We hope you enjoy this trivia about holiday traditions from around the world. Does your family have a yearly tradition? Share in the comments below!
Did you know…
- In Ukraine, Poland, and other Eastern European countries, spiders are a symbol of Christmas, originating from an old folktale.
- In Iran, Yalda, or Shab e Cheleh, involves reading poetry, staying up late, and eating pomegranates.
- In Colombia, the Day of Little Candles or Día de las Velitas may originate from Jewish traditions of immigrants from Spain.
- In Nepal and Tibet, the Hindu celebration of Dashain is celebrated with gifts, kite flying, and wearing new outfits.
- In Greece, the equivalent of a Christmas tree is a Christmas boat.
Learn words and phrases
- Soyal
- A Zuni & Hopi ceremony that takes place during the winter solstice and celebrates new life as the sun returns and begins to make the days longer.
- Potlach
- /pätˌlaCH/ An Indigenous gift-giving feast ceremony that redistributes wealth, traditional of the tribes along the northwest coast of America. Translates to “to give.”
- Akemashite omedetō
- Traditional greeting in Japan for Ōmisoka (New Year) and translates to “congratulations on the new year.”
- Ujima
- One of the seven principles of Kwanzaa. Swahili for “collective work and responsibility” and means to make our community’s problems our problems and to solve them together.
Food, a universal language
- Round fruit is eaten at midnight for good luck on New Year’s Eve in both the Philippines and Spain.
- Mooncakes are a central item for the Mid-Autumn Festival in both China and Vietnam.
- Tamales are often eaten during the Latin American celebration of Posadas, commemorating the journey to Bethlehem leading up to Christmas.
- Sweets like Gajar halwa (a carrot pudding) are eaten during Diwali, the festival of lights, celebrated in India and other Hindu cultures around the world.
- Lentils are eaten on New Year’s Eve in Brazil and Italy, and are believed to bring good luck because of their coin-like shapes.
- Yebeg wot is a lamb stew, often eaten with injera (a spongy flat bread) in Ethiopia during the Christmas holiday season.
