Around the world, humanity brightens up the cold winter months with bright, joyous celebrations. From Christmas markets in Europe to Lunar New Year preparations in Asia, shared festivities bring communities together with warm and meaningful traditions. These celebrations offer a chance to connect across cultures and highlight the vibrance and beauty in international diversity.
At EBRAND, our global presence reflects this richness. With offices flourishing across continents, our teams embrace both local traditions and cross-cultural collaboration. This Christmas, we take a closer look at how some of our offices celebrate the most wonderful time of the year.
Denmark: Julehygge and Dancing Around the Tree
In Denmark, Christmas revolves around julehygge, the Danish concept of coziness, warmth, and togetherness. Families sip on gløgg, a spiced mulled wine, and snack on æbleskiver, soft pancake balls sprinkled with powdered sugar. Many homes light Advent candles each Sunday in December, counting down to Christmas in a calm, cozy atmosphere.
Danish celebrations peak on Christmas Eve, when families gather around their meticulously decorated trees. After a hearty meal, they hold hands and dance around the tree singing carols. This tradition, unique to Denmark, combines music, movement, and joy, bringing loved ones together in the festive spirit.
United States: Festive Parades and Spectacular Lights
In the United States, Christmas festivities kick off after Thanksgiving with iconic parades. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City serves as a festive starting point, featuring giant balloons, elaborate floats, and a grand finale with Santa Claus. Across the country, smaller parades, such as Chicago’s Magnificent Mile Lights Festival, add local charm to the season.
Beyond that, cities and neighborhoods also compete with dazzling light displays. From the breathtaking illuminations in Rockefeller Center to the extravagant decorations in places like Dyker Heights in Brooklyn, Americans turn their homes and streets into glowing winter wonderlands. These traditions highlight the country’s love for the spectacle, and for community celebrations.
Poland: Kulig Rides and Traditional Feasts
In Poland, Christmas traditions reflect the national appreciation for family, nature, and hearty food. Their unique cultural highlights include the kulig, a horse-drawn sleigh ride through snow-covered forests and villages. Often accompanied by music, bonfires, and laughter, these rides capture the festive spirit and create cherished memories.
On Christmas Eve, families celebrate Wigilia, a feast steeped in tradition. They begin by sharing opłatek, a wafer symbolizing forgiveness and unity, before enjoying a meat-free meal that includes dishes like barszcz (beet soup) and pierogi. This deeply symbolic evening culminates with carols and Midnight Mass, where communities gather to celebrate together.
Germany: Christmas Markets and Advent Traditions
Germany shines as the birthplace of many beloved Christmas traditions. Its festive markets, such as the Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, draw visitors from around the world. Stalls offer handcrafted ornaments, mulled wine (Glühwein), and roasted chestnuts, filling the air with a magical holiday atmosphere.
Advent traditions play a central role in German homes. Families light candles on Advent wreaths and open daily surprises in Advent calendars. These customs build anticipation for Christmas while emphasizing reflection and togetherness, hallmarks of the season in Germany.
France: Lavish Feasts and Midnight Mass
French Christmas traditions culminate in the Réveillon, a lavish meal on Christmas Eve. Families gather to enjoy delicacies like oysters, foie gras, and the bûche de Noël, a rich Yule log cake. This celebration often stretches late into the night, blending culinary appreciation with family connection.
Midnight Mass remains an important tradition for many French families. Churches across the country fill with worshippers celebrating the holiday’s spiritual significance. In Provence, the Mass often includes santons, small clay figurines representing the nativity, adding a unique regional touch.
Netherlands: Sinterklaas and Seasonal Celebrations
In the Netherlands, Christmas begins early with the arrival of Sinterklaas on December 5. Dressed in his red bishop’s robes, Sinterklaas parades through towns on horseback, delighting children who receive gifts and sweets. This beloved tradition sets the stage for the season’s festivities.
Later in the month, Dutch families embrace modern Christmas traditions. They enjoy festive meals, decorate homes with lights, and gather for intimate celebrations. Parades, including the Sinterklaas entry procession in Amsterdam, continue to bring communities together in the holiday spirit.
Belgium: Festive Feasts and Belgian Sinterklaas
In Belgium, the festive season begins early with the celebration of Sinterklaas on December 6th, the day after the Dutch version. Children eagerly clean their shoes and leave them out the night before, often accompanied by a carrot or sugar cube for Sinterklaas’s horse. In return, they wake up to find their shoes filled with chocolates, speculoos cookies, and small gifts, delivered by the beloved Saint. The arrival of Sinterklaas, often staged as a grand event, brings communities together in cities like Antwerp, where parades and performances kick off the holiday cheer.
Belgian Christmas markets, like the famous Winter Wonders in Brussels, take center stage during December. These markets feature cozy chalets selling artisanal goods, mouthwatering waffles, and mulled wine. Locals and tourists alike indulge in festive dishes such as stoofvlees (a rich beef stew) and kerststronk (a Yule log cake). The combination of cultural celebrations and seasonal treats makes the Belgian festive season a memorable experience for everyone involved.
Spain: Sweet Treats and January Celebrations
In Spain, Christmas extends into January with Los Reyes Magos (Three Kings’ Day) on January 6. Parades, such as the grand Cavalcade of the Magi in Madrid, boast colorful floats that shower spectators with sweets. These events mark the climax of the season, and a time of joy across communities.
Traditional treats, like turrón (a nougat-like dessert) and roscón de reyes (a sweet bread with hidden surprises), enhance the festivities all the more. Spanish families also celebrate with hearty meals and gatherings that showcase their love of food, family, and tradition.
China: Decorations and Holiday Cheer
While Christmas is not a traditional holiday in China, urban areas increasingly embrace the seasonal spirit with festive decorations and gifts. Shopping malls display towering Christmas trees, lights adorn streets, and Santa figures greet visitors in bustling city centers.
For many, the season provides an opportunity for social gatherings and gift-giving. As the New Year approaches, families shift their focus to Lunar New Year preparations. This event represents the most important festival in Chinese culture, emphasizing national reunion and renewal.
Luxembourg: Quiet Charm and Warm Gatherings
In Luxembourg, the holiday season reflects the country’s blend of cultural influences and warm community spirit. Luxembourg City’s Christmas market, the Winterlights Festival, transforms the capital into a wonderland with illuminated streets, a skating rink, and stands offering Kniddelen (Luxembourgish dumplings) and Glühwein. This smaller, more intimate market exudes a cozy charm that resonates with the nation’s laid-back atmosphere.
Luxembourgish families often gather for quiet celebrations at home, emphasizing quality time and traditional dishes like Judd mat Gaardebounen (smoked pork with broad beans). The multilingual nature of Luxembourg is evident in the holiday greetings, as residents wish each other Joyeux Noël, Frohe Weihnachten, or Schéi Chrëschtdeeg, depending on their language preference. At EBRAND’s headquarters in Luxembourg, we embrace the full spectrum of cultural diversity, celebrating the season with traditions that unite our team members from across the globe.
Celebrating the EBRAND Way
At EBRAND, we cherish the diverse ways that our team celebrates the holiday season. These traditions reflect our local expertise, and our international mindset, reminding us that diversity strengthens our global community.
From all of us at EBRAND: Merry Christmas, and happy holidays!
