An online book on European Christmas traditions made by 3LCE students in December 2023.

Christmas in Europe

Merry Christmas from Portugal

by Maelie Gibrat

In Portugal, the tradition is to prepare "bacalhau com todos", a cod dish accompanied by potatoes, cabbage and carrots.

Desserts are also very popular like the "Bolo rei", a delicious brioche with candied fruits and dried fruits.

The streets are decorated with festive lights and there are often Christmas markets where you can find handmade gifts.

Stars pattern

By Drieu Léa

Christmas in Austria

The advent wreath in Austria : the advent wreath is as important a tradition as putting up the Christmas tree. It also helps children wait for Christmas day. Each sunday of the advent, an additionnal candle is lit. And when the fourth candle in the advent wreath is lit, every child knows that Christmas is near !

The Krampus is the equivalent of the Wipping Father in Italy. He deals with children who have not been well-behaved. He can be seen parading with his demons in the streets between the fourth, fifth, and sixth of December.

Christmas in Germany by Adrien Dehail

On the night of December 5th, Saint-Nicolas visits kids' houses and puts some candies in their boots but only if these children have been nice all year long. Otherwise, the Whipping Father punishes them. 

For Germans, Christmas is mainly celebrated on December 25th with a big meal. As a starter, they enjoy smoked salmon, cold meats and sauerkraut. The main course consists of a roasted goose accompanied by red cabbage with apples.

Hand-carved trinkets and statuettes from the Nativity scene are sold there, and people drink hot mulled wine (glühwein) from large glasses while listening to Christmas carols.

Christmas in Austria

By Cécile Loisy

The Christmas market named "Chriskindlmarkt" is very popular. It is in Vienna, the capital city of Austria. There, you will find the magic of Christmas.

In Austria , on Christmas Eve, people usually eat cold meals like carp cooked with beer and blood. The picture on the right illustrates an example of a meal  that Austrians might eat on this day.

Saint Lucy's day is celebrated once a year on the 13th of December. This day is a really important event of Christmas. On this day, Swedish people can attend a procession. On this procession, there are many people led by Lucy herself. She is followed by many people dressed in white. They usually hold many candles. This tradition is also visible on TV, in schools, in the city hall or in churches. The Swedes call this tradition "the party of light".

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM SWEDEN

Since 1900, Xmas markets had been organized in towns every weekend in december. In those markets, people can walk about between the displays and taste delicious culinary specialties, participate in fun activities... For the youngers too, there are many shows like singing shows and there are many illuminated rides. 

A Christmas eve dinner night in Denmark

Let's talk about the Danish traditions for Xmas ! The first tradition in Denmark is the Candle of Advent. It will be lit by families. It is divided in 24 parts. One part is used each day and the candle is finished on the 24th of December for the Xmas eve dinner.

This is the last tradition from Denmark. The wonderful Xmas market where it is possible to find a julebuck nativity figure in order to decorate your Xmas trees ! Before, you may walk around in the streets and discover all the Xmas decorations in Copenhagen. They are so wonderful !!

God Jul !

By Antonin Maurel

Christmas from Ireland

By Cerise Schuster

In this country, there are some neighborhoods which organize competitions between neighbors. They decorate their houses with big garlands, Christmas trees and several other original decorations.

I think it's one of the craziest Ireland's traditions !! A December 25th event is organized for the courageous people who want "an icy dip". The concept is simple : go for a dip in the Atlantic Ocean to start the new year off on the right foot !

KALA CHRISTOUYENNA IN

GREECE

In Greece, people don't have specific Christmas traditions, BUT :

On christmas, some kids knock on people's doors and sing some Christmas songs. They also do this for New Year's Eve and for the Epiphany.

On Christmas Day, greeks eat some dishes with 

made by Léa Harou

Christmas in Canada

In winter, Canadians really like to decorate both the inside and the outside of their houses with lights. They make large paths with lots of illuminated decorations.

By Villey Tiphaine

In Canada, there are many popular performances of "the Nutcracker". It is very cute for the children. But this tradition is not just in Canada, there is this performance in France too.

Fun fact :

Sometimes in the Christmas markets, people create some candies with maple syrup. They put the maple syrup in the snow and it hardens with the cold.

There is also a parade of Santa Claus and there are many visitors, adults and children.

In the Netherlands, the Christmas period doesn't start until after December 5th. While in neighboring countries gifts are usually brought by Santa Claus, in the Netherlands it is the privilege of the good Saint Nicholas. And what happens once the Saint returns to Spain? Then it's time to get ready for Christmas! Anywhere in the Netherlands, you can take part in local celebrations. Experience the warm atmosphere of this season at a Christmas candlelight show. They come in all shapes and sizes, from modest candlelight parades to big shows, such as the Light Walk in Scheveningen, or the Magische Lichtroute (Magic Lights Route) in Maastricht and Gouda by candlelight. Catch Christmas concerts at local performance halls, churches, or renowned theaters such as Amsterdam's Concertgebouw. If you're brave (and you still have a Santa Claus hat lying around somewhere), you can take part in the Nieuwjaarsduik (New Year's Bath) on the beach in The Hague. And if you want to attend a church service on Christmas Eve, you can do so just about anywhere, in churches of all denominations.

Christmas Markets in Finland

In Helsinki, there are different traditional Christmas markets. You can see a lot of stalls. Finnish people can buy beautiful presents and decorations for Christmas. There is also an old carousel for kids which is free.

By Maély Therese dit Duchemin

Dark wood

Funny tradition

Audio format

from Sweden in Gävle

By Abel Le Cesne

You've probably already heard of events such as the Burning Man in California or Guy Fawkes Night in England. In a same vein, I'm going to tell you about the 'Gävlebocken' (the Gävle goat) : a Swedish tradition in the town of the same name.

The problem with this tradition is that the goat burns because of the civilians who have had fun burning it every year since it was first put in place on 1st December 1966 to advertise the Gävle traders' association. It was the consultant Stig Galven who came up with the idea. Of course, it's forbidden to burn it. You could be sentenced to several months in prison and fined several thousand dollars. But for the people of Gävle, it's a real tradition whereas it's just there to decorate the town. The tradition has been going on since 1966 and it's still going on, fortunately because it doesn't burn every year, so it can still delight young and old every Christmas. This tradition has provoked a clan war between the people who want to burn it and the people who protect it.

There are many traditions in Italy like : the Christmas Market, the Ice Rink and the Traditional Christmas Tree.

Merry Christmas From Italy

By Eden Serrant

There are many ice rinks but the prettiest one is at The Auditorium Parco de la Musica. We can skate all day with friends.

The biggest Christmas Market in Italy is on the Piazza Navona. There are many workshops and attractions for children too.

The biggest Christmas Tree is located next to the Coliseum. It is almost as high ! There is another Christmas Tree in St Peter's square in Vatican.

Christmas in Greece

by Shakira Pellé

<ul><li>Concerning special christmas dishes, you can taste the Kourabiedes. Kourabiedes are these delicious almond cakes sprinkled with icing sugar. They are traditionally made for Christmas celebrations in Greece. We can see them invading the windows of bakeries and pastry shops, alongside Melomakarona. But the best thing is to make them yourself ! </li></ul>

In Greece, kids go in the streets, ring the doorbells and sing christmas carols. Families often give candies or presents.

Christmas in Riga, Latvia. by Gabriel Blanchetiere

In Latvia, the traditions depend of families. Not all the families participate in all the traditions. The most famous thing in latvia at Christmas is pine wreaths.

Christmas is celebrated on the 25th of December every year.

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