I have so many fantastic Christmas memories from when I was a child. Some of the best ones were leaving out treats for Santa Claus and his reindeer on Christmas Eve. It was one of my favourite Christmas traditions as I LOVED Christmas and it was one of the last things we did before I went to bed. I couldn’t wait for Christmas day!
We used to leave Santa a mince pie and a glass of milk. We also left a carrot for Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer. There were even a few years when I also left letters to Santa!
I love the story of Father Christmas. I know some parents prefer not to lie to their children about it, but it made Christmas time so magical for me! When I found out The Truth, I never felt annoyed at my parents. I pretended in him to believe longer than I did because I thought they wouldn’t get me as many gifts! We’ve started telling my son about Santa this year and I hope that Christmas is just as magical for him as it was for me.
Every Christmas Eve, children all around the world leave Santa a Christmas treat. Have you ever wondered what Children in other countries leave out? Let’s take a look.
The Mince Pie
Mince pies are a classic British Christmas treat. They have been a central part of Christmas traditions in the United Kingdom for centuries. The filling, known as mincemeat, originally included a mixture of minced meat, suet, a range of fruits, and spices. Over time, the recipe has evolved, and today’s mince pies are predominantly sweet, filled with a mix of dried fruits and spices steeped in alcohol.
I never used to eat mince pies as I thought they were made out of mince meat when I was younger! But it’s just fruits and spices these days. Phew – the meat version does not sound good!
Leaving Treats for Santa Around The Globe
The tradition of leaving treats for Santa Claus can be traced back to the Great Depression era. Parents used this practice to teach their children the importance of showing gratitude for the gifts they would receive on Christmas morning. Over the years, this tradition has evolved to include a variety of foods and drinks. However, the mince pie remains a favourite treat for Santa in many households.
The British Tradition
In the United Kingdom, it is customary to leave a mince pie and a glass of sherry for Santa on Christmas Eve. The sherry is believed to warm Santa up, providing him with the energy he needs to continue his overnight journey on the long night. Some children also leave out a carrot for Santa’s reindeer, acknowledging the hard work they put into pulling Santa’s sleigh. However these days 63.4% give Santa milk instead of a glass of brandy or sherry.
The Irish Tradition
Crossing over to Ireland, children there replace the .glass of sherry with a pint of Guinness (of course!). The hearty beer is thought to be more filling and warming for Santa during his travels. The mince pie, however, remains a constant, underlining its popularity as a Christmas treat.
The American Way
In the United States, the tradition takes a different turn. Instead of mince pies, American children usually leave a plate of cookies and a glass of milk for Santa. The popular kind of cookie choices include chocolate chip and gingerbread. This tradition, although different, offers a sweet alternative to the mince pie.
The Australian Tradition
In Australia, where Christmas falls during the summer, Santa is treated to a cold glass of beer to help him cool down. Despite the heat, the tradition of leaving cookies for Santa is also followed here, showing that whether it’s a mince pie or cookies, sweet treats are Santa’s favourite.
The Danish Custom
Moving to Denmark, the focus shifts from Santa to the elves. Danish children leave out rice pudding for the elves, who are known as ‘nisser’ and are believed to live in the attic. The pudding, known as ‘risengrød’, is thought to keep the mischievous elves happy. However, Santa doesn’t miss out; he’s often left a mince pie to enjoy.
The Swedish Tradition
Swedish kids adopt a more practical approach by leaving a cup of coffee for Santa. This caffeine boost is thought to help Santa stay awake through his long journey during the night. While the mince pie may not be the star of the show in Sweden, it is often included as a side treat.
The Argentine Custom
In Argentina, children think more about Santa’s reindeer than Santa himself. They leave out hay and water for the reindeer, acknowledging the big role they play in pulling the heavy sleigh. While Santa may miss out on the mince pie here, we’re sure he appreciates the thoughtfulness towards his loyal companions.
What do you leave out for Santa?
As you can see, there’s a common theme all around the world of children leaving Christmas treats out for Santa. You don’t have to stick to the traditional items. You can make your own Christmas Eve tradition up. Leave Saint Nicholas a glass of wine and some Christmas pudding if you wish! So don’t forget to add some treats for Santa in your Christmas food delivery. How about some candy canes? Whatever you decide, it’s a great way to help your kids get excited for the holiday season!
I absolutely loved reading this! As an American, we always leave out cookies and milk – I loved learning about all of the other traditions around the world! Thank you for sharing this, I hope you are having a great holiday season! 🙂
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Fascinating read on what different countries leave for Santa on Christmas Eve! From milk and cookies in the US to mince pies in the UK, it’s heartwarming to see the global traditions.
Now this post has reminded me my daughter would put out oats (for the reindeer) mixed with sparkles (help see the oats).
If I was Santa, I would definitely appreciate the Swedish tradition of coffee and a mince pie! I love that there are so many different ways of doing this around the world. I don’t leave anything out anything for Santa (it’s just my husband and me), but if I did, I would do a mini panettone because I usually have one for Christmas Day breakfast!
I loved reading about the different traditions in different countries for what they leave out for Santa and the reindeer! I love Ireland’s tradition of leaving out a pint of Guinness! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
Wow… interesting! It’s cool to know what meals kids from different countries prepared for Santa. Thank you for the knowledge sharing.
Interesting and fun read. My parents always left fruit out for Santa. They also filled our stockings with the same fruit and nuts in the shell. My kids got candy.
I love that they leave hay and water for the reindeer in Argentina. It is thoughtful and practical. The Australian tradition of beer and cookies sounds like fun. Thanks for sharing.
Awesome post! I love learning about other cultures and traditions.
That’s so interesting!
The Reluctant Blogger | thereluctantblogger.co.uk
This is so interesting! I love that the Irish leave out a glass of Guiness. How stereotypical. And I love how different countries have focuses on not just Santa! Love stuff like this. I never knew alcohol was tradition, we’ve always left milk with the girls. We do milk, a mince pie and a carrot for Rudolph. Can’t wait!
Claire.X
http://www.clairemac.co.uk
Beer and coffee I love it LOL. Elves in the attic. And how nice to think of the reindeer.
Allie of
http://www.allienyc.com
This is so interesting! My sons dad is polish and I’ve never thought to ask this, but I will now x
How interesting that you share with us the different traditions of what is left for Santa at Christmas in different places around the world, some even think of reindeer, how cute!
do you know, I had no idea that different countries left out different things for the big man on Christmas Eve. This post was a pleasure to read and really made me chuckle.
Rosie
Poor Santa–all those mince pies! (I’m not a fan.) When I was young, we would leave out carrots for the reindeer, too.
Oh, the classic mince pie confusion – been there, done that! It’s funny how names can throw us off. Your journey through global Santa treats is a delightful read, especially the pint of Guinness in Ireland – what a twist! And speaking of delightful, ever checked out *edited out* for some quirky Christmas gifts? It’s like a treasure trove of unique finds! Happy holidays and here’s to festive traditions, whether it’s a mince pie in the UK or a plate of cookies in the US! ✨