Americans are used to picturing Christmas as snow-dusted scenes with stockings full of gifts, but that image barely hints at what the season looks like beyond U.S. borders. Outside the country, Christmas takes unexpected turns, with kids beating a log for gifts, quiet rituals tied to marriage and fried chicken showing up as a holiday staple in places few would expect. These traditions invite anyone curious enough to step outside the familiar and experience the season through customs people look forward to every year.
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Around the world, Christmas celebrations follow very different calendars and climates, with some lasting several days or weeks and others taking place in the middle of summer instead of winter. In many places, the season centers on family-led religious traditions at home, while elsewhere, it brings neighbors together through shared customs passed down over generations.
Spain’s gift-giving log
Spain’s Catalonia region celebrates Christmas with a custom that surprises many first-time visitors. Known as the Tió de Nadal, the practice revolves around a wooden log that plays a role in gift-giving. Families bring the log into the home days before Christmas, set it in a corner, cover it with a blanket and leave bits of food as part of the routine.
On Christmas, children strike the log with sticks while singing traditional songs. Afterward, small gifts appear beneath it, as if the log produced them. These are usually small treats such as turron, nuts or candy.
The log itself varies by household. Some families use a simple piece of wood or cork, while others display detailed versions with a painted face, legs and the customary red Catalan cap. Despite its playful tone, the ritual remains a deeply rooted part of regional Christmas celebrations.
Czech Republic’s shoe ritual
On Christmas Eve, a quiet ritual in the Czech Republic focuses on personal hopes for the year ahead. Unmarried women take part by standing with their backs to the front door and tossing a shoe over one shoulder. The gesture happens at home, often with close family nearby, and follows rules passed down through generations.
The way the shoe lands matters. If the toe points toward the door, custom holds that marriage may come within the next year, suggesting a future move away from the family home. If it points elsewhere, the wait continues. Simple and personal, the ritual blends curiosity and belief and remains a familiar part of Czech Christmas customs.
Ukraine’s spider decorations
In many homes, spider webs mean a cleaning job. In Ukraine, they carry a distinct meaning during Christmas. Spiders and their delicate threads represent good fortune, which gives them a welcome place in holiday decor.
The practice blends faith with folk belief. Families decorate trees or living spaces with shimmering web-like ornaments that nod to an old legend. The story tells of a poor household where a spider spun a web across the home, which later turned silver and gold and brought luck to the family.
That tale still influences the season today. The decorations serve as subtle symbols of hope and prosperity, turning an everyday creature into a centerpiece of Christmas tradition.
Finland’s Christmas sauna
In Finland, a visit to the sauna remains a core part of Christmas preparation, typically done before the main celebrations begin. The ritual dates back centuries and treats the sauna as a place to slow down and reset ahead of holiday gatherings.
Older folk beliefs established strict etiquette around the experience. People entered in silence and avoided loud conversation, convinced that careless behavior could invite misfortune later in the year. That expectation of calm still guides the tradition.
The setting supports that mindset. Lanterns often light the steps, wreaths hang on the door and simple decorations appear nearby. Many households still follow the idea of “saunarauha,” or sauna peace, which emphasizes respect, stillness and consideration for others.
Japan’s KFC tradition
Christmas dinner looks very different in Japan, where fried chicken from KFC has become the centerpiece of the holiday. Around Dec. 25, families gather at home with buckets of chicken ordered specifically for the occasion, often reserved weeks in advance.
The custom began in the early 1970s after the first KFC opened in Nagoya, when manager Takeshi Okawara promoted chicken as a festive stand-in for the turkey many expats missed. His local idea grew into a nationwide campaign by 1974, cementing KFC as a Christmas tradition that continues to define holiday meals across the country.
Mexico’s Las Posadas
In Mexico, the days before Christmas come into view through Las Posadas, a religious festival observed over nine consecutive nights from Dec. 16 to 24. Each evening reenacts Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter before Jesus’ birth.
The gatherings usually take the form of small neighborhood processions that move from house to house, with participants singing, praying and pausing at each stop. Food often follows the prayers, turning each night into a shared moment that blends faith, routine and community.
Colombia’s Día de las Velitas
In Colombia, the Christmas season quietly begins on Dec. 7 with “Día de las Velitas,” or the Day of the Little Candles. The evening serves as the country’s informal opening to Christmas and focuses on a religious observance that leads into the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on Dec. 8.
As night falls, families and neighbors light small candles across towns and cities, placing them along sidewalks, balconies and windowsills. Based on Catholic belief, the night serves as a vigil honoring the belief that Mary was conceived without original sin. Over time, the celebration has grown into a shared cultural ritual, one that also makes room for gratitude, reflection and remembrance of loved ones who are no longer present.
Australia and New Zealand summer Christmas
In Australia and New Zealand, Christmas arrives in the middle of summer, which reshapes the entire day. Warm weather moves celebrations outdoors, with many people spending the daylight hours near the water before gathering later for the main meal. Beaches replace fireplaces, and shade matters more than sweaters.
Food and activities follow the season. Backyard grills and beach barbecues often replace roasts, with seafood, grilled meats, fresh salads and pavlova common on the table. Swimming, picnics and casual games on the sand fill the day. Festive touches still appear, but they look different here, with Santa hats worn alongside swimsuits and umbrellas.
Armenia’s January Christmas
In Armenia, Christmas follows a different calendar and arrives on Jan. 6, placing the holiday firmly after the rest of the world has packed decorations away. The date holds deep meaning within the Armenian Church and commemorates key moments in the life of Christ. Rather than splitting these events across separate holidays, the church brings them together into one observance.
The focus stays firmly on faith and tradition. Services observe both the birth of Christ in Bethlehem and his baptism in the Jordan River, with Epiphany serving as the spiritual core of the season. Churches fill with prayer and ritual, and the tone remains quiet and reverent. For many families, the day prioritizes worship and reflection over public celebration, keeping Christmas grounded in religious practice.
Customs keep Christmas alive
Christmas endures through the beliefs and customs that families pass down across generations. Each culture shapes the holiday around its own history, faith and everyday life, giving traditions a reason to last rather than fade. Together, these practices show that the holiday stays meaningful not through uniformity, but through the many ways people choose to observe it.
Jennifer Allen is a retired chef turned traveler, cookbook author and nationally syndicated journalist; she’s also a co-founder of Food Drink Life, where she shares expert travel tips, cruise insights and luxury destination guides. A recognized cruise expert with a deep passion for high-end experiences and off-the-beaten-path destinations, Jennifer explores the world with curiosity, depth and a storyteller’s perspective. Her articles are regularly featured on the Associated Press Wire, The Washington Post, Seattle Times, MSN and more.
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