Christmas is just around the corner, and you can already smell the different flavors and sounds that make this great holiday what it is today. Many people around the world have different tastes, from the food to the activities they do. Today I’d like to share a little about the different activities that take place on this day.

In many Latin American countries, such as the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Colombia, it’s common to celebrate this occasion surrounded by family and friends and celebrate it on the 24 of December. Something that is definitely a must is food, with dishes like rice, chicken, lasagna, salads, and drinks. In our culture, it’s also common to stay up until midnight to open presents. In many countries, gifts are opened in each home, family by family. In our case, it’s more common to open them together. 

In the United States, it’s common to see many families decorating their homes, both inside and out. Attending Christmas-themed shows with the whole family is also very popular. One difference here is that many families go to bed early to wait for the gifts Santa Claus will bring the next day. The food here also varies greatly, with dishes like chicken, turkey, cookies, mac and cheese, and more.

Spain is also a country with a great cultural diversity in how these holidays are celebrated. There, it’s more common to receive gifts on January 6, as it’s Three Kings’ Day. In Spain, there’s also an event called “El Gordo,” which takes place around this time and is essentially a lottery. Finally, attending church and singing Christmas carols are very common as well.