Christmas abroad as an international student: Part 1

Christmas in the UK is all about cosy traditions, glowing streets, delicious food and a whole lot of festive spirit. From twinkling city lights to bustling markets and office Christmas parties, December in Britain feels like stepping straight into a holiday movie.  

✨The festive build-up 

December kicks off with fairy lights everywhere, be it homes, pubs, streets, or the shopping districts. Families put up trees early (and take them down before 6 January for good luck!). Meanwhile, supermarkets launch their iconic Christmas adverts and workplaces dive into parties, client catch-ups, and year-end celebrations.  

🛍️Shopping season & boxing day rush 

Gift shopping begins weeks before Christmas, and high streets buzz with crowds picking up presents, decorations, and festive treats. Christmas Eve sees the famous last-minute dash for forgotten gifts. The next day (26 Dec) is Boxing Day, a national holiday famous for massive sales, early queues and all-out shopping frenzy—a retail marathon. 

🎄Classic Christmas traditions

 A British Christmas blends old customs with modern fun: 

• Carol singing in churches, streets and at community events. 

• Midnight Mass in Catholic churches on Christmas Eve. 

• Christmas crackers at the dinner table, complete with paper hats and cheesy jokes. 

• Pantomimes (“pantos”): funny family theatre shows only performed during Christmas. 

• Mistletoe hung above doorways. 

• Secret Santa gift exchange among colleagues and friends. 

• Christmas movies and hot chocolate for the perfect cosy night. 

• Pub crawls, especially on Christmas Eve. 

🍽️Food: The real star  

The classic Christmas meal features roast turkey, potatoes, Brussels sprouts, pigs in blankets*, Yorkshire puddings, rich gravy, and seasonal veggies. Dessert means Christmas pudding, mince pies and tubs of chocolates like Quality Street — a holiday must-have. And of course, many Brits toast the day with a glass of Buck’s Fizz, the ultimate festive brunch drink made of sparkling wine and orange juice. Families also pull Christmas crackers, wear colourful paper crowns, and exchange jokes before the meal begins. 
(* small sausages wrapped in crispy bacon) 

🎡Winter fun across the UK 

London shines with ice skating rinks, Oxford Street lights, iconic window displays, and the Trafalgar Square tree. Edinburgh and other cities host lively Christmas markets, pantos, winter festivals and mulled-wine nights, while National Trust sites offer magical light trails and family events at their historic properties and parks. 

📺 The royal Christmas message 

Every Christmas Day, families pause to watch the King’s annual broadcast — a tradition since 1932 where the monarch reflects on the year and brings the nation together. 

👩‍🎓International Students: How to celebrate like a local 

• Join local Christmas light switch-on events. 

• Visit Christmas markets for festive food, gifts, and live music. 

• Try mince pies, Christmas pudding, and other festive treats. 

• Attend a carol service or Christmas concert at a nearby church or university. 

• Take part in Secret Santa gift exchanges with friends or flatmates. 

• Wear festive jumpers for uni events or Christmas Jumper Day. 

• Walk through decorated streets and light trails. 

• Watch classic British Christmas films or TV specials. 

• Volunteer at community or charity events. 

• Enjoy Boxing Day sales for great deals. 

Christmas in Australia is the ultimate twist on tradition. Forget snow and fireplaces. Here it’s all about beaches, BBQs, and long summer days spent outdoors. Here’s what the festive season really looks like (and how to blend right in). 

🌟Christmas Eve: Carols under the stars 

Australians start the celebrations with Carols by Candlelight, outdoor concerts filled with live music, glow sticks, and picnic blankets. Cities like Melbourne and Sydney host massive, televised events, while smaller towns run their own cosy versions. 

🏖️Christmas Day: Beaches, BBQs & Pavlova 

Wake up on Christmas morning and you’ll probably be heading straight to the beach. Expect swimming, sunbathing, beach cricket, and maybe even spotting a surfing Santa. Food takes a summery spin: 

• Seafood platters (prawns, oysters, fish). 

• BBQs with ham, sausages, and salads. 

• Salads and fresh fruit, especially mangoes. 

• Pavlova, the star dessert, topped with cream and berries. 

• Cold drinks (sparkling wine, champagne, beer, cider and fruit punch). 

It’s festive, light, and perfect for hot weather. 

🏏Boxing Day: Cricket, yacht races & leftovers 

On 26 December, things stay festive: 

• The Boxing Day Test Match takes over TV screens. 

• The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race kicks off. 

• Families and mates gather for lazy BBQs and summer hangouts. 

🎁Christmas shopping: A big deal Down Under 

Aussies take their festive shopping seriously, especially the Boxing Day sales, which are some of the biggest in the world. Expect massive discounts on fashion, tech, homeware, and more. You’ll also find: 

• Festive markets like The Rocks (Sydney) and Queen Victoria Market (Melbourne). 

• Pop-up holiday stalls selling handmade gifts and locally crafted goodies. 

• Iconic mall displays (the Queen Victoria Building Christmas tree in Sydney is a. must-see). 

🎆Special events across Australian cities 

Every city adds its own sparkle: 

• Sydney: Carols in the Domain, light displays in the CBD, pop-up beach events. 

• Melbourne: Carols by Candlelight, outdoor cinemas, Federation Square decorations, the Myer Christmas Windows in Bourke Street Mall. 

• Brisbane: River stage concerts, South Bank markets, fireworks. 

• Adelaide & Perth: Christmas Pageants, live music, night markets. 

🎅Very Aussie traditions you’ll notice 

• Surfing Santa: Sunglasses, shorts, surfboard. Enough said. 

• Street parties: Quiet neighbourhoods often turn into mini festivals. 

• Outdoor movies: Cities screen Christmas classics under the open sky. 

• Festive décor with native animals: Expect koalas, kangaroos, and wombats in Santa hats. 

Even workplaces get into the spirit with Kris Kringle gift exchanges, office BBQs, and festive shirt Fridays. 

🌏International students: How to celebrate like a local 

• Head to the beach with friends for a classic Aussie Christmas Day in the sun. 

• Join a backyard or balcony BBQ if you get an invite—it’s peak Aussie culture. 

• Attend free Carols by Candlelight events hosted in parks, campuses, or city squares. 

• Try traditional festive foods like prawns, pavlova, mangoes, and BBQ meats. 

• Explore city Christmas trails—light displays, outdoor movies, night markets, and concerts. 

• Join a fun and budget-friendly Secret Santa (Kris Kringle) exchange with classmates or roommates. 

Christmas in Ireland isn’t just a holiday, it’s a full-on season of food, fun, music and pure Irish charm. From midnight masses to icy swims, tractor parades to candlelit windows, Ireland blends ancient customs with modern celebrations like nowhere else.  

📅Key Christmas days in Ireland 

• Christmas Eve (24 December): A massive homecoming day. Families gather, pubs bustle (then close early), and many people attend the ever-popular midnight mass. 

• Christmas Day (25 December): Feasting, gifting, singing — plus some wild traditions like charity swims in freezing seas. 

• St Stephen’s Day (26 December): Known as Boxing Day in Northern Ireland/UK. Here, it’s a relaxing day for walks, horse racing…and the famous Wren Boys in places like Dingle, who dress in colourful costumes and parade through the streets singing and dancing as part of an old Irish tradition. 

• Nollaig na mBan (Women’s Christmas) (6 January): Women rest; men do the chores. And decorations finally come down. 

❄️Christmas day highlights 

Christmas swims, tractor parades, charity runs, fireside gatherings and endless hot whiskey. 

🍛What’s on the table? 

Ireland LOVES Christmas food — and plenty of it. 
Think turkey dinners, ham, stuffing, mince pies, Christmas cake… and then sandwiches an hour later “just in case.” 
Regional staples include: 
• Spiced beef (a Cork classic) 
• Irish smoked salmon 
• Soda bread and artisan cheeses 
• Hot Irish whiskey or Baileys coffee 
• Craft ales and porters 

🛒Christmas shopping, Irish style 

Retail therapy peaks early here. December 8 (Feast of the Immaculate Conception) was once Ireland’s unofficial “Black Friday.”  

Think charming Christmas markets (Belfast, Galway, Cork, Waterford), sparkling Grafton Street lights, handmade Irish crafts and plenty of mulled wine and live music. 

🎉Big traditions you shouldn’t miss 

• Midnight Mass — more social than solemn. 
• The Christmas swim — madness but iconic. 
• Carol singing and charity busking. 
• Wren Boys processions in Dingle. 
• Horse racing on St Stephen’s Day. 
• Pantomimes in Dublin. 
• Christmas markets across the country. 
• Boxes of “good biscuits” — and fights over who opens the next layer! 

💚Where to feel the magic?  

Dingle for Wren Boys, traditional pubs and unmatched atmosphere. 
Galway for markets, music and magic. 
Cork City for spiced beef heaven. 
Dublin for iconic swims, markets, and legendary pubs. 

✔️International students: How to celebrate like a local 

• Say “Nollaig Shona Duit!” (Happy Christmas to you!) 

• Visit Christmas markets in Dublin, Galway, and Cork for festive food and gifts. 

• Join the crowd at the Grafton Street Christmas lights. 

• Experience the iconic Dublin Castle Christmas Festival with music, stalls, and seasonal treats. 

• Try a traditional Irish Christmas dinner. 

• Attend a carol service at St Patrick’s Cathedral or Christ Church. 

• Take scenic winter walks along the Cliffs of Moher or around Phoenix Park. 

• Enjoy cosy pub evenings with live Irish music and festive specials. 

• Take part in Secret Santa or potluck celebrations with friends or classmates. 

Learn about the local traditions and practices and soak up the festive magic if you’re studying in the UK, Australia, or Ireland. Stay tuned for Part 2 of this series, where we’ll explore how the US, Canada, and New Zealand celebrate the festive season — along with more tips to help you blend in, have fun, and make the most of Christmas abroad.