With the most magical time of year fast approaching, we thought why not dive into the wonderful traditions people are set to enjoy all over the world. Take a look, see what you think, and then decide which ones you want to add into your own upcoming celebrations. Enjoy!
Sweden gives the world the festive yule goat
This cute, cuddly and homely symbol of life and renewal is always at the centre of a truly family orientated day in Sweden. Most town and village squares will have a display, many of which feature yule goats as big as 40 feet tall.
For those looking for something a little more manageable at home, don’t worry. Tree hanging ornaments and handmade window displays are other popular options. There’s so much elegant craftsmanship that goes into creating some of the straw varieties of yule goat that you’re sure to find something that adds a little touch of luxury to your home right throughout the festive season.
The Philippines love their giant colourful lanterns
If you think that your town centre puts on a show with the lights and big tree the whole family knows and loves, think again. The Philippines are a country that prides itself on creating large scale illuminated lanterns in every colour of the rainbow. They can be 20 feet wide or more, as well as far more compact for use at home.
These colourful symbols are all about embodying the love we have for one another and the sense of renewal and rebirth that the festive period represents for many. Adding a touch of cultural colour to your home this Christmas is sure to make you smile every time you walk into the room.
Icelandic children get excited about sweets
Whereas the rest of the world has a dozen days in Christmas, Iceland is in the fortunate position of having 13. What do they do with this extra day? They place a cute array of traditional children’s shoes on the windowsill and wait for them to be filled with candy and other sweet treats.
On each of the 13 nights leading up to the arrival of Santa, the little ones go to sleep excited about what they’ll wake up to in the morning. And if they’ve been good boys and girls, their windowsill we be adorned with more sweeties than they can imagine. It’s a great tradition you could bring into your home, and one that also allows you to get truly creative with a traditional window display that’s sure to make your neighbours smile.
The Danes literally centre their celebrations around their tree
While most of us put the Christmas tree in the hall or a corner of the lounge, in Denmark it dominates the middle of the room on Christmas Eve. With carols playing and the fire burning, they dance around it arm in arm while singing songs and telling stories.
This traditional celebration is a great option if you want to get the kids excited about the magic and wonder that’s set to follow in the morning. Plus because it’s all about having fun, it’s a great way to get them to burn off some of that extra energy so they sleep right through the night.
Little Christmas arrives two days early in Norway
December 23rd may not be a day of great significance to you right now, but you’re going to look at it completely differently once you hear how the Norwegians celebrate it. Because no one really likes the mad dash to get everything ready on Christmas Eve, the Norwegians get everything in order a day earlier.
Each member of the family has a few traditional festive jobs they do every year on Little Christmas, whether young or old, and it really helps everyone get in the mood for the most special day of them all. By creating your own family traditions, you can give everyone something to be proud of and plenty to smile about. So often at Christmas it’s the little things like this that make all the difference, so why not give it a try this year?
The Irish have a knack for keeping things simple
A single tall red candle burns bright in the front window of most Irish homes during the festive period to show that any visitor to their door is welcome. It’s a simple, traditional and timeless look that’s sure to make a house truly feel like home when you really want to tie everything together.
Fill out the rest of the window with some spray-on snow and holly bushes and you’ll be able to create a picture-perfect, traditional look in a matter of minutes. Just what you want to hear when it’s all about adding a few little extra touches of magic in no time at all.
Opening your mind to new experiences and how others do things and choose to celebrate is a truly liberating act, and it doesn’t just apply to festive celebrations. Some like to get fit outdoors in nature, while others love the communal element of training online with a Peloton bike. Or there’s new casinos UK players sometimes prefer over in-person play. And then how about shopping on the High Street vs having a virtual personal shopper send a couple of new outfits direct to your door. There are so many different ways to enjoy life and have fun that sometimes all you need to do is see how others are living for a little spark of inspiration.
Now that you’ve heard how families all over the world will be celebrating this year, it’s up to you to sprinkle in a few new touches of magic you’ve gathered from far and wide. Everyone will love and appreciate the effort you’ve made as you come together and make Christmas about so much more than the food and presents that everyone is already looking forward to.
Enjoy!