How are the holidays celebrated around the world? 

Christmas season is nearly here, and cities are preparing themselves for the festive holiday season. But how does your location change your celebrations?

Different countries have different traditions and festivities that come with celebrating the holidays, but what unites us all is the excitement that grips us when we begin feeling like a little kid about to open the Christmas gifts.  

In countries such as Spain and Italy, on New Year’s Eve, children leave something for Santa Claus and his reindeer to have. In most Spanish households, this is normally typical Christmas pastries and milk, while in Italy, this is a glass of wine and cake. Some other Spanish traditions include families playing the lottery, Christmas lights and markets, eating 12 grapes just before midnight, and, on the 6th of January, eating a roscon de reyes pastry.

Similarly, Italy is also filled with lights and Christmas markets but have other unique traditions such as 'La Befana.' Legend states that she is an old woman riding a broom that got lost following The Three Wise Men, and now delivers presents to children on the night of the 5^th of January.  

In northern countries of Europe such as Sweden and Norway, lights and beautiful markets are also an essential part of Christmas, but there is so much more. Sweden marks the start of Christmas with a celebration called Santa Lucia on the 13^th of December, where boys dress as “star boys” and girls dress in white, carrying candles and singing Christmas carols. At 3pm on Christmas Eve, families gather up to watch Donald Duck's Christmas, a Disney cartoon that has been a family tradition in Sweden for decades.

In Norway, the main celebration takes place on the 24^th of December, when families have dinner together and exchange gifts. Church bells at 5pm announce the beginning of this meal. A Norwegian tradition on this day is also hiding all the brooms in the house. It is believed that witches and evil spirits come out on Christmas Eve and take them!

These traditions only represent a small glimpse of how countries around the world celebrate the holidays, but there are so many more places to research that are filled with culture and celebrations. Each country's Christmas traditions are different and unique, but they all show the importance of spending time with your family, sharing food, opening presents, and having a good time.