It’s Christmas everywhere
Iran
A Christmas of light and faith
In Iran, Christmas is celebrated by the Christian minority, especially within Armenian and Assyrian communities. Homes and churches are decorated with lights and nativity scenes, and traditional dishes like harasa (a chicken and barley stew) are served after a 25-day fast. This large Christmas dinner is called ‘Little Feast’. Assyro-Chaldeans celebrate on 25 December, while the Armenian Orthodox Church celebrates on 6 January. Gifts are not traditionally exchanged, but children receive new clothes.
Spain
Sweet treats and singing grapes
Spanish Christmas kicks off with the famous El Gordo lottery on 22 December and stretches all the way to 6 January. Families feast on turron (a nougat made with honey and almonds), marzipan, and roscón de Reyes (a crown-shaped brioche cake), and children eagerly await gifts from the Three Kings. Christmas Eve is the main night of celebration, centred around family, food and midnight mass. On New Year’s Eve, everyone eats 12 grapes at midnight, one for each chime of the clock, for good luck in the year ahead.
India
Midnight mass and mango trees
In India, Christmas is a vibrant mix of faith and festivity. Midnight Mass is central to celebrations, especially in Goa and Kerala, where churches are beautifully lit. Homes are decorated with banana or mango trees instead of pine, and sweets like rose cookies and kulkuls are shared with neighbours. In some regions, clay lamps are lit on rooftops to symbolise Jesus as the light of the world.
Pakistan
Bara Din and boots on the windowsill
Known as Bara Din (‘Big Day’), Christians in Pakistan celebrate Christmas with church services, carol singing, and festive meals. Children leave boots on windowsills for Christmas Baba (Santa Claus), and homes are decorated with stars and lights. Communities gather for food, music, and joy, with traditional dishes like biryani and korma adding a local flavour to the celebrations. The evening before Christmas Day features fireworks and dancing.
Korea
Lanterns and love
In South Korea, Christmas is a national holiday, but it’s often celebrated more like Valentine’s Day, with couples going on festive dates. Christian communities attend church services, while cities like Seoul sparkle with lanterns and light displays, especially during the Seoul Lantern Festival. It’s a time of beauty, reflection, and togetherness, with a beautiful Korean twist.
Romania
Carols, cozonac and the bear dance
Romanian Christmas is steeped in tradition, from colindatul (carol singing) to the Bear Dance, a folk ritual meant to ward off evil spirits. Families gather on Christmas Eve to enjoy cozonac (sweet bread with walnut or poppy seed filling) and sarmale (stuffed cabbage rolls). In villages, nativity plays and masked performances bring ancient customs to life.
Portugal
A sweet Christmas dream
Portugal’s Christmas table is a dessert lover’s paradise! From Bolo Rei (King’s Cake with candied fruit and nuts) to rabanadas (Portuguese-style French toast), the season is full of sugary delights. Families also enjoy sonhos (little doughnuts), filhós (fried pastries), and arroz doce (rice pudding). These treats are shared with love and laughter, often after attending Midnight Mass. The most significant event is the Christmas Eve dinner, where families gather to eat, the main dish being codfish. The leftovers from this meal are then enjoyed on Christmas Day.
Turkey
Santa’s birthplace and New Year cheer
Though Christmas isn’t widely celebrated in Turkey, it’s the birthplace of Saint Nicholas. Christian communities mark the day with church services and festive meals, while the wider population celebrates New Year’s Eve with decorations, fireworks, and family gatherings. In Istanbul, Christmas markets and lights add sparkle to the season, blending tradition with modern joy.
Hungary
Angels, relaxing and beigli
Hungarian Christmas begins early with Mikulás (St Nicholas) filling children’s shoes with treats on 6 December. On Christmas Eve, families decorate the tree, often said to be done by angels, and enjoy halászlé (fish soup) and beigli (a rolled pastry with poppy seed or walnut filling). Gifts are exchanged after singing carols, and Midnight Mass brings the community together in celebration. The following days are for visiting extended family and relaxing.
Now here’s some of our own nursery staff and parents’ festive traditions…
‘On Christmas morning there used to be a trail of chocolate coins from our beds all the way down to the presents in the lounge, a bit like a treasure trail. This tradition began many years ago when my first nephew was born and he came to stay on his second and third Christmas with my sister. It’s something I’d forgotten about, until I had children and my sister told me she’d carried on the tradition so now it happens at our house too.’ – Becky
‘Since 2012 when my eldest son was born, we have gone out shopping, and each picked a new Christmas decoration that we’d like to add alongside our colour scheme of red and silver. We have since had a second child and the tradition has carried on; we now have lots of decorations with meanings, and each year we take a photo of our new ones to remember when we added them to our collection. One day I hope to pass on my children’s decorations for their own tree’s when they are older. Each year we also take a family picture by the tree before our visit to see Santa in our Christmas jumpers and hats.’ – Beckii
‘On Christmas Eve we have family round for pork and stuffing cobs. Then the 4 of us watch a film together in our Christmas pjs with treats and hot chocolate. We also open our Christmas Eve boxes. When the children were little, we would sprinkle ‘reindeer food’ over the front garden, leave Santa a mince pie, a carrot and milk, with footprints ready for them in the morning. Over the Christmas period we will take it in turns to go around to families houses to enjoy more food and make more beautiful memories.’ – Lisa
‘We do celebrate Christmas, but I (Daisy’s mom), also follow the Pagan calendar, so we celebrate the Winter Solstice or Yule on 21st December. It’s the shortest day of the year, so we celebrate the light returning by lighting calendars and watching the sun rise and set together.’ – Becky
‘We don’t open any gifts on Christmas Day until it gets dark. We have a panettone casserole (the American kind) for breakfast, go to church, have a light lunch and then go for a very long walk before coming home to cups of tea and Christmas cake. We open gifts around 5pm, and then we tuck into our delicious main meal in the evening. It makes Christmas last all day and the presents are not the main event for us.’ – Sophie
We’re proud to welcome so many children, families and staff from a wide range of backgrounds to our nursery communities. Let’s make this Christmas a celebration of togetherness, learning and joy – wherever we’re from, and however we celebrate.