Christmas Traditions Around the World: How One Conversation Became a Coloring Book

At Culture to Color®, we believe that powerful ideas often come from simple, human moments. One morning, our team—scattered across different cultures, continents, and climates—got to talking about the holidays. ... and stories started pouring out.

Someone remembered how lanterns lit up the streets in their hometown.

Another talked about decorating as early as September. Bibi shared her memories of magical Christmas markets.

We laughed. We learned. And for a moment, it felt like we were sitting in each other’s homes, sharing the season together.

That unexpected conversation became something more—it sparked the idea for a new book. A book that celebrates how Christmas is celebrated everywhere. And like everything we create, it started with connection.

How We Turned Our Traditions Into a Coloring Book

Like every Culture to Color® project, this book began with stories: ours, yours, and the ones passed down in families and communities for generations.

We gathered details, photos, memories, and even a few “Wait, really?” reactions from the team and friends. From there, our artist brought each tradition to life as a coloring page, making sure every illustration honored the culture, the meaning, and the spirit behind it.

Some pages highlight traditions you may already know. Others introduce you to celebrations you might be discovering for the first time.

But every page invites you to pause, color, and learn—whether you’re filling in a candlelit festival scene from Colombia or meeting Iceland’s mischievous Yule Lads.

We designed the book to feel like a holiday postcard from around the world. A blend of culture, creativity, and connection. Exactly what the season is about.

Fun Facts You’ll Find in the Book

To make your coloring experience even more delightful, we sprinkled Fun Facts throughout the pages. A few of our favorites:

🎄 Australia

Did you know? Christmas falls in the middle of summer, so many families celebrate with beach picnics and outdoor barbecues.

🎄 Colombia

Did you know? On December 7, candles light up streets, sidewalks, and windows across the country, welcoming the holiday season with thousands of tiny flames.

🎄 Finland

Did you know? Families visit the sauna together on Christmas Eve as a way to cleanse and prepare peacefully for the holiday meal.

🎄 Austria

Did you know? Krampus—yes, the horned and truly intimidating figure—parades through towns to punish naughty children.

🎄 Iceland

Did you know? Children receive gifts from 13 Santa-like figures called Yule Lads, each with its own personality and quirks.

🎄 Canada

Did you know? Santa has an official postal address, and when children write to him… he writes back.

And that’s just a glimpse. You’ll also find traditions from Greece, France, Germany, India, Croatia, and even Antarctica.

Why This Project Means So Much to Us

This book isn’t just a collection of holiday illustrations. It represents something at the heart of Culture to Color®: the belief that creativity connects people.

By turning traditions into pages, we get to share pieces of our own stories while celebrating the stories of people all around the world. And we hope that when you sit down to color, you don’t just learn something new. You feel a little more connected to the world outside your window.

Take a Trip Around the World, One Page at a Time

If you’d like to explore these traditions yourself or share them with your team, kids, or community, you can find the book here:

👉 https://culturetocolor.com/advent-calendar

Whether your Christmas looks like lanterns, fireworks, cookies, beaches, snow, or a visit from 13 mischievous Yule Lads, one thing stays the same:

The holiday season is about connection.

And we hope this book brings a little more of that into your world.

We’d love to hear about your family’s special traditions. Please email Bibi with a short description and a photo.