Every country has it’s own traditions, especially around Christmas, this ranges from Christmas food, activities, Christmas crackers, Christmas Pudding, socks, Yorkshire puddings, and more. Some traditions are large and some are small, but all have a role to play in creating a memorable Christmas.
Do you have any traditions of your own? or know any we haven’t mentioned from different countries? We would love to hear about them. Let us know in the comments.
UK:
Every year on Christmas day the Queen’s Speech is broadcasted in the afternoon, around 3pm. The speech can be viewed on TV, radio, and on the internet. The tradition started in 1932 by the Queen’s grandfather George V, and slowly evolved to play an important part of the Christmas Day celebration. The Queen chooses the theme each year to reflect on her own interest, concerns, and takes the opportunity to give thanks the public.
Find out more about the Queen’s Speech in the UK.
Wales:
The tradition of Mari Lywd appears during the darkest month of the year (December and January, depending on regions). Mari Lywd is a handmade horse using a real house skull with a person inside. The tradition dates back to the 1800’s, where Mari is taken around the village knocking on doors, singing songs (rhymes) outside the door. The tradition says that the person inside needs to sing back with reasons why Mari Lwyd can’t come in, this goes back and forth until one gives up. If the person in the house doesn’t respond, they let Mari Lwyd in (bringing good luck) but Mari Lywd may raid the pantry and drink all their beers.
Find out more about the mischievous Mari Lywd.
Italy:
The tradition of The Feast of the Seven Fishes comes from Southern Italy where it is also known as ‘The Vigil’. This long tradition of eating seafood goes back to Catholic times where no meat/animal fat is meant to be consumed on Christmas eve, so instead, fish was eaten. Depending on regions, the fish dish changes and the as well as the quantity.
In Italy on Christmas eve, it is a tradition go to Church at midnight for the celebration of Jesus being born. On Christmas day you would invite your families over for a wonderful meal (the dishes will vary from region to region).
Japan
Historically Christmas is not widely celebrated in Japan which means there was no set Christmas tradition. However, this all changed in the 1970s, (1974 nationally) thanks to a KFC marketing campaign, ‘Kurisumasu ni wa Kentakkii’, or Kentucky for Christmas. KFC marketed these showing happy Japanese families having a KFC party barrel over Christmas. This quickly became a tradition for a lot of families in Japan, and because it became so popular, people were required to preorder or queue for hours to get their hands on one.
The party barrel is a Christmas feast also containing a dessert and an alcoholic beverage, though the items change every year.
“Every Christmas season, an estimated 3.6 million Japanese families treat themselves to Kentucky Fried Chicken, in what has become a nationwide tradition” – BBC
Why Japan celebrates Christmas with KFC.
Germany
Lebkuchen is a gingerbread cookie shaped like a heart, traditional in Germany over Christmas. If you have been to a German Christmas market you would have seen them everywhere and in some cases, you can even get them personalised.
Historically to make gingerbread you must have a license to do so and can only bake it for special occasions. The cookie became popular around 1487 when Emperor Friedrich III gave cookies to 4000 children. Over time these cookies became a heart-shaped and are now traditional to give to your love ones.
A Brief History Of Lebkuchen, Germany’s Heart-Shaped Gingerbread Cookie
Iceland:
Jolabokaflod (‘a flood of books’) is an Icelandic tradition that happens each year on Christmas Eve. Traditionally you would give the gift of a book to be read that evening whilst cosying up indoors and enjoying a hot Christmas drink. The tradition was thought to have started during World War 2 when paper was one of the few things that weren’t being rationed, so books were easy to get hold of. From there onwards, the Icelandics love of books was heightened and used as gifts.
11 weird and wonderful Christmas traditions from around the world
Written by Sedtin Wan (温雪婷) Senior International Student Adviser (Student Experience), International Student Advisory Team.
My family’s Christmas tradition is to splurge on a seafood feast. We order all kinds of seafood like crab legs and lobsters and have a great meal all together.