When December rings in, for most of us it brings Santa, reindeers, snowmen and the irreplaceable tinsel-decked Christmas tree. Mangers decorate the lawns, carols are sung in the streets and cities are lit up in fairy lights! While good cheer fills the air all over for us, the rest of the world enjoys quite different, if not completely bizarre traditions which you might find interesting, if we must say so.
Turns out, many astounding versions of folklore exist for Christmas too! And Christians aren’t the only ones celebrating the goodness of Yuletide. So let’s take a look at these age-old traditions and marvel at the wonder this season wraps us in! While you’d wish for some of these in your own homes, others might make you appreciate the usual turkey dinner and festivities a little bit more! Either way, if you ever decide to travel for the holidays, you’ll know where to go (and where not to)!
Roller Skate Mass - Venezuela
Christmas is usually a season to spread love, and it's celebrated the world over. Most countries have different ways of celebrating and Venezuela is no different. In the nation's capital, Caracas, the dwellers go to church on Christmas morning on roller skates.
So popular is the tradition that the streets of the city are closed from 8 am on the day to ensure the skating crowd's safety. Children aren't left behind in this too, and it's said that they sleep with one skate lace tied around a foot and the other lace hanging from the window so that their friends can wake them up by tugging it from outside!
The Yule Cat – Iceland
We have heard some strange holiday traditions, but this one from Iceland is among the top. It's said that every Christmas, a giant cat would roam the icy countryside, and traditionally the farmers would use the Yule cat as a motivation for their workers; the hard-working ones would receive gifts in the form of a new set of clothes while the lazy ones would meet their fate, being mauled by a feline-like beast.
Quite scary, isn't it? Today, to avoid an unpleasant passing, it is customary for everyone in Iceland to get new clothes for Christmas. What a way to go festive shopping!
A Cobweb Christmas - Ukraine
If you are afraid of spiders, then we suggest not going to Ukraine for Christmas. While most people use stars, tinsel, and baubles to decorate their trees, Ukrainians go all out and use spider web imitations shimmering with dew.
Spider's webs are considered a lucky charm in the country, and the tradition is derived from a folklore on a poor widow who couldn't decorate a christmas tree for her kids as she couldn't afford it. According to the legend, spiders in the home took pity on her and made beautiful decorative webs that the family woke up to on Christmas morning.
Colonel Santa – Japan
Not all festive traditions are ancient; some are from the 1970s and are pretty impressive. When KFC, the American fast-food joint, released a marketing drive for Japan's festivities in 1974, we doubt they knew it would become a lifelong Christmas tradition for the nation.
Using a simple but elegant slogan *Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii!* (Kentucky for Christmas!), the company started a thriving tradition. Despite the Japanese not celebrating Christmas, the company created a flourishing practice. Now, the families all gather at their favorite KFC restaurant and enjoy a special Christmas Eve dinner. Quite an impact the restaurant made, we must say!
Pickle in the Tree – Germany
The Christmas tree tradition is said to have come from Germany in the 16th century, and it has been accepted the world over. That being said, it isn't surprising that the people from the cradle of the festive tree would still have some strange Christmas lore, including hiding a pickle in the tree - and the child that finds it gets a gift!
The pickle tradition has some conflicting origin stories, though, with some claiming it is from Spain, where two boys were held captive in a barrel full of pickles and were rescued by Saint Nicholas. Regardless of the origin, we all don't mind the delicacy on a Christmas tree!
Festive Sauna - Finland
The Christmas season in Finland might be strange for family gatherings if this tradition is anything to go by. Most homes in the country come fitted with saunas, and during the holiday, the comfy spot is considered a sacred place, related to passed on ancestors.
On Christmas Eve, one is required to undress and take a long dip in the sauna, to show their respects. It's also believed to be the home of the sauna 'elf.' After that, the dwellers would go out for the night celebrations while the spirits of the ancestors replace them. If this isn't creepy, we don't know what is.
Belfana the Witch – Italy
When we all look forward to Santa and the 25th December festivities, things are a bit different in Italy. For the Italians, the fun happens on the eve of 5th January where an older woman called Belfana makes rounds in the country visiting children.
According to folklore, Belfana visits all kids in Italy, leaving their stockings full of candy, and if they have been good, they will get a gift. A female version of Father Christmas, Belfana is left gifts by the children such as local delicacies and wine, and she also enters through the chimney.
Fried Caterpillars - South Africa
We all look forward to Christmas, spend the holiday with our loved ones, be merry, and most of all, the food. For many people, turkey and mince pie are the staple, but things are different in South Africa; the children there enjoy fried caterpillars.
While it might seem strange that South Africans take fried caterpillars as part of their Christmas traditions, the worms aren't any that you can find in your garden. The Christmas Caterpillar or the Pine Tree Emperor Moth is covered in festive colors, and it is believed that anyone who swallows them will have some luck in the coming year.
Donald Duck – Sweden
The Christmas season in Sweden isn't just about the food, fun, and cheer; it also involves cartoons! Since the 1960s, at 3 pm on the dot, Swedish families gather around their televisions to watch a Christmas special called Donald Duck and his friends wish you a Merry Christmas.
All Christmas plans are centered on this tradition, with over 40% of the population still tuning in to the television special. While it might have started because only two channels existed on TV at the time and one played cartoon on Christmas, the tradition brings the whole nation together. Isn't it what Christmas is all about?
The Alternative Christmas Tree - New Zealand
While we all know Christmas trees to be equal, green, and pine-like, New Zealand people have something different. For them, they have a beautiful tree, with bright crimson flowers and gnarled roots, known as the pohutukawa.
The pohutukawa was first mentioned by an Austrian geologist Ferdinand von Hochstetter who said that the Kiwis would decorate their homes and churches with the brightly colored tree every Christmas. To date, the pohutukawa tree is a symbol of Christmas in New Zealand, and it is featured in school carols, decorations, and Christmas cards.
The Poop Log - Catalonia, Spain
One of the strangest Christmas traditions has to be this; the *Tio de Nadal* or the Christmas log. The Christmas log is made from a hollow log with a smile, a red hat, and stick legs, and every night between 8th December and Christmas Eve, children feed the logs treats with some water and leave them under a blanket for warmth.
As if that was not weird enough, the children are asked to beat the logs on Christmas Eve while singing traditional songs. This goes on until the Tio de Nadal magically poops candy and presents, and he's considered useless after that and burnt.
Gävle Goat - Sweden
In another strange festive tradition from Sweden that has existed since 1966 is the Gavle Goat. Every Christmas since its inception, a Yule goat that is 13 meters tall has been built in the Gavle Castle Square for the Advent, and it has led to another weird tradition, trying to burn it down.
People have taken it as lore to try and destruct the giant goat, and since 1966, it has been reduced to ashes 29 times, with the most recent stint being in 2016. Quite a strange tradition if you ask us, but it happens once a year, so why not!
Giant Lantern Festival - Philippines
Every year, the Giant Lantern Festival happens in San Fernando City, on the Saturday before Christmas Eve the Philippines' Christmas city. With eleven villages participating, it is a competitive event where everyone wants to build the lantern that stands out the most, and the festival has become a significant tourist attraction.
The lanterns have initially been built using Japanese origami paper, were lit by candle, and were half a meter in diameter. However, currently, the lanterns are illuminated by electric bulbs and are made with various materials and have grown to be around six meters in size!
Krampus – Austria
In Austrian tradition, there are two beings for each deed; Saint Nicholas rewards friendly children while his evil accomplice Krampus punishes the naughty little boys and girls. Krampus, the beasty demon-like creature, roams the streets, frightening the children in what will look like a Halloween festival elsewhere.
On the eve of St. Nicholas' Day, and throughout the first week of December, young men dress up as the Krampus and go around scaring kids with clattering bells and chains. While this makes for an exciting tradition, we're not sure it helps keep nightmares away.
The Yule Lads – Iceland
Considered one of the most mischievous traditions Christmas traditions in Iceland, the Yule Lads come out to visit children in the thirteen days leading up to Christmas day. These thirteen troll-like characters are pretty naughty, and they dress up in traditional Icelandic costumes and have names like Gully Gawk, Door-Slammer, Meat Hook and Candle Stealer.
For the thirteen nights or the Yuletide, children place their shoes by the window, and a Yule Lad visits, leaving candy and presents for the good boys and girls, while the naughty ones get rotten potatoes. What a way to celebrate the festive season!
Saint Nicholas' Day - Germany
Let us not confuse Saint Nicholas with Father Christmas, and he usually travels in the middle of the night by donkey on December 6th to distribute gifts, coins, and other exciting gifts for the good kids. Perhaps, that is why he is quite famous among German kiddos of almost every age group.
Interestingly, Saint also visits children at schools and homes and asks the kids to recite a song or a poem in exchange for sweets. But it is not always fun as sometimes Knecht Ruprecht also tags along. He's a devil-like character, who carries a whip to punish the kids who misbehave!
Hiding the Brooms - Norway
We think that you will find one of the most different Christmas traditions across Norway. People here hide their brooms. One would ask, why? It turns out that this centuries-old practice is because the residents believed that evil spirits and witches come on Christmas eve and search for brooms to ride on.
To this day, the old tradition lives, and many people hide their brooms in the most covert and safest place in their homes in hopes they won't be stolen. We have to say that it seems to be an exciting ritual!
The lighting of National Hanukkah Menorah - United States
Across the US, Hanukkah's national Jewish holiday is celebrated with much fanfare, with the event taking place on a national stage. On the White House grounds, a giant nine-meter Menorah gets raised for eight days and nights as part of the Hanukkah tradition since 1979. Along with the monument's lightning, the event is celebrated with music, poems, and numerous games for kids.
The authorities in the White House light the first candle on day one of the event, and an additional is lit every successive night. Besides that, anyone can attend the celebrations. However, tickets must be confirmed beforehand.
Day of the Little Candles – Colombia
In Colombia, the Christmas season is marked by Little Candles' Day. The country residents place their paper lanterns and candles in their balconies, windows, and front yards, in honor of the immaculate conception and Virgin Mary.
But over the years, the tradition of candles has grown, and now entire cities and towns across Colombia are lit up with breathtaking lights and displays. Interestingly, in Quimbaya, you can find the best lighting, where people typically compete with one another to see who creates the most impressive arrangement of lights!
The Rockettes - New York
We are sure that most of you might have heard about The Rockettes, which was previously known as the Missouri Rockets. For more than a century now, the dance group has been stirring up a storm, and in 1934, they officially became the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes.
Throughout the last century, the incredibly talented group has been entertaining the nation with live television performances and several film openings. Yet, they are best known among the Americans for their famous Christmas Spectacular. If you have not seen their performances, we would suggest you immediately go and search for some on the internet!
A Charlie Brown Christmas – US
Years later, it is still a little hard for many of us to imagine that the CBS network executives rejected Charles Schulz's TV special, Peanuts comic strip. But everything changed when the show first aired on television in 1965, nearly millions of televisions across the US were tuned in for the performance.
Not only that, but the show also went on to win an endearing following, an Emmy, a Peabody, and most importantly, the trend of Charlie Brown trees. And now, it has become an essential part of the American Christmas tradition.
Elf on the Shelf - North America
Whether you loath it or love it, the dads and moms across the country have been hiding a toy elf each night from Thanksgiving until Christmas. Reportedly, as many as 13 million toy elves have been adopted since 2005, when the famous book Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition by, Chanda Bell, and her mom, Carol Aebersold was published for the first time.
Surprisingly, it came with an adorable toy. In recent years, social media has inspired many parents to start decorating elaborate settings for their elves! Thanks to these ladies, elves aren’t just Santa’s workers anymore!
Advent Calendars – Germany/United States
Even though the early tradition of the advent calendars started in 1903 in Germany, it has become an essential part of the Christmas tradition in America and Europe. Gerhard Land, the calendar publisher, offered a way for the children to count down to Christmas by opening a door or a window to reveal a small gift, poem, or any passage from the bible.
But since the 1920s, these creative calendars have evolved into a more secular tradition, with calendars featuring gifts like chocolates, wine bottles, and nail polishes. So, what did you get this year?
Cookie Swaps – United States
Robin Olson writes in her book The Cookie Party Cookbook that she came across references to cookie parties dating all the way to the early eighteenth century. And now, for almost more than two centuries, Americans across the country spend time baking tons of cookies, which are then exchanged with guests and everyone heads to their homes with a yummy variety!
Earlier, this tradition included family members, relatives, neighbors, friends, social groups, and schools. But these days, it is often used by many as a fundraiser for charities. Well, we have to say this appears to be an exciting tradition to follow!
Luminarias – United States
In the southwestern part of the US, simple and folded brown bags lit by votive candles and filled with sand are quite a popular Christmas tradition. Besides that, in places like New Mexico, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe, residents line churches and sidewalks.
You might not know, but in Pheonix, the famous Desert Botanical Garden's annual Christmas event features tens of thousands of Luminaria bags. With the lights highlighting the building's lines, it indeed creates a picturesque and a heavenly sight for the people. We are sure many of you might have seen the images from the event.
Whale Skin Dish – Greenland
We understand that not many people are big fans of the Christmas dinner dishes. But let us tell that if next time you find yourself complaining about your grandmother's Brussels sprouts, then you must also spare a thought for the poor kids and adults in Greenland.
Every year, the families in the region must tuck into the mattak, which is the whale's raw skin complimented with small blubber and kiviak. You might not know, but it is made by wrapping an arctic bird in seal skin and is buried for several months before eating the perfectly decomposed flesh. Want to have some?
Setting the Devil On Fire – Guatemala
Given that many people in Guatemala believe that cleanliness is Godliness, the country's residents are quite serious about it. They think that the dark and evil forces live in the dark and dirty corners of your house. And that is why people in the country spend weeks before Christmas cleaning, collecting all the rubbish, and then putting everything on a heap outdoors.
After that, with an effigy of the devil at the top, the whole pile of rubbish and waste is set ablaze. Interestingly, the locals in Guatemala call this the 'Burning of the Devil.' Isn't it a great idea to start a new year?
Feeding Souls– Portugal
Here is another place with a weird yet interesting Christmas tradition. In Portugal, families arrange traditional Christmas feasts for their loved ones, and sometimes people put extra plates on the table for the deceased members of the family.
People across the country believe that this traditional practice will ensure good fortune for the entire family and relatives. Not only that, but some people in the remote areas of Portugal also leave some crumbs on the hearth. And all of us think that feeding our living family members was hard enough, right?!
The Matchmakers - Czech Republic
Unlike other traditions in the countries across the planet, this one seems kind of fun. Well, who in their right mind would not like to toss their shoes over the shoulder? If you are lucky and your shoe lands with the toe facing the door, then it means that you will be married within a year.
And if you're not so lucky and your shoe lands with the heel facing the door, then there are chances that you will be spending your next year watching Bridget Jones films with your friends. Perhaps, it might be more fun than getting married!