Now we are in December, Christmas is officially here. Advent calendars have begun, Christmas markets are open, and Christmas music is playing everywhere. Christmas is a global celebration, however there are many unique Christmas traditions around the world. Below I will discuss a few different Christmas celebrations from around the world.
Wigilia, Poland
Wigilia is the name for the celebrations on the 24th of December in Poland, and this is when the Christmas celebrations begin. During the three days of Christmas celebration, no physical work should occur, so all the cleaning and meals need to be prepared before the celebration begins. The celebration begins when the first star is spotted in the sky which represents the star of Bethlehem, and children will often sit by windows looking out for it. The Christmas tree is called Choinka and along with baubles, is decorated with apples, sweets, nuts and cookies. Traditionally, hay will be spread beneath the tablecloth as recognition of Jesus’ manger being lined with hay. The meal begins first with breaking opalek (a Christmas wafer) and as it is broken, they will exchange well wishes good fortune for each other. The first person breaks a piece off the opalek and passes it to the next person and so on, it is one of the oldest traditions in Poland. The meal consists of 12 dishes representing the 12 apostles and it is etiquette to try all 12 dishes. After the meal, gifts are exchanged, carols are sung and there is a midnight mass called pasterka.
Krampus, Austria
Krampus is a devil-like creature that is said to be St Nicholas’s Assistant. He appears during the Advent period and accompanies St Nicholas on the 6th of December. The origins of Krampus are old pre-Christian myths about beasts in the forest; he was later linked to St. Nicholas in the Middle Ages. The earliest written reference to him is in 400AD by Saint Augustine. He is said to appear the night before the feast of St Nicholas, which is on 6th December, so Krampus appears on 5th December. The legend says that if you are good, St Nicholas will come, but if you are bad, Krampus will come. He carries a long stick and wears animal skin with a carved wooden mask; he also has bells tied to his outfit, so you can hear him coming. Today to celebrate, there are formal processions that include Krampus dancing, growling and stamping. On December 5th there is a Krampus run, where people dress up and wear masks and fur. Some see Krampus as an embodiment of evil; others see him as someone that banishes evil.
Las Velitas, Columbia
Las Velitas is celebrated on 7th December and is the day of little candles. On this day, neighbourhoods and streets are lit with candlelight from small candles. It is celebrated with music, food, and spending time with families. It marks the beginning of Christmas celebrations. It has roots in the Catholic Church, and the candles are lit to honour the Virgin Mary and her immaculate conception.
Saint Lucia, Sweden
This is a 400-year-old tradition that is celebrated on 13th December to honour martyr Lucia of Syracuse who is said to have bought food to the Christians hiding in Roman catacombs using a candlelit wreath on her head to guide the way. There are similar celebrations for Saint Lucia Day in Finland, especially among the Swedish-speaking Fins. Lucia is known as the bearer or light, hymns and Swedish treats. There is a candle procession led by Lucia and followed by handmaidens, star boys and gingerbread men. Lucia is dressed in a wreath on top of her head with a battery-powered candle (for safety) and her handmaidens all carry candles with glitter or a wreath in their hair and red ribbon around their waist. There is also a choir who sing a Lucia song, along with saffron buns, glogg (which is like mulled wine), and Lucia offers treats like Fika.
Las Patinatas, Venezuela
Las Patinatas is a relatively new tradition, only dating back to the 1950s and has recently been declining in popularity due to the increase in crime, political instability and food security in parts of Venezuela.  In the 9 days leading up to Christmas, from 16th to 24th December, people roller-skate all evening and then go to church for a 5am or 6am mass. The roads are shut overnight during this time and people spend the evenings together as a community. People wear festive clothing, and religious songs are sung, when mass is finished the families will group in the streets and at each other’s houses to celebrate with food and dancing.
La Befana, Italy
La Befana is a grandmotherly woman who is seen as the good witch of Christmas. The legend goes that Befana was in a cottage sweeping and carrying out her work when she looked out the window and saw a bright light in the sky. She was visited by the three kings who were lost on their journey to see baby Jesus. She let them stay the night and gave them directions but when they offered her to join them, she declined as had to continue her work. However, she soon changed her mind and headed out to try and catch up to the Kings with her broom and a basket with a gift for the baby. She failed to catch up to the Kings and is still searching for the baby, on her travels, she leaves gifts like toys, candy, fruit, etc. for the good children. Bad children get coal, onion, garlic or even straw from her broom, although some say the coal is made of sugar so that everyone had a nice holiday season. She is depicted as wearing a kerchief on her head, carrying a broom and wearing a dark shawl. The shawl is said to be dark as she enters through the chimney and so is covered in soot and she then using her broom to sweep the floor, clearing out ready from the new year’s and marking the end of the Christmas season. On the 5th of January, the evening of the Festa Dell-Epifania (the Feast of Epiphany), that is the celebration of the three kings visiting Jesus, children hang up their stockings hoping La Befana will leave them a treat.