How Christmas is celebrated around the world

In this blog we have asked some of our international students how they celebrate Christmas in their home country. This interesting article will give you some insights as to how Christmas is celebrated around the world. We have over 2,700 international students from all over the world at the University of Huddersfield several of the countries are included in this article.

How Christmas is celebrated in the UK

To start with, here in the UK, it seems that Christmas is celebrated for pretty much the whole of December, every city, town and village worth its salt is covered in decorations and most houses have a Christmas tree and decorations. Christmas Day and Boxing Day are official holidays. However the celebrations really begin on Christmas Eve, many families will go to Midnight Mass, the more unorganised of us will be doing last bits of shopping, and some of us will be up until late preparing for the Christmas feast soon to follow. Families with young children will leave a mince pie and a carrot out for Father Christmas and his reindeers in exchange for the gifts he is going to leave us.

On Christmas Day gifts are taken from under the decorated Christmas tree in the morning. The afternoon is spent with family or playing with new toys. The main event is Christmas dinner, the table is usually decorated, and each person has a Christmas cracker with a toy, a hat and a joke inside. The dinner usually consists of turkey, roast potatoes, sprouts (even though hardly anybody likes them) and lots of other vegetables such as carrots and parsnips. Most families, especially us in Yorkshire include Yorkshire puddings it is then all covered in gravy. For dessert its usually Christmas pudding, a cake-like dessert made from dried fruit.

Boxing Day in the UK usually consists of eating lots of leftovers (turkey sandwiches and all the leftover mince pies). Boxing Day is a big day in the football calendar, so most people spend the day cheering on their football team. Also, many sales start on Boxing Day, therefore, some people like to go out shopping!

How Christmas is celebrated in India

By Rumana, from Pune, Maharashtra, India

India is known for its uniqueness in diversity and incredible traditions. Every culture and festival (over 1000) vary from each other and has its own values, customs and joyousness. Coming from a Muslim background, I do not celebrate Christmas in a traditional way, however, I happily share the joy of my fellow friends and neighbours. Every year Christmas Day is celebrated as a public holiday in India.

As a multicultural country, you will be able to see Christmas being celebrated in India with various rituals and traditions. I am from Pune, Maharashtra (western part of India), where I have grown up seeing all houses and churches draped in multi-coloured twinkling lights, flowers, lanterns, and clay lamps on the day of celebration. Most families also put-up decorated Christmas trees and Christmas stars.

There are different ways in which people share their happiness and greetings on Christmas Day. For me, I would always wish my friends with small presents and gifts. Most of them, prefer to show their love through sharing sweets instead, especially dark fruitcakes and homemade ‘kuswar’.

What do Indians eat on Christmas Day?

For Indians, festivals are always celebrated with sweets, and Christmas is no exception. Traditionally, a variety of sweets are eaten in India on Christmas Day like ‘kuswar' (ranging from deeply delicious dense Christmas fruitcakes to rose cookies), 'kidiyo' (deep-fried curly dough balls, dusted in icing sugar), 'newrio' (sweet dumplings stuffed with palm sugar, sweet grated coconut, and sesame seeds), 'chaklis' (a round, deep-fried savoury made with lentils) are mainly cooked to enhance the essence of this cultural occasion. Staples of the Christmas dinner would usually be chicken curries and sannas (steamed rice cakes).

What is Father Christmas called in India?

In India, Father Christmas or Santa Claus is also known as ‘Christmas Baba’, ‘Christmas Thaathaa’, ‘Natal Bua’ and ‘Christmas Papa’, who delivers present to children on horse and cart. Speaking over 50 languages in India, there are numerous ways of saying Happy Christmas. In Hindi (widely spoken language in India), we say ‘Shubh Christmas’ or in Urdu we say ‘Christmas Mubarak’.

How I and other international students celebrate Christmas in the UK

As an international student, every year I take this opportunity during Christmas to travel cities around the UK like London, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham. Even though I do not celebrate Christmas I get to learn about so many things from people celebrating and try delicious food around, shop from huge range of sales, and enjoy the positive vibes.

I know most of us do not like to travel at this time of the year (myself included) and most international students want to get involved in activities with our friends at the University. In my first year, I attended this Christmas party organised by the University on campus, especially for the international students. I was overwhelmed by the surroundings and arrangements that had been made for us; activities, movie, games, and food. 

In my second year, I celebrated Christmas with my work colleagues (Huddersfield Students’ Union). I've never felt left out or lonely during this festive season, I was always caught up with different experiences alongside lovely people!

Even though this year, the celebration will be limited due to the global pandemic, I hope to meet up with my friends and plan a safe visit to London (in liaise with all the precautionary measures that will be in place). 

How Christmas is celebrated in Croatia

By Dora from Croatia.

In Croatia, we celebrate Christmas both as a public and religious holiday. The tradition is to start putting up Christmas decorations when Advent starts, which is four weeks before Christmas.

Each family has one advent wreath with four candles on it, and each Sunday during the Advent one candle is lit. It is also common to decorate doors with advent wreaths (without the candles) and hang many types of handmade decorations around the house.

At the start of December, we plant Christmas Wheat and leave it to grow. We bake all sorts of cookies before Christmas Eve, and finally, on Christmas Eve we put up and decorate a Christmas tree, and along with presents, place Christmas Wheat underneath it. Most families go to the Midnight Mass at Christmas Eve.

The joy of opening the gifts takes place on Christmas morning.

What do Croatians eat on Christmas Day?

In Croatia, we have a Christmas lunch and normally its turkey with a traditional Croatian pasta called mlinci, mostly made only from flour, water and salt. When it’s all cooked and ready to eat it should look something like this Pečena purica s mlincima.

What is Father Christmas called in Croatia?

We call Father Christmas/Santa Claus Djed Božićnjak, which would translate to Grandpa Christmas, and we say Sretan Božić which has the same literal meaning as Merry Christmas.

Christmas decorations in Croatia

For the whole month of December, the streets are covered in decorations in Croatia. The Advent in Zagreb was voted as top Christmas destination of Europe in 2016, 2017 and 2018!

How I will celebrate Christmas this year

This December I am excited to be spending Christmas here in Huddersfield, and I will be attempting to make fritule for the first time, which is my favourite traditional Croatian pastry that we make on several occasions throughout the year, among which is Christmas Eve for some. Fritule, or fritters, are basically doughnuts but in a much smaller and rounder shape. Delicious.

How Christmas is celebrated in Vietnam

By Emily, a Vietnamese student.

In Vietnam, Christmas is more of a 'special event' rather than an official public holiday. Many students still have to go to school or take exams, since it is usually the end-of-term period for most students from secondary school to university. Nevertheless, Christmas is a huge event in Vietnam, and the joyous atmosphere of Christmas can still be felt. In big cities, lots of decorations are put up around the city centre and the Christian residential areas also have decorations. Christmas songs are played all over shops and restaurants. 

For Vietnamese, Christmas Eve is usually celebrated more than Christmas Day, because usually people still go to work and study, so they can only celebrate Christmas in the evening. Young people like me and my friends love to go to the city centre to visit the city Catholic Cathedral, look at the Christmas decorations around hotels and department stores, enjoy the festive ambience and go to restaurants, cafes, or Christmas parties. 

How I celebrate Christmas

Christmas is a very special occasion for me, not only because my birthday is in December! But also thanks to all the good memories I have about Christmas. My childhood best friend was Christian, and I remember her bringing Christmas candy canes to class, or how every Christmas we would gift exchange in class and give each other Christmas cards. I used to live in two of Vietnam’s biggest cities – Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, both of which have many cathedrals where Christmas celebrations are held. My favourite activity of the season is to go around looking at the Christmas decorations of churches and cathedrals, and perhaps have a peek into what their Christmas masses look like.

What is Father Christmas called in Vietnam?

Father Christmas is called 'Ông già Noel' which translates as Christmas old man. Merry Christmas in Vietnamese is “Giáng Sinh An Lành”!

How is Christmas celebrated in Pakistan

By Ariba from Pakistan.

Just like the UK, Christmas is a public holiday in Pakistan. The preparations begin a few days in advance, this is done by decorating the house and the Christmas tree. The big feast and all the celebrations take place on the 25th Christmas Day itself. We exchange presents in the evening together with the rest of our family. On Christmas Day, is a family day, we spend some quality time with the family and do activities such as watching movies or going outdoors. There is no particular tradition of keeping a mince pie and a carrot out for Santa in Pakistan, like in the UK.

What’s really unique about Christmas in Pakistan is that it is celebrated on the birthday of the founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam and it’s a day of double celebration. However, the concept of Boxing Day doesn’t exist in Pakistan and usually the day after the Christmas people get back to their daily work.

Christmas decorations in Pakistan

In Pakistan, the Christian community goes to Midnight Mass. The roads are decorated with lights to some extent. Often you might also see some fireworks to celebrate the joy of Christmas.

What we eat in Pakistan on Christmas Day

Traditional Pakistani dishes such as Biryani is made for the dinner followed by Pakistani desserts such as Gulab Jamun.

What is Father Christmas called in Pakistan?

In Pakistan Santa Claus/Father Christmas is known as 'Christmas Baba'. The concept of Santa Claus is believed and parents hide presents under the tree for their children. Even though the national language of Pakistan is Urdu people still greet each other by saying Merry or Happy Christmas.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about how Christmas is celebrated in Pakistan and learning about some similarities and some differences to the UK.

How Christmas is celebrated in Bangladesh

By Jaber, from Bangladesh.

December signifies the start of Christmas in Bangladesh. A celebration of joy and happiness. Like many other countries, we also celebrate Christmas in Bangladesh. In Bangladesh we celebrate Christmas by decorating hotels and have festive style theme parks where you may see Santa distributing gifts. Bangladeshi people also decorate their home with Christmas trees and candles throughout.

Christmas is a national holiday in Bangladesh and during the day Christians attend church. After the prayer and the greetings, they offer sweets and food to celebrate the day. 

How to say Merry Christmas in Bangladesh

Most countries greet by saying, Merry Christmas but in Bangladesh, we greet as “Shuvo Boro Din” means Happy Big Day. Bengali Christians greet by saying Merry Christmas as well.

In Bangladesh, we call Christmas Day as “Boro Din” which means Big Day. 

Christmas Day food in Bangladesh 

Bengali Christians celebrate the day by offering different sorts of food like pitha, semai, payesh and some sweet homemade food. For breakfast, they usually have Bengali home-made sweets such as pitha and shemai. In the evening rather than having Turkey, they have Chicken, Mutton or Beef. At night they eat fruit & ice-cream. 

I, personally love hanging out with my friends on Christmas Day. In the late evening, we go out to our local restaurant. 

The true meaning of Christmas

One thing I like on Christmas Day is the Bengali Christians especially young boys & girls gather money before Christmas Day and the distribute food and clothes with that money to the orphanage and to elderly care. Including people from different religions, we spend time with people in the orphanage and elderly home care to spread happiness and to spread the joy of Christmas. This what Christmas is all about. A celebration with everyone. This is how we celebrate Christmas in Bangladesh.  

How Christmas is Celebrated in Lithuania 

By Elze, from Lithuania.

Christmas in Lithuania is treated more like a religious holiday, as well as a holiday where the whole family gets together. The 24th (Christmas Eve or in Lithuanian - Kūčios) is a day of being serious, calm and peaceful. This day, everyone must clean their house, so it's spotless for the evening, some people go to church, everyone is getting ready for the big Christmas Eve dinner. In the evening, the whole family gets together near a big table. The table must have 12 dishes (not more or less). There should be no meat on the table, but fish is allowed. The whole family also share a Christmas wafer (Kalėdaitis in Lithuanian) which you can get from a church.

The oldest person by the table starts sharing it and they need to say a nice compliment, wish for a person sitting next to them and pass it on until everyone in the family gets a piece. We even give a little piece to pets. Also, it is a tradition to leave an empty seat and plate for a member of the family that has passed away. Then, the whole family eats and plays some games. One game is that you put hay under the tablecloth and everyone needs to draw a strand of hay from underneath the tablecloth. If it is a long strand, it means the person will have a long life, if it's shorter and poor, then the person will have a rough, short life. It is just a game, fortune-telling that nobody believes but does for fun.

The big cities also have Christmas markets that people can visit from the beginning of December to beginning of January. We do not have staple Christmas music, we usually listen to Christmas songs by International, as well as some Lithuanian artists, but nothing specific.

On the 25th - Christmas day (Kalėdos) all family gets together again. They share gifts, talk, drink and eat. The table is usually full of different foods, meat is allowed. Christmas day is more fun and every family celebrates it differently, while Christmas Eve has a set celebration that usually most families follow.

What do Lithuanians eat at Christmas?

Christmas Eve:
Cold herring (with different sauces for such as; porcini, carrot, beetroot sauces) - this dish is a must. Dark rye bread, carrot salad, beetroot salad, Olivye salad, meat jelly, tangerines, nuts, potatoes with butter and ground hemp seeds, sweet or savoury pastries.

Christmas Day:
Appetiser: leftover salads from Christmas Eve, as well as freshly made salads.
Main: Usually a big piece of meat (chicken, turkey, ham) with different sides like roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes and the salads that were used for appetisers.
Dessert: a cake (depends on the family what cake they make), pastries.

What are your fondest memories of Christmas?

My aunt makes an amazing white bean, fried bread and onion salad that I adore. Every Christmas I look forward to seeing her, she always makes me a massive bowl of the salad. As I am a vegetarian, it is quite hard to find foods I want to eat on the table, so I pretty much only eat that salad (and a few other salads). I really appreciate her making this dish for me and it is extremely delicious.

Do you exchange presents for Christmas?

In Lithuania, we do exchange presents. Closer family members usually ask what would you like for Christmas. If relatives that you are not very close to do not know what to get you, they get very simple, universal gifts for example chocolates, sweets, wine, snacks.

Fun facts on how Christmas is celebrated around the world

KFC In Japan

In 1974, KFC released a very successful festive marketing campaign in Japan. The slogan "Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii!" (Kentucky for Christmas!) generated a national tradition. Christmas is not a national holiday in Japan, however families from all over the country head to their local KFC to eat fried chicken for Christmas dinner, in many cities you have to order your chicken in advance or expect to wait in line for hours.

Skating in Venezuela

In Venezuela, many people make their way to church on Christmas morning on roller skates. The tradition is now so well-established that many of the streets in the capital city Caracas are closed to traffic from 8am on Christmas Day so that the skating congregation can get to church safely.

Christmas Eve fasting in Poland

In Poland, Christmas Eve is often a day first of fasting. It's traditional that no food is eaten (or sometimes the first present opened) until the first star is seen in the sky! Its also tradition to not eat meat on this day. Polish "barszcz" (beetroot soup) and Carp are often eaten on Christmas Day or for Christmas Eve supper, after the first star in the sky is visible.

Spiders in Ukraine

Not one for arachnophobes! Forget baubles, tinsel and stars, Ukrainians use decorations that mimic the natural formation of spiders' webs around their house. Spiders' webs are considered to be lucky in Ukrainian culture.

Curry goat and singing in the Caribbean

In the Caribbean curry goat, rice and gungo peas (especially in Jamaica) are often part of the Christmas dinner, you are also likely to eat fish for your Christmas dinner in countries such as Barbados. Singing also plays a big part in a Caribbean Christmas, often people go from house to house singing Christmas songs, this is especially popular in Trinidad.

Pickles in Germany

Famous for the great German Christmas markets but they also have a tradition where they hide a pickle (the Weihnachtsgurke) within the branches of their Christmas tree, the first person to find the pickle on the tree is said to have a year of good fortune.

Vegan for 43 days and celebrate in January in Egypt and Ethiopia

Most Egyptian and Ethiopian Christians belong to the Coptic Orthodox Church who celebrate Christmas on 7th January. For the 43 days before they celebrate Christmas, from 25th November to 6th January, Coptic Orthodox Christians have a special fast where they eat a vegan diet (no animal products).

Caterpillar for dinner in South Africa

Fancy some Sundried Emperor Moth Caterpillars? Then head to South Africa as they are served after being deep fried on Christmas Day in some households. Apparently, they have a flavour similar to tea and are high in iron, potassium, magnesium and zinc.

Clean your house in Guatemala

In Guatemala, it is believed that the devil and other evil spirits live in the dark, dirty corners of your home. The week before Christmas its tradition to clean your house and pile it in a heap outside. Then the devil is placed on top and the whole thing is set on fire. Known as La Quema del Diablo, the 'Burning of the Devil'. The idea for Guatemalans is to burn all the bad from the previous year and start a new year from out of the ashes.