Christmas Traditions from around the World

We’ve sought out a selection of Christmas traditions from around the world to make you smile. Some of these will feel familiar, some completely foreign while others are downright wacky, but each and every one has a little festive flair. From newer traditions such as ‘The 12 Pubs of Christmas’, which started in Ireland around a decade ago, to ancient pagan practices such as hiding the broom in Norway that date back more than a thousand years, these holiday traditions may be ones that you decide to spice up your own celebrations this year.

The Christmas Markets

If you‘re looking for the most traditional immersive experiences for Christmas, then visiting a Christmas market will fulfil your inner elf. Every year travellers come from afar to sample the best Christmas markets in Europe, with around 85 million visiting Germany alone. This tradition dates back nearly 800 years and it was borne out of a street market in Vienna where locals stocked up on necessities for the cold winter ahead. The first Christkindlmarkt took place in the town of Bautzen in 1384 and spread to other towns, who started adding seasonal treats and decorations with each passing year, to evolve into the wondrous markets we see in European towns and cities today.

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Rather than simply a shopping experience, most visitors treat the Christmas market as a day or night out. They are a great place to pick up unique gifts and artisan food items, as well as locally-made decorations that you won’t find anywhere else. The largest Christmas market in Europe is on Rathausplatz in Vienna, with an 32,000 square foot ice-rink, an advent theme park and up to 200 stalls packed with Christmas goodies and so many lights it’s probably visible from space, or at least the peaks of the Alps.

Of course, Christmas markets are synonymous with glühwein, the warm German beverage that is made for heating you up as you stroll from one candy-striped stand to another. Known as vin chaud in France, glögg in Sweden and mulled wine in English-speaking countries, this hot spiced drink is an ideal winter warmer.

Make your own Glüwein at Home

While waiting for the time when it will be safe to travel again, you can fill up your home with the wonderful aromas that evoke memories of strolling arm-in-arm around a European Christmas market by following this simple recipe.

You need: A large saucepan and a ladle

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle of red wine
• 1 lemon
• 2 sticks of cinnamon
• 3 cloves
• 2 cardamom pods
• 1 star anise
• 3 tbsp brown sugar
• 4 slices of orange rind

Method:

Heat the red wine in the large saucepan on a low heat, don’t bring it to the boil. Slice the lemon and add to the wine with the cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, star anise and sugar. Stir slowly until the sugar dissolves, then leave to simmer gently for 10 – 15 minutes. Remove the cardamom, cinnamon, star anise and lemon and pour into crackproof or heatproof glasses with a ladle. Serve immediately.

You may want some Christmas foods to accompany your glühwein, so we’ve chosen some alternative Christmas delicacies that appear on festive tables across the world.

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Delightful Festive Foods

On December 23, Icelanders observe a tradition of eating fermented skate, usually washed down with a local liqueur. The practice is in honour of St. Thorlákurs, the patron saint of their country, who died on this day in the 12th century. Aussies typically have a barbie (barbecue) on Christmas Day and prawns are a staple, along with grilled meats. Christmas dinner in Switzerland can come in many varieties – some families like a fondue chinoise (meat fondue) or filet im teig (pork fillet wrapped in pastry and stuffed with sausage meat).

If you’d like to book some Christmas travel to Germany, you’ll find an enchanting spread awaits for your festive meal. The main meat for Christmas dinner is duck, goose or rabbit, typically served with sides of red cabbage and plump bread dumplings. Dessert is an important feature too, and here Stollen is the star of the show, although plenty of lebkuchen (Christmas cookies) are required too.

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Stollen is a yeast bread full of dried fruits, nuts and spices and dusted with powdered sugar to reflect the snow-covered German landscape. First created in Dresden in the 14th century, it became known as ‘the food of kings’ due to a special dispensation given by the Catholic church to use butter during the fasting period of Advent. If you’re missing your German Christmas vacation this year, you can bring some of that festive flavour into your kitchen with the following recipe.

Stollen Recipe

You’ll need a large baking tray for this, but if your oven is smaller, you can split it into two loaves.

Ingredients:

• 500g/1lb 2oz strong white flour, and a little extra for flouring
• 100g/3 ½oz caster sugar
• 10g fast action yeast
• 10g salt
• 150g/5 ½oz unsalted butter
• 250ml/9fl oz full fat milk
• 1 pinch ground nutmeg
• 1 pinch ground cloves
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 2 drops of almond extract
• 55g/2oz blanched almonds, finely chopped
• 100g/3 ½oz currants
• 200g/7oz raisins
• 125g/4oz candied citrus peel
• 25g/1oz butter
• 225g/8oz marzipan

Serve with:

• 25g/1oz melted butter
• 2 tbsp icing sugar

Method

1. Put the flour and sugar in a large bowl. Move to one side and add the yeast, move to the other side and add salt. Stir in 200ml/7fl oz of milk with softened butter.
2. After mixing, add the remaining milk and form a soft dough from the mixture. Transfer to a floured surface and knead for 6 or 7 minutes, when it should be smooth and pliable.
3. Mix the almonds, cloves, nutmeg, vanilla and almond extract, dried fruit and mixed peel together in a large bowl. Put the dough on top and knead from the outside in, mixing in the dried fruit and spices as you knead. When everything is suitably blended, cover the large bowl with some cling film and leave to rise in a warm place for 1 – 2 hours. Check to see when it has doubled in size.
4. Flatten the dough and roll out on a lightly floured surface to a rectangle about 45x35cm/18x14in. Brush with the melted butter.
5. Roll out the marzipan to about 35x15cm/14x6in (the long side should roughly match the width of the dough). Place on top of the dough in the middle. Roll the dough up to enclose the marzipan and transfer to a baking tray lined with baking parchment. Cover and leave to rise for about an hour, or until it rises and doubles in size.
6. Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5 (fan 170C).
7. When the dough has risen, bake for an hour. Remove from the oven, brush with melted butter, and dust with icing sugar. Serve cold.

Possibly the oddest Christmas dinner is found in Japan, where families like to eat ‘party barrels’ of KFC. From a marketing idea in 1970 by a KFC branch manager in the country, it has become a national phenomenon and the barrels need to be ordered weeks in advance to ensure that the family can have their ‘finger lickin’ good’ dish on Christmas day.

Article in partnership with Insight Vacations. For more information and to book Insight Vacations premium guided tours please contact GrownUps Holidays on 0800 842 685 or email grownups@ttc.com.