Global Holiday Traditions You Can Celebrate With Your Kids
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Most families have holiday traditions they take pride in, whether they’re passed down from generation to generation or created new this year. But it’s important to teach kids about holiday customs from other cultures as well — and it can be a ton of fun, too. So why not help your kids learn about these festive traditions from around the world?
You never know; they may well inspire a new family tradition or two for you, too.
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St. Stephen’s Day in Ireland
Christmas festivities in Ireland tend to be more religious in nature than, you know, Santa-based, and they last from Christmas Eve until January 6 (Epiphany). On the 26th, St. Stephen’s Day, an Irish tradition known as the Wren Boys Procession takes place; children go door-to-door singing, holding a stick topped by a holly bush and a wren. They ask for money for the “starving wren” (money that, of course, goes into their own pockets). In ancient times, a real wren was killed and fastened to the stick, but thankfully, these days the birds are fake.
Sviata Vecheria in Ukraine
The Christmas Eve festivities in Ukraine are known as Sviata Vecheria, which means “Holy Supper.” The celebration begins when the first evening star is sighted in the night sky. In farming communities, the household head brings in a sheaf of wheat which symbolizes the wheat crops of Ukraine. It is called “didukh,” which translates to “grandfather spirit.” In homes within the city, a few stalks of wheat may be used to decorate the table.
Omisoka in Japan
In Japan, Omisoka, or New Year’s Eve, is the second most important holiday of the year, following New Year’s Day, the start of a new beginning. Japanese families gather for a late dinner around 11 p.m., and at midnight, many make visits to a shrine or temple. In many homes, there is a cast-iron bell that gets struck 108 times.
New Year’s Eve in Ecuador
In this South American country, folks dress up a straw man to represent the old year, and family members make a will for the straw man that lists all of his “faults.” At midnight, they burn the straw man — in hopes that their own faults disappear too.
Jólabókaflóðið in Iceland
Icelanders have a unique and heartwarming tradition for Christmas Eve. Known as Jólabókaflóðið, which translates to “Christmas book flood,” Icelanders exchange books and spend the evening curled up with a good read. This love for literature fosters a sense of community and creates a cozy and cherished holiday tradition.
Kwanzaa in the U.S.
Kwanzaa is a weeklong celebration honoring African-American culture. It was first celebrated in 1966 and is one of the fastest-growing holidays. A Kwanzaa celebration often includes singing, drumming and a selection of readings such as the African pledge or parts of African history.
Christmas in France
In France, Christmas is called Noel. And though there are many similarities to Christmas in the U.S. (Pere Noel, aka Father Christmas, makes home visits with gifts) there are also differences. On Christmas Eve, for example, French kids leave their shoes by the fireplace to be filled with fruits, nuts and small toys overnight. Nearly every home has a Nativity Scene, which serves as the focal point of decoration and celebration, just as the Christmas tree does in U.S. homes.
Christmas in Alaska
Christmas traditions in Alaska are similar to the rest of the Unites States, but there are a few unique differences that make an Alaskan Christmas special. For example, children go caroling with a long pole topped by a colored star. Songs sung in the home often include the Aleut words “Gristuusaaq suu’uq,” which mean “Christ is born.” The closing words, “Mnogaya leta,” mean, “God grant you many years.” Treats may include cookies, doughnuts, and cake, as well as fish pie called piruk and smoked salmon.
St. Lucy’s Day in Sweden
Every year on December 13, it’s St. Lucy’s Day in Sweden. It’s a Christian feast day and festival of lights marking the beginning of the Christmas season, and is a time to celebrate the coming of light in the darkest time of the year. St. Lucy was a young Christian martyr who died in 304 AD; according to legend, she refused to renounce her faith and was condemned to death. As she was being led to her execution, she carried candles in her hands, symbolizing her faith and the light of Christ. The most well-known tradition of St. Lucy’s Day is the Lucia procession, led by a young woman dressed in white, wearing a crown of candles and a red sash.
Las Posadas in Mexico
Las Posadas (meaning “the inns” in Spanish) is a nine-day religious celebration held in Mexico and other parts of Latin America, beginning on December 16 and ending on December 24. The celebration commemorates the journey of Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem in search of a safe place for Mary to give birth to Jesus. On each evening of the festival there’s a procession of people, often dressed in traditional costumes, carrying candles and singing Christmas carols. The procession arrives at a home or church, where the group knocks on the door and asks for shelter. The request is traditionally denied, but the procession is allowed to enter the home or church and are given food and drink.
A version of this story was originally published in 2015.
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