A Guide to Christmas Traditions Around the World

Christmas traditions are a funny concept. We are taught from the moment that we celebrate our first holiday season to participate in countless amusing, yet outlandish customs. Even odder is the fact that it rarely dawns on us to question our participation. Speaking for myself, I never second-guessed sitting on Santa’s lap and sharing my cherished wish list or posing for a photo with the elves in a Santa chair. Holiday customs differ from country to country, but one thing is for certain: the origins of these traditions can get lost in translation.

America and Sitting on Santa’s Knee

When asked about the holiday season in America, a list immediately forms in my head:

• Red and green
• Baking cookies
• Gingerbread houses
• Visiting Santa

By far the most notable holiday tradition in America is the annual trip that kids take to visit their local Santa, climb into the Santa chair, and confide in him their prized wish lists.

The story of Santa Claus was derived, centuries ago, from St. Nicholas, a fourth-century bishop who became known for his generosity and piety. It wasn’t until the end of the 18th century that the story of St. Nicholas began spreading in American culture. In 1809, Washington Irving referenced the Dutch Sinterklaas in one of his books as the patron saint of New York. Soon after, the popularity of St. Nicholas skyrocketed, and by the mid-1800s kids were asking to visit Santa during Christmas. By 1924, crowds were gathering to see Santa arrive at the end of the very first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Germany and Christmas Trees

The Christmas tree is one of the most widely recognizable holiday emblems. Each year, families gather around evergreens to house their gifts for one another. The decorating of the tree is highly anticipated in many families, and we have Germany to thank for this tradition.

Decorated Christmas trees are recorded in Strasbourg, then part of the German-speaking world, in the early 17th century. Evergreens had been used to celebrate the winter season long before the concept of the Christmas tree. Over the following centuries the Christmas tree spread throughout Germany, and by the 19th century it was embedded in English and American holiday tradition as well.

Scandinavia and the Yule Log

The Yule log is a tradition with roots in Scandinavia and northern Europe, first used to mark the returning of the sun after the winter solstice. Today, the burning of the Yule log embodies the Christmas spirit for families around the world. In some traditions, the Yule log is kept burning through the twelve days of Christmas to bring good luck for the year to come.

England and Christmas Carols

Carolers are a sign of joy and light in countless cultures during the holidays. In England, groups of singers once called “waits” went from house to house singing Christmas songs to their neighbors in hopes of spreading holiday cheer.

Carols were sung in Europe to celebrate the season for centuries. When the Puritans came into power in England, Christmas celebrations, caroling included, were suppressed, but many people kept singing in secret. During the Victorian period, caroling was once again embraced and came to signify the beginning of the Christmas celebrations in England. For more, read our brief history of Christmas carols.