This popular saying always holds true, and travellers who roam the world keep it firmly in mind.

Every place, culture and country has its own traditions, which reflect the cultural variety that sets them apart. There are certain times of year, such as Christmas, when tradition “takes over” and people love to follow customs handed down from generation to generation. Moments of Christmas sharing often involve food, decorating the Christmas tree, gifts for the little ones and certain social gatherings, but every country lives this festivity in its own way.

In this article we will look together at the typical Christmas traditions of a few places.

Santé, les amis

Over the Christmas period the so-called French Bars à Huîtres (the establishments where oysters and seafood are eaten) receive countless orders for platters of oysters and other seafood, which customers collect to celebrate at home with friends and relatives. The menu calls for a toast of oysters and champagne. If you walk past one of these places on Christmas Eve or on 31 December, there is not a space that has not been invaded by one of these wrapped platters awaiting collection.

Christmas markets

In Austria and Germany Christmas markets are a real institution; of course, markets can be found in many other places too, but in these two countries they are a truly unique event.

By late November the cities are already “entering” the Christmas spirit, setting up the typical wooden huts that house the stallholders; decorations go up and the trees are dressed. Some markets are so spectacular that they have become a travel destination for many tourists every year.

The markets are also a place to meet and share: there is always an area devoted to good food and drink where people habitually arrange to meet. If you go to Vienna over the Christmas period, you cannot miss a toast of Glühwein in one of the huts crowding the centre.

Christmas in Finland, the land of Father Christmas

When we talk about Christmas we immediately think of the city par excellence, Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland. This place is famous for being the home of Father Christmas, and plenty of children picture him in his toy workshop, in the middle of a snowfall, preparing parcels for delivery.

In Finland this festivity is deeply felt: it is traditional to decorate the tree on 23 December and to celebrate Christmas Eve together with friends and relatives. Children wait anxiously for Father Christmas to knock at the door to ask whether they have been good and hand out the presents.

Christmas carols with a touch of magic

In Great Britain they are hugely popular, and in the weeks leading up to Christmas they can be heard in countless places: Christmas carols are traditional musical compositions of English origin dealing with Christmas themes. St Paul’s Cathedral in London is famous for its gatherings in which people come together around the choir singing Christmas carols by candlelight.

On the night of 24 December Father Christmas calls at children’s homes to fill the hanging stockings with gifts; on arrival he finds a glass of milk and a mince pie. Nor must one forget the carrot for Rudolph the reindeer, so famous in the Anglo-Saxon tradition.

The king of Christmas lunch is the stuffed turkey, accompanied by cranberry sauce and followed by the celebrated Christmas pudding. Another typical English tradition is the Christmas cracker, a large paper sweet containing a surprise and a crown to wear; all the diners pull their crackers together amid the general excitement of the children.

La Noche de los Rábanos

On 23 December in Oaxaca, Mexico, the Night of the Radishes is celebrated, an event with a long history that began back in 1897. On this occasion a special artistic competition is held: the participants must carve radishes into the most varied shapes.

Everyone gathers in the city’s main square to admire the works on display; real sculptures are created from radishes (a vegetable brought over by the Spanish), which draw the attention of the crowd, willing to wait for hours just to see them.

Given the Christmas season, the vegetables may also take on the appearance of characters linked to Christmas: Joseph and Mary, Father Christmas or funny snowmen are displayed alongside typical representations of Mexican culture.

Christmas, a festival for lovers

We fly to the other side of the world to land in Japan and discover that Christmas is not a national holiday, so 25 December is a working day. The Japanese see Christmas as a time of happiness rather than a religious festival: on 24 December couples and families with children usually go out for dinner. Many go to Italian or French restaurants, but many others prefer fried chicken; this is because, ever since the 1970s, the famous American chain KFC – Kentucky Fried Chicken has run advertising campaigns to promote its typically American menu. To this day the Japanese habitually order the special Kentucky for Christmas menu, which includes chicken, salad and the Christmas Cake, a sponge cake with whipped cream, decorated with strawberries and images of Father Christmas.

Choose Guiness Travel Tours

For Guiness Travel, travelling is an educational opportunity to be savoured in every respect: so food has its part to play too. In all our itineraries every last detail is taken care of, including the places where you eat.

All the itineraries in the catalogue are 100% independently planned and are carefully designed and tested, allowing the product to evolve constantly and reach a high, wide-ranging cultural level.

This is why we created the Exclusive Guiness Tour, a unique travel experience, attentive to sustainability, which will give you significant advantages:

  • organisation;
  • attention to detail;
  • carefully selected services on the ground (designed to give you maximum comfort, leaving you free to think of nothing but enjoying the moment).

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