piIsn’t it interesting that there are several ways of celebrating Christmas around the world? Christmas is a very special holiday that is celebrated across the globe. It’s a time where people gather with their families whom they haven’t seen in awhile, and just stay together as a family. Many people celebrate it in different ways according to their cultures and beliefs. In the United States, Christmas is celebrated all over, and in many unique ways.

According to, the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in the United Kingdom, Americans celebrate Christmas with many traditions. Christmas is celebrated by most Christians on December 25, which commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. Americans, like many other nations, have developed their own Christmas traditions and observances, and these have changed greatly over time.

Today, most Americans blend religious customs with their own family traditions, which often includes food, decorations, and rituals from places they or their ancestors once called home. A roasted turkey and ham are popular meals for Christmas dinner throughout the country, but depending on the region, so are tamales, roast goose with red cabbage, crawfish jambalaya, roast pork, or “seven fishes” seafood salad.

Additionally, many families go Christmas caroling and attend annual Christmas festival lights and markets.  As for seasonal entertainment, there are school holiday pageants, caroling, and, every year, many cities perform either the infamous “A Christmas Carol” or “The Nutcracker.”

Also, there wouldn’t be Christmas without the classic Christmas movies that young and old love to watch every year. The top three most popular Christmas movies are: “A Christmas Story,” “Elf,” and “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

According to The Muse, there are other countries that celebrate Christmas in their own ways and traditions. One of these is Poland. In Poland, families celebrate Christmas Eve by breaking oplatek, a special Christmas wafer, and wishing each person health, happiness and joy in the coming new year. Dinner is often in large portions and the tree is often decorated with Polish chocolate filled with liqueurs, as well as spiced apples and oranges.

In Norway, Norwegians are known to celebrate Christmas in their own unique way. The main event for children during the celebration is Saint Lucia Day on December 13. It is celebrated in schools across the country to symbolize light overcoming darkness. This is considered as their own special day to celebrate Christmas.

Additionally, Mexico and India also have a unique way to celebrate Christmas. In Mexico, Christmas is seen as more of a quieter, solemn holiday. There isn’t much that is celebrated in Mexico that is different from America, except for Three Kings Day. Three Kings Day (Dia De Los Reyes) in early January is a day for partying and exchanging gifts. Three Kings Day is very similar to the American holiday Saint Nicholas Day, where kids will put their shoes out to see if Saint Nick brought them a special treat. Similarly, many children who celebrate Three Kings Day leave out their shoes in hopes that one of the Three Wise Men will leave them gifts. Afterward, the Mexicans usually celebrate with a huge feast.

In India, Christmas is widely celebrated, and it’s becoming more popular in cities such as Mumbai, Goa, and Kerala. The holiday is celebrated with firecrackers and the purchasing of new clothes and shoes on Christmas Eve. Traditional Christmas trees are tough to find, so the people of India will decorate mango or banana trees in garlands made of palm, with small stones and dolls that are usually painted gold. During the feast, the traditional dish served on Christmas is Pork Vindaloo, and neighbors often exchange home-baked sweets including Kulkul and gujiya.