How is Christmas celebrated all over the world?

Out of the total world population of eight billion people in 2023, about three billion are Christians from America to Zimbabwe. And Christmas is celebrated in all the continents, islands, and islets, and even by sailors aboard their vessels. Even Muslims, Buddhist, and Jews join Christians.

In Austria and Bavaria, people put coal in stockings by way of tradition. Men dressed as St. Nicholas go around to give gifts to children who did good, while Krampus, the half-man, half-goat, goes around to scare kids who did bad in school or at home. In Chile, families gather around the Christmas tree and open their gifts on Christmas Eve or La Noche Buena, following a big turkey dinner and after the Misa de Gallo at their local church. In Denmark, the name for Christmas is Jul which they celebrate on December 24 with eating and dancing. They are famous for the Scandinavian Christmas tree which the head of the family cuts down from the forest. Their Santa Claus is Father Christmas or Julemanden and they also have Santa Lucia, the lady with a candle in her hair.

In Ethiopia, priests wearing red and white robes go around the villages and towns, carrying embroidered fringed umbrellas to remind the people to attend the church service later in the afternoon on Christmas Day. Each person is given a candle to represent the Star of Bethlehem and they all walk three times around the church. In France, all government offices are closed on Christmas Day. Banks, stores, restaurants, cafes and other shops are closed. People stay with their families to celebrate Christmas with food, drinks, and gifts. They have big Christmas trees and they also give gifts to each other. Heileger Abend or Christmas Eve is a jam-packed day in Germany. They spend the time preparing special foods and sprucing up their homes. Then, they gather around the tree and open their presents.

Christmas in Holland or the Netherlands is celebrated both on December 25 and 26 by eating special Christmas foods, playing games, and watching movies. In Italy, Christmas is a warm and joyful celebration. From the Feast of the Seven Fishes during the La Vigilia on Christmas Eve to the arrival of La Befana, the witch on her broomstick on January 6, the Italian Christmas celebrations are always festive. In Japan, which isn’t a Christian country, Christmas is still celebrated not as a religious holiday but as a time to spread joy and cheer or even romantic moments among lovers and spouses. They order food for delivery and enjoy eating and drinking at home.

In Kuwait, where I worked and lived for three years as a labor attaché, there are about 300,000 OFWs and expats. We always come and party together in the embassy or in private homes, hotels, and restaurants. Some of the native Kuwaitis and other migrant workers celebrate with us although most of them are Muslims. In Lebanon, people visit each other and also give gifts to join their Christian compatriots in parties and family celebrations with foods, drink, and merriment in the forms of music, singing and dancing. Christmas does unite people together across cultures, religions, ideologies and geographies.

In Malaysia where I was assigned from 2005 to 2008, the Filipino communities come together and hold parties and attend religious activities. There is a big Catholic population even in the heart of Kuala Lumpur which centers around the St. John Cathedral in Bukit Nanas. The Malaysians are mostly Muslims and Buddhists but they are also game enough to celebrate Christmas with us. Christmas is a special occasion in Nicaragua. They celebrate it with family dinner and giving of gifts and climax their celebration with elaborate fireworks at night. In Oman, while most of them are Muslims, they follow the moderate Islamic faith of Ibadi, which is tolerant of other religions. Thus hotels, stores and restaurants are decorated with Christmas trees and decors and people also do caroling during the season.

Zambia, surrounded by Islamic countries, is a Christian nation. During Christmas, Zambians dress up their Sunday's best and go to Church where they hear mass, sing joyful songs, and even dramatize the Nativity story in songs, dance, and acting. Indeed, from America to Zimbabwe, Christmas unites all people of all races. There is even Christmas in Ukraine and in Israel and Palestine. In fact, Bethlehem is in Palestinian territory in the West Bank. God has his own ways of bringing all his children together.