Advent calendar books are becoming a new twist on an old tradition. One chapter a day for 24 days and a bonus chapter for Christmas Day. You know that I love to write books like the Sunday Adventurer books, but a few years ago I wanted to do something more fun. So I started the Merry Advent Calendar Books, using the pen name Eleanor Noelle.

One of the books I chose to publish this year was “25 Days of Christmas Around the World”. The book is fun and interactive, with fun facts and stories and so much more. One chapter a day in a new country.

Below I have included some of the bonus chapter content all in one place. I have included the Gifts Around the World list, the Christmas Songs Around the World play list, Christmas Foods Around the World list, and the Christmas Books From Around the World list.

Christmas Around the World Gift Guide

Looking for a Christmas gift with a story behind it? The countries in our countdown are filled with traditions, foods, crafts, decorations, and customs that can inspire thoughtful presents.

This guide includes one gift idea connected to each of the 23 countries we explored. You don’t need to find an expensive imported item or an exact replica of something traditional. Many of these gifts can be found locally, made at home, or adapted to fit the person receiving them.

For an extra touch, include a small note explaining the Christmas connection. A simple gift becomes much more interesting when the person opening it knows the story behind it.

1. Germany — Christmas Market Mug

Gift Idea: A festive mug filled with hot cocoa, tea, chocolates, or Christmas cookies.

Why It Fits: Germany’s Christmas markets are famous for their festive stalls, lights, seasonal treats, and warm drinks. A cozy mug captures a little of that Christmas-market feeling at home.

Make It Yourself: Fill a favorite mug with homemade cocoa mix and cookies, then add a tag that says, “Inspired by a German Weihnachtsmarkt.”

2. Mexico — Poinsettia Gift

Gift Idea: A poinsettia plant, ornament, tea towel, notebook, or other item featuring the brilliant red Christmas flower.

Why It Fits: Poinsettias are native to Mexico and have become one of the world’s most recognizable Christmas plants. In Mexico, the flower is often associated with Nochebuena, or Christmas Eve.

Make It Yourself: Create a red paper poinsettia and use it to decorate a wrapped gift instead of a bow.

3. Sweden — Saint Lucia Candle

Gift Idea: A candleholder with a battery-operated candle, paired with tea, coffee, or a favorite breakfast treat.

Why It Fits: Candlelight is central to Sweden’s Saint Lucia celebrations, when Lucia processions bring light into the dark December season.

Make It Yourself: Decorate a small glass jar to hold a battery-operated tea light and add a tag explaining the Saint Lucia connection.

4. Italy — Nativity Ornament

Gift Idea: A small Nativity ornament or figure.

Why It Fits: Italy has a long tradition of creating presepi, or Nativity scenes. Elaborate displays can include not only the Holy Family but entire villages filled with everyday life.

Make It Yourself: Create a simple Nativity ornament from paper, felt, wood, or another favorite craft material.

5. Iceland — Christmas Book

Gift Idea: A book chosen especially for the person receiving it, paired with a bookmark or favorite snack.

Why It Fits: Iceland’s Christmas season is famous for its connection with books and holiday reading. A book is a perfect way to create a quiet Christmas evening.

Make It Yourself: Add a handmade bookmark with the recipient’s name and a note inviting them to enjoy a cozy Christmas reading night.

6. Philippines — Parol Star Lantern

Gift Idea: A star-shaped lantern, light, or Christmas ornament.

Why It Fits: The parol is one of the most recognizable symbols of Christmas in the Philippines. These glowing star lanterns brighten homes, streets, and communities during the season.

Make It Yourself: Create a paper star ornament inspired by the parol and include a short note explaining its Filipino Christmas connection.

7. France — Bûche de Noël Treat

Gift Idea: A bûche de Noël from a bakery, chocolate truffles, or a small collection of chocolate treats.

Why It Fits: The French bûche de Noël, or Yule log cake, is one of the country’s best-known Christmas desserts.

Make It Yourself: Bake a miniature Yule log, chocolate cake, or batch of chocolate cookies and package them as a Christmas treat.

8. Australia — Christmas Picnic Kit

Gift Idea: A small picnic basket or tote with reusable cups, a picnic blanket, snacks, or an outdoor game.

Why It Fits: Christmas arrives during Australia’s summer, and outdoor meals, barbecues, and gatherings are popular ways to enjoy the holiday.

Make It Yourself: Create a “Christmas Picnic” coupon promising a family lunch or snack outdoors when the weather is right.

9. Poland — Kindness Keepsake

Gift Idea: A framed family photo or small keepsake accompanied by a handwritten letter telling someone what you appreciate about them.

Why It Fits: The Polish Christmas Eve tradition of sharing opłatek includes exchanging good wishes and expressing love, forgiveness, and hope for the coming year.

Make It Yourself: Ask family members to write short messages beginning with “One thing I love about you is…” and collect them in a decorated envelope or jar.

10. Finland — Christmas Relaxation Basket

Gift Idea: A small basket containing warm socks, a soft towel, soap, tea, or another relaxing treat.

Why It Fits: For many Finnish families, the Christmas sauna is a peaceful part of the holiday and a chance to slow down before the celebrations.

Make It Yourself: Add a homemade coupon for a quiet evening with a warm drink, favorite book, and no chores.

11. United Kingdom — Christmas Crackers

Gift Idea: A box of Christmas crackers filled with little surprises, jokes, and paper crowns.

Why It Fits: Pulling Christmas crackers around the table is a familiar part of Christmas celebrations in the United Kingdom.

Make It Yourself: Create homemade crackers filled with handwritten jokes, riddles, paper crowns, and tiny treats.

12. Ukraine — Christmas Spider Ornament

Gift Idea: A spider or spiderweb Christmas ornament.

Why It Fits: Ukrainian Christmas folklore tells of a spider decorating a poor family’s tree with shimmering webs, making spider and web ornaments a memorable Christmas symbol.

Make It Yourself: Create a small web from craft wire, string, beads, or paper and add a tiny spider.

13. Norway — Yule Goat Decoration

Gift Idea: A small straw julebukk, or Yule goat, to hang on the tree or display with Christmas decorations.

Why It Fits: The Yule goat has appeared in Scandinavian Christmas traditions in many forms and remains a familiar holiday decoration in Norway.

Make It Yourself: Create a simple goat ornament from felt, paper, yarn, or craft sticks.

14. Spain — Three Kings Gift

Gift Idea: A small gift saved especially for Three Kings Day on January 6.

Why It Fits: Día de los Reyes Magos is an important part of the Spanish Christmas season, with parades, sweets, and gifts associated with the arrival of the Three Kings.

Make It Yourself: Wrap a book, game, or treat and decorate the package with three handmade paper crowns.

15. Greece — Christmas Boat Ornament

Gift Idea: A small sailboat ornament or nautical Christmas decoration.

Why It Fits: Decorated boats have a special place in Greek Christmas traditions, reflecting the country’s long connection with the sea.

Make It Yourself: Build a tiny boat from paper or craft sticks and decorate it with drawn or painted Christmas lights.

16. Netherlands — Chocolate Letter

Gift Idea: A chocolate letter representing the recipient’s first initial.

Why It Fits: Chocolate letters are a favorite seasonal treat in the Netherlands and are especially associated with the Sinterklaas season.

Make It Yourself: Make letter-shaped cookies, brownies, or chocolate bark using the recipient’s initial.

17. Brazil — Christmas Music Kit

Gift Idea: A simple percussion instrument, small speaker, or family-friendly music gift.

Why It Fits: Music is an important part of many Brazilian celebrations, including Christmas gatherings filled with family, food, and favorite songs.

Make It Yourself: Create a decorated shaker using a securely sealed container and dry rice or beans, then use it during a family Christmas music night.

18. Czechia — Christmas Star Ornament

Gift Idea: A star ornament paired with an apple treat or small jar of apple butter.

Why It Fits: One Czech Christmas Eve custom involves cutting an apple crosswise and looking for a star formed by the seeds inside.

Make It Yourself: Create a paper apple ornament with a star in the center to represent the Christmas Eve tradition.

19. Denmark — Hygge Basket

Gift Idea: A cozy basket containing cocoa or tea, a book, puzzle, deck of cards, warm socks, or a soft blanket.

Why It Fits: Danish hygge is about creating a comfortable atmosphere and enjoying simple moments together, making it especially fitting during the Christmas season.

Make It Yourself: Put together a “Family Hygge Night” envelope with popcorn, a favorite game, and a promise to put the phones away for the evening.

20. Japan — Christmas Cake Kit

Gift Idea: A cake-decorating kit with baking supplies, decorations, and a plan to add fresh strawberries.

Why It Fits: Light sponge cakes decorated with whipped cream and strawberries have become a familiar part of modern Christmas celebrations in Japan.

Make It Yourself: Bake cupcakes or a small cake and give the recipient everything needed for a Christmas decorating afternoon.

21. Ireland — Window Candle

Gift Idea: A safe battery-operated candle or small window light.

Why It Fits: The Irish custom of placing a candle in the window has long been associated with welcome during the Christmas season.

Make It Yourself: Decorate a glass jar or paper lantern to place around a battery-operated tea light.

22. New Zealand — Pōhutukawa Ornament

Gift Idea: An ornament, bookmark, print, or other small item featuring the red-flowering pōhutukawa.

Why It Fits: The native pōhutukawa blooms around the Christmas season and has become known as New Zealand’s Christmas tree.

Make It Yourself: Create a red-and-green paper ornament with thin red strips radiating outward to resemble the tree’s bright flowers.

23. Puerto Rico — Parranda Music Kit

Gift Idea: A small percussion instrument or set of simple family instruments.

Why It Fits: Puerto Rican parrandas bring friends and relatives together for lively Christmas music, singing, and visits from house to house.

Make It Yourself: Create securely sealed shakers with dry rice or beans, decorate them for Christmas, and use them during your own mini family parranda.

Give the Story with the Gift

Whichever gift you choose, add a small card explaining its connection to the country that inspired it. You could write:

“This gift was inspired by a Christmas tradition from __________.”

Then add a sentence or two about the custom. Explain the Filipino parol, the Icelandic love of Christmas books, the Dutch chocolate letter, the Greek Christmas boat, or whichever tradition inspired your present.

The gift itself can be simple. Sharing the story behind it is what turns it into a little piece of Christmas Around the World.

Christmas Around the World Family Reading List

Books are a wonderful way to learn more about the countries and traditions we’ve explored. Some of the selections below are Christmas stories, while others introduce folklore, culture, or familiar holiday characters.

Use this list as a starting point for your next library visit or family reading night. Choose the countries that interest you most, or see how many you can discover over time.

1. Germany

The Legend of the Christmas Tree — Rick Osborne

A family-friendly story connected with the Christmas tree and its Christian symbolism. It pairs naturally with Germany’s long association with Christmas tree traditions.

2. Mexico

The Legend of the Poinsettia — Tomie dePaola

This beautifully illustrated picture book retells a Mexican legend about a young girl and the Christmas flower known as the poinsettia. It’s an excellent companion to Mexico’s Nochebuena traditions.

3. Sweden

Lucia Morning in Sweden — Ewa Rydåker

A children’s introduction to Sweden’s Saint Lucia celebration, including the clothing, foods, songs, and customs associated with December 13.

4. Italy

The Legend of Old Befana — Tomie dePaola

This classic picture book tells the story of La Befana, the mysterious old woman who became part of Italy’s Epiphany folklore.

5. Iceland

The Christmas Book Flood — Emily Kilgore

Inspired by Iceland’s Jólabókaflóð, or Christmas Book Flood, this story celebrates giving books and spending Christmas Eve reading.

6. Philippines

Paskong Pinoy: Filipino Christmas Traditions Picture Book — Bahay Katha Press

This picture book introduces families to Filipino Christmas traditions, including colorful parols, family gatherings, Simbang Gabi, and Noche Buena.

7. France

Madeline’s Christmas — Ludwig Bemelmans

Madeline and her friends bring a little Parisian fun to Christmas in this playful story set in France.

8. Australia

An Aussie Night Before Christmas — Yvonne Morrison

This humorous Australian version of a familiar Christmas poem replaces snowy Northern Hemisphere imagery with an unmistakably Australian celebration.

9. Poland

A Polish Christmas or Wigilia Story — Look for a Library Selection

Look for a children’s book about Wigilia, Poland’s Christmas Eve celebration. Books featuring the first star, opłatek, Christmas foods, or Polish family customs are especially good choices.

10. Finland

Santa Claus and His Elves — Mauri Kunnas

Finnish author and illustrator Mauri Kunnas creates a wonderfully detailed version of Santa’s world in Finnish Lapland.

11. United Kingdom

A Christmas Carol — Charles Dickens

This famous British Christmas story follows Ebenezer Scrooge through one unforgettable Christmas Eve. Families with younger children can choose one of the many illustrated or abridged editions.

12. Ukraine

The Spider’s Gift: A Ukrainian Christmas Story — Eric A. Kimmel

A family Christmas story inspired by Ukrainian spider folklore and the tradition of spider and web ornaments.

13. Norway

A Norwegian Christmas or Nisse Story — Look for a Library Selection

Look for a children’s story featuring Norwegian nisse, Yule traditions, or Scandinavian Christmas folklore.

14. Spain

The Story of the Three Wise Kings — Tomie dePaola

A family-friendly telling of the Three Kings story that connects naturally with Spain’s Día de los Reyes Magos celebrations.

15. Greece

Greek Christmas Stories and Folktales — Look for a Library Selection

Look for children’s stories featuring Saint Basil, Greek Christmas boats, or the mischievous kallikantzaroi of Christmas folklore.

16. Netherlands

The Legend of Saint Nicholas — Demi

This illustrated story introduces Saint Nicholas and provides useful background for understanding the Dutch Sinterklaas tradition.

17. Brazil

The Great Kapok Tree — Lynne Cherry

Although this isn’t a Christmas book, its Brazilian rainforest setting offers children another way to learn about the enormous and diverse country of Brazil.

18. Czechia

The Twelve Months — A Traditional Folktale

Look for a children’s retelling of The Twelve Months or a collection of Czech folktales. These stories are a good way to explore Czech and Central European storytelling beyond Christmas.

19. Denmark

The Fir Tree — Hans Christian Andersen

Danish author Hans Christian Andersen tells the story of a little fir tree that is always longing for what comes next. Its Christmas setting and message about appreciating the present make it especially fitting for December.

20. Japan

A Children’s Book About Japan — Look for a Library Selection

Christmas in Japan is largely a modern, secular celebration, so consider choosing a children’s book about everyday life, food, cities, festivals, or family life in Japan to learn more about the country behind the Christmas cakes and winter illuminations.

21. Ireland

Irish Christmas Stories and Folktales — Look for a Library Selection

Ireland has a rich storytelling tradition. Look for a family collection of Irish Christmas stories, legends, or folktales to learn more about the culture behind the customs we explored.

22. New Zealand

A Kiwi Jingle Bells — Yvonne Morrison

A playful New Zealand version of a familiar Christmas song filled with local animals, scenery, and Kiwi humor.

23. Puerto Rico

A Puerto Rican Three Kings Story — Look for a Library Selection

Look for a children’s book about Three Kings Day in Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican Christmas celebrations, or Puerto Rican folktales. Stories about Reyes are especially fitting after learning about children gathering grass for the Kings’ animals.

Keep Reading

You don’t need to find every book on this list. Start with a few countries your family especially enjoyed and see what your local library has available. Librarians can also help you find Christmas stories, folktales, and children’s books written by authors from the countries you’re exploring.

Over time, you may discover new favorites to bring out every December. Whether you read one book or twenty-three, each story is another chance to learn a little more about Christmas—and the world beyond your own front door.