Christmas Around the World

Olivia Wasmund | December 12, 2022

Illustration courtesy: Yeonjae Lee

JAPAN Rather than the typical feast of turkey and Christmas pudding, fried chicken dominates the table here. In Japan, the celebratory fare is a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken. The legend is that in the 1907's, the KFC manager in Japan overheard a couple of foreigners talking about their craving for Christmas turkey. A marketing campaign was developed that quickly hit it off among the Japanese nation-wide. Every Christmas, about 3.6 million Japanese families celebrate with a bucket of KFC (BBC). So next time you’re in Japan over Christmas break, don’t forget to pick up a bucket of fried chicken!

Illustration courtesy: Yeonjae Lee

AUSTRALIA Down below the equator, landscapes aren’t filled with festive snow and evergreens but with sunny skies and beach parties. Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere, which means that instead of skiing or snowboarding, people head to the beach in December. Sometimes Santa Claus makes an appearance there on his surfboard. Also, instead of the usual Christmas dinner, many Australians barbeque their Christmas lunch. Another popular tradition is “Carols by Candlelight.” This event includes caroling in parks and other public areas. Pack your swimsuit and be ready to celebrate Christmas Aussie style!

Illustration courtesy: Yeonjae Lee

MEXICO

In Mexico, the Christmas celebration, Las Posadas, or “The Inns,” stretches from December 16th to the 24th. Las Posadas commemorates the journey Mary and Joseph made from Nazareth to Bethlehem to find lodging. In Oaxaca, in southwest Mexico, December 23rd is Noche de Rábanos, “the Night of the Radishes” when intricate scenes are carved into oversized radishes. That evening hundreds of contestants file into the zocalo, "the main square," to present their carvings and compete for prizes while tourists line the displays to snap selfies with the pink and white pieces of art. When you go, be sure to stop by the food stalls to try all the traditional snacks.

Illustration courtesy: Yeonjae Lee

AUSTRIA, GERMANY, SLOVENIA Unlike the jolly white bearded Santa Claus, many European countries have Krampus. Krampus’s job is not to deliver presents but to punish the naughty children. He is generally depicted as a half-goat demon creature with fur and horns—yikes! Krampus has long been a part of old folklore legends and tales. Krampus and other Christmas villains have their origins in pagan celebrations of the winter solstice. Later, they became part of Christian traditions—Santa Claus gives the good children gifts and Krampus punishes the bad children.