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Christmas Around the World

Christmas Around the World

Last updated on: December 25, 2025 at 10:19 am by Mark Wilson

Christmas Around the World 2025-12-25T10:19:33-05:00 Mark Wilson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Life is busy around the holiday season, so

Here is a quick look at some things you will find in

Christmas Around the World

Drew Binsky – 6 Craziest Tourist Attractions in Winter

Band Aid – Do They Know It’s Christmas? (2024 Ultimate Mix / Single Version) BandAidVEVO

Europe

December 24, 1914 – World War I: An unofficial and temporary Christmas truce begins between British and German soldiers on the Western Front.

Coffin Boffin@DrSamGeorge1: (Dec 4, 2025) GREEN FATHER CHRISTMAS Victorian Christmas cards in Europe show a green Father Christmas figure with Fir Cones, Spruce & Holly. Should he be green again? #GothicYuletide #GothicAdvent

Denmark

From All of Us to All of You the animated television Christmas special originally shown as part of the Walt Disney Presents anthology series in 1958. in Denmark, the show is called Disneys Juleshow: Fra alle os til alle jer (Disney’s Christmas Show: From All of Us to All of You) and is broadcast every Christmas Eve at 4:00 p.m. on DR1.

Finland

Sarah sarah_1988

From All of Us to All of You the animated television Christmas special originally shown as part of the Walt Disney Presents anthology series in 1958. In Finland, the show is called Samu Sirkan joulutervehdys, (Jiminy Cricket‘s Christmas Greeting) and is shown every Christmas Eve evening and Christmas morning on MTV3.

Germany

No Angels – It’s Christmas (Official Video) – No Angels and STARS

Ireland

Miss Fogarty’s Christmas Cake –The Irish Rovers

William Power Seed Merchants of O’Connell Street, Waterford selling Christmas trees in 1929

Remember Me at Christmas – WolfeTonesTV

Norway

1846 painting by Adolph Tidemand illustrating Norwegian Christmas traditions

From All of Us to All of You the animated television Christmas special originally shown as part of the Walt Disney Presents anthology series in 1958. In Norway, the show is called Donald Duck og vennene hans (Donald Duck and his friends) on NRK and Disneys julekavalkade (Disney’s Christmas Cavalcade) on TV Norge (the latter began airing in 2003), and is shown every Christmas Eve afternoon on NRK1. Most of the shorts are shown in their original English-speaking versions, with Norwegian subtitles.

Sweeden

From All of Us to All of You the animated television Christmas special originally shown as part of the Walt Disney Presents anthology series in 1958. In Sweden, the program has been shown every Christmas Eve since 1960. Ratings show that around 40% of all Swedes watch it on Christmas Eve, the record (in 1997) being just over half the population. The show is called Kalle Anka och hans vänner önskar God Jul (Donald Duck and His Friends Wish You a Merry Christmas). It is broadcast on SVT1 at 3:05 p.m. as part of the channel’s traditional Christmas Eve programming, which features a live host between programmes, a role closely associated with Arne Weise, who is the only host to have featured more than three times (22 appearances between 1964 and 2002). The changed title reflects the fact that Donald Duck is far more popular than Mickey Mouse in Sweden. The montage is narrated by Bengt Feldreich, who translates character dialogue through voiceover dubs, and also replaces the original English voice of Jiminy Cricket (Cliff Edwards), including the performance of When You Wish Upon a Star. It has also been shown in France and Poland.

UK

My Favourite Time of year – The Florin street Band – Christmas Songs –The Florin Street Band

My Favourite Time of Year is a traditional style Christmas song which was written, produced and sung by Leigh Haggerwood. After three years of trying to persuade record companies to back his idea, he decided to do it himself. He gathered together 36 musicians which he collectively called ‘The Florin Street Band’ and recorded the song at Trevor Horn’s studio in London. The Victorian themed video features a cast and crew of over 100 people and was filmed at Blists Hill Victorian Town in Shropshire – part of the Ironbridge museums. The Florin Street Band need your support to bring the first real Christmas song to the charts in decades, so please share this with your friends and family, and don’t forget to buy the download from iTunes or Amazon. We’d love you to join us on Facebook and Twitter too. Best wishes from The Florin Street Band!

The Mariachis is the UK’s finest and only truly authentic Mariachi Band AKA Mariachi Doritos. Based in London the band tour internationally with gigs, festivals, TV appearances and hired performances. They are the band of the Doritos adverts and campaign and are ready to bring the party to anyone, anywhere at any time.

The Mariachis – Feliz Navidad (official video) – The Mariachis

Feliz Navidad” (Spanish: [feˈlis naβiˈða(ð)]; lit. transl. ”Merry Christmas”) is a Christmas song written and first recorded in 1970 by Puerto Rican singer-songwriter José Feliciano.

Ukraine

“Carol of the Bells ” is a popular Christmas carol, which is based on the Ukrainian New Year celebration song “Shchedryk“. The music for the carol comes from the song written and arranged by the Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych between 1901 and 1916. English-language lyrics were written in 1936 by the American composer Peter Wilhousky.

Vatican

The prologue of the fourth Gospel is itself a hymn, with the Word of God as its protagonist. The “Word” is a word that acts. This is a hallmark of God’s Word: it is never without effect. Indeed, many of our own words also have effects, sometimes unintended. Yes, words “act.” Yet here is the surprise that the Christmas liturgy presents to us: the Word of God appears but cannot speak. He comes to us as a newborn baby who can only cry and babble. “The Word became flesh” (Jn 1:14). Though he will grow and one day learn the language of his people, for now he speaks only through his simple, fragile presence. “Flesh” is the radical nakedness that, in Bethlehem as on Calvary, remains even without words – just as so many brothers and sisters, stripped of their dignity and reduced to silence, have no words today. Human flesh asks for care; it pleads for welcome and recognition; it seeks hands capable of tenderness and minds willing to listen; it longs for words of kindness. Solemnity of Christmas – Holy Mass during the Day (25 December 2025)

Euro-Asia

Russia

Unlike most Western countries where Christmas is celebrated on December 25th, Russia observes Christmas on January 7th. This discrepancy arises from the adoption of the Julian calendar by the Orthodox Church, which lags behind the Gregorian calendar used by most of the world. As a result, festivities in Russia are often quieter than those in the West, with a more profound focus on religious observance and the spiritual significance of the holiday. –10 Facts About Christmas in Russia | Luxwisp

The song “The Forest Raised a Christmas Tree” is a beloved Christmas song in Russia, known for its festive and cheerful melody. It was written by Raisa Kudasheva and Leo Beckmann and has been performed by various artists, including The Red Army Choir. The song is often associated with the New Year and is a popular choice for holiday celebrations. It is available on platforms like YouTube, Spotify, and SoundCloud, where listeners can enjoy the song’s enchanting lyrics and music.

The Forest Raised a Christmas Tree – Moscow Trad Jazz Band – В лесу родилась елочка – Sergey Martynov

From All of Us to All of You the animated television Christmas special originally shown as part of the Walt Disney Presents anthology series in 1958. In Russia, the show is called С Рождеством, от всего сердца! (Merry Christmas With Whole Our Heart). It was first broadcast on Channel One Russia on January 2, 2011 and was rerun on December 31, 2012. From January 7, 2013 to January 7, 2021, it was shown on Disney Channel CIS each year, with nightly reruns showing throughout the first days of the New Year.

No photo description available.

Beautiful Russian Christmas Carol: “Quiet Night in Palestine” Американка поёт рождественскую песню
How Janey Learned Russian (former COLLEGE RUSSIAN)

Asia

Japan

Even though only about 1% of the Japanese population is Christian, Christmas is as festive as it gets. During the winter holidays, the streets of Tokyo are lined with a dizzying array of Christmas markets and illuminated displays.

The Japanese adoration of Kentucky Fried Chicken is another quirk of the holiday season there. Yes, KFC and fried chicken in general are quite popular throughout the holidays, and to meet the high demand, meals have to be booked in advance. –How does Asia celebrate Christmas? | TableCheck Blog

The Christmas Eve song in Japan is widely recognized as “Christmas Eve” by Tatsuro Yamashita. Released in 1983, this song became a holiday classic and is often associated with the Christmas season in Japan. It gained significant popularity through television advertisements and has been reissued multiple times, topping charts and selling millions of copies. The song’s catchy melody and heartfelt lyrics make it a beloved part of the Japanese Christmas tradition

N.S. Malaysia

Christmas Medley | Aenon Choir (Joy to the World, Silent Night, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, etc) – LoudVoice

India

Aata Hai Aata Hai Santa Claus Aata Hai (Video Song) – Shandaa

Tawain

ll I Want for Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey (cover by Hope 楊蒨時) – 楊蒨時國際後援會Hope_Yang

Middle – East

Joy to the World! – in Hebrew Arabic and English singing over Jerusalem! –ONE FOR ISRAEL Ministry

Africa

In some countries around the world, the end of the Midnight Mass signals the time to go to bed to wait for Santa. But in many African nations, it means the party’s just getting started! In countries like The Gambia, a joyous parade is held after the Christmas Eve church service. The locals dance through the towns with fanals – large lanterns made from bamboo and paper in the shape of houses or boats. The fanals are lit with candles inside and carried from house to house to collect donations. In both The Gambia and Sierra Leone, the towns also celebrate with colourful masquerade parties. 6 Christmas traditions you’ll only find in Africa

Masaka Kids Africana Dancing Merry Christmas (Official Dance video) Masaka Kids Afrikana

South Africa

SIZALELWE INDODANA – A South African Christmas Song –Concord Nkabinde Music

Australia

Paul Kelly‘s How to Make Gravy is an original Australian Christmas song.

North America

Canada

Canada Grows A Lot of Christmas Trees

Did you know our country has 1,872 Christmas tree farms? According to Statistics Canada, the farms were concentrated in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

If you can’t spend Christmas in Canada, you might as well take a little piece of the country with you. Each year, Canada exports more than two million Christmas trees to over 20 countries, including Barbados, France, Jamaica and Thailand. – Canadian Christmas Facts For a Fun Holiday Trivia Night | Reader’s Digest

A CANADIAN CHRISTMAS – By Clark W. Clark W.

United States

Middleburg, Virginia

Settle in for an old-fashioned Christmas in the heart of Virginia’s horse and hunt country, where you can cheer on a parade of loyal hounds as they ride through the streets, sip on small-batch hard ciders at Mt. Defiance, and shop for old-world holiday decor, including Wilhelm Schweizer pewter ornaments, and Wendt & Kühn windup music boxes, at year-round holiday shop The Christmas Sleigh. –15 Magical U.S. Christmas Towns to Visit in December

frontier.1968 Middleburg, VA Christmas Parade 120509 | Annual Christmas Pa… | Flickr

From All of Us to All of You airs as part of the Walt Disney Presents anthology series as an animated television Christmas special on September 19, 1958. The American version has not been shown on network television since 1980.

Jamaica

Jah Vinci, Notnice – Have a Merry Christmas (Official Video) – Jah Vinci Official

Mexico

Santa Claus (1959) (sometimes also known as Santa Claus vs. the Devil) is a Mexican fantasy film directed by René Cardona and co-written with Adolfo Torres Portillo. In the film, Santa Claus works in outer space and battles with a demon named Pitch, sent to Earth by Lucifer to ruin Christmas by exposing Santa to the public and “making all the children of the Earth do evil”.

In 1960, a slightly edited English language dubbing of the film was produced for release in the United States by K. Gordon Murray. The film achieved wider recognition and a cult following after it was lampooned on a 1993 episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000. – Wikipedia Description

Carmen Goett – Peces en el Río (Video Oficial) Christmas Mexican Song Carmen Goett

Central America

Torrejas is a Christmas Dessert from Honduras. It originates from Spain. It consists of a very soft bread soaked in a syrup, made with brown sugar or panela, seasoned with cloves and cinnamon. The recipe is different from the Spanish torrija as it includes a different type of bread and more autochthonous ingredients from Central America, such as panela. Honduran Christmas Food: Traditional Holiday Dishes – Chef’s Pencil

Christmas in Latin America –Crónica Panamericana

South America

In Venezuela, most people use public transport to go to church during the holidays.

But in the city of Caracas, people go to the Christmas mass skating. Yes, skating.

This tradition is so popular that some of the most busy streets are closed so the citizens can use their skates, bicycles, and scooters safely before going to church to celebrate Christmas. – 12 Unique Christmas Celebrations From Latin America

Columbia

Each Decemberin the novenas of Christmas bonuses, schools and parishes, there is an inevitable Christmas carol: ‘Tutaina Tuturumaina’. Its simple melody and catchy chorus have made it one of the most recognized Christmas songs in Colombia, although few really know where it comes from or What do his words mean? –

The word ‘tutaina’ has origin in Peru and is used colloquially to refer to a small party or a happy gathering. In that sense, the term fits perfectly with the celebratory atmosphere typical of Christmas bonus novenas.

For its part, expressions like ‘tuturumá’ or ‘tuturumaina’ do not have a literal meaning. They are phonetic resources created to accompany the rhythm of the song, reinforce the melody and facilitate its repetition, something common in popular music.

The lyrics of the Christmas carol, beyond its chorus, narrates scenes after the birth of the Child Jesus: the arrival of the Messiah, the joy aroused by his birth and the presence of shepherds and Three Wise Men, central elements of the biblical story that is relived every December.

What does ‘Tutaina Tuturumaina’ mean? The origin and history of the most sung Christmas carol – Latin america News

Tutaina, Villancico Tradicional – Mariachi Estrellas De Jalisco Barranquilla – Villancicos Navidad
–Mariachi Estrellas De Jalisco De Barranquilla

Antarctica

One of the best-known Christmas traditions in Antarctica takes place at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station run by the U.S.. Christmas Day here sees the “Race Around the World,” when participants run a two-mile circuit three times around the Geographic South Pole—passing through all of the globe’s time zones and lines of longitude in the process. –

Roald Amundsen famously wrote of his South Pole expedition’s yuletide celebration in 1911: “I doubt whether anyone at home enjoyed his Christmas dinner so much as we did that morning in the tent.” And the Australian explorer Douglas Mawson, another of the immortal figures of Antarctic exploration, described some memorable Christmas repast in the polar wilds in 1913: “An ounce each of butter was served out from our small stock to give a festive touch to the dog-stew.”

Christmas & New Year In Antarctica | Antarctica Cruises

The Minus 5 – “Christmas in Antarctica” (feat. Ben Gibbard) (Official Lyric Video) – Yep Roc Records

Different Cultures

LITTLE CHRISTMAS CONCERT:
The most beautiful Christmas carols from different cultures
Harpa Dei

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