


5# Sinterklaas Pepernoten – Netherlands
Pepernoten (literally pepper nuts) are little, brown spice cookies very popular before and during the Dutch holiday Sinterklaasavond, or Saint Nicholas’s Eve. Sinterklaasavond occurs on the night of December 5 […]

4# Christmas Cake and Cheese: a big deal in Yorkshire – England!
Yorkshire, a historic county of Northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom, has its a curious variety of weird and wonderful traditions often unknown on the rest of […]

3# From the bathtub to the table: Christmas Eve Carp!
There are many ways to ensure your meal is fresh: first, you can grow it yourself, or you can buy it directly from the farm. Or you can take it […]

2# Gata at Geghard Monastery – Armenia
We are in the rugged Upper Azat Valley in Armenia, around the entrance to the rock-carved Geghard Monastery. Here you’ll notice elderly ladies clustered around roadside stalls leading to the […]

1# Christmas Risengrød, the Danish rice pudding that appeases wicked elves!
In Denmark, the tradition of eating rice pudding, or risengrød, on Christmas starts with a mischievous elf. In many European countries, traditions linked to Christmastime feature magical creatures who are […]

Cidade Albanoel: an abandoned Christmas Theme Park in Brazil
We are in Brazil. Driving to Rio de Janeiro, you might spot an eerie sight on the side of the road: an abandoned gang of Santas, surrounded by palm trees […]

6 January: The true story of La Befana.
Ever wonder who is the witch-like woman with a broomstick that you see in Christmas markets around Italy? This is La Befana, an Italian Christmas tradition, long before Babbo Natale […]

Peppermint Pig: a curious Christmas tradition in Saratoga Springs, New York~
Yes. Smashing this pink candy pig with a tiny hammer is a curious Christmas tradition in Saratoga Springs, New York. Here, on Christmas Day families gather around tables to smash […]

Lampreia de Ovos, an egg-based Christmas dessert which celebrate a bloodsucking fish!
Here we are: We are in Portugal, where for centuries nuns doubled as egg yolk–slinging pastry chefs, cementing the country’s specialty in yellow-coloured desserts. In religious houses, the egg whites […]

Cougnou, a Christmas bread shaped like the baby Jesus
Here we are: We are in Belgium or in northern France, where bakers create a Christmas pastry that’s reminiscent of the shape of the baby Jesus himself! In the Southern […]

In Leiden, Netherlans, there is One of the few Floating Christmas Market in Europe.
We are in Leiden, Netherlands, where a market built atop boats is one of the few floating Christmas markets in Europe! As we know, Christmas markets are a very popular […]

New Orleans: the tradition of Réveillon Dinner~
Here we are: It’s hard to image a city that takes culinary tradition more seriously than New Orleans, where old Creole dining customs and typical dishes contribute so much to […]

25# Merry Christmas to everybody!
Thanks to everyone for the many visits and appreciation to our advent calendar. Next year we will try to invent something new. Keep following us!!! Merry Christmas and a happy […]

24# The true story of Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer~
24 December! We now know that Christmas is associated with various legends and mythical and unusual characters since time immemorial. Among these, we have not yet speak about Rudolph, popularly […]

23# Christmas around the world: traditions and customs from Canada~
Yes, it seems that today is my turn! Even if I come from different countries, and you don’t ask me the reason, today I’ll talk you about Christmas in Canada, […]

22# Silent Night and the Christmas truce.
This story is probably another chapter in the book of the countless Christmas legend, and another checkbox in our advent calendar! It was 1914 ,and soldiers on both sides of […]