There are so many Christmas traditions in Canada; trimming your Christmas tree, baking holiday cookies, and opening presents to name a few. Many countries celebrate the holiday differently.
Swiss families make their own advent calendars for the holiday season. These calendars are either given to children as a surprise or made together as a fun activity. Each day’s bag reveals a new surprise or treat, with the biggest gift on Christmas Eve.
Bad children in North America get coal, but other bad children around the world get a visit from Krampus. The beast-like creature shows up in order to punish the ill-behaved. If he discovers a particularly bad child, he bundles him into a sack and carts him away, presumably for a midnight snack!
Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26 to January 1 observed by African Americans and those across the world with ties to Africa. Each day of Kwanzaa, marked by lighting a candle on the Kinara holder, represents one of the founding principles of the holiday, including unity, faith, and purpose.
In Japan, Christmas isn’t really celebrated, but Kentucky Fried Chicken sure is! Yes, eating KFC on December 25 instead of having a homemade Christmas dinner is a tradition in Japan.
A “Christmas Box” in Britain is a name for a Christmas present. Boxing Day was traditionally a day off for servants and the day when they received a gift from their employer. The servants would also go home on Boxing Day to give gifts to their families. The name is a reference to charity drives. December 26th is also known as Stephen’s Day.
This is one scary kitty. The Yule Cat (Jólakötturinn or Jólaköttur) is a huge and vicious cat from Icelandic folklore, that lurks during Christmas time and eat people who have not received any new clothes to wear before Christmas Eve.
My Christmas tradition…sitting down and watching the Queen’s speech no matter where I am in the world. I am not the only one. Every year on Christmas Day, millions of people make time to watch the Queen’s Christmas message, where she talks about current issues as well as what Christmas means to her. God Bless The Queen!
What’s your holiday tradition?
