It's a wonderful life

From bashing piñatas to banishing evil spirits with deep-fried doughballs, there's more to Christmas than turkey and stockings. Carla Passino goes around the world in 18 festive traditions

- Carla Passino

1 What a difference a small change can make. Once he had traded his original mitre, bishop's robes and grey steed for reindeer, a sleigh, a red suit and a snappier name, Father Christmas became the world's greatest festive export, just about pipping to the post Mariah Carey's All I want for Christmas is you. However, across much of northern Europe, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland and Hungary, good old St Nicholas still fills stockings with nuts and tangerines on his name day, December 6, rather than at Christmas. And, at least in parts of Switzerland, if you have been lazy or naughty, 'he takes you away in a big black bag,' says Lisi Ashbridge, who lives in Marlborough, Wiltshire, but is originally Swiss. Terrifying, really.'

2 As an alternative to a large whitebearded man that comes at Christmas, how about a lot of little white-bearded men that come at Christmas? In Sweden, tomte, as adorable as they are mischievous, appear everywhere, from curtains and tables to counters, walls and windowsills, and family members often wear tomte costumes. Dressed up or not, Swedes also eat copious amounts of ham during the festive season-served alone, with cheese, with meatballs and, in the ultimate porkfest, with sausages.