10 Christmas Traditions from Around the World and How to Pronounce Them

With less than a week until the big day, it’s safe to say that we are all getting excited to switch off for the festive season. Of course, it is not just the UK getting excited about Christmas this year, as the holiday is celebrated worldwide. But how many festive traditions around the world can you name or, better yet, pronounce?

Fortunately, the team at the language learning platform Preply has shared ten different Christmas traditions from around the world and how to pronounce them correctly to help you get into the festive spirit this Christmas.

Krampus – Austria
Pronunciation: Cram-puss

Thought to have its origins in Austria, although the tradition carries throughout Alpine Europe, Krampus is the antithesis of Santa Claus, who, instead of leaving presents, scares the children who have been naughty that year.

In the first week of December, it is traditional for young men to dress up as Krampus and take part in festive parades, scaring the audience with their antics.

The figure of Krampus has now been popularised in American culture through various TV and film adaptations, although the tradition of Krampus is actually thought to pre-date Christianity.

Befana – Italy
Pronunciation: Bey-Fan-a

In Italian folklore, a figure named Befana visits children traditionally on Epiphany Eve (January 5th) to fill their stockings with sweets and chocolate if they are good. However, only sticks and coal are left if they are bad – much like Santa Claus does on Christmas Eve.

Although Befana mostly bears similarities to Santa Claus, such as food being left out for her when she visits, she is almost always depicted as a witch with a broomstick and black shawl.

In some variations of the nativity story, Befana sheltered the Three Wise Men for a night as they searched for the baby Jesus.

Jólakötturinn – Iceland
Pronunciation: Yo-la-kurt-urr-in

This literally translates to ‘Yule Cat’, although this Icelandic Christmas kitten is anything but cuddly – Jólakötturinn has claws!

The vicious Yule Cat prowls the Icelandic countryside during Christmas Eve and is said to gobble up anyone who has not been gifted new clothes for Christmas.

This piece of frightening folklore was thought to have been created in the 19th century to incentivise Icelandic farm workers to have wool supplies prepared in time for winter.

Grýla – Iceland
Pronunciation: Gree-la

If you thought the Yule cat was terrifying, then try its owner, Grýla, out for size. This Icelandic festive villain is a giantess who lives in a cave and has an appetite for naughty children, whom she cooks in a giant pot.

In Icelandic tradition, Grýla comes down from her cave at Christmas time to hunt for naughty children, whom she collects in a Santa-style sack. It is said that Grýla can be deterred if you leave out food and drink that she can take instead.

Feliz Navidad – Spain
Pronunciation: Fel-eez Nah-vi-dad

Here’s one festive term from around the world that most people in the UK will have heard before.

Popularised particularly through José Feliciano’s 1970 classic Christmas song of the same name, Feliz Navidad is quite literally Spanish for “Happy Christmas”.

Roscón de Reyes – Spain
Pronunciation: Ross-con De Ray-yes

Another Spanish festive tradition is Roscón de Reyes – a ring-shaped sweet bread that tastes similar to brioche, filled with dried and candied fruits and is typically served with whipped cream.

Traditionally, Roscón de Reyes is eaten on Epiphany Day (January 6th), a day on which people usually exchange and open presents.

Mopani/Mopane – South Africa
Pronunciation: Mo-pah-ne

There’s a slightly less appetising festive snack in South Africa, where they take the idea of Christmas grub rather literally.

Mopani or Mopane are deep-fried caterpillars, more specifically emperor moth caterpillars, and are a Christmas Day speciality in South Africa.

They are said to taste a bit like tea and are surprisingly healthy; however, there’s no shame in preferring to stick to the minced pies and chocolates this Christmas.

Patinaje Sobre Ruedas – Venezuela
Pronunciation: Pat-ee-nach-eh Sob-ray Roo-eh-dass

While many of us may consider ice skating to be a festive activity, in the Venezuelan capital city of Caracas, Christmas is traditionally celebrated with a nice bit of roller skating. This is what patinaje sobre ruedas literally translates to.

Christmas Eve in Caracas sees the city’s residents strap on their roller skates en mass as they take to the street for a wheely good time.

Weihnachtsgurke – Germany
Pronunciation: Vye-nackts-Gurr-keh

This literally means ‘The Christmas Pickle’, a bizarre festive tradition in Germany involving a pickle-shaped ornament hidden on the Christmas tree.

The tradition goes that on Christmas morning, the first person to find the pickle on the tree would receive an extra present from Santa Claus.

Kurisumasu ni wa Kentakii – Japan
Pronunciation: Kuh-ree-soo-Mah-soo Nee Wah Ken-Tah-Kee

This literally translates to ‘Kentucky for Christmas’ because, yes, eating KFC really is a festive tradition in Japan.

Sparked by a marketing campaign by the American fast food restaurant way back in 1974, people in Japan have gotten into the festive spirit by munching on fried chicken ever since, typically as a Christmas Eve treat.