Unique Christmas Traditions Around the World

Did you know that Honeygainers come from all around the world? North, South, West, or East – you can find plenty of Honeygainers in each continent! 🥳 This made us wonder what kind of traditions you have for the holidays – even if it might look different this year. Let’s see how differently we all celebrate Christmas, and what kind of unique traditions we have (and if you're still looking for Christmas gift ideas – here is guide for presents under $20!)

Christmas is the season popularized by Christians to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. While it is based on religion, here is one interesting Christmas fact: according to historical findings, it might have originated from a pagan celebration! Besides, Christmas happens to be an international event, and different countries celebrate it according to their cultures and preferences.

Norwegians have mixed Christmas traditions – both ancient and modern. A great example of an old tradition is to hide all the broomsticks before going to bed on Christmas Eve: according to folklore, witches, and other evil spirits look for broomsticks to fly out to the skies on this night. An example of a relatively modern tradition is serving a rice pudding called 'riskem' as dessert. They also integrate a small game for good luck!

Christmas crackers have a special place in the Britons' hearts during Christmas. Christmas crackers look like a massive candy but they actually contain a small surprise in it. When two people pull the cracker to opposite directions, a small cracking sound can be heard. They say the one who wins the tug-of-war will claim all the surprises.

In this European nation, the majority celebrates Christmas with a rather simple approach: they will just have a grand feast that includes fried carp. The carp will be taken care of for weeks before cooking for the event: it's not uncommon for families to keep their carp in the bathtub during the time! Children and pets find this especially exciting – however, it's probably safe to say cats should be watched closely so they don't have a little too much fun...

Since Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere, it's hardly surprising the Christmas season there feels like summer. Just like most other people around the world, Australians like to celebrate with food – however, to them it usually means a BBQ lunch (especially shrimp!) on the beach. A lot of cities and towns also host Carols by Candlelight... Which probably requires no extra explanation: the name says it all!

Even if including Chine in this article sounds weird (it's not a Christian country, after all!), but it's true: the Chinese do celebrate Christmas! Their outlook might not be too similar to the way Christians celebrate Christmas around the world, but they adapt the idea of the gift-giving season to their own culture by giving apples as treats. Here's an interesting fact: in Chinese, the word 'apple' is pronounced very similarly to 'Christmas Eve'!

Weird as it may seem, KFC or Kentucky Fried Chicken (yes, the American fast-food chain!) is a central figure in the Japanese Christmas celebration. KFC has become the go-to restaurant for a lot on Japanese on Christmas night. In the '70s, a marketing strategy was employed to promote a 'party barrel' full of fried chicken... which somehow became a substitute for the US's traditional turkey. And since the metropolitan Japan is so busy, the Japanese actually found KFC to be a convenient dining place for the occasion. Since then, the tradition never fades out!

Mexico is more religious than it might seem. A festival called 'Las Posadas' starts on December 16 and lasts up until the 24th: during the time, mexicans commemorate the Biblical scenes of Jesus Christ's birth. The dress code is often based on the characters of the Biblical scenes, too – and on the last night, piñatas are prepared for the children to celebrate.

Christmas in the Philippines has to be one of the most colorful and meaningful Christmases ever. From Christmas lanterns and decorations, the start of celebration and purchasing seasonal foods like 'puto bumbong' and 'bibingka' to the novena mass called 'simbang gabi,' the Filipinos start celebrating Christmas stylishly and religiously as early as September.

Senegal may be a country with more Muslim communities than Christian, but this doesn't discourage people from celebrating the season. Quite the contrary, actually: in Senegal, Christians and Muslims celebrate each other's traditions together. It's not uncommon to decorate mosques with Christmas trees!

Christmas may be celebrated differently from one country to another, but there is no denying that it is one of the best holidays around the world. However, there's one common denominator among these different traditions – and that's gift-giving. Be they big or small, most people enjoy picking out gifts and receiving them themselves (and don't even get us started on children!)

Therefore, the Christmas celebrations are usually known as a season of giving. If you are looking for a side hustle to amplify your budget, you can learn how to earn extra money from home. Passive income apps like Honeygain are a great option: all you need is a device that's connected to the Internet – plus, you're not risking anything! Check it out and stack those digits before the next Christmas shopping spree!