ParcelHero warns don’t miss the sleigh - Christmas isn’t on the 25th in every country!
International courier reveals when other countries celebrate Christmas - and how your parcel can avoid the Krampus
In the UK, USA and Australia, Christmas traditions are very alike. However Christmas is celebrated in 160 of the 220 countries ParcelHero serves, and in some countries dates and customs are very different indeed. It’s best to take advantage of ParcelHero’s local knowledge of traditions to ensure your parcel arrives on the right day, and isn’t taken by the Krampus…!
Christmas is a hugely national popular holiday in many countries around the globe – even for non-Christian countries such as India and China’s Hong Kong and Macau territories. Christmas lovers would do well to head for the Philippines, which has the longest Christmas celebrations with carols being sung from September 1st! One of the places Christmas lovers had to avoid until quite recently was Cuba, where it was banned until the 1990s!
In many countries Christmas Eve is the most important day for celebrations and gift giving. From Poland (where it’s Wigilia) to Denmark, where it’s known as Juleaften, Christmas Eve is the traditional day of feasting and gift giving.
Santa Claus, like ParcelHero, has to know the correct day to deliver across the world. Don’t forget that Christian Orthodox countries celebrate Christmas on January 7th. Christmas Day is a public holiday on January 7 in countries such as Belarus, Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Russia, and the Ukraine. Some countries, such as Armenia, observe Christmas Day on January 6.
However, for many Central European countries if you want to send presents to children, you have already missed the most important day. December 6 is the traditional day when St Nicholas leaves presents in children’s shoes in many countries, including areas of Belgium, Austria, Northern France, and Germany.
A common tradition in many central European countries is for a kind of anti-Santa. A devil-like figure who gives out sticks rather than presents, especially for those children who have not been good. He’s commonly called Krampus. Krampus is busy doing his mischief in countries such as Austria, Rumania, Hungary and the Czech Republic. Of course ParcelHero has protocols in place to avoid Krampus’ influence and ensure it’s only welcome presents, and not sticks, we’re delivering!
Mexican children have a long wait. Though they may receive presents on Christmas day, the tradition is that they receive their main gifts from the Three Wise men on January 6th. Celebrations in Mexico don’t end until February 2nd.
Finally, the UK and the US get the tradition of Santa Claus from Dutch settlers in the US, who call Saint Nicholas Sintaklaas. Despite the growth in emails, Santa Claus receives over 550,000 letters and presents a year says the Finnish Post Office.
This Christmas take advantage of ParcelHero’s experience delivering into 220 countries. Visit: www.parcelhero.com/en-gb/international-courier-services
For more information please contact David Jinks, Head of PR, on david@parcelhero.com or by phone on 0208 7584962 (07772 055748 out of office hours)
Leading international online courier ParcelHero® strategically partners with the world's leading, logistics companies, including DHL, UPS and DPD to provide a flexible, cost-effective range of parcel delivery services to over 220 countries worldwide. Huge bulk purchasing power allows ParcelHero® to offer highly competitive pricing with no compromise in service quality.
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