Christmas is one of the most beloved and widely celebrated holidays worldwide. It is a special time that brings joy and sparkle to our lives with feasting and special rituals, colorful decorations, and the exchanging of gifts. Traditions have developed around this holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus and they have changed as they have crossed borders into other countries and over time.
Dive into Christmas Traditions in the Netherlands below. Download Sonlight's Christmas Around the World ebook to explore Christmas traditions from 19 different countries around the world, including 6 of the 7 continents!
Explore Christmas Traditions in the The Netherlands while listening to this episode of the InquisiKids podcast.
Christmas Traditions in The Netherlands
In the Netherlands, the main gift-giving holiday is Sinterklaas (named for St. Nicholas), celebrated on December 5th. Sinterklaas is dressed differently than Santa Claus, sporting a bishop’s outfit, and he arrives by steamship from Spain in mid-November. This marks the beginning of the holiday season. Sinterklaas has a helper known as Zwarte Piet (Black Pete, a Spanish Moor), who helps him fill the shoes the children have placed by the fireplace with gifts and treats.
Learn more about the story of St. Nicholas on the InquisiKids above!
Sinterklaas (named for St. Nicholas)
Christmas trees and festive lights are a common way to decorate for the holiday. Some people exchange gifts on Christmas Day (December 25) but the primary day for gifts is December 5th. The general rule is Sinterklaas first, then Christmas via two distinct and separate holiday celebrations.
Dutch cities often host Christmas markets (Kerstmarkten) throughout the month of December, where people can shop for gifts, enjoy holiday treats, and experience a festive atmosphere. Temporary ice rinks are also set up in various towns so that families can enjoy this popular pastime.
Christmas Recipes in The Netherlands
Many Dutch families have a gourmetten (a type of indoor grilling) for Christmas dinner, cooking small pieces of meat, fish, or vegetables in small pans over an electric grill. It involves melting cheese on top of the ingredients and is served with a variety of condiments and sauces. Kerststol, a fruit-studded sweet dough filled with almond paste, is a traditional Christmas bread that is also served.
Start a brand new Christmas dinner tradition, the Dutch way. Check out the recipes below to add to your collection.
Kerstkrans (wreath-shaped almond cookies tied with a ribbon that are hung on the Christmas tree)
Lefse (a traditional flatbread Christmas tradition)
Download a Christmas Playlist
Enhance your Christmas celebrations with popular Christmas music such as Ere Zij God (Glory to God) Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht (Silent Night, Holy Night) from the Netherlands, and others from around the world. Check out Sonlight's Christmas Around the World Spotify playlist here.
What is your favorite tradition to celebrate with your family around Christmastime?
From traditional festivities to unique customs, we hope these traditions from the Netherlands add a rich diversity to your family celebrations during this joyous holiday. Download the complete Christmas Around the World ebook to infuse your holiday traditions with Christmas customs, recipes, and crafts from 19 countries around the world.
We'd love to hear more about the traditions you celebrate in your own home! Share your stories on your favorite social media outlet using #sonlightstories or comment below. Have a tradition you'd like to see added to this post? Let us know, by emailing us at main@sonlight.com.
Christmas is one of the most beloved and widely celebrated holidays worldwide. It is a special time that brings joy and sparkle to our lives with feasting and special rituals, colorful decorations, and the exchanging of gifts. Traditions have developed around this holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus and they have changed as they have crossed borders into other countries and over time.
Dive into Christmas Traditions in Norway below. Download Sonlight's Christmas Around the World ebook to explore Christmas traditions from 19 different countries around the world, including 6 of the 7 continents!
Explore Christmas Traditions in the Norway while listening to this episode of the InquisiKids podcast.
Christmas Traditions in Norway
Norway is another country in Scandinavia and shares similar traditions with its neighbors.
Julebukk is a centuries-old Scandinavian tradition that takes place between Christmas and New Year's Day. It's a Christmas-themed version of trick-or-treating. In Julebukk, people dress up in costumes and go door-to-door to sing and perform for friends, neighbors, and family. They often disguise their voices to make it harder for people to guess who is behind the mask. In exchange for their performances, they receive food, drinks, or candy.
Norwegians also celebrate St. Lucia Day (December 13) but rather than straw, they decorate their homes with Juleneks, which are sheaves of grain decorated with a red bow. It is tied to a post or hung on a door to feed the birds on Christmas morning.
Little Christmas Eve or Lille julaften is celebrated on December 23rd as a prelude to the Christmas festivities. On this day families decorate their Christmas trees, but it can also be a day of cleaning and tidying so that everything is spotless and ready for the following two days.
Christmas Crafts in Norway
Norwegians have their own version of Santa Claus, called Julenissen. This gnome-like creature with a long white beard and a red cap brings gifts to children on Christmas Eve. Click the photo or link below for instructions to make your own Christmas Gnome Ornament.
Tomte the Christmas Gnome Ornament
This Scandinavian-inspired Tomte pinecone ornament carries a sense of whimsy and tradition, symbolizing the spirit of a Nordic Christmas. Click here for instructions to create your own Tomte made from a pinecone!
Norway also receives quite a bit of snow and ice during the Christmas season. To represent all these snowflakes, try making your own out of salt, Epsom salt, or borax.
Crystal Snowflake
Add some homemade charm to your Christmas tree with this DIY Crystal snowflake craft! You can use food coloring to dye the water and make different colored snowflakes, or just use different colored pipe cleaners. Click here for instructions. For an older child, you might want to try this one. Can't get enough snowflake crafts? Try this one with marshmallows and toothpicks!
Christmas Recipes in Norway
Christmas dinner julemiddag boasts dishes like ribbe (pork ribs), pinnekjøtt (dried and salted lamb ribs), lutefisk (dried fish), medisterkaker (sausage patties), an assortment of vegetables and lefse (thin potato flatbread), followed by rice pudding with a hidden almond for dessert. The person who finds the almond will have good luck in the coming year. Norwegians also enjoy Pepparkakor, a Swedish ginger cookie, like gingersnaps. Add a new treat to your Christmas festivities by making this popular Christmas Cookie—get the recipe below!
Despite Christmas Day being the time when most other countries have their main celebrations, Norwegians choose to celebrate on Christmas Eve instead, which is known as Julaften. This is when families get together and eat a traditional Norwegian Christmas meal, which is usually followed by holding hands and dancing around the Christmas tree to various carols, including Så går vi rundt om en enebærbusk (Then We Go 'Round 'Bout a Juniperbush), En stjerne skinner i natt (A Star Shines in the Night), and Glade jul (Happy Christmas). Check out Sonlight's Christmas Around the World Spotify playlist here to download Christmas music from Norway and around the world.
What is your favorite tradition to celebrate with your family around Christmastime?
From traditional festivities to unique customs, we hope these Norwegian traditions add a rich diversity to your family celebrations during this joyous holiday. Download the complete Christmas Around the World ebook to infuse your holiday traditions with Christmas customs, recipes, and crafts from 19 countries around the world.
We'd love to hear more about the traditions you celebrate in your own home! Share your stories on your favorite social media outlet using #sonlightstories or comment below. Have a tradition you'd like to see added to this post? Let us know, by emailing us at main@sonlight.com.
Christmas is one of the most beloved and widely celebrated holidays worldwide. It is a special time that brings joy and sparkle to our lives with feasting and special rituals, colorful decorations, and the exchanging of gifts. Traditions have developed around this holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus and they have changed as they have crossed borders into other countries and over time.
Dive into Christmas Traditions in Iceland below. Download Sonlight's Christmas Around the World ebook to explore Christmas traditions from 19 different countries around the world, including 6 of the 7 continents!
Explore Christmas Traditions in the Iceland while listening to this episode of the InquisiKids podcast.
Christmas Traditions in Iceland
The Yule Lads (Jólasveinar) are 13 mischievous characters thought to be the sons of two mythical trolls. Each figure has his own distinct personality and habits. Beginning on December 12th, children place a shoe in the window and each night a different Yule Lad arrives to leave small gifts or play pranks.
Photo credit: arcticportal.org
Because it is so dark at this time of year, light plays a big part in the Christmas season. Advent candles are lit, Christmas trees, homes, and streets are decorated with lights. Neighborhoods and towns decorate their streets, buildings, and trees with colorful lights, especially the capital city, Reykjavik. This practice is called Jólaljós (Christmas Lights). On December 23rd, Icelanders light bonfires (Jólasbrenna) across the country, to symbolize the victory of light over the darkness—a tradition that dates back to ancient times.
Another delightful tradition is Jólabókaflóð (Christmas Book Flood) where people exchange books as gifts on Christmas Eve and spend the evening reading in a cozy atmosphere complete with hot chocolate and candlelight. Because of this tradition, many authors release their latest works at this time of year and many books are published in the weeks that lead up to Christmas. The Christmas season is a time for reading, storytelling, and sharing stories of folklore and myths, both ancient and modern.
Christmas Eve (Jóladagur) is the primary day of celebration in Iceland. Families gather for a festive meal that often includes traditional dishes such as hangikjöt (smoked lamb), fermented shark (hákarl), and a variety of sweet treats. After dinner, many people attend Midnight Mass or participate in church services.
Christmas Crafts in Iceland
As you can imagine from the name of the country itself, Iceland receives quite a bit of snow and ice from late October to late January. To represent all these snowflakes, try making your own out of salt, Epsom salt, or borax.
Crystal Snowflake
Add some homemade charm to your Christmas tree with this DIY Crystal snowflake craft! You can use food coloring to dye the water and make different colored snowflakes, or just use different colored pipe cleaners. Click here for instructions. For an older child you might want to try this one. Can't get enough snowflake crafts? Try this one with marshmallows and toothpicks!
Christmas Recipes in Iceland
Christmas Eve dinner in Iceland is a cherished and elaborate affair that traditionally features a main course of Hangikjöt (smoked lamb), often served with a béchamel sauce. Another holiday favorite is Hamborgarhryggur, a spiced ham. These meat dishes are accompanied by a variety of side dishes like pickled red cabbage, peas, and potatoes.
Families also gather around the festive table to enjoy laufabrauð, or "leaf bread," which is a thin, crispy flatbread, deep-fried and often decorated with intricate patterns. Christmas Eve dinner is a joyful celebration that emphasizes the spirit of togetherness and the joy of sharing in Icelandic homes.
Download a Christmas Playlist
Christmas music in Iceland is a cherished part of the holiday season, blending traditional and contemporary elements. The country's rich musical heritage comes to life during the Yuletide celebrations, with classic carols like Dásamleg jól (Wonderful Christmas), Heyr Himna smiður (Hear My Supplication), and Jólin eru að koma (Christmas Is Coming), Ég hlakka svo til (I'm So Excited)filling the air with festive cheer. Check out Sonlight's Christmas Around the World Spotify playlist here to download Christmas music from Iceland around the world.
What is your favorite tradition to celebrate with your family around Christmastime?
From traditional festivities to unique customs, we hope these Icelandic traditions add a rich diversity to your family celebrations during this joyous holiday. Download the complete Christmas Around the World ebook to infuse your holiday traditions with Christmas customs, recipes, and crafts from 19 countries around the world.
We'd love to hear more about the traditions you celebrate in your own home! Share your stories on your favorite social media outlet using #sonlightstories or comment below. Have a tradition you'd like to see added to this post? Let us know, by emailing us at main@sonlight.com.
Christmas is one of the most beloved and widely celebrated holidays worldwide. It is a special time that brings joy and sparkle to our lives with feasting and special rituals, colorful decorations, and the exchanging of gifts. Traditions have developed around this holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus and they have changed as they have crossed borders into other countries and over time.
Dive into Christmas Traditions in Great Britain below. Download Sonlight's Christmas Around the World ebook to explore Christmas traditions from 19 different countries around the world, including 6 of the 7 continents!
Explore Christmas Traditions in the Great Britain while listening to this episode of the InquisiKids podcast.
Christmas Traditions in Great Britain
In Great Britain, Christmas traditions are a blend of religious and secular customs. Like the United States, British homes have a decorated tree that is put up in early December.
Boxing Day is the day after Christmas and historically was the day when servants, tradespeople, and the poor received boxes (gifts) from their employers. Today it is an official bank holiday that is associated with shopping and sporting events such as football (soccer) and cricket.
Another tradition is a televised speech by the ruling monarch that has been a tradition since the first one in 1957. See below as HM King Charles III delivers his first Christmas message to the nation and the Commonwealth in 2022.
Christmas Crafts in Great Britain
One unique tradition is Christmas crackers. These are paper tubes filled with candy, small trinkets, and other treats. It is fun to pull a cracker and hear the loud pop over the Christmas meal with family and friends. Try your hand at making your own this year using the instructions below.
Christmas Crackers
Make Christmas Day go with a bang by making your own Homemade Christmas crackers. This simple craft is easy to make and you can add your own unique gifts, jokes, and party hats in order to personalize your Christmas Day. Click here for instructions.
Christmas Recipes in Great Britain
Favorite British desserts include pudding, also called plum pudding, which is a dense fruitcake, and mince pies which are small tarts filled with dried fruits and spices. Check out the links below and add a new recipe to your collection this season!
Christmas music holds a special place in the hearts of the British people during the holiday season. Traditional carols such as Silent Night, Deck the Halls, and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing resonate through the airwaves and are sung in churches and homes alike. Additionally, modern Christmas hits by British artists like Wham's Last Christmas and Slade's Merry Xmas Everybody have become enduring staples of the holiday playlist. This rich musical tradition adds a melodious touch to the yuletide celebrations, making Christmas in Great Britain truly magical.
What is your favorite tradition to celebrate with your family around Christmastime?
From traditional festivities to unique customs, we hope these traditions add a rich diversity to your family celebrations during this joyous holiday. Download the complete Christmas Around the World ebook to infuse your holiday traditions with Christmas customs, recipes, and crafts from 19 countries around the world.
We'd love to hear more about the traditions you celebrate in your own home! Share your stories on your favorite social media outlet using #sonlightstories or comment below. Have a tradition you'd like to see added to this post? Let us know, by emailing us at main@sonlight.com.
These delicate butter cookies, adorned with aromatic spices and a dusting of powdered sugar, are a beloved hallmark of Eid al-Fitr. This Muslim holiday is often compared to Christmas as it's widely celebrated in Egypt. Create a batch and savor with family and friends.
This PDF file is formatted to print the same size as Sonlight's Recipe Cards so you can easily add it to your recipe collection!
Kahk el Eid
Ingredients:
For the Cookies
3 cups flour
a dash of salt
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
½ teaspoon cinnamon
3 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds (optional)
½ teaspoon dry yeast
1 cup ghee, room temperature and not melted
⅓ cup warm water
Powdered sugar
For the Filling
1 tablespoon ghee or butter
1 tablespoon flour
1 teaspoon sesame seeds.
¼ cup honey
½ cup coarsely ground pistachios
Instructions:
In the bowl of an electric mixer, mix flour, salt, sugar, yeast, cinnamon, and sesame seeds together.
Add the ghee and mix until completely incorporated.
Add water and mix until the dough comes together.
Cover and let rest for an hour.
In the meantime, prepare the filling. In a small saucepan over medium heat, add the 1 tablespoon ghee and melt. Add flour and mix until flour turns golden.
Remove from heat and add sesame seeds and honey. Mix well, returning to low heat until the mixture thickens.
Remove again from heat and mix in pistachios. Let cool for 10 minutes.
Form into small balls, about 20 total.
After the dough has rested for an hour, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Divide the dough equally into 20 balls.
Take a ball of dough into your hands and flatten slightly, making an imprint in the center with your thumb.
Place a ball of pistachio filling in the center of the dough circle, closing the dough around the filling to form a ball.
Place cookie on parchment-lined cookie sheet. Repeat until all the cookies are formed. Use the tines of a fork to make an imprint on the tops of the cookies.
Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the bottom is golden brown.
Remove to cool on a wire rack. Sift powdered sugar on top when fully cooled.
Now is a great time to begin curating recipes to develop into your own Christmas traditions. Sonlight has some simple recipe cards where you can record your favorites and create your own Christmas Cookie Collection.
Pfeffernusse is a popular and classic Christmas treat. These small, spiced, and powdered sugar-coated delights have been a beloved part of German holiday traditions for centuries. Discover how to make your own batch of Pfeffernusse cookies to share the warmth of the season with family and friends. Get ready to add a dash of tradition to your holiday baking repertoire!
This PDF file is formatted to print the same size as Sonlight's Recipe Cards so you can easily add it to your recipe collection!
Pfeffernüsse Cookies
Ingredients:
For the Cookies
½ cup unsalted butter (113g)
½ cup packed brown sugar (110g)
¼ cup unsulphured molasses (80 mL)
¼ cup honey
¾ teaspoon ground cloves
¾ teaspoon ground all spice
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
¾ teaspoon ground white pepper
1 teaspoon anise extract (or can omit or sub with vanilla extract)
½ teaspoon salt
1 large egg
3 cups all-purpose flour (360g)
½ teaspoon baking soda
2 cups confectioners’ sugar (240g)
Instructions:
In a small saucepan, melt butter, brown sugar, molasses, and honey on medium heat until the mixture just starts to bubble, stirring frequently.
Remove from heat and add the spices, the extract and the salt. Stir well. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool for about 20 mins.
When barely warm, beat in egg. Combine flour and baking soda and fold in until incorporated.
Wrap dough in plastic wrap, flatten to form a 1” thick rectangle, and chill in the refrigerator for at least three hours. However, the dough gets more flavorful the longer it rests so you can also refrigerate up to 3 days. DO NOT skip the chilling step or the cookie will spread too much.
Position a rack in the middle of an oven and preheat to 350° F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
Remove dough from refrigerator, unwrap plastic and cut into ¾ in wide strips. Cut the strips into cubes, then roll into a ball about 1.5 inches in diameter. Place balls on prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake until cookies are golden and firm to the touch with slight cracking on top, about 12-15 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool slightly, about 5 minutes.
Roll them in confectioners’ sugar, let fully cool then roll them again. (Alternatively, you can make a glaze by adding 2-3 tablespoons of milk to the powdered sugar in a small bowl, whisking until a thick glaze forms. Place a cookie on a fork over the glaze and spoon the glaze on top. Allow the excess glaze to drip off then set on a plate or wire rack.)
Make ahead tips: Dough may be kept the refrigerator for 2 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Defrost in the refrigerator before shaping and baking.
Now is a great time to begin curating recipes to develop into your own Christmas traditions. Sonlight has some simple recipe cards where you can record your favorites and create your own Christmas Cookie Collection.
Christmas is one of the most beloved and widely celebrated holidays worldwide. It is a special time that brings joy and sparkle to our lives with feasting and special rituals, colorful decorations, and the exchanging of gifts. Traditions have developed around this holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus and they have changed as they have crossed borders into other countries and over time.
Dive into Christmas Traditions in Sweden below. Download Sonlight's Christmas Around the World ebook to explore Christmas traditions from 19 different countries around the world, including 6 of the 7 continents!
Explore Christmas Traditions in the Sweden while listening to this episode of the InquisiKids podcast.
Christmas Traditions in Sweden
Sweden is located on the Scandinavian peninsula, in the far north of Europe. Since it is dark for much of the day during the winter in Scandinavia, light plays a big role in the traditions in this region. Advent candles are a typical way to count the days until Christmas.
Another festival of light is the celebration of St. Lucia Day. Traditionally, the oldest girl in the family wears a white dress with a red sash and a crown of candles and carries food early in the morning to her family in bed. St. Lucia Day (December 13) marks the beginning of the Christmas season in Sweden, and St. Knut’s Day (January 13th) marks the end of the season, with singing songs and dancing around the Christmas tree before taking it down. Learn more about St. Lucia Day here.
In Sweden, decorations made of straw trace their roots back to agricultural traditions. It was an easily available material and used for various purposes. The tradition of placing a large straw goat called Julbock or Gävlebocken next to the tree helps Swedes connect with their heritage. The Julbock is one of the oldest traditions in Scandinavia. It's believed that the Jultomte (Santa) was accompanied by a goat to help deliver presents on Christmas Eve.
Julbock: The Swedish Christmas Goat
Jultomte is similar to Santa Claus. He is dressed in red and has a white beard and leaves gifts for children. Children leave him julgröt (rice porridge). In Swedish folklore, Tomte, a mythical creature associated with the Christmas season, is believed to protect the home and its inhabitants.
Christmas Crafts in Sweden
According to Scandinavian folklore, if you treat Tomte's (little elves or gnomes; not to be confused with trolls) well, they will care for your animals and help you around the house. If you treat them disrespectfully, they will play little tricks or pranks on you. Make your own Tomte Ornament with the instructions below.
The Julbord is a traditional Christmas buffet and can be eaten for either lunch or dinner. This massive spread includes pickled herring, cured salmon, sausages, meatballs, ham, and different types of bread and condiments. The word julbord translates to "Christmas table". It's a beloved tradition in Swedish households. Though it’s a buffet and can be eaten in any fashion you’d like, it’s typically broken down into courses and you’re encouraged to work your way through several plates of food grabbing just a bit of everything from the course you’re currently on.
Included in the smörgåsbord of food are popular Swedish Christmas cookies called Pepparkakor (a thin ginger cookie). Add a new treat to your Christmas festivities by making this popular Swedish Christmas Cookie—get the recipe below!
Julgröt (Rice Porridge that is served on Christmas as an offering to the tomte. Adding butter to the porridge shows that you respect your tomte!)
Saffransbullar(Swedish saffron-infused buns) NOTE: Lussekatter is a specific type of saffron bun with a distinct shape commonly associated with St. Lucia Day. Both Saffransbullar and Lussekatter are often used to describe the delicious saffron-infused treats enjoyed during this festive occasion.
Download a Christmas Playlist
Enhance your Christmas celebrations with popular Christmas music such as Mer Jul (More Christmas), Stilla natt (Silent Night), Hej mitt vinterland (Hey My Winterland), Sankta Lucia (Saint Lucia) from Sweden and from around the world. Check out Sonlight's Christmas Around the World Spotify playlist here.
What is your favorite tradition to celebrate with your family around Christmastime?
From traditional festivities to unique customs, we hope these Swedish traditions add a rich diversity to your family celebrations during this joyous holiday. Download the complete Christmas Around the World ebook to infuse your holiday traditions with Christmas customs, recipes, and crafts from 19 countries around the world.
We'd love to hear more about the traditions you celebrate in your own home! Share your stories on your favorite social media outlet using #sonlightstories or comment below. Have a tradition you'd like to see added to this post? Let us know, by emailing us at main@sonlight.com.
