Santa Claus, Papai Noel, Babbo Natale Are Coming to Town: 5 Christmas Traditions from Around the World

Jordana Weiss | December 21, 2018

Unless you grew up in a really small town, chances are you’re already aware of some of the most interesting international Christmas traditions from around the world. Each country, region, and even city has their own traditions, which are handed down from parent to child, and spread around the world as migration and trade take people far from home. Even the names that we give the Christmas figures are different.

In North America, Santa Claus reigns supreme (unless you’re somewhere like Louisiana, where he’s called Papa Noel), but in other countries around the world, this portly, festive figure is called by all sorts of different names. Papai Noel visits children in Portugal, Babbo Natale takes care of all Italian children’s Christmas wishes, and Dutch children call on Sinterklaas.

This year change up your holiday by incorporating some new traditions. Here are some interesting holiday traditions you may not have heard of before.

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