4 Holiday Traditions From Around the World That Can Save You Money

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Even if you’re not traveling for the holidays, you can take lessons from around the world. Read on for new ways to celebrate that can cost you less. 

“Buy now!” “Biggest sale of the year!” “Spend! Spend! Spend!”

It’s become a tradition for Americans to go on a seemingly nonstop shopping spree once we leave Halloween behind. At least that’s how it can feel as we fa-la-la-la fall into the holiday season, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or something else, if you’re looking to create more meaningful moments with friends and family around the holidays — and give your bank account a bit of a break — consider adopting some of these traditions from around the world.

1. Jolabokaflod — Iceland

I learned about this one a few years ago, and it’s what kicked off my desire to incorporate new and thoughtful traditions in my own holiday celebrations. Roughly translated as “Christmas book flood,” jolabokaflod began during World War II in Iceland when residents, limited by wartime rations, gave more books as gifts. Presents are traditionally opened on Christmas Eve there, and Icelanders dive straight into their books after unwrapping, often while enjoying hot chocolate.

That sounds like just about the coziest thing I can think of, and a pleasant way to spend Christmas Eve with your book-loving family curled up on comfy couches around a fire. If you’d like to give jolabokaflod a try, head to your local bookstore and browse the shelves to find a book tailored to each of your family members’ interests, and buy some specialty chocolate bars to pair with them. Or make a big batch of cocoa from scratch on Christmas Eve to dole out while everyone opens presents. It will be a lot easier on your credit card than buying all the new tech gadgets on the market.

2. Beach barbecue — New Zealand

If you live in a climate that’s amenable to outdoor activities during the holidays (I miss you, California!), why not follow the Kiwis’ lead and take advantage? New Zealanders are heading into full summertime right now, and their holiday celebrations often reflect that.

Rather than roasting inside for a traditional American holiday meal, take the fun to the backyard, park, or beach and enjoy the good weather. You can use a grocery credit card to earn cash back on your food purchases and coordinate with loved ones so everyone contributes a favorite dish. You don’t have to create a pricey fancy meal to enjoy the day together.

3. La Ribote — Martinique

The French Caribbean island has a wonderful Christmas tradition that incorporates a lot of what the season is about — family, neighbors, good food, and good cheer. Residents in Martinique celebrate with La Ribote, in which people go from house to house in the morning, singing Christmas songs and sharing food with neighbors along the way. It sounds like a big, festive block party.

While you may not know all your neighbors that well, or may not feel like sharing your gift of song (or lack thereof), I love the idea of getting together with friends to share food and good cheer. Maybe you could pop by your friends’ homes with homemade treats and warm wishes on a holiday tour around town.

4. Osouji — Japan

New year, new you, as the saying goes. So what better way to get a fresh start in 2024 than to adopt Japan’s tradition of osouji and give your home a proper cleaning? Wait, come back! I know it doesn’t sound that fun to do a bunch of dusting in that twilight-zone week between Christmas and New Year’s, but let me see if I can convince you.

You probably just received a bunch of new belongings, like clothes, electronics, or random doodads, and maybe you’re not sure where to put all of them. Why not give your home a thorough decluttering to make room? It’s a great opportunity to give your possessions some attention and decide what’s really worth keeping. You can donate the gently-used items you no longer have use for, or you can list them for sale online to find them a new home.

This is also a great opportunity to give your personal finances a good clean-up. Why not look at your expenses for the previous year and set up a budget for 2024? Or go through your credit card statements to find places to cut back, like streaming services you don’t use or too many food delivery purchases.

Celebrate spending less

I’m all for spending money on meaningful things, and the holidays are definitely worth spending on. But take some time to see whether you need to spend so much, and consider adopting new traditions that can help you enjoy the holidays even more.

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