A variety of customs make Christmas a worthy occasion in Belgium. On December 6th, a second Santa Claus, Sinterklaas, also known as Saint Nicholas, travels from Spain to kick off the occasion. In exchange for the goodies that the Belgian kids set out in their shoes for Sinterklaas and his elf, they get speculoos, chocolate figurines, and gifts. Markets, adorned with fairy lights and manned by wooden stalls offering handcrafted foods, are common in the days leading up to Christmas in Belgium. A family dinner and gift-opening ceremony take place on Christmas Eve, and on Christmas Day, which is a more solemn event, people attend mass and meet with their families. A chocolate Christmas log is a stacked sponge roll covered in cream in the country.
Christmas Traditions in Belgium
Since Belgium is an amalgamation of German, French, and Dutch groups, the Christmas traditions differ from one part of the country to another and from one linguistic group to another.
Three Different Merry Christmases
- French: Joyeux Noël
- German: Frohe Weihnachten
- Dutch/Flemish: Vrolijk Kerstfeest
Many regional and linguistic varieties of “Merry Christmas” are used in Belgium. This is due to the country’s linguistic variety, which includes Walloon, Dutch/Flemish, French, and German, which are 59% for Dutch or Flemish, 40% for French, and 1% for German when it comes to their ratios to the population.
Two Santa Clauses
Sinterklaas: On December 6th, St. Nicholas’s Day, the Dutch-speaking population of Belgium “worships” Sinterklaas as the main character responsible for delivering gifts. Wearing the customary robes of a bishop, Sinterklaas is an old guy with white hair and a lengthy beard. Zwarte Piet (Black Peter), his sidekick, is always by his side while he travels.
Santa Claus: On Christmas Day, December 25th, the French-speaking population of Belgium celebrates the arrival of Pere Noel, also known as Santa Claus, who distributes the gifts. Like Santa Claus, Pere Noel rides a reindeer and wears a red outfit.
The King’s Game
Belgian Christians celebrate Christmas Eve with midnight mass; however, it is sometimes held earlier in the evening so that children can participate in the nativity play. The King’s Game with Epiphany is a Belgian tradition that involves baking a cake with a bean inside. For a day, whoever gets their hands on the bean-topped cake gets to rule the world. The person who was fortunate enough to find the bean got to wear a paper crown and be the party host. An artwork by Jan Steen portrays this ceremony.
Christmas Markets
In Belgium, you may find a variety of items and holiday delicacies in Christmas markets. They run from the end of November all the way until the new year, with a few continuing into the early weeks of January. Attractions like ice skating and Ferris wheels are available at these marketplaces. Belgian waffles, chocolate, mulled wine, and other regional stuff are available to attendees. Many of the stalls in those markets sell one-of-a-kind handmade products.
Saint Nicholas Day
The country celebrates Saint Nicholas Day, often called the Feast of Saint Nicholas, on December 6th. On the evening of December 5th, children will leave a shoe in their living room and for Saint Nicholas’ horse, they will also place a carrot or turnip. Speculoos, chocolate Sint figurines, chocolate coins, marzipan, tangerines, and gifts await them the next morning, assuming they have been nice all year. This is an extensive Christmas festivity for the whole of Belgium.
Holiday Delights
The Yule Log, a classic Belgian dessert, is served after a festive supper of seafood, roast stuffed turkey or another game, and other traditional dishes enjoyed by families. Tangerines, gingerbread, and chocolate are the typical dishes that are linked to Sinterklaas.
Christmas Cuisine in Belgium
Some of the most famous and beloved Belgian Christmas dishes are as follows:
- Roast Stuffed Turkey: As a main dish, a typical Belgian Christmas supper would contain roast stuffed turkey or another animal, such as a partridge, boar, or deer.
- Seafood: Especially in the Walloon area, seafood is a popular main course option.
- Potato Croquettes: Side dishes like potato croquettes are standard fare while dining on a main entrée.
- Yule Log: A classic Belgian Christmas treat is the Yule Log, a log-shaped sponge roll adorned with chocolate buttercream (see also Tio de Nadal: A Christmas Log That Poops Gifts).
- Christmas Cookies: There are varieties of Christmas cookies, which are nonetheless a hit throughout the season.
- Cougnou: As a sign of the birth of Jesus, the southern Belgians celebrate Christmas with a sweet bread called cougnou or cougnolle, which is made in the form of a baby (yikes!).
Places to Visit in Belgium at Christmas
Brussels
Known for its Christmas markets and ambiance, Brussels becomes a popular visit during the holiday season, and one of the best places to feel the holiday spirit is at Grand Place, the town plaza. This is a famous square, 360 feet in length and 223 feet in width.
Bruges
With its canals and medieval streets decorated in holiday lights and decorations, Bruges is another city to visit around Christmas, which has one of the biggest Christmas markets in the country where wooden chalet-style stalls sell handmade gifts.
Ghent
With its stunning architecture and medieval city center, Ghent provides a one-of-a-kind festive experience and is home to a prominent Christmas market. On Christmas Eve 1814, the United States and Britain officially concluded their War of 1812 with the Treaty of Ghent.
Liege
The Foire de Liège, Belgium’s oldest kermesse, takes place annually from October 28th in Liege and is one of the largest and oldest Christmas markets in the country.
Leuven
Another city that comes alive during the holidays is Leuven, which hosts a plethora of Christmas markets and other festive events, and the city only has a modest population of 102,000.
Antwerp
With a population of 536,000, it is the most populous municipality in Belgium and therefore, guests enjoy an array of festive activities and sights in Antwerp, including a huge Christmas market.
Origin of Christmas in Belgium
The precise year when Christmas was first observed in Belgium is not known. Nonetheless, Christmas celebrations have been established in Europe since the Middle Ages, and it is most probable that Belgium, a country with a strong Christian past, started celebrating Christmas around the same time.
