A Holiday Game: Christmas Traditions Around the World

This fun holiday game tests your knowledge of Christmas traditions around the world. See how much you know and, perhaps, learn something new!

To play, match up the countries with the appropriate traditions, both listed below. If you’d rather play with family or friends than online, download these FREE printable copies and response sheets along with the answer key.

The Countries

Australia
Belgium
Brazil
Canada
Denmark
England
Finland
France
Germany
Greece

Iceland
India
Italy
Japan
Mexico
Netherlands
Spain
Sweden
Philippines
Ukraine

The Clues/Traditions

A. This country’s residents celebrate the holidays with an annual craft day, making heart-shaped baskets that are then filled with Christmas treats.
B. Here, children fill their shoes with straw on the Eve of the Epiphany (January 5th) and the three wise men pass by leaving treats and gifts. On Christmas Eve, the Mass of the Rooster is celebrated as it is said the only time a rooster crowed was on the night Jesus was born.
C. Feeding the birds on Christmas Eve is one tradition seen here. In many homes, a handmade Christmas bird hangs above the dinner table.
D. The countdown to Christmas starts early here, September 1st! A bamboo pole with a lighted star on it is a popular decoration, used to symbolize the star leading the three wise men to Bethlehem.

E. In the 13 days leading up to Christmas, the Yule Lads make an appearance and visit the children of this country. With names like “Door Slammer”, “Spoon Licker”, and “Window Peeper”, you can guess what time of mischief each of these lads likes to cause!
F. Christmas Bells, a plant native to this country, bloom during the Christmas season. The flowers have red or white flowers and are bright green foliage, making for pretty Christmas decorations.
G. Family is of extraordinary importance here with members coming together for a very late-night meal on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day is for huge (dozens of people) luncheons and samba dancing.
H. Only 2% of this country is Christian yet they still celebrate Badaa Din or Big Day (another term here for Christmas Day) by planting trees to celebrate.
I. Christmas is a commercial celebration here not religious. It is considered a romantic holiday for couples, similar to Valentine’s Day. Fried chicken and sponge cakes with fruit toppings are the foods of choice for this celebration.
J. The Christmas market in this country’s capital city features two fantastic carousels, one decorated with exotic deep-sea creatures and the other with rocket ships and hot air balloons. Parents sip champagne and eat oysters while the kids ride.

K. This multi-cultural country celebrates both Sinck Tuck, a winter festival with folk dancing, gift-giving, and food as well as Réveillon, a party held after Christmas Eve mass that lasts well into early Christmas morning.
L. From December 16th through Christmas eve, houses are decorated and children go from door to door singing and asking if there is a room at the inn. On Christmas Eve, they are finally invited in to celebrate.
M. Unique spider web decorations are a tradition here. A poor country, the story goes that in lieu of decoration (that most people couldn’t afford) spiders would weave webs around the Christmas tree, and in the morning sun, they glittered silver and gold.
N. The Nativity is the most important decoration in this country. In fact, one of its residents is credited with creating the first three-dimensional Nativity or presepio in the 13th century.
O. Decorative cardboard crackers containing a party hat, joke, and small toy are placed at the dinner table on Christmas Day.
P. Figurines of peasant villagers are a popular addition to this country’s nativity scenes and make for a popular souvenir from this part of the world.

Q. The exchange of gifts here does not take place on Christmas Day but on December 5th, St. Nicholas Eve. December 26th is also a holiday called Second Christmas Day where relaxing and snacking on sweet treats is the tradition.
R. The holidays start on December 6th in this country with the Feast of St. Nicholas, who leaves secret gifts for children. According to tradition, no ship leaves port without an icon of St. Nicholas on board as he is the patron saint of sailors.
S. Traditional ornaments are made of straw and a goat is their oldest Christmas icon. It is popular for citizens to watch Donald Duck on TV on Christmas Day.
T. This country is credited with starting the tradition of the Christmas tree in the 16th century. Nutcrackers also hail from here and are considered a symbol of good luck and protection.