Christmas Eve Traditions From Around The World
Midnight Mass, leaving cookies and milk for Santa, or gathering together with family for one big meal may be part of your Christmas Eve Traditions. Throughout the world, they have some very unique traditions of their own, some of which have been passed down to each generation throughout the years. These are some common Christmas Eve traditions that take place in other countries. Do any of them look similar to what you will be doing on Christmas Eve?
Germany
A lot occurs on Christmas Eve (Heiliger Abend,) in Germany. This is the day that Christmas trees are brought inside of the home. After they are set up, they are decorated. Christmas angels are the most popular ornament, commonly made of wood and playing the harp or other musical instrument. In the evening families gather around the tree and open presents instead of waiting until Christmas Day. The Christkindl brings the gifts for children to open, rather than Santa. Carp or goose are often served as the main meal along with Stollen, a popular fruit cake for dessert. Lebkuchen which is similar to gingerbread is also baked. Mulled wine (Gluhewein,) and Feuerzangenbowle (also a mulled wine with lots of rum,) are served to help with the cold winter weather.
France
Christmas Eve starts in France with decorating the dinner table so that it looks elegant. A lot of effort is put into making decorations for the table and intricately placing them so that it looks all decked out. Families will then gather together for an elaborate meal. Households tend to go all out and spare no expense. Food often includes scallops, snails, oysters, foie gras, lobster, venison, roast goose and truffles. Meals can last around 6 hours. Afterwards, many families go to Midnight Mass together. This service is filled with prayer, singing, and a special Christmas message. Once it’s over, families will often enjoy a French Christmas Log for dessert and may even open Christmas presents. Before going to bed, children will put treats and carrots in their shoes for Pere Noel’s donkey. Rather than stockings, children leave shoes by the fireplace in the hopes they will be filled with gifts by Father Christmas.
South Africa
Santa goes by a few names in South Africa, including Sinterklaas (St Nicholas) and Kersvader (Father Christmas) for those who speak Afrikaans. Christmas trees are found in most households. Christmas Eve families attend church and sing carols by candlelight. The large meal is on Christmas day versus Christmas Eve, usually at lunch. The Christmas meal is usually either turkey, duck, roast beef, or suckling pig with yellow rice & raisins and vegetables. This is followed by Christmas Pudding or a traditional South African dessert called Malva Pudding.
Sweden
On Christmas Eve in Sweden, a large dinner is served buffet style. The meal includes many different types of dishes including pigs feets, ham, gingerbread biscuits, codfish, and rice pudding. The mother of the home lights candles on this night. A friend or relative may dress up as a Christmas gnome called a tomte. This mythical creature supposedly lives under the house, or barn, if the family has one. He looks a lot like Santa with his white beard and red robes. He gives out presents for children to open that evening. In Gavle Castle Square, since 1966 there has been a tradition to put a 13 meter tall Yule Goat.
Jamaica
Prior to Christmas week, in Jamaica, they clean their houses out thoroughly, similar to the way it is suggested people do it for good luck in the U.S. prior to New Years. There’s a lot happening on Christmas Eve in Jamaica. The “Grand Market,” also called Jamaica Christmas market occurs and is filled with food stalls and handmade goods. There’s also live music and dancing. The Jonkanoo parade takes place and the festivities end with locals attending Midnight Mass. Christmas Day breakfast includes ackee and saltfish, breadfruit, fried plantains, boiled bananas, freshly squeezed fruit juice, and tea. Christmas dinner usually includes curry goat, oxtail, chicken or turkey served with rice and peas. Fruit that has been soaked in rum for several months is served as part of the dessert course.
Philippines
On the Saturday before Christmas Eve, in the Philippines they hold a Giant Lantern Festival in the city of San Fernando. 11 surrounding villages take part in the festival. There is music along with a competition on what village can create the most elaborate Lantern design. Simbang Gabi (night mass,) is held the 9 days before Christmas. Filipinos often wake up at midnight to welcome Christmas day with Noche Buena, a lavish feast of traditional Filipino Christmas dishes like lechon (pork,) queso de bola, rice cakes, ham, spaghetti, and fruit salad. In addition to gifts, children often receive red envelopes with money.
Norway
Christmas Eve in Norway is spent cooking and creating hand made decoration for the Christmas tree. After dinner, many families join hands and circle the Christmas tree while singing Christmas carols. Here’s a unique tradition. On Christmas Eve everyone hides their brooms. The tradition has been carried on for hundreds of years as Norwegians believed that witches and spirits came out on Christmas Eve and would steal their brooms to ride into the night. Another tradition that came out of superstition was in reference to Nisse. Nisse is a gnome that is believed to protect farm animals. Children have to place a special bowl of porridge out of Nisse on Xmas eve, otherwise, he will play tricks on them.
Austria
Although this occurs before Christmas Eve, we wanted to mention the unusual tradition in Austria of Krampus. So this character looks like a demon with horns and all, and is supposed to take bad boys and girls and throw them in his sack. It is common for people to dress up in the week prior to Christmas in order to frighten the children.
Iceland
After dinner, people often exchange books and spend the rest of the night reading and eating cookies and chocolate. The tradition is called Jolabokaflod which means “The Christmas Book Flood.” This tradition makes Iceland one of the top countries of published booked per capita.
If you like to read about traditions, we have several posts that might interest you:
Chinese New Year’s Superstitions & Traditions, Super Bowl Traditions & Superstitions, and our most popular post, New Year’s Traditions & Superstitions.
