Christmas Traditions Around The World
Have you ever wondered how people celebrate Christmas around the world? Well, there are many unique traditions! From country to country, people have their own special ways of marking the holiday. Here are just a few of them!
Iceland
In Iceland, it’s said that there are thirteen Yule Lads. Beginning thirteen days before Christmas Eve, a different Yule Lad visits each night. Children place their shoes on the windowsill, and well-behaved kids wake to find small gifts left by the visiting Yule Lad. Those who have been naughty, however, may discover only a potato. Thirteen days after December 24th, the Christmas season officially comes to an end.
Ukraine
Instead of using fairy lights, people in Ukraine decorate their Christmas trees with something different. Spider webs. This tradition comes from an old legend about a poor widow and her children who had a Christmas tree but couldn’t afford any ornaments. On Christmas morning, she and her children awoke to find the tree covered in delicate spider webs. When the sunlight shone on them, the webs shimmered and turned into gold and silver. Today, Ukrainians honor this story by decorating their trees with small spider ornaments and delicate artificial webs, keeping the legend alive throughout the country.
Norway
We’re all familiar with superstitions, but in Norway they take a particularly intriguing twist. According to tradition, on Christmas Eve people hide their brooms away in closets. This is because it’s believed to be the night when witches and evil spirits awaken—and if a broom is left out, they might steal it and ride across the country. Even today, the custom reminds people of Norway’s rich and mysterious holiday myths.
I hope you found this article interesting and learned something new along the way! Merry Christmas!
“Unusual Christmas Traditions from around the World.” InterNations, 24 June 2025, www.internations.org/magazine/unusual-christmas-traditions-from-around-the-world-39709#:~:text=The%20Norwegians%20take%20superstition%20to,a%20joyride%2C%20now%20would%20you?
Christmas in Iceland Facts for Kids, kids.kiddle.co/Christmas_in_Iceland. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.
