Most of us Brits tend to celebrate the usual Christmas traditions, such as hanging our stockings out for Santa and decorating our artificial Christmas trees. But have you ever wondered how other countries around the world celebrate Christmas, and what traditions they have for the festive season each year? Read on for a little cultural inspiration!
Iceland: Yule Lads
For 13 nights in the lead up until Christmas day, children in Iceland leave a pair of shoes on the windowsill ready for the Yule Lads to visit. If they have been good little boys and girls, their shoes will be filled up with sweets each night. However, those on the naughty list may find their shoes full of rotting potatoes!
Japan: KFC for Christmas dinner
In Japan, having a KFC instead of a Christmas dinner is a tradition across the nation. The tradition was born after KFC started a global campaign called ‘Kentucky for Christmas’ in 1974, and since then it has been adopted as tradition by the Japanese people. In fact, it is so popular that residents who want this feast for Christmas day must order weeks in advance for their festive fried chicken.
Mexico: Las Posadas
Las Posadas is a religious re-enactment of Mexico’s version of the nativity, where children sing in a procession from house to house until they reach the last one for a celebration with lots of food, drink and pinatas. This takes place over nine nights, with the final celebration occurring on Christmas Eve, and the houses alternate each night, so everyone gets a turn to host the festivities.
