Recognize any of these weird Christmas traditions?

Published in

iTech Grow and Tell

4 min readDec 15, 2020

Christmas is nothing without its traditions. For so many people that celebrate the day, Christmas is marked with quirky rituals brought out year after year. Often, we don’t even know where they started. We spoke to our iTech colleagues to find out what they get up to. Post a comment below to tell us about your weird and wonderful traditions!

Kirsten, Content Editor

I’m spending Christmas in: Cambridge, England

I normally spend Christmas with my in-laws, and they have an unusual tradition where everyone takes turns unwrapping gifts, and they do a round of applause after unwrapping every single gift. On one hand it’s lovely they show so much gratitude towards one another, but given my husband has 8 brothers and sisters, it does mean unwrapping presents takes the entire day. Is this something all British households do?

Simone, Product Manager

I’m spending Christmas in: Rome, Italy

Christmas without a LOT of “tortellini in brodo” is not Christmas for me. For those who don’t know what tortellini in brodo is, delicious pasta in a light broth. In my family we have a challenge of who’s going to have more rounds of tortellini!

Maria, Senior Delivery Lead

I’m spending Christmas in: Bromley, England

Christmas is full of traditions in my family. We all have a Christmas Eve box, new Christmas Eve pj’s whilst watching all the best films. We still put up stockings and leave out a plate for Santa too! On Christmas Day we have a Champagne breaky and present opening together. We have a Christmas dinner with Greek twists and my Dad always gets us all a Christmas scratch card.

Dan, Frontend Engineer

I’m spending Christmas in: London, England

I have just one Christmas tradition. To watch my favourite Christmas film and its sequels. Die Hard marathon! (Up to and including 4.0 — not beyond.)

David, Senior CRO Specialist

I’m spending Christmas in: Gloucester, England

In Spain, we have a tradition involving grapes. On New Year’s Eve we have a big dinner with family and friends eating all sorts of delicious treats. Then, just before midnight, everyone gathers around the TV and we get ready for our yearly ritual: all channels broadcast a “live” feed of the clock in the Puerta del Sol square in Madrid. At 12:00, the bell chimes 12 times and everyone eats 12 grapes, one per chime, to welcome the New Year. The more adventurous ones (the ones that live close enough, anyway) go to the actual square and eat their grapes outside, in the freezing cold.

James, Content Editor

I’m spending Christmas in: Taunton, England

My biggest Christmas tradition is going out in town on Christmas Eve with my old school friends and staying out as late as possible. I always think Christmas Day is a great time to be hungover as you have unlimited Christmas food to get you through it, presents to cheer you up and great TV to watch.

Alex, Full Stack Engineer

I’m spending Christmas in: Val d’Oise, France

Christmas Eve is usually a bigger deal than Christmas Day in France. On Christmas Eve we have a very fancy homemade dinner and build-up to the opening of the gifts at midnight (or wait till the morning if you have young kids).
On 6th January, France has the loveliest tradition called “galette des rois” (King’s cake), basically puff-pastry filled with almond custard and a porcelain figurine hidden inside. The youngest kid hides under the table to assign slices to everyone and the person who gets the figurine becomes the king/queen and is awarded a cardboard crown. I’d have probably baked and brought one or two to the office in normal circumstances!

Ester, Content Editor

I’m spending Christmas in: Brighton, England

My mum still gives me and my sis stockings — same ones we’ve had for 30+ years! I’m not complaining!

Phoebe, Delivery Lead