Start making some of your own traditions
If you are from a European country, you may have grown up with traditions from your country. Here in New Zealand, I think it is rather nice when families make their own Christmas traditions.
Like a cooked family breakfast on the barbecue, champagne and salmon for brunch, themed food from another country, Christmas at the beach, a Christmas picnic, or a neighbourhood gathering.
Having family overseas I have been lucky enough to enjoy a few different Christmas traditions. For me, nothing beats a European Christmas. The dark nights, the lights, the long-drawn-out Christmas lunch, the roaring fire and on the odd occasion, the snow.
SPAIN
With Catholics making up over half of the country’s population, the Christmas church services are a very important part of Christmas in Spain.
The nativity scene called “belenes” is found in most Spanish homes, often in public areas in larger cities and sometimes they are set up in front of churches.
The first public Christmas tree made an appearance in Madrid, the Christmas of 1870. The Spanish love their Christmas carols and Christmas sweets washed down with some bubbly cava.
Christmas eve in Spain is the most important gathering of the entire year for Spanish families, where they have a long and lengthy evening meal with family.
In Spain Christmas time lasts until 6 January with the arrival of the three kings (Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar) This is when the children get their Christmas presents, although they do get a few on Christmas day nowadays. Roscón de Reyes is a cake traditionally eaten in Spain on the day that celebrates the arrival of the three kings or Epiphany. The cake is a round or oval shape with a hole in the middle, usually filled with cream and decorated with candied fruits.
Often larger cities have a parade in which the arrival of the three Kings is re-enacted.
My suggestion if having Christmas in Spain. . . bring your appetite and elasticated trousers!
GERMANY
Personally, when I think of German Christmas traditions, I think of the beautiful Christmas markets, the mulled wine, the tasty sausages, the braziers, snow, and very happy children.
I also think of the wonderful stollen bursting with plump sultanas, marzipan, spices, nuts, and candied peel and sprinkled with icing sugar. Wonderful nutcracker decorations and angels that adorn almost every home. These angels represent hope, joy, love, togetherness, and peace.
With snow usually underfoot and an oompah band making music, Germany is a real magical country to celebrate Christmas. It really is like a wonderland.
LONDON
As much as I like sitting outside al fresco dining here in New Zealand, having a winter Christmas makes all those Christmas cards with the snow on them ring true!