Christmas, and its wondrous joys. The presents you may receive from your loved ones and the time being spent with them, along with the candy you may receive. Maybe you’ll be sitting on the couch enjoying a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows, or maybe just coffee. Maybe you’ll be watching a christmas movie because it’s perfect for the holidays or maybe you spend it differently. Tons of people from all around the world have different ways for how they celebrate it, and here are a few examples: 

According to Wikipedia, whychristmas.com, and countryliving.com, the Yule Goat, a tradition of Sweden’s, is a symbol that dates back to ancient pagan festivals. Later on in 1966, the idea of building a huge straw goat became the new tradition, which is now referred to as the Gävle goat. The tradition In the city of Gävle, is built every year for the start of Advent over a period of two days. Unfortunately, the Gävle goat has been an attraction to arsonists and despite the amount of security, most years the Gävle goat is burned completely ever since 1966. As of December 2021, 38 out of 56 goats have been destroyed or damaged. Doing any of those actions to the Gävle goat is illegal and you’ll normally get a 3 month prison sentence for it. They believed that a Yule Goat was connected with the mid winter festival. They believed that there was an invisible spirit that would watch over and make sure the preparations were going well. 

According to whychristmas.com, and countryliving.com, in Japan, Christmas isn’t a religious time and is more a time for people to spend happy. On Christmas Eve, and Christmas itself, fried chicken is eaten. Often on Christmas and Christmas Eve, Citizens may go to their local Kentucky Fried Chicken and get something to eat, spending their holiday rather tastefully. This tradition began in 1974 after a campaign by Kentucky Fried Chicken/KFC, called, “Kentucky for Christmas!” or, “Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii!” which became successful which made KFC a popular tradition for Christmas. 

Based on articles from countryliving.com, and whychristmas.com, most families in South Africa go for a cookout which is referred to as braaing on the holiday. People also like to take part in activities such as camping, and carol singing, or a Christmas morning Church service. For the cookout, marinated steaks and boerewors sausages are the main course along with a side of a traditional South African dessert which is Malva Pudding or otherwise called Lekker Pudding. 

According to fethiyetimes.com, and whychristmas.com, Turkey is a Muslim country and Turkish people do not celebrate Christmas. However, Santa Claus was born in Turkey and is referred to as, “Noel Baba” in Turkish. Traditionally, Noel Baba would bring gifts to kids on New Year’s Eve. December 24th and 25th are considered normal days. A lot of cities have decorations all around along with light displays. Shops and garden centers have Christmas trees and decorations. Festive decorations increase in shops and restaurants each year. There are signs around that say “Mutlu Noeller,” which means Merry Christmas in Turkish. People of Turkish use Christmas trees to celebrate New Year’s Eve, which is more celebrated than Christmas is. But on New Year’s Eve, houses are decorated and Santa Claus can be seen with a “Mutlu Yillar” sign, which means, “Happy New Year.” New Year’s Eve includes a traditional large turkey family dinner, lottery drawing along with a countdown to midnight while playing games.

According to whychristmas.com and Spanish Academy, Christmas in Argentina is summer, and is prepared in early December, and sometimes even November. Houses are decorated with lights and green wreaths containing green, gold, red, and white flowers. Christmas trees are often decorated by December 8th. Trees in Argentina are more commonly artificial and come with colors like white or blue. Pesebre, a decoration that’s important in Argentina, is put near to the Christmas tree. At midnight, Argentines set fireworks as a toast to the start of Christmas day. They stay up until midnight and play holiday music. 

Celebrations of Christmas in America involve Santa Claus with his sled and reindeers that lead him to different houses to deliver presents for children; using a chimney as an opening to get inside. Families tend to leave milk and cookies for Santa when he visits them. Some families like to drink hot cocoa and watch festive movies with their family. In America, many people buy a tree and set it in their home and decorate it with ornaments, along with having Santa put presents under the tree. Candy is put in Christmas stockings in people’s homes. Eggnog is a traditional drink in America, and some Americans make gingerbread houses and afterwards eat them.