Christmas is one of the most worldwide celebrated holidays. According to World Population Review, “Christmas is celebrated in some capacity by nearly every country in the world,” Over 150 countries wake up on Dec. 25 and follow various traditions established by their families or countries.

Families of the U.S. follow a few similar traditions, such as hanging stockings and leaving cookies and milk out on Christmas Eve. 

 “People started to use larger stockings such as high-knee socks or long white socks,” Rinse.com said. “Today, many use boot-size stockings that are often labeled for each member of the family (including pets!) and customized with quirky designs.” 

But that is not always the case for other countries.

Places like France and Iceland have similar routines around the holiday season. Both countries have their children leave out shoes on days leading up to Christmas, but where French children fill their shoes with gifts for “Pere Nöèl,” the French version of Santa Claus.

“The French Père Noël leaves his presents in shoes, not stockings.” Connexion France said.

“To give the Yule Lads somewhere to leave them a present, it’s tradition for Icelandic children to place a shoe on one of their windowsills,” Nordic Visitor said.

“Yule Lads” are the thirteen troll-like figures who visit the houses in Iceland between the 11 and 24 of December. 

“To give the Yule Lads somewhere to leave them a present, it’s tradition for Icelandic children to place a shoe on one of their windowsills,” Nordic Visitor said.

“In Poland, it is a tradition to open all the Christmas gifts on Christmas Eve, instead of the 25th,” Melanie Sniezyk ‘28 said. 

Spain has a little bit of a different celebration. On Dec. 22, the whole country gathers around their TVs and watches “El Gordo” for hours as numbers are drawn and sung to the whole country. “El Gordo” is a Christmas Lottery that stems from celebrations back in the eighteenth century. Prizes range from six thousand euros to four million euros, depending on the ticket one has. 

In the country of Mexico, tamales and turkey are enjoyed on Christmas Eve. The family gathers for the extravagant feast before the day ahead.

“In Mexico we see Christmas as the birth of Jesus,” Spanish teacher Maria Gutierrez-Enriquez said. “So we celebrate Christmas Eve, not Christmas.”

In Australia, Christmas is widely celebrated on the sunny beaches of the Pacific and Indian oceans. Many people cook and enjoy seafood boils while jumping in and out of the pool with friends and family. On Boxing Day, Dec. 26, people watch the annual cricket matches held at the  Melbourne Cricket Grounds with professional teams. 

In Norway, an ongoing tradition of hiding mops and brooms is followed throughout the snowy lands. The story branches from an old wives’ tale from centuries ago following the tale of the “Wild Hunt,” a story that explains why Norwegians hide their brooms and mops from Christmas Eve to New Years so evil spirits and witches cannot steal them for transport and mischief. 

In Germany, a tree is acquired early on in the holiday season but stored away until Christmas Eve. On the night before the 25th families bring out their tree and cover it in decorations that consist of tinsel, candles, nuts, fruits, and more.  The reason for the wait is to make Christmas Eve even more magical than it already is for the children in the country.