Christmas Traditions From Around The World

It’s no secret that a lot of Christian parents are looking for Christmas traditions with greater depth and meaning than the Elf on the Shelf. It’s a Christmas tradition that has made its mark in the homes of many for the past decade, but unsurprisingly many of us are tired of the elf and looking for something new, something “better”, to do with our kids.

Cross-Cultural Christmas Traditions

We, at The Art of Taleh, value faith and diversity, and what better time to incorporate the beauty of God’s created peoples across culture than at Christmastime? 

The possibility for new stories, activities and more to try this Christmas are limitless, really, if you consider some of the well-known, diverse and even sometimes crazy Christmas traditions from around the world. Now, I know that it seems like no two family’s Christmas traditions are the same these days, but why not branch out a little this year and try something new and adventurous? Spice it up with Christmas traditions from around the world. You can make a new family memory and perhaps also increase your child’s awareness to the different ways that people worship and celebrate Christ around the world this year. At the very least, exposing your kids to different cultural expressions and norms will help increase their awareness and appreciation to these different Christmas traditions.

A Different Kind of Tree

For example, I’m sure many of you buy and decorate a tree during this season. Typically, in the U.S., we like having a conifer tree or evergreen in the home. But maybe you could try decorating a different tree this season just to shake things up? In New Zealand, people decorate Pōhutakawas (think tall myrtle trees with crimson red flowers) instead. As I write this, I’m now looking at our own crepe myrtle in our backyard… Of course, in doing so, your kids may ask, “Why are we putting up this tree?”, and this would be a great opportunity to talk about how different cultures do Christmas differently and, more importantly, how it’s ok to be different.

Pōhutakawas

Try A New Recipe

Haven’t decided what to eat yet on Christmas day? Well, in Portugal, they end the day with a big supper called Ceia de Natal. The menu consists of codfish with boiled potatoes and cabbage, rabanadas (much like French toast), aletria (a type of egg dish) and a dessert called filhoses that’s made of fried pumpkin dough. If that sounds good to you, google some of the recipes and give it a shot! I personally get a little bored of ham each year. Perhaps, you could even include your kids in the food preparation and cooking to also make a special family memory this Christmas and, while you do, talk about how God created different peoples to enjoy different foods.

Ceia de Natal

Santa Clause and the Devil

Now, Germany has a whole slew of fun and crazy Christmas traditions that everyone should try at least once. Kids leave their shoes outside the house on December 5th and parents fill them up with candy over night (while naughty children only get a tree branch in their shoe). Speaking of naughty kids, the Germans not only believe in Santa Clause, but also his demonic counterpart called Krampus. Imagine a large, black devil-looking goat who either beats bad children or, in some legends, drags them down to hell. Telling your kid about Krampus might instill more desire for good behavior than just threatening to get put on Santa’s naughty list. Just saying. But, in all seriousness, the story of Santa Clause and Krampus does offer a good opportunity for discussions on sin and obedience and, really, the real reason for why Jesus came to earth and was born as a child in the first place.

krampus

Pooping Logs in Spain (yep, you read that correctly)

Things get even weirder in Catalonia (near Spain). There they have the Tió de Nadal, otherwise known as “the pooping log”. It’s pretty much a hollow log with stick legs, a smiley face, and a floppy red hat, is a yule branch with a scatological spin that they kids are asked to decorate and then place halfway into a fire on Christmas Eve. Every night until December 24, children are tasked with “feeding” the log by offering him nuts, dried fruit, and water. Kids must also cover Tió de Nadal with a blanket to ensure he stays warm and comfortable. Then things get weird. On Christmas Eve, all the kids beat the log with sticks and sing a little song (more like taunt) for the log to poop, i.e., the parents toss candies and presents behind the log for the children to eat. I still don’t know why Catalonia has this tradition or where it came from and, to be honest, I’m not sure how you could spiritualize this one. However, I wanted to include this one because its ok to have simple, fun traditions that make the family laugh. The pooping log sounds hilarious and I kind of want to try it with our son.

Tió de Nadal

Rice Pudding On The Ceiling

If these traditions all sound weird, here are a few more to consider: In Estonia, families traditionally go to the sauna on Christmas Eve. In Sweden, the Christmas dinner concludes with a festive rice pudding; a peeled almond is hidden in one of the desserts and whoever finds it will supposedly get married within a year. If you’re not afraid of messes, you could try what they do in Slovakia. There, the most senior man of the house takes a spoonful of loksa pudding and throws it at the ceiling – the more that sticks, the better (once again, I don’t know why). Once again, these traditions provide some good ‘old family fun, and sometimes that joy and laughter is exactly what you need during the holidays to remind us of the true and deeper joy that Jesus brings.

Loksa Pudding

Los Reyes Magos

Finally, in many Spanish-speaking countries, including Mexico, Los Reyes Magos (the Day of the Three Wise Men) is celebrated on January 6th. According to tradition, it’s believed that the three wise men came to visit baby Jesus on this day, bringing their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. No Los Reyes Magos celebration is complete without a Roscón de Reyes, a delicious round cake with candied fruit on top. The fruit symbolizes the precious gems that adorned the Wise Men’s clothing. You can purchase this cake at any Mexican bakery, and I think it’s a great way to talk about the role of the three wise men in the Christmas story. If you’ve never tried it, maybe 2018 is the year to do it.

Roscón de Reyes

Well, I hope you feel sufficiently inspired now to try some new Christmas traditions this year! Know of some other ones? We would love to hear about them!

This post was written by Dr. Michelle Reyes and initially published for Austin Moms Blog (Dec. 24, 2017). It has been edited and republished here with permission.