10 snacks children around the world leave for Santa (2024)

FAQs

What snack do kids leave out for Santa? ›

United States. Children in the United States bake cookies for Santa Claus and leave them out with a glass of milk on Christmas Eve. Some kids even leave carrots for Santa's reindeer. Some health-conscious families prefer to leave celery or a more low-calorie treat.

While milk and cookies are considered the norm in the US, around the world, kids are leaving Santa anything from beer to rice pudding. In Iceland, children believe that there are 13 completely different Santa-like figures who visit throughout December, which results in very different treats all month long.

Traditionally, snacks are left out for Father Christmas and his reindeer on Christmas Eve to help keep their strength up as they deliver all the presents to children around the world in one night. In the UK, we often leave out mince pies, a carrot for the reindeer and a little sherry to help Santa on his merry way.

The big man himself is most likely to be the recipient of a mince pie, which almost two thirds (64%) of 6-10 year olds leave out. The next most frequent forms of treat are a glass of milk (41%) and cookies (14%). Overall, nine in ten (91%) leave out some form of food, and two thirds (68%) some form of drink.

Many families have their own traditions as well, and some even leave out a non-alcoholic snack, especially milk. But the common thread is a short thimbleful of thick, gorgeous liquid, whether it is beer, fortified wine, or a single malt.

Japan. Christmas is considered a romantic holiday by the Japanese. Santa-san gets no particular treats, but if he's lucky he might get to sample some of the food and drink that the Japanese like to celebrate Christmas with – KFC and a special edition version of Pepsi that tastes of strawberry cake.

3. Children in Russia will also leave out goodies such as milk and cookies for grandfather Frost to feast on during his rounds.

On Christmas Eve, German children write handwritten letters to the Christkind, a gift-bearing angel that represents the Spirit of Christmas. On Christmas morning, the letters are gone and replaced with gifts.

Embracing the Warmth of Tradition

As the holiday season approaches, the story of Santa giving coal to naughty children takes on a renewed significance.

Now that you know Santa's favorite food is cookies, make him one !

What are you supposed to leave for Santa? ›

Although most people put out cookies and milk for Santa, some health-conscious families prefer to leave celery or a more low-calorie treat. Lucky reindeer will also get a carrot or two.

And many other countries have their own special treats to leave for Santa and whatever animal pulls his sleigh. Children in the United Kingdom leave the holiday-favorite mince pie, Swedish kids leave a special Christmas-time rice porridge, and in Germany, the gift is instead a letter to Santa.

Santa Claus, Daidí na Nollag (Daddy of Christmas), is known in Ireland as Santy or Santa. He brings presents to children in Ireland, which are opened on Christmas morning. It is traditional to leave a mince pie and a bottle / glass of Guinness for Santa along with a carrot for Rudolph.

There are slight variations in each family but Santa usually gets a glass of milk, beer or whisky and then biscuits to munch on. Rudolph and his pals are given the healthy option of carrots but the new trend of lighting their way with 'reindeer food' laced with glitter adds the taste of oats and magic into their diet.

Leaving cookies and milk out for Santa Claus—and perhaps a few carrots for his reindeer—on Christmas Eve is a popular practice among American children. But how did the tradition begin? There isn't a definitive event to trace this tradition back to.