1. Frohe Weihnachten! Feliz Navidad
Subha Christmas メリー クリスマス
Buon Natale Mehri Kurisumasu
Christmas around the World
Maligayang Pasko Христос се роди
Bella Festas daz Nadal Merry Christmas
聖誕快樂! Joyeux Noël Bon Nadal
shèngdàn kuàilè
20 Dec 2011

2. Austria “Frohe Weihnachten!“
Christmas is a big tradition in Austria. In mid-November, the Christmas markets start.
In December you can
buy Christmas trees in
many places.
In the evening of the 24th
The markets sell we celebrate and sing the
traditional goods and Austrian composed “Stille
famous Glühwein. The Nacht” (Silent Night). Many
illumination in the town is people eat fish.
beautiful and everywhere At midnight we go to
is traditional decoration. church to celebrate.

3. India “Subha Christmas!“
Christmas Day called 'Bada
Din' (Big Day) in Hindi is a
national holiday in India and
people from all religions join their
Christian friends to make the
most of the joyous celebrations.
On the Christmas Day, Christmas
gifts are exchanged. It is a time for
family reunions when people staying
in different cities rush back to home
to celebrate with family and friends.
Days before the festival
markets take a colorful look as
they are decorated with
traditional Christmas trees, stars,
images of Santa, balloons and
festoons.
In south India, light clay lamps are placed on Mumbai: there is a tradition to depict nativity
house walls, doors and rooftops. Some scenes and decorate home with big stars.
decorate banana or mango trees instead of Goa: Missa de Galo or Cock Crow – Mid night
pine trees. traditional mass till early morning.

4. Japan “メリー クリスマス! “
Though Christmas is not
Mehri Kurisumasu
a national holiday in Japan,
we still celebrate it.
It is a time when
people celebrate the
time with their loved
ones.
Parents and couples
The illumination in the exchange gifts.
town is beautiful. Shops
and trees are dressed
with gorgeous lights and
decorations.

5. Mauritius “Joyeux Noël!“
In Mauritius, Santa Claus comes by
boat or waterskiis. He is the
coolest Santa around!
We also dance the Sega and admire the fireworks.
The noise distracts the children while the presents are
being placed under the Christmas tree.

6. Mexico “¡Feliz Navidad!”
There are many special traditions surrounding Christmas in Mexico. Some of these originated in Spain and
others developed due to Mexico's particular history.
Nacimientos
Nativity scenes are a
common Christmas
decoration and are a
beautiful example of Mexican
folk art.
The Posadas
From the 16th to the 24th processions reenact Pastorelas
Mary and Joseph's search for shelter in Pastorelas are theatrical presentations of the shepherds on their
Bethlehem. These processions lead to a way to see baby Jesus. These originated during Mexico's colonial
different house every night for the culmination period as a way to teach the native people about Catholic
of the posada. Star piñatas are also prepared dogma,
during the posadas
Día de Reyes
January 6th is Epiphany,
celebrated in Mexico as Día de
Reyes. This is when children
traditionally receive gifts, brought
by the three wise men. On this day
it is also customary to share a
Rosca de Reyes among friends and
family. This is a special sweet bread
in the shape of a wreath.
The festivities last through much of the month of December and last until Epiphany with the celebration of Día de Reyes.

7. Peru “¡Feliz Navidad!”
From the beginning of
November, the city is lit up
and huge Christmas trees
appear in the districts.
All the families prepare a
Nativity Scene. You can
choose different themes
Characato Nativity Scene
Catedral of Lima
from the coast, the andes
(Arequipa, south of Peru)
or the jungle.
People traditionally
cooked turkey or jam rolls.
For appetizers, tamales are
served; for dessert, doña
pepa nougat.
Parties and gifts for
children in the poorest
areas are organized by
various volunteer groups.
Turkey, doña pepa and tamales

8. Philippines “Maligayang Pasko!”
Christmas or "Pasko" is the most
awaited celebration and happiest
event in the Philippines. The country Parol or Star Lanterns
celebrates the world's longest The symbol of Christmas
Christmas season with carols heard in the Philippines, It
represents the star of
as early as September and the
Bethlehem or the
season lasting up until January 9. guiding light.
Noche Buena or Christmas Feast Simbang Gabi or Dawn Masses
Families gather on Christmas Eve and An important Filipino Christmas tradition, these nine dawn
serve lechon (roasted pig), pancit, Masses refer to the practice of performing nine days of
barbecue, rice, adobo, cakes, lumpia, private or public devotion to obtain special graces.
etc. There is also an abundance of San Originally set at dawn to allow farmers to attend mass, the
Miguel beer, wine, and liquor! novena is completed by all walks of life.

9. Serbia “Христос се роди”
In Serbia the Church is the Hristos se rodi/Christ is born
Orthodox Church (Greek-ortodox).
In this Church we still use the 'Julian' We have a special way of greeting each other on
Calendar, which means Christmas Christmas which we use instead. One is to say “Christ is
Eve in on 6th January and Christmas born”(“Hristos se rodi” ) to which the other(s) is to respond:
Day in on the 7th January! “Truly, he is born” (“Vaistinu se rodi”). After that, you can
usually add “merry Christmas.”
On the morning of Christmas
Eve the father of the family used
to go to the forest to cut a
young oak called the 'Badnjak'
(Christmas Eve tree). Under the
table there should also be some
straw as a symbol of the
stable/cave where Jesus was
born.
Cesnica, a special kind of
bread, is eaten. Each
The burning of the
member of the family gets a
Badnjak represents the fire
piece (and the house does
that kept the newly born
too). There is a coin hidden in
Jesus warm through the
it and whoever gets the coin
night. The festivity starts off
will be particularly fortunate in
with religious customs and
the next year!
eases into the gathering
around the fire and
socializing.

10. Spain “¡Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo!”
24th 31st 5th
December December January
The night of the 24th is called Friends and families have The night of the 5th, “los Tres
“Nochebuena” (the Good dinner together on Reyes Magos” bring
Night) and we celebrate Nochevieja to celebrate presents to everybody!! It is
with our families the day 25th the new year with cava. 12 great to wake up on the 6th,
Jesus was born. pieces of grapes are and see all the presents
December eaten during the last 12 below the Christmas tree!
The “Comida del seconds of the year.
Día de Navidad” or
lunch on Christmas
day is also a family
event.
“Mantecados”, “Turrón”
and “Polvorones” are
typical Christmas desserts.
In every house, in Every 6th of
addition to the January, we
Christmas tree, we eat Roscón
build a “Belén”, de Reyes for
which depicts breakfast.
Bethlehem, where
Jesus was born.

11. Switzerland Christmas Decision Tree
Star(t)
Although Switzerland barely
has 8m inhabitants, it is a
country of rich culture.
The four main cultures based >25 <25
on languages and two main
religions (Catholic and
Protestant) are reflected in
different Christmas traditions,
ranging from celebrating
midnight masses, over partying
Mountain City
with friends to spending some
quality time with loved ones.
“Frohi Wiehnachte”
Swiss German
“Joyeux Noël”
French
“Buon Natale”
Italian
- Skiing with family - Family time - Party with friends
“Bella Festas daz Nadal” - Fondue Chinoise - Fondue Chinoise
Rumantsch

12. Taiwan Taiwanese people are very familiar with Christmas although
only around 5% of the population practice Christianity. It’s easy to
see holiday decorations and hear the Christmas songs on the
street. Shops promote the practice of giving Christmas gifts.
“聖誕快樂!” Christmas is more for younger people meeting up with friends
rather than holding family reunions.
shèngdàn kuàilè Dec. 25 is also Constitution Day in Taiwan. Until 2001, people
had one day-off, a good excuse to party!
Taipei 101 (Xmas Tree) The building demonstrates different designs based on different holidays.

13. United Kingdom “Merry Christmas!”
During the weeks before
Christmas, the British love to send
Christmas cards, attend carol
services and watch nativity plays.
Unlike our European neighbours who go
Christmas decorations fill the houses to midnight mass on 24th, most British go
and churches. to church on the 25th December.
The main presents are opened late-
morning or afternoon and no UK Christmas is celebrated on 25th with the
household forgets the huge feast of opening stockings, filled with small gifts,
Christmas lunch/dinner celebrated usually hanging in the bedroom. Then it’s
by the whole family. off to breakfast!
Every year, the Queen
addresses the nation
Mince pies are a favourite in the UK with her Christmas
and eaten throughout the day. A speech at 3pm on
traditional Christmas dinner consists of Christmas day.
roast turkey (or other poultry such as
pheasant, duck or goose), stuffing, Christmas crackers were introduced by the Victorians – a must when
potatoes, brussel sprouts, gravy, having Christmas meals. They are cardboard tubes wrapped in bright
cranberry sauce and pigs in blanket. Christmas paper, which is pulled at either end by two people until it
The meal ends with a Christmas splits open with a bang – inside are small toys, gifts and jokes. People
pudding and brandy cream. also wear paper crowns on their heads throughout the meal.

14. Contributors
IESE MBA Class of 2012 students
• Austria – Stefan Reise • Philippines – Aimee Flordeliza
• India – Nishant Dobhal • Serbia – Slavko Bukvic
• Japan – Gaku Hiruta • Spain – Mar Morales, Andrea Gonzales and
• Mauritius – Cedric Masson Marta Amoros
• Switzerland – Alexandre Pomi
• Mexico – Julieta Dorantes
• Taiwan – Katrina Hsu
• Peru – Vanessa Gómez • UK – Christian McDermott
If you want to contribute to the Christmas Around the World Project, kindly send an
email to aimee.flordeliza@iese.net.