Holiday Traditions Around the World
The lights are shining brightly, the carols are playing on the radio, and the shopping has begun this holiday season, but have you ever wondered how this holiday and others are celebrated around the world? Grab your kids for an adventure around the world with special holiday traditions around the world that you will want to add to your own.
celebration of Los Posadas in Mexico
The first stop on our adventure is Mexico. Picture this; it’s the 16th of December and their special celebration of Los Posadas has just begun. Los Posadas, literally the inns or the lodgings, signifies Mary and Joseph’s journey in the Christian tradition to find a place to stay in Bethlehem. Families and friends visit each other’s houses first pretending to look for a place to stay, they are soon welcomed into the home and with food, piñatas full of candy, and beautiful poinsettias. Your kiddos will love adding these poinsettias to your home.
Thirteen Yule Lads in iceland
Next up is Iceland with the Thirteen Yule Lads who take the place of Santa Claus. Each yule lad has a unique personality and brings a gift for children every evening, leaving them in the children’s shoes. Have some fun this Christmas by leaving out your own shoes for gifts. The children are also extra good in this season because naughty children are taken by the yule lads’ troll-like mother.
Jolabokaflod in Iceland
“Jolabokaflod” is a tradition in Iceland which translates to “Christmas Book Flood”. On Christmas Eve, Icelanders exchange books as gifts and spend the evening reading them together, signifying their love for literature and storytelling.
Le Befana in Italy
In Italy, the friendly witch, Le Befana, rides a broom and gives gifts to children. But before there are presents, Italians enjoy quite the feast–a feast of seven fishes. This is a feast widely celebrated by Italian Americans as well. Eaten over the course of the evening Italians enjoy 7 different seafood dishes. Feeling ambitious, create your own seafood dish using one of these delicious recipes.
Australian Santa Claus
If the cold of the season is getting to you, think of a sunnier place like Australia. Santa Claus wears flip flops and has kangaroos instead of reindeer. Children are just getting out of school for their extended break so they may go to the beach or camping during the Christmas season. To celebrate, create your own indoor camping experience and use kinetic sand to build some sandy snowmen.
Chinese New Year festival
Travel north to China, just in time for the Chinese New Year festival in February. The Chinese celebrate the coming of a new year with beautiful lanterns hung high, tasty treats, and time with friends and family. Children receive red envelopes with money in them for the new year. Welcome in the new year by decorating your home with paper lanterns. Read more about this in our blog post Celebrating the Chinese New Year.
India Festival of Lights
Beautiful lights are in no shortage in India during the Festival of Lights. People of India decorate their homes with many lights, exchange gifts, feed the poor, and set off fireworks. Rangolis, rows of colors, are art pieces that signify happiness, positivity, and good triumphing over evil. Create your own rangoli art and share in the celebration.
As holiday lights adorn your home and neighborhoods, take a moment to breathe in all the beauty of this season and those celebrated all around the world. It’s clear that joy, gift giving, special recipes, and time with family and friends are essential to all holiday celebrations. Take a trip around the world with these activities and when you finish read our favorite Christmas books, shop local, and stuff your stockings. Happy Holidays!
Want to see more blogs like this and also get notifications on local events and happenings? Subscribe to our free weekly newsletters here.
By Michaela Reynolds
