48% WANT TO KNOW HOW CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS ARE CELEBRATED AROUND THE WORLD
This festive filled world map will have you thinking Santa Claus is coming to town – but you’ve got to find him first
48 per cent of Brits want to know more about Christmas traditions in other countries, and almost 18 per cent of Brits had said they wanted to go abroad for their Christmas holidays this year.
So, as the pandemic continues to affect people’s lives and travel plans, we thought we’d bring some news from around the globe direct to the UK to share some insight into how Christmas is celebrated across other cultures.
It is estimated two billion people across the globe celebrate Christmas each year in unique and wonderful ways.
And different countries have different traditions, from rollerblading in Venezuela to having a giant lantern festival in the Philippines, or even eating KFC in Japan.
Other interesting traditions include the erection of a giant goat in Gavle, Sweden, and the arrival of the Yule Lads, a group of troll-like characters who deliver treats in Iceland.
And in Austria, there is the Krampus procession where terrifying goat-horned creatures roam the streets throughout December.
To celebrate the differences, Asda Money has created a one-off puzzle showcasing a collection of traditions around the world.
Hidden in the puzzle is one of the most famous traditions of the lot - Father Christmas delivering presents. But he’s not easy to spot…
Neil Foster, Senior Commercial and Product Manager for Asda Money, said: “Some people may already have had the fortune to encounter some of these global traditions on their winter travels. Christmas is going to be a bit different to usual again this year, and while we might not all be celebrating it the way we would like to, we thought it would be fun to explore the unique ways other cultures enjoy this special holiday, and maybe even inspire people to try something new at home this year with a partner, friend, or the kids.”
Research conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Asda Money revealed 48 per cent of Brits would like to know more about Christmas traditions in other countries.
A third said they had heard of Saint Nicholas' Day, in Germany, while 18 per cent have heard of Krampus in Austria and 15 per cent know about the fondness for eating fried chicken in Japan.
More than one in 10 (12 per cent) know that Finns like a trip to the sauna on Christmas Day and 11 per cent were aware that Danes enjoy dancing around the Christmas tree.
It also emerged 47 per cent of adults would like to spend Christmas in a foreign country which has different festive traditions to the UK.
With further travel restrictions returning for some countries, people are still hoping to get away for the holidays. Travel opportunities have improved hugely since last year with many more routes remaining open for now and the future, where almost a fifth (18 per cent) of those surveyed had said they would want to go away on their Christmas holidays in 2021. The most common reason to go abroad during the festive season is to do something different to celebrate the holiday, followed by wanting to explore another country, going in search of winter sun, enjoying the snow and spending some time with the family. But Christmas isn’t always about spending time with relatives, as one in 20 said they would like to go away so they can avoid having to visit family.
Seeking ways to switch up your festive season? Take a look at https://money.asda.com/christmastraditions/ to further explore Christmas traditions from neighbouring and overseas countries.
