Christmas Eve traditions from the world

Are you stocked up on milk and cookies ready to set out for Santa and his reindeers later tonight? It’s a timeless Christmas Eve tradition in the UK, but countries around the world have their own traditions.

In Canada for example, it is today that wrapping paper is being torn off the gifts under the tree. Many people will open their presents today, leaving just one for tomorrow. Although with such a rich mix of cultural backgrounds in the country, there is sure to be a collection of traditions brought along with each region’s past.

Food plays a big role today in many European countries. In Germany for example it is tradition to eat simple, usually potato salad with sausage as a mark of remembering a time when the period between St Martin’s Day and Christmas Eve was a time of fasting in Christianity.

Italy meanwhile are enjoying the Feast of Seven Fishes, serving seven different seafood dishes. A tradition traced back to the Roman Catholic’s abstinence of meat on Christmas Eve.

Finally, you’ll find a night sky awash with fireworks and paper lanterns in Argentina where it is customary to head outside at midnight Christmas Eve to watch the show and bring in the big day.