Christmas traditions are as varied as the cultures that celebrate them, and to explore this rich diversity, foreign-born journalists at the SBS newsroom have shared stories of how the holiday is celebrated in their native lands. They also reflect on how they’ve adapted these traditions to their new home in Australia.

In many traditions, classic Christmas carols are given a fresh twist with Punjabi beats and lively rhythms, transforming familiar tunes into vibrant performances that encourage enthusiastic clapping and participation.

The holiday season often includes setting up nativity scenes that depict the birth of Jesus, alongside spirited carol processions. These processions see community members visiting different homes, spreading the warmth and joy of Christmas.

Food is at the heart of the celebrations. A typical festive breakfast might include appam, which are fermented rice pancakes, accompanied by a rich duck stew. The day continues with lavish feasts featuring biryani—a flavorful mixed rice dish with spices and either meat or vegetables—enjoyed by family and friends.

Games are also part of the festivities, often involving small stakes, sometimes as little as 10 cents. This keeps the emphasis on the fun and the connection rather than any gambling winnings.

These simple yet meaningful rituals have become cultural touchstones, bringing together Timorese families near and far during the most beloved season of the year.

The stakes are minimal, sometimes as little as 10 cents, keeping the focus on fun and connection rather than potential gambling earnings.

This simple yet meaningful ritual has become a cultural cornerstone, uniting Timorese families at home and abroad during the year’s most cherished holiday.

The Philippines’ Mariah Carey and bottle cap tambourines

Around that time, social media pages are flooded with images of a Filipino Christmas icon and messages like ‘Are you ready?’, ‘It’s that time of year, ‘Nearly there,’ and many other phrases reminding Filipinos that Christmas is just around the corner.

A Filipino Christmas is an experience of not only music, faith and family, but also a table full of traditional ham, Filipino Christmas rice cakes like puto bongbong, bibingka, sikwate (hot chocolate) and queso de bola (cheese) on Christmas Eve, with leftovers for Christmas Day.

Under the mistletoe: Xmas romance in Japan

While it’s difficult to pinpoint the origin of this trend, it appears to be the result of successful marketing campaigns, much like the KFC ‘tradition’.

Although many nowadays opt for more cost-efficient options, the custom is still very much alive.

Each year in Japan, lovers fill the streets on Christmas Eve, walking arm in arm, while Christmas-themed love songs fill the air. Source: Getty / Ippei Naoi

So, what should you do if you are single and alone in Japan during Christmas? Don’t worry, we won’t judge … at least not openly!

It sure is a sight to behold!

The Polish ‘Chrissie’ carp

At a Polish Christmas, it is served baked, fried, stuffed, stewed, or in jelly. The most traditional version, ‘Jewish-style’, is boiled with raisins and onions for a sweet-and-salty twist.

A Polish Christmas table would be incomplete without carp at the centre. Source: Getty / Alex Bona / SOPA Images / LightRocket

Carp arrived in Poland in the 12th century, brought by Czech Cistercians. It was just one of many freshwater fish enjoyed for centuries on the tables of nobility.

“People are a bit unsure because they’ve never tried it. I soak the carp in milk with onion for six hours to remove the muddy flavour, then dry it thoroughly, season it, and fry it in breadcrumbs. That crispy coating is our way of winning Aussies over,” she says.

Chef Ola Gładysz says her carp dishes are surprisingly popular at the modern Polish restaurant where she works in Melbourne’s hip, inner-north suburb of Brunswick East. Source: Supplied

“Most people who come for our Christmas events are Poles missing home. For them, carp is a taste of childhood,” Gładysz says.