Christmas worldwide is a tapestry of fascinating and unique traditions that go way beyond the familiar advent calendars and Santa Claus. Here’s a glimpse into 12 weird but wonderfully fun Christmas customs from different corners of the globe:
- Japan: KFC for Christmas dinner? In Japan, it’s a thing! Tiny ovens and a clever marketing campaign have made fried chicken the festive meal of choice. Colonel Sanders even dresses up in Santa outfits, and you have to book your chicken in advance!
- Norway: Norwegians take no chances with witches on Christmas Eve. They hide their brooms to prevent them from being stolen by mischievous spirits. Imagine waking up to a broken broom courtesy of a joyriding witch!
- Venezuela: Caracas turns into a rollerblading frenzy during the festive season. Roads are closed early morning to allow people to skate to church for the Misa de Aguinaldo. Talk about rolling into Christmas!
- Austria: Here comes Krampus, the Christmas demon of Austria. He’s the scary counterpart to St. Nicholas, roaming the streets to punish naughty children. A bit of a festive fright!
- Catalonia, Spain: Ever heard of the ‘defecating log’? Catalonians create a log character, feed it for days, and then sing a song while beating it until it ‘excretes’ treats. And don’t forget the pooping figurines in nativity scenes!
- Sweden: Meet the Gävle Goat, a massive straw goat that’s become an advent symbol. Unfortunately, it’s also a target for arsonists, having been destroyed numerous times since 1966.
- Guatemala: Guatemalans perform the ‘Burning of the Devil’ by cleaning their houses and burning the rubbish with a devil effigy on top. It’s all about starting the new year fresh and clean.
- Ukraine: In Ukraine, Christmas trees get a spooky touch with artificial spider webs for decoration, stemming from a tale of a poor woman whose tree was magically covered in a sparkling web by a spider.
- Portugal: The Portuguese set extra places at their Christmas feast for deceased relatives, ensuring good fortunes. Some even leave crumbs on the hearth for the departed.
- Italy: La Befana, a festive witch, delivers presents to children in Italy, taking over some of Santa’s duties. She became part of the tradition after turning down an invitation from the wise men to visit baby Jesus.
- Czechia: Unmarried Czech women perform a shoe-throwing ritual to predict their marital prospects in the coming year. The position of the shoe after it’s tossed indicates whether marriage is on the cards.
- Germany: Children leave shoes or boots out on 5th December, hoping to find them filled with sweets the next morning. But beware, naughty kids might just find a branch instead!
These traditions highlight the incredible diversity and joy of Christmas celebrations worldwide. Each custom adds a unique flavor to the festive season, from feasting on KFC in Japan to rollerblading to church in Venezuela!