Five fascinating Christmas traditions from around the world

Discover exciting new ways to mark the Christmas period with one (or more) of these intriguing festive traditions from lands near and far.

We all have our own ways of celebrating Christmastime, from family feasts to carolling on the streets, and the rest of the world is no different. What better way to add some extra excitement to the big day than with a taste of the most intriguing festive traditions from across the globe. Whether the seasonal decorations can’t go up soon enough in your household, or you’d prefer to wait for the twelve days of Christmas, give one of these five unique overseas traditions a try this festive season.  

1. Peace apples, China

Some of the quirkiest global traditions are derived from mistranslations, and that’s certainly the case with China’s peculiar Christmas apples. This activity revolves around offering your neighbours carved apples and is a play on Ping’an Ye (Peaceful Night), the Mandarin word for Christmas Eve. As Christmas celebrations became commonplace across Asia, there was confusion between Ping’an Ye and Píngguô, which means ‘apple’ in Mandarin, and hence the tradition of Christmas apples was born. Nowadays, people across China mark the festive period with offerings of carved ‘peace apples’ – a fun and creative way to celebrate! 

2. Christmas fruit trees, India

Around 2% of India’s total population identifies as Christians. While that may not seem like a lot at first glance, when you consider India’s massive population of around 1.2 billion, the Christmas-celebrating Christian population suddenly becomes more significant. In the coastal state of Goa, which was once a major Portuguese colony, locals have adopted a number of European Christmas traditions and adapted them into something quite unique. Given that fir and pine trees are few and far between in India, for instance, you’re more likely to see banana and mango trees dressed in festive finery when Christmas comes around! 

3. Christmas shoe-tossing, Czechia

While our next festive tradition might seem more at home at a wedding ceremony, it’s a staple of many Czech households’ Christmas celebrations. Taking place on Christmas Day, it involves standing at your door, back facing the outdoors, and throwing a shoe behind you. According to local legend, if the shoe lands with the toe facing the door, the person who threw it is bound to find new love over the coming year. While belief in the tradition has waned over the years, the novelty and history behind the shoe toss have helped it remain a popular festive activity to this day.  

4. KFC for Christmas, Japan

In 1974, KFC ran a marketing campaign in Japan called ‘Kentucky for Christmas’. The campaign worked so well that eating KFC at Christmas is now a Japanese tradition. KFC’s sales in Japan increase by up to 500% during December and it’s not unusual to see people queuing out of the door on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, with employees dressed as Santa!

5. Krampus Parades, Austria 

One of the spookier festive traditions across the world, Austria’s iconic Krampus parades pay homage to the devil-like figure of the same name. In European folklore, the devilish Krampus appears each year to punish poorly behaved children while jolly old St. Nicholas rewards those who have been good all year the following morning. If you’re thinking this sounds familiar, you’d be correct – the Krampus was the inspiration for Santa Claus’ naughty or nice gimmick.  

These days, Austrian towns regularly host elaborate parades to keep this intriguing tradition alive. Featuring elaborate costumes, regional music and street processions, these parades add an interesting touch to Christmastime.

Spruce up your festive celebrations with Newmarket Holidays 

Whether you’re already feeling the festive spirit, or need a little more inspiration, breathe new life into your Christmas celebrations this year with one or more of these unique traditions. Better yet, you can experience Christmas in another country with our broad range of Christmas and New Year tours. To book your spot, or for more information on each wish-list itinerary, give one of our friendly holiday planners a call. You can also find our full collection of escorted tours by visiting our dedicated destinations page.