Christmas traditions vary beautifully across the globe, reflecting unique cultures, foods, and celebrations. While Christians commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, Christmas has evolved into a beloved holiday that brings families together worldwide, whether through dancing in Ghana, lantern festivals in the Philippines, or beachside barbecues in Australia. Discover how different countries celebrate this festive season in 2025.

Australian christmas traditions: Summer celebrations by the beach

Australia is a small island continent surrounded by beautiful sandy beaches. As it is summer at Christmas time, many Australians celebrate Christmas lunch on Christmas Day outdoors. Large family gatherings are common with a huge selection of delicious food including a barbecue complete with fresh Australian seafood!

Some Australians prefer to have a traditional roast meal of chicken or turkey. Many Australians have a swimming pool so it is popular to celebrate Christmas at a family home around the pool. If you are lucky enough, some people in Australians celebrate Christmas with family at their beach house!

Yes, those of us in Australia are very lucky to have sunny weather at this time of the year. Even if you are away from your family, at least you will be surrounded by the warm Christmas spirit!

Bangladesh christmas: The love feast tradition

Christmas in Bangladesh is also known as ‘Borodin’ or ‘Bara din’, which means ‘the great day’ in Bengali. In Bangladesh churches, women traditionally sit on one side of the church and men on the other.

However, it is common for all attendees to dine together in church, especially in some rural areas. This is called ‘Preeti-bhoj’ or ‘Prem-bhoj’ which means ‘feast of love’.

Dinner often includes dishes such as chicken and vegetable curries served with rice and vegetables. ‘Pitha’ is another special Christmas food.

Kenyan christmas: Cyprus trees and nyama choma

In Kenya, Christmas is a time when families try their best to come together. People travel back to their home towns and villages from the larger cities and celebrate Christmas with members of their family.

Houses and churches are decorated with ribbons, coloured balloons, paper decorations, flowers and green leaves. Because traditional pine trees are not common in Kenya, some people will use a Cyprus tree as a Christmas tree. In large cities and towns, stores can often have artificial snow outside to bring out the Christmas spirit!

Popular Christmas meals include a barbecue of goat, sheep, chicken, or beef, with rice and chapati flatbread. Different tribes also have special dishes that they prepare according to their local traditions. ‘nyama choma’ is the name of the great Christmas meal.

In countries with temperate climates, families visit Christmas tree farms to select fresh pine or fir trees, but Kenya’s tropical climate requires creative alternatives like the Cyprus tree.

Ghanaian christmas: Dancing and drums all night

Drums and dancing in Ghana! It is not a surprise… Christmas Eve night is the time when the celebrations really begin with Church services including drums and dancing. Children are often dressed, With Nativity characters or other cultural Christmas customs.

Choirs sing joyous Christmas carols and music and people come out in front of the priests to dance. Sometimes these services and dances last all night long. Most of the songs are sung in the languages ​​that people understand best which makes them feel that God speaks their language!

Ghana is the second-largest cocoa producer in the world. Chocolate is therefore also an important part of the Christmas celebration. December is also the beginning of the cocoa harvest (the bean that produces chocolate).

Fijian christmas: Colourful ribbons and traditional feasts

In traditional village celebrations, about two weeks before Christmas Day everyone gathers at the community’s largest house and celebrates for two weeks until New Years Day. 

Fijian families also prepare a special dish called Pal Palamiami at Christmas. They add spices to lamb, wrap it in Dalo leaves, and cook it in coconut cream. Yum yum!

Fiji is one of the happiest countries in the world. At Christmas, people sing and perform traditional ‘Make’ fan (women) and spear (men) dances.  Colourful ribbons decorate trees.

Filipino christmas: Giant lantern festival and parol

Most Filipinos are Christians and Filipinos like to celebrate Christmas for as long as possible! Family, friends and even neighbours come to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Christmas Eve is an open house celebration!

Most households would have various dishes arranged and would normally include pork, ham, fruits, cakes, (bibingka and puto bumbong traditional Christmas foods) and many different types of drinks.

The most popular decoration in the Philippines the ‘parol’ is a bamboo pole or frame with a lighted star lantern on it. It represents the star that guided the Three Wise Men.

The famous Giant Lantern Festival is an annual festival held in mid-December. The festival also features a competition for the best giant parol lantern!

The Parol is a Filipino ornamental lantern displayed during the Christmas season.

Vietnamese christmas: Confetti and street celebrations

In Vietnam, Christmas Eve is usually more important than Christmas Day. On Christmas Eve, people fill Ho Chi Minh City’s streets, and the city closes its centre roads to cars in the evening. People celebrate by throwing confetti, taking pictures and enjoying the Christmas decorations.

In Catholic parishes, people create nativity scenes in front of their houses and they decorate the entire street, making it a Christmas area! These scenes are popular for people to come and visit.

A bûche de Noël is a popular gift. Like Australia, it’s very hot for Santa in Vietnam and it can be very comfortable for him to wear all that velvet in a hot humid country!

Mexican christmas: Las Posadas procession

Las Posadas is a very important tradition in Mexican culture. These celebrations begin 9 days before Christmas. Inspired by the journey that Saint Joseph and the Virgin Mary made to Bethlehem.

During the procession, participants light candles and sing Christmas carols and end the tour at the house of one of the participants. The celebration can be small or a family or include neighbours and friends.

In some places, children perform a similar version to Las Posadas known as “Las Ramas”. Here children carry decorated altars filled with branches, figures of the Virgin and Saint Joseph while singing Christmas carols.

Nigerian christmas: Family reunions and mashed yams

Many family members come together to celebrate Christmas. Those who live in big cities travel back to their home towns and villages visit their family and relatives.

Families organise a Christmas party that will last all night on Christmas Eve! On Christmas morning, they give thanks to God in church.

A traditional Nigerian dinner can include sheep, beef, goat, chicken or mutton. Mashed yams, Jollof rice, fried rice, vegetable salad and stew are other popular dishes.

Frequently Asked Questions about Christmas traditions around the world

+ What are the most unique Christmas traditions around the world?

Some of the most unique Christmas traditions include the Philippines’ Giant Lantern Festival with 20-foot illuminated stars, Mexico’s nine-day Las Posadas procession reenacting Mary and Joseph’s journey, Ghana’s all-night church services with drums and dancing, and Australia’s beach barbecues featuring fresh seafood instead of traditional roast dinners.

+ How do tropical countries celebrate Christmas without snow?

Tropical countries adapt Christmas celebrations to their warm climate. Australians celebrate with outdoor barbecues and beach gatherings, Filipinos decorate with colorful parol lanterns, Kenyans use Cyprus trees instead of pine trees, and Vietnamese gather in city streets to throw confetti and enjoy decorations. These countries prove that Christmas spirit doesn’t require cold weather!

+ What is Las Posadas in Mexican Christmas traditions?

Las Posadas is a nine-day celebration in Mexico that begins on December 16 and ends on Christmas Eve. It reenacts Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem and their search for shelter. Participants carry candles, sing Christmas carols, and process through neighborhoods, ending at a host’s home for celebrations with family, neighbors, and friends.

+ What is the Giant Lantern Festival in the Philippines?

The Giant Lantern Festival (Ligligan Parul Sampernandu) is an annual competition held in San Fernando, Pampanga in mid-December. Communities create massive star-shaped lanterns up to 20 feet in diameter featuring thousands of spinning, choreographed lights set to music. The festival celebrates Filipino craftsmanship and Christmas spirit, attracting visitors from around the world.

+ What traditional Christmas foods are eaten in different countries?

Christmas foods vary widely by country. Filipinos enjoy bibingka and puto bumbong (rice cakes), Nigerians serve Jollof rice and mashed yams, Kenyans prepare nyama choma (grilled meat) with chapati, Bangladeshis enjoy chicken curries with pitha, Fijians make Pal Palamiami (spiced lamb in coconut cream), and Ghanaians incorporate chocolate dishes as they’re the world’s second-largest cocoa producer.

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