Global Holiday Traditions from Interpro’s International Team

At Interpro, we spend every day helping organizations communicate across languages and cultures. But the heart of localization isn’t software, workflows, or linguistic rules. It’s people. It’s real traditions, real families, and the deeply human ways we all celebrate the end of the year.

So this season, instead of sharing How to Say Merry Christmas in 30 Languages, we decided to show you through our own team’s stories. From Chile to China, Romania to Quebec, Boston to Marco Island, our employees shared the traditions that shape their holidays. These stories remind us why cultural nuance isn’t optional. It’s essential to understand how people experience meaning, and the foundation of good localization.

An Italian Family’s Simple, Stress-Free Christmas

A tradition provided by Interpro teammate Arianna Martin.

“On Christmas morning, our house slips into a rhythm that feels simple, cozy, and perfect. We gather around the tree, still a little sleepy, and open our presents while the fireplace glows in the background, no matter how warm it is outside in South Carolina. The real treat comes right after. I make our traditional hot cocoa piled high with whipped cream and serve it with the same cookies I buy every year. They are our unofficial Christmas brand, and I look forward to them as much as the gifts. It is not the healthiest way to start the day, but it is fun, and it is ours. Our celebration stays quiet and easy because that is exactly how we like it, and we keep the stress far away from our holiday morning.”

Arianna and her children celebrating the holidays.

Midwest Family Christmas Cookie Decorating

A tradition provided by Interpro teammate Eleanore Eye.

“One of my favorite holiday traditions from my childhood that I’ve shared with my family is decorating cookies on Christmas Eve.

There’s something magical about putting on your Christmas pajamas or fluffy robe, gathering around the kitchen table, and imagining what Santa might bring while you decorate. In my family, we take out all the sprinkles (every shape, color, and Christmas theme you can think of) and make a custom cookie for each person.

Every cookie ends up looking different because each one is made with someone specific in mind, and the personal touch from a loved one is what makes the whole night feel special (even if you’re pretty sure your kid got their bodily fluid in your cookie). After we finish, we gift our cookies to each other, enjoy a sweet treat, and, of course, leave a few out for Santa. It’s simple, cozy, and one of my favorites of the holiday season.”

Cookies that Eleanore and her Family Decorated as part of their Christmas Tradition

Carla’s Recipe for Cola de Mono (Monkey Tail) from Chile

A tradition provided by Interpro teammate Carla Salles.

“I wanted to share a recipe called Cola de Mono (Monkey Tail). In Chile, this drink is part of the season in a way that feels automatic and comforting. My family prepares it every year for Christmas and New Year gatherings. The smell of coffee, cloves, and cinnamon filling the kitchen tells us the celebrations have officially begun.

Cola de Mono connects us across generations. I grew up watching my parents make it for guests. Now I make it for my own friends and family. It always brings laughter to the table and signals that we can slow down, enjoy each other’s company, and soak in the warmth of the season.

Sharing this recipe felt natural because it is a small window into how we celebrate at home. It carries the tastes and memories that remind me of Chile during the holidays, and I wanted to pass that feeling along to the team.”

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup of water
• 5 whole cloves
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 sticks of cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons of coffee
• ¾ cup of sugar
• 1½ liters of milk
• 1½ cups of aguardiente (or any strong liquor)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

PREPARATION:

• In a small pot, boil the water together with the whole cloves, ground nutmeg, and cinnamon sticks for 10 minutes. Then remove the cloves and cinnamon from the water.
• Add the coffee and sugar, making sure it dissolves completely. Gradually incorporate the milk while stirring with a spoon, add the vanilla extract, and keep stirring. Then turn off the heat, add the aguardiente, and mix well.
• Store the mixture in the refrigerator. Serve well chilled.

A picture of Cola De Mono, a drink from Carla’s culture that they have during the holidays.

‘Tis the Global Season for Beer

A tradition provided by Interpro teammate Dean Haman.

‘Tis the season for some holiday cheer (and holiday beer). Holiday drinks are a classic tradition around the globe. From spiced ales that evoke the festive spirit to rich, dark stouts that provide solace from the chill, winter beers are a great way to celebrate the holidays.

With my German heritage in mind, I like to start with a traditional lager beer. Sam Adam’s has a smooth drinking Winter Lager that is a solid first light and crisp first choice. This year, at an event in Milwaukee, David Benigni and I tried an Amber beer from Lakefront Brewery in Milwaukee that was very good.

IPAs, often known to have bold and robust hop flavors, add an interesting twist to a holiday beer. Its hoppy profile can bring a taste of citrus and pine flavors, making it a popular choice for those seeking a bitter edge. Another Christmas tradition IPA for those who prefer hops over spices would be Sierra Nevada Celebration IPA.

If you prefer dark ale, you can try St. Bernardus Christmas Ale: A classic, rich, and warming Belgian-style.

A festive winter warm brew with honey, ginger, and cinnamon is Great Lakes Christmas Ale.

A traditional Scotch ale would be Bell’s Christmas Ale.

Another traditional holiday brew that has been around for many years is Anchor Christmas Ale.

Some local craft breweries also offer some nice holiday choices. Lakefront Brewery has a special Holiday Spice Lager. Solemn Oath has a Bourbon Barrel-Aged Dark Abbey Ale. Pollyanna also offers a barrel-aged beer, as well as a Golden Ale (The Lemonty) and a dark Porter (Eleanor) that are worth a try.

I hope you enjoy the holiday season, and why not try a new holiday beer? Let me know if you discover one that you like… Cheers!”

Dean and the Interpro team at the Annual Holiday Showcase, proud of their traditionally ugly holiday sweaters.

Christmas Tree Hunting: A Tradition of Northern European Cultures

A tradition provided by Interpro teammate Erich Fang.

“While the tradition of the Christmas tree was first popularized in Northern Europe, it has traveled around the world, adopted by countless people who simply want to enjoy the universal festivities of the holidays. On the day after Thanksgiving, my family drives an hour and a half to find, cut down, and bring home our yearly Christmas tree.  We’ll usually take our annual Christmas card photo too!”

Erich and his family’s annual Christmas card photo after picking out their Christmas tree.

Christmas in Chile

A tradition provided by Interpro teammate Javiera Gonzalez.

“As the holiday season arrives, many families gather around tables filled with what we call papas duquesas. They are known in English as duchess potatoes. The recipe traces back to the French dish called pommes duchesse. Alongside these golden bites, a roasted turkey often takes center stage, although not every home follows that tradition. Some families choose meat or chicken instead. The rest of the meal is shaped by family taste. Different salads appear, plus a mix of desserts that change from one household to another.

In my family, the moment that always feels special comes from my mom’s stuffing. She prepares it with walnuts, apples, and dehydrated plums. She grinds everything together until the flavors blend into something warm and familiar. She fills the turkey with it, and she also makes a separate dish so no one misses out.”

Holiday Tradition Wrapped in Tamales

A tradition provided by Interpro teammate Jolie Parker.

“Around the holidays, my small family goes on the road. If the mountain pass is clear, we will spend Thanksgiving in Central Washington. We visit family, and then bring home leftover turkey to put in tamales. The tamales are frozen, then we take them out and cook them up for Christmas! I have been asked for my recipe before, and the thing with my tamales is… I have no recipe. I make them from scratch, tasting and adjusting the masa as I go until I achieve the flavor I want.

If I had to share my best tips to make the best tamales, Lard. Don’t shy away from the lard. And use chicken broth instead of water!”

Jolie’s Christmas tree: just the right size for a family of three!

A Chinese Tradition: Spring Festival Prep

A tradition provided by Interpro teammate Lei Meng.

“In my family, we don’t have major traditional holidays at the end of the year. The major Chinese holiday Chinese New Year, and usually falls in late January or February.

However, around this time, we start preparing for the upcoming Spring Festival, such as:

• cleaning the house to “sweep away bad luck”,
• buying red decorations,
• and planning dishes for the reunion dinner.

Preparing for the Spring Festival is a time to reflect on the year and look forward to a fresh start filled with luck and happiness. It also marks the beginning of the festive season in China, similar to how Thanksgiving signals the start of the holiday season here in the U.S.”

A Spanish Tradition: Three Kings Day

A tradition provided by Interpro teammate Maria Fagrelius.

“We celebrate Día de Reyes (Three Kings Day) on January 6th, so our Christmas tree and decorations stay up until the 7th. This day marks the arrival of the Three Wise Men, Melchor, Gaspar y Baltasar, who brought gifts to baby Jesus. In many Spanish-speaking countries, it’s a magical holiday where kids wake up to presents, and I keep the tradition alive with my family here too. Our favorite part? We put our shoes outside to receive some presents and leave treats and water for the camels, because those poor guys have a long journey! 🐪

In Spain, families enjoy a delicious pastry called Roscón de Reyes, a sweet bread topped with fruits and filled with cream. Hidden inside are a tiny figurine and a bean: find the figurine and you’re “king” for the day; find the bean and… you’re buying next roscón! I usually hunt one down at our local Mexican pastry shop to keep the tradition going…and somehow, I’m always the one who ends up buying it!”

Roscón de Reyes, a dish Maria and her family enjoy each year that keeps them connected to their culture.

Romanian Cabbage Rolls

A tradition provided by Interpro teammate Mirela Savulescu.

“When the holidays arrive, I always find myself drifting back to the kitchen where so many of my family memories live. In Romania, this season feels complete only when a pot of sarmale is slowly bubbling away, filling the entire home with that rich, savory aroma I have known since childhood. If you are curious, here is the recipe for the most traditional Romanian dish, cabbage rolls.

I grew up watching my family gather around the table to roll each leaf with care, talking, laughing, telling stories that seemed to stretch across generations. That is why this dish means so much to me during the holidays. It reminds me of cold nights warmed by company, of traditions passed down quietly and lovingly, of the feeling that no matter how far life takes me, a simple plate of sarmale can bring me home again.”

Italian Christmas Traditions with the Strozza’s

A tradition provided by Interpro Consigliere Ralph Strozza.

“As with most Italian households, Christmas Eve traditions at the Strozza house revolve mostly around food, family, and presents.

On Christmas Eve, it’s all about the fish, and there should be seven of them according to Italian-American tradition. At our house, the seven are: mussels, clams, shrimp, scallops, lobster, oysters, and caviar. This custom evolved from the Southern Italian tradition of abstaining from meat on Christmas Eve.

The pasta is always linguini with a red sauce in which the lobsters are cooked.

After the fish and the pasta come the fruit and the nuts, which always include roasted chestnuts. Raw fennel is also served, as that helps digest the food and wine that was abundantly consumed.

Dessert consists of 6 different homemade cookies, the recipes for which date back (at least) to my grandmother. There will also be homemade torrone, a pannetone, or a pandoro on hand, and Italian Baci chocolates. Various liqueurs accompany the sweet end of our dinner.

After dessert is done and the table is cleared, we move to the family room to open presents. Of course, the grandchildren only open the presents from Nonna and Grandpa. They come back the next morning to open their presents that Santa dropped off. The chewed-up apples outside attest to the snack provided to Santa’s reindeer, and the sooty floor around the fireplace to his climb down the chimney.

At midnight, we all gather around the presepe (the Nativity scenes we set up in the living room and the dining room), place the baby Jesus in his cradle, and say our Christmas prayers. Unlike Americans, who already have baby Jesus in his cradle when they set up their Nativity displays, Italians are adamant about laying him down only after he is born.”

Left: Ralph and his family having Christmas dinner. Right: Payton #34 in the Christmas spirit.

A Québécois-American Holiday Feast

A tradition provided by Interpro teammate Valerie Lagueux.

“In our house, holiday feast traditions are more like seasonal experiments. I’m American, my husband’s Québécois, and every year is a new cultural mashup. I take the reins for Thanksgiving, which usually consists of American classics, turkey, casseroles, the whole spread, and by December, I’m officially cooked out. That’s when my husband steps in with his nostalgic Québécois dishes.

Depending on what he’s craving from back home, our Christmas or New Year’s table might feature:

Poutine: Quebec’s iconic comfort food, fries, squeaky cheese curds, and hot brown gravy. (My husband has a strange old-timey process for making his fries nice and crispy; he lets them dry out in a pillowcase for 24 hours before frying, surprisingly, it works!)

Classic Canadian poutine, a staple in Valeries Holiday Celerations

Tourtière: A spiced meat pie, usually made with pork or veal.

Cipâte (or “six-pâtes”): A layered meat pie with various meats and potatoes, the name means “six doughs.”

Pain sandwich: A retro party dish made by layering sandwich fillings (ham salad, egg salad, chicken salad) between long slices of bread, then frosting the whole loaf with cream cheese,  like a savory cake.

Tarte au sucre: A rich sugar pie made with brown sugar and cream.

Bûche de Noël: Yule log cake,  more commonly served for New Year’s in Quebec than Christmas.

A holiday-themed Yule log cake (Bûche de Noël), another dish Valerie and her Family enjoys during the Holidays.

Pouding chômeur: “Unemployed man’s pudding,” a Depression-era dessert where syrup is poured over cake batter before baking.

And of course, la dinde de Noël,  the Christmas turkey, is a staple on December 25th in many Québécois homes. Drinks can range depending upon tastes, but it’s usually wine or beer. Chips? All Dressed Ruffles, naturally. One year, we even gave Thanksgiving a Québécois twist and swapped out turkey for fondue chinoise, their take on Chinese hot pot!

Some ingredients are hard to find in the U.S., so we’ve resorted to special orders, high tariffs, and the occasional border smuggling after visiting his family. But we make do.

We’ve celebrated the holidays together in New York, Texas, Illinois (where I grew up and where we now live), Quebec, and this year, southern California. Our blended North American family doesn’t cling to fixed traditions; we build them as we go, one dish, one destination, one shared moment at a time. And that’s just how we like it!”

A Christmas Eve Feast Rooted in Swedish Heritage and Minnesota Comfort

A tradition provided by Interpro teammate Stephanie Felt.

“As a kid, I always looked forward to Christmas Eve. My Dad’s side is predominantly Swedish, and we would celebrate this heritage by eating mainly Swedish foods on this night. For dinner on Christmas Eve, there was always Swedish potato sausage, Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes, lefse, lingonberry jam, pickled herring (I despised this as a child, but love it now), and other various types of Swedish cookies. Additionally, because we live in Minnesota, various wild rice dishes are quite popular year-round, but especially during the cold seasons. My Mom would make a delicious wild rice casserole with bacon and veggies that was the perfect side dish. PS – Wild Rice is called “manoomin” in Anishinaabemowin (the Ojibwe language, one of the native tribes of Minnesota). Happy Holidays!”

A Very East-Coast Holiday Season in Boston

A tradition provided by Interpro teammate Landon Amaral.

“Every year, our family kicks off the holiday season with a festive Thanksgiving celebration, which is typically hosted at our house in Massachusetts. All the Thanksgiving staples are present on the table, and all the football you can handle on the TV. As in most homes on Thanksgiving, even if you’re not from Detroit, you’re a Lions fan for a few hours.

Then, the day after Christmas, we head into Boston for a beautiful two-night getaway. It’s become a family tradition over the last 5 years where we catch a musical or Christmas show, enjoy a Celtics or Bruins game, and wander through Snowport, a beautiful holiday market nestled in the stunning Boston Seaport. It’s something we look forward to every year, and as each holiday passes, new memories are made.”

Landon’s sons in Boston celebrating the Holidays.

Fleeing the Cold for South Florida

A tradition provided by Interpro teammate David Benigni.

“During the holidays, our family leaves the December cold of Illinois behind and settles into the sun and sand of Marco Island, Florida. It is our chance to slow down, eat good food, have even better drinks, and fully embrace a pace of life that feels completely different from the rest of the year.

On Christmas Day, we keep things simple. We open presents from whoever we picked for our family’s Secret Santa, and then head right back to relaxing by the water. It’s a tradition that brings us closer every year.”

David’s Dog, Tank, in front of the Christmas Tree.

Holiday Magic with the Strozza Girls

A tradition provided by Interpro CEO Nicholas Strozza.

“Our Christmas season officially kicks off with an annual tradition that is a hallmark of our year: visiting Sonny Acres Christmas tree farm in West Chicago. This spot is special, as it’s near where Julie and I spent our lives before having kids. We always find a beautiful, Balsam Fir Christmas tree, enjoy picking out festive wreaths, and love seeing the girls and our Jack Russell Winston take pictures with Santa!

​It’s so special to celebrate Christmas with our daughters! We go above and beyond to create magic on Christmas. Christmas Eve involves celebrating with the Feast of the Seven Fishes, then having Isabelle (and soon Sophia) write her annual letter to Santa before bed, setting out a special plate for St. Nick.  On Christmas morning, we make sure there are Santa footprints in the morning while we open presents. We leave out chewed carrots to show that Santa’s reindeer arrived, and eat half an apple to signify Rudolph visited!”

Nick, his Wife, Isabelle, and Winston Christmas tree shopping at Sonny Acre’s.

Culture Brings Us Together, and Localization Helps Us Share Those Stories Across Every Culture

Holiday traditions are one of the clearest reminders that the world is connected through both shared rituals and unique differences. At Interpro, those differences aren’t barriers. They’re the foundation of our work. Every dish, story, and family tradition from our team is a living example of what we help our clients achieve: communication that respects people, reflects culture, and reaches audiences with authenticity.

If your organization is ready to build meaningful multilingual experiences rooted in cultural understanding, Interpro is here to help.