkt which can draw huge crowds. These Christmas markets are decorated in twinkling lights, hosting stalls full of handmade goods and tasty treats (like candied nuts) and the smell of Lebkuchen (gingerbread) and Glühwein (a hot, spiced red wine). A visit to the Markets is lovely and totally recommended should you ever be in Germany at the right time. And if you’re lucky, it might just snow on you while you’re there!
What I also never knew, until I lived in Germany, is that the Christmas excitement actually gets started on the 24th of December. Heilig Abend as it is known here.
Children are already home on school holidays and almost all businesses close down around lunchtime on this day. In the afternoon some people finish setting up and decorating their tree. Our family usually has had our real (not plastic) tree full of lights and decorations for a week or so. Early in the evening churches hold their Christmas services and then we return to our home and light the fire. In our absence, magically, Christkind has delivered presents to us all and left them wrapped under our Christmas tree. Unlike Santa, Christkind doesn’t expect milk and cookies and doesn’t travel by flying reindeer. 😉
Before the grand unwrapping, a lot of families will sing a few Christmas carols together. (This is one thing my German Hubby insists on, even when the kids are busting to get to their gifts, LOL). Only then may the unwrapping begin!
Dinner is usually an easy and light affair. Is it snobbish to say that I don’t think that the popular cold potato salad and sausages is a lovely Christmas Eve meal??? Our family usually enjoys a meal called Raclette. We have a grill machine with 8 mini pans that we can all load up with slices of cold meats or potatoes, olives, corn kernels, paprika, mushrooms, etc, topped with a thick slab of cheese, then grilled. Sweeter variations are fun too: mandarine, peach or pineapple slices atop a slice of ham. Or as my children have discovered, a plain cookie, topped with a marshmallow and some chocolate 😉. Eat, refill, repeat. It’s like a buffet at your fingertips! An easy, fun, and very social meal, right?!?
Christmas Day itself is usually spent with the extended family with a more sumptuous meal, desserts, wine, more presents, and a long, lazy walk to burn off some of the calories! Frohe Weihnachten!
Christmas in the US
Jen is an Australian who now finds herself in California. And she’s found a bunch of fellow Aussies to celebrate with.
“A fabulous Cali Christmas tradition began four years ago in LA when a then-stranger posted a Facebook event calling for “Orphaned Aussies” to join him and his wife for a Chrissie get-together at their place. “Why not?” I thought, and signed myself up (yes, images from primary school safety class did briefly flash through my mind). Armed with a good Aussie wine I made the trek through LA’s palm-tree lined streets, and I was so happy that I did. Welcomed to a buzzing little apartment room filled with chattering Aussie Orphans, our 2 hosts had cooked up a storm! With decoration-adorned tables occupying the entire living space of their modest home and Christmas music playing loudly from a small stereo, Aussies from across the city joined together to celebrate and indulge in a seemingly never-ending supply of delicious dishes that streamed from their kitchen. The day was sprinkled with Aussie treats: outstanding pavlova, mince pies, lamos, chockie bars, and a group pass-the-parcel with a great haul of Aussie trinkets as the prize. The generosity and open arms of those hosts extended over years that followed – the event migrating to a new patio built for the occasion, outdoor BBQ tucker, new friends and never-ending laughter.”
Christmas in Spain
Sarah is a UK native who packed up and moved to Costa Blanca in Spain in 2019 with her family. Here’s her take on Christmas celebrations in Spain.
“This year will be our second Christmas in Spain and we’ve adopted a bit of a ‘Spanglish’ Christmas with a few traditions from here and the UK. Obviously, things are a bit different this year, but we’ll be celebrating as much as we can. At the start of December, we visit our local towns to see the lights and Belenes (nativity scenes) and of course put up our Christmas tree. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are our English Christmas with lots of food and family games. We put milk and cookies out for Santa on Christmas Eve (and a carrot for Rudolph!) and open our presents on Christmas morning.
After Christmas is our Spanish Christmas when we go to the Three Kings parade on 5th January, our daughter puts her shoe out for the kings to put a present in before bed, and then on the 6th January we have a little family party with lots of food, a bit like another Christmas day!”
Lauren moved from the US and is also living in Spain with her family, in stunning Barcelona. Lauren says:
“Children in Spain wait anxiously for January 6 when the Three Kings (Los Reyes Magos) visit homes and adorn Christmas trees with presents. On the eve before Three Kings Day, large festivals and parades are held to welcome the kings. Sometimes they arrive on a float. Other times by boat. Once even by horse and carriage! The arrival is very special and widely celebrated.
This night is the opportunity children have to give a hand-written note to their favorite king with their wish list inside. Once the parades begin, heaps of candy are tossed into the air for children to snag. Before bedtime, children leave their slippers outside their doors for the Three Kings to “fill”.
The next morning, families gather in the same way they do all over the world for a special feast together. Typical dishes served are roast lamb, seafood, suckling pig, turrón (sweet marzipan and nut bar), and Roscon de Reyes which is a sweet cake dinner with candied fruits on top. Baked inside the cake is a tiny plastic figurine of baby Jesus. Whoever receives the figurine in his or her piece of cake wins king for the day!”
Christmas in Denmark
Kelly is originally from the US but is now living in Denmark with her family. Here’s how they celebrate Christmas there:
“In Denmark, Christmas is celebrated on the 24th. Families get together to go to church in the afternoon, and then, they return home for a long supper that lasts hours. The meal consists of candied potatoes, duck, Danish-style pork roast and red cabbage. The dessert is a rice pudding that has chopped almonds. A full almond is hidden inside, and the one who finds it gets a special prize. After supper, the family holds hands and walks in a circle around the Christmas tree that has lit candles. While walking, they sing songs. After the singing, it is time to open presents.”
Christmas in The Netherlands
Rebekah left Ireland with her British husband and is now living in The Netherlands with their 2 children.
“Here in the Netherlands, we are just recovering from every Dutch kid’s most thrilling time of year – Sinterklaas.
Sinterklaas? You ask…
In mid-November, Sinterklaas arrives by boat from Spain. He looks a bit like a bishop and rides a horse. I don’t want to fat shame, but he looks like he has made better life choices than Santa. Instead of elves, he has questionably face-painted helpers, called ‘Piets’,
They randomly leave chocolate letters, presents and tiny cookies in the kids shoes at night and then there’s a final flurry of present giving on the 5th of December, before they all head off back to Spain again.
It goes on for 3 weeks! Dutch kids have it so good. My 7- and 5-year-old have FULLY embraced the tradition.”
Christmas in Hong Kong
Kirsty, her husband and their 2 children left the UK for a new life in Hong Kong, where Christmas is a little different.
“Christmas in Hong Kong isn’t as traditional as it is in the UK however it is still celebrated. Here in Hong Kong people usually celebrate Christmas Day by shopping and eating with many places decorating with Christmas trees and lights.
For me being a British living in HK I like to do the traditional things on Christmas Day such as give presents and eat Christmas dinner. My children also leave he a mince pie and a glass of Sherry for Santa on Christmas Eve. I think it is important to pass on these traditions to our children.”
Christmas in Greece
Jackie and her husband left suburban Seattle life behind for an olive grove in the Greek Peloponnese peninsula and now celebrate Mediterranean-style.
“‘Kala Christougenna kai Xronia Polla!’ ‘Merry Christmas and Many Years’ from Agios Nikolaos, (St. Nicholas) a fishing village, in Kalamata-olive growing country that bears the name of the patron saint of fishermen. December 6, St. Nikolaos Day, unofficially kicks off the holiday season.
Christmas Day is a rather quiet affair; a time for coffee with friends at the side of the fishing harbor – a break from olive harvest that is just winding down. Children eagerly await St. Basil’s arrival on January 1 as he brings the gifts here. The celebrations conclude Jan. 6, Epiphany, when the entire village turns out to see the Blessing of the Waters.”
I don’t know about you, but I’m now imagining foreign places and salivating at all the exotic, tasty delights on offer at Christmas time!
If you’d like to read more stories by these ladies, you can follow up with them on their websites!
Jen in the US: tampontribe.com
Sarah in Spain: www.ourspanishadventures.com
Lauren in Spain: https://theexpatchronicle.net/christmas-barcelona-local/
Kelly in Denmark: www.mynewdanishlife.com.
Rebekah in The Netherlands: https://writenowrebekah.com
Kirsty in Hong Kong: www.expatmuminhk.com
Jackie in Greece: https://www.travelnwrite.com
I hope you’ll join me in some wild applause for these amazing women who relocated to a foreign country and can now talk about the Christmas traditions like locals! I’m so grateful that they shared their stories with us. Being an expat can be a tough gig, but also a amazing one!
So what about YOU? How do you usually celebrate Christmas? Drop a comment below!
Thank you for taking us on this virtual journey learning about how holidays are celebrated around the world! Especially fun to read about Australian and German Christmas
Thank you 🙂 It was fun sharing these stories!
It’s interesting to know how this festive season is celebrated in different parts of the world. Each one has something different yet similar.
Exactly! That is one thing that really caught my eye too!
Thanks for sharing these traditions, it’s so interesting hearing about Christmas around the world.
Thanks! It really is fun hearing about the differences, but also similarities in the traditions!