Top 6 Christmas Traditions Around the World

The holiday season has finally set in and it’s time for the Christmas festivities to begin. Well, the happiest time of the year is filled with rich family traditions, delicious food, and a whole lot of laughter and smiles that make way for a merrier Christmas celebration. While sitting by the fireplace is quite comforting and cozy, we at PiggyRide can’t get enough of some of the amazing and beautiful Christmas traditions around the world. Moreover, nothing can be more fulfilling than introducing your children to a world of different cultures and traditions.

Let’s take a look at some of the best and popular Christmas traditions around the world.

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1. Winter Wonderland- United Kingdom

Regarded as one of the most extravagant and the biggest Christmas celebrations in Europe. Every December, Hyde Park which is one of the most popular attractions of the city lights up into a fancy and colorful festival mood which is filled with intricate decorations and plenty of shopping and food. Annually around 2 million people from all over the world pay a visit to the Winter Wonderland entertainment park, where Santa Claus with secret gifts, an ice rink, and tasty holiday food awaits. Moreover, a 200-foot high observation wheel, 2 roller coasters, and a range of different circuses will make your Christmas celebrations happy and jolly.

2. Giant Lantern Festival- Philippines

Ranked as one of the best Christmas traditions around the world, the Giant Lantern Festival is celebrated every Saturday that falls before Christmas Eve in the city of San Fernando, “The Christmas Capital of Philippines”. Well, the festival is able to attract crowds from all over the world. During the ongoing festivities, 11 villages take part in this festival and the competition turns out to be exciting as everyone tries to build the most creative and elaborative lantern. Initially, the lanterns were used as simple decorations and were lit by candle. And today these lanterns are made from a variety of materials and have turned out to be extremely gorgeous. They are illuminated by electric bulbs and further personified by colorful sparkles in a kaleidoscope of different colors and patterns.

3. The Lighting of the National Hanukkah Menorah- Washington D.C.

Hanukkah is the Jewish holiday that is celebrated with enthusiasm across the United States in the most elaborative form. This tradition started back in the year 1979 where a giant 9 meter Menorah was raised on the White House grounds for 8 days and nights on the occasion of Hanukkah. Furthermore, the celebrations in Washington D.C. are marked with speeches, music, engaging activities for kids, and you can definitely not miss out on the lighting of the Menorah. Also, the first candle is lit at the White House at around 4 pm.

4. Kentucky Fried Christmas Dinner- Japan

Christmas traditions differ around the world significantly and even from one continent to the other. Similarly, even in Japan the Christmas traditions primarily revolve around food and organizing lavish parties. Earlier, the Christmas festivities in Japan were marked by a gift exchange and colorful light displays. However, over the years, a new tradition has emerged where a Christmas Day feast is held which involves the Colonel’s popular Kentucky Fried Chicken. Just when Christmas is around the corner, the festive menu is advertised on the KFC Japan website and even if you cannot understand Japanese, the pictures will be sufficient enough to make you crave for everything.

5. Day of the Little Candles- Colombia

Another great and significant Christmas tradition around the world for kids that should be at the top of your list is the Day of the Little Candles. This festival marks the beginning of the Christmas season across Colombia. To brighten up the festivities and for honoring Virgin Mary and the Immaculate Conception, people light candles and paper lanterns in and around their house, balconies, and front yards. Well, this festive tradition has now grown out to be more massive and popular.

6. Cavalcade of Lights- Canada

Another popular Christmas tradition is the Cavalcade of Lights that is celebrated throughout Canada. During the cold and wintry months, the city of Toronto starts the celebrations and officially is the first city to kickstart the holiday season. The first-ever Cavalcade of Lights took place in 1967 and this was done to show off Toronto’s newly constructed city, Hall and Nathan Phillips Square respectively. Both the Square and the Christmas tree are lit by more than 300,000 energy-efficient lights that shine brightly from dusk till 11 pm. And do you know what’s the brownie point? You and your kids will get to experience colorful fireworks and can even engage in outdoor ice skating.

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Final Words

These are the top 6 Christmas traditions from around the world that will take your Christmas spirit to the next level. Moreover, apart from the festive vibes, your kids will get an opportunity to understand the cultural traditions of other countries. At PiggyRide, we all have taken the initiative to educate your little wizards on all the important events and celebrations across the world. Moreover, being an immersive and highly interactive platform, we are constantly evolving and improving our user- experience for a memorable learning experience. You can also enroll your kids in some of our best online art and craft classes that will help your kids to explore their hidden creative side. Stay tuned for some festive fun and celebrations.