Christmas Eve Traditions from Around the World

Christmas Eve is a magical time filled with anticipation, joy, and cherished traditions. The ways people celebrate vary greatly across cultures. In the United States, many families celebrate with gatherings and festive meals or Christmas Eve candlelight services at a local place of worship. Other families bake cookies for Santa, watch a Christmas movie, or read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. One favorite tradition in my family is driving around to look at Christmas lights and decorations. 

Here are some unique Christmas Eve traditions from around the globe:

La Nochebuena in Spain Nochebuena, which translates to "good night," refers to the traditional Christmas Eve celebration observed by Latinx, Spanish, and Filipinx people around the world. It is arguably one of the most important cultural festivities of the year. The centerpiece of the evening is a lavish dinner featuring dishes like roasted lamb, seafood, and turron (a traditional almond nougat). Many families attend Midnight Mass, known as "La Misa del Gallo" or "The Mass of the Rooster," named for the belief that a rooster crowed on the night Jesus was born. Additionally, it is common for many to open one or all of their Christmas gifts at midnight during a Nochebuena celebration.

Julbord in Sweden In Sweden, the Christmas season is highlighted by "Julbord" - a festive buffet that includes rice pudding, pork rib, lamb or mutton, spicy sausage, and lutefisk. The meal is usually served with sour red cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and lingonberry jam. It is customary to drink mulled wine or Christmas beer as an aperitif. Christmas Eve often involves watching "Kalle Anka" (Donald Duck's Christmas special), a beloved TV tradition. This medley of Disney classics includes Cinderella, Snow White and Mickey Mouse, and features original clips as well as more recent additions. Watching "Kalle Anka" is typically followed by opening gifts brought by Jultomten, the Swedish Santa Claus.

KFC Feast in Japan A uniquely modern tradition in Japan is the Christmas Eve feast of Kentucky Fried Chicken. What started as a marketing campaign in the 1970s ('Colonel for Christmas') has now become a nationwide phenomenon. Every Christmas season, an estimated three to four million Japanese families treat themselves to fried chicken from the American fast food chain, which reportedly sells 10 times more fried chicken on Christmas Eve than on a typical day. Strawberry cake is the traditional dessert to have after enjoying fried chicken.

Caroling by Candlelight in Australia In Australia, Christmas Eve falls during the summer season, making outdoor celebrations popular. One cherished tradition, introduced in 1938, is "Carols by Candlelight," held in Melbourne, Victoria. The tradition has now spread to many other cities across Australia, where communities gather in parks and sing carols by candlelight under the warm evening sky. These events are often accompanied by picnics and festive cheer.

The Feast of the Seven Fishes in Italy In Italian-American households, Christmas Eve is marked by "La Vigilia," in which families prepare the "Feast of the Seven Fishes." This feast features dishes like baccala (salted cod), calamari, and clams. The ancient tradition of eating fish on Christmas Eve dates from the Roman Catholic custom of abstinence from meat and dairy products on the eve of certain holidays, including Christmas. The number seven is rooted back in ancient times and it can be connected to multiple Catholic symbols.

Although Christmas Eve traditions differ across cultures, they share common themes of love, community, and reflection. Whether it's sharing a festive meal, attending a religious service, or engaging in unique customs, these traditions make Christmas Eve a night to remember.