US EditionUnique Christmas Customs Around the World
Christmas customs worldwide include fortune-telling, unusual foods, and unique decorations, reflecting diverse cultural heritage and faith, with 2.6 billion Christians globally, per a 2025 study.
- On Dec. 25, The Independent rounded up 12 unusual Christmas customs from various countries including India, Japan, the Czech Republic, Catalonia and Venezuela that vary by calendar and climate.
- Rooted in faith and folklore, many customs reflect local history as families and communities pass beliefs down, supported by a Christian population of roughly 2.6 billion worldwide.
- Japanese families often reserve KFC buckets weeks ahead of Christmas, a tradition started by manager Takeshi Okawara in the early 1970s to promote fried chicken as a festive meal.
- These traditions sustain markets and bolster regional festive identity, with Catalonia's caga tio beaten on Christmas Eve and caganer figurines sold in markets, while Gavle features a giant Yule goat.
- Ukraine now marks Christmas on 25 December, Armenia celebrates on Jan. 6 combining birth and baptism, and Mexico stages Las Posadas nightly from Dec. 16 to 24.
66 Articles
66 Articles
Tahoe Daily Tribune
Mid Florida NewspapersUnique Christmas traditions around the world
Christmas celebrations span the globe. According to a 2025 report from the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, there are roughly 2.6 billion Christians worldwide, a figure that undoubtedly contributes to the popularity of Christmas. Christianity continues to have the most adherents of any religion in the world, and the Christian population is expected to top three billion before 2050. Christians br…
ABC FOX Montana
Unique Christmas customs around the world
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 ... Read moreThe post Unique Christmas customs around the world appeared first on Food Drink…
20 Festive Christmas Sweets From Around The World Worth Trying At Least Once
Christmas has a way of turning even the coldest days into something warm and indulgent. Streets glow with lights, homes fill with laughter, and kitchens everywhere come alive with the smell of sugar, spice, and butter. It’s the one time of year when desserts take center stage and calories politely stop counting. Today, we’re traveling far beyond one country to celebrate Christmas treats from all around the world. From cozy street snacks to show-…
The Independent
The Independent (US)The 12 weirdest Christmas traditions from around the world
From pagan folk traditions to eating KFC or decorating mango trees, here’s a selection of some of the more unusual Christmas traditions from around the world
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