The most magical Christmas traditions around the world​

Southern California, US

Surfing santas

“I grew up in greater Los Angeles, and though December isn’t typically beach weather, something uncanny almost always happens on Christmas,” explains Megan Spurrell, Conde Nast Traveller US’s associate articles director. “The temperatures spike to the mid-70’s Fahrenheit with shining sun and many families, including my own, end up at the beach. But we also go to look out for a very SoCal figure, known as Surfing Santa. We keep our eyes out at Manhattan and Hermosa Beach, especially near the piers, though I’ve heard of surfing santas in Malibu and Santa Monica, too. Most are just local dudes with a Santa suit who reliably hit the waves on Christmas morning to entertain their neighbors (and get a surf session in).”

Austria

The Krampus

While many Western traditions see Santa leaving lumps of coal in stockings for badly behaved children, in Austria the Krampus pays a visit. As the folklore goes, the Krampus is a terrifying horned figure with a snake-like tongue, accompanying Saint Nicholas to visit children on 6th December each year (otherwise known as Krampusnacht), when they decide which child deserves presents, and which deserves punishment. It was even made into a Christmas comedy horror film in 2015, starring Adam Scott and Toni Collette.

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Peru

Midnight parties

“We alternate years of spending Christmas in Southern California with my mom and sisters, and going to Lima, Peru, with my husband’s family” says Megan. “Though Peru has plenty of traditions tied to Christmas, perhaps my favourite is the sheer fact (shared in many Catholic and Latin American countries) that the whole affair begins at midnight on the 24th. It can be torture waiting until midnight proper to dig into the feast of turkey and arroz arabe that sits out waiting, but the entire city explodes in fireworks when the clock strikes 12. And then the party doesn’t stop until the wee hours of the morning, sometimes at a family member’s house or at the city’s bars and clubs. It almost feels like a preview of New Year’s Eve, just a few days earlier.”