Christmas is celebrated in many parts of the world, but where and how people celebrate can vary widely. While you might picture twinkling lights, festive dinners, and gift exchanges on December 25, each place brings its own mix of culture, religion, and customs. From traditional nativity scenes in Italy to festive beach barbecues in Australia, Christmas traditions around the world show how people everywhere connect with loved ones.
Exploring these differences can help you appreciate global diversity, and it may even give you ideas for your own celebration. In this Remitly guide, we’ll explore which countries celebrate Christmas, how they do so, and the traditions that make the season unique in each place.Is Christmas celebrated worldwide?
While Christmas is recognized across much of the globe, it isn’t celebrated everywhere, or in the same way. Of the world’s 197 countries, around 160 observe Christmas in some form. In some nations, it’s a national holiday rooted in religious tradition, while in others it’s more cultural or commercial.
In Japan and China, people focus more on festive lights, decorations, and gift giving than on religious observance, giving you a chance to enjoy the holiday’s cultural side. In contrast, some countries with large Christian populations may not mark December 25 as an official holiday, but families still gather to share meals and traditions.
For immigrants and expats, learning about these variations can make the season feel more familiar. Exploring local customs while also holding onto traditions from home creates a bridge between cultures—helping you celebrate in a way that feels both new and comforting, no matter where you are.
Countries where Christmas is a major public holiday
Christmas often includes public holidays, school breaks, festive markets, and national traditions. Here’s a regional look at how Christmas is celebrated around the world.
Europe
Europe is home to some of the world’s most enduring Christmas traditions, each offering a unique way to experience the season.
United Kingdom
In the UK, Christmas is full of traditions, centered on family, food, and festive gatherings. Towns host Christmas markets, or fayres, filled with gifts, crafts, and entertainment like live music and fairground rides. Mulled wine and mince pies are popular treats, while pantomimes—interactive, comedic theater performances based on traditional tales—bring a playful energy to the season.
The day after Christmas, Boxing Day, is often spent relaxing, shopping, or enjoying sporting events, with some communities participating in charitable traditions like the chilly “Boxing Day Dip,” where participants brave icy waters for a good cause.
Germany
Many consider Germany the birthplace of the Christmas market. Cities like Nuremberg, Dresden, and Cologne host famous Weihnachtsmärkte, filling town squares with lights, the scent of Lebkuchen (gingerbread) and roasted almonds, and stalls selling ornaments and handcrafted gifts.
On Christmas Eve, shops stay open until midday for last-minute shopping, and families decorate their trees with Christmas lights and ornaments, enjoy festive meals, and exchange gifts.
Children celebrate Nikolaus on December 6 by leaving shoes out to receive sweets and small gifts from St. Nicholas, a tradition that adds an early touch of holiday cheer. Advent calendars, concerts, and tree-lighting ceremonies contribute to a strong sense of community during the season.
Italy
In Italy, Christmas combines religious tradition with communal celebration. Nativity scenes, or presepi, appear in homes, churches, and public squares, sometimes with life-sized figures. Streets come alive with Christmas markets, music, choirs, and bands, creating a warm sense of community.
La Vigilia, or Christmas Eve, is a cherished tradition where families enjoy a meal focused on fish and seafood—the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Dishes like baccalà, seafood salad, or pasta with clams bring families together to share both food and faith. Across towns and villages, music, decorations, and festive markets create a lively holiday atmosphere.
France
French Christmas traditions combine faith, food, and festive charm. Advent calendars help children count down to December 24, when Père Noël brings gifts, often placed under the tree. Since 1962, the postal service guarantees a reply to every letter sent to Père Noël, adding a playful touch for children.
The Réveillon, a long Christmas Eve meal, features regional specialties such as oysters, foie gras, and the bûche de Noël (Yule log cake). Markets, from Strasbourg to Provence, fill streets with lights, artisanal gifts, and mulled wine, while hand-painted nativity figurines highlight local customs and community pride.
The Americas
In the Americas, Christmas is celebrated with a mix of local traditions, festive decorations, and family gatherings that vary widely by country.
United States
Across the US, Christmas is associated with festive lights, parades, and community events. Many towns go all out, transforming streets and neighborhoods into winter wonderlands, while cities like New York and Chicago are famous for public displays, including the Rockefeller
Center tree lighting and department store holiday windows.
Seasonal foods often feature roasted turkey or ham and a variety of desserts. Families decorate trees, hang stockings, and gather for holiday meals, while communities host Christmas markets, craft fairs, and tree-lighting ceremonies, creating a festive atmosphere for everyone to enjoy.
Mexico
In Mexico, Christmas celebrations span from December 12 to January 6. The season begins with Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe, honoring Mother Mary’s appearance to Juan Diego, with singing, dancing, and the Blessing of the Roses at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
From December 16 to 24, Las Posadas processions re-enact Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter, ending each evening with food, piñatas, and celebration. Families create elaborate nacimientos (nativity scenes), adding figurines throughout the season: the baby Jesus is placed on Christmas Eve, and the Three Kings arrive on January 6. Town centers often feature candlelit processions, fireworks, and music.
Brazil
Brazil’s Christmas traditions reflect Portuguese culture, along with influences from German, Italian, and Spanish immigrants. Large family meals on Christmas Eve last for hours and include roast turkey, ham, seafood, and farofa, a traditional Brazilian cassava flour dish.
Papai Noel, Brazil’s version of Santa Claus, arrives on Christmas Eve. Children leave socks by the tree, and Papai Noel exchanges them for presents by morning. In Rio de Janeiro, Lagoa’s floating Christmas Tree, one of the largest at 279 feet, draws many spectators and marks the unofficial start of the summer holiday season.
Africa
African Christmas traditions often blend Christian observances with local culture.
Ethiopia
Ethiopians celebrate Christmas, or Ganna, on January 7 according to the Julian calendar. Families start the day with a special religious service at dawn, often held in rock-hewn churches or open-air spaces. Participants wear traditional white cotton robes called shamma and carry candles in processions.
After the service, families gather for meals featuring doro wat (spicy chicken stew), injera bread, and other traditional dishes. Communities also celebrate with music, dancing, and friendly sports competitions, especially a local hockey-like game called genna, reflecting both spiritual and social traditions.
Nigeria
Christmas in Nigeria mixes Christian rituals with community celebrations and festive fun. Church services are central, with choirs performing traditional carols and contemporary songs.
Families prepare special meals, including roasted meats, jollof rice, and local delicacies like moi moi (bean pudding). Streets, shopping centers, and hotels are decorated with lights, banners, and Christmas trees, creating a vibrant atmosphere.
Oceania
In the Southern Hemisphere, Christmas coincides with summer, creating unique traditions.
Australia
Christmas in Australia often involves outdoor celebrations like beach gatherings, picnics, and barbecues. Traditional European foods like roast turkey are sometimes replaced or complemented by seafood, salads, and chilled desserts.
If you visit cities like Sydney or Melbourne, you can enjoy spectacular light displays, carol concerts, festive markets, and Santa parades. Many Australians maintain European-inspired traditions, including decorated Christmas trees and nativity scenes, while adding local touches like summer sports or surf-themed decorations.
New Zealand
Like Australia, New Zealanders celebrate Christmas in warm weather, enjoying barbecues, trips to the beach, and festive picnics. Local towns host Christmas parades, markets, and concerts, often incorporating Māori and Pacific Islander cultural elements.
European traditions like decorated trees and gift exchanges coexist with unique local customs, such as Santa arriving on a surfboard, blending traditional and contemporary fun.
How Christmas is celebrated in non-Christian majority countries
Even in countries where Christianity isn’t the main religion, you may see people celebrating Christmas through commercial or cultural events.
Japan
In Japan, Christmas is celebrated like Valentine’s Day, with couples exchanging gifts, going on dates, and enjoying festive city decorations. A fun tradition is eating KFC on Christmas. Originally a marketing campaign from the 1970s, it’s now a favorite seasonal tradition, with 58 percent of the Japanese population eating fried chicken each year on Christmas.
India
Christmas, or Bada Din, is celebrated across India, especially in regions with larger Christian populations like Kerala, Goa, and Nagaland. Midnight mass, carol singing, and nativity plays blend with local foods such as bebinca, a coconut milk cake, and neoreos, deep-fried pastries stuffed with coconut, dried fruits, and nuts. Christmas markets and night bazaars offer festive decorations, sweets, and artisan crafts.
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Christmas isn’t a public holiday in the UAE, but cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi host markets, lights, and public events, catering largely to expatriates. It’s popular to order a takeaway turkey from luxury hotels, cafes, and restaurants to enjoy from home. These often come with sides, including vegetables, gravy, and cranberry sauce.
Countries that do not officially celebrate Christmas
Some countries don’t recognize Christmas as a public holiday, often due to religious or cultural norms.
For example, in Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia, where Islam is the dominant religion, there are no public observances of Christmas, although private gatherings may occur among foreign residents and Christian minorities. Likewise, in Morocco and Pakistan, Christmas is observed by Christian minorities but not recognized nationally.
In China, Christmas is not an official holiday, but major cities like Shanghai display festive decorations and host commercial celebrations.
Even in these countries, you may still see Christmas decorations in shopping centers or small communities in December, but celebrations are limited compared with countries that celebrate Christmas as a national holiday.
A season of global connection
Christmas around the world provides a window into global culture. Whether it’s public holidays in Europe or the Americas, community traditions in Africa, or commercial celebrations in non-Christian countries, the season reflects a rich blend of cultural, religious, and community practices.
No matter where you are, the holidays are often about joy, togetherness, and generosity.
Exploring how different countries celebrate Christmas can give you a deeper appreciation for global diversity—and may inspire new ways to celebrate with your own family or friends.
FAQs
Which Asian countries celebrate Christmas?
Countries like Japan, India, South Korea, the Philippines, and Singapore observe Christmas, though the style of celebration varies—from commercial and romantic in Japan to religious and community-focused in the Philippines and India.
Do all European countries celebrate Christmas?
Most European countries celebrate Christmas in some form, but public holiday status and customs vary. Germany, Italy, and the UK have longstanding traditions, while countries like Turkey have smaller Christian populations and fewer public observances.
How many countries recognize Christmas as a public holiday?
Around 160 out of 197 countries recognize Christmas in some way, from official national holidays to cultural and commercial celebrations.
What foods are commonly enjoyed during Christmas in different countries?
Families enjoy local flavors and traditional dishes during Christmas. Germany has stollen (fruit bread) and sausages; Italy features seafood on Christmas Eve; Mexico enjoys tamales and ponche; Australia often celebrates with barbecues or seafood during summer.
Are Christmas markets only in Europe?
While Europe is famous for its Christmas markets, they also exist in North America, Asia, and parts of the Middle East. Markets typically feature handmade gifts, seasonal treats, and festive decorations, letting you enjoy local culture and holiday cheer.