Christmas is celebrated in various ways around the world, influenced by local customs and beliefs. Some traditions, such as exchanging gifts or decorating trees, are widely accepted, but many nations celebrate the holiday season in their own peculiar and unusual ways. You might be surprised by these seven odd Christmas customs from throughout the world.
The Yule Goat (Sweden)
Yule Goat or Julbock is one of the oldest Christmas traditions in Sweden. In Norse mythology, Thor was said to ride across the sky in his chariot pulled by two goats. Modern Gävle town has, however erected a huge straw goat every year as a center piece for the holiday season. This Gävle Goat often becomes the target of hooligans, with attempts to burn it down becoming a local challenge and part of the tradition in itself. Plus, smaller straw goats are popular decorations in Swedish houses and symbolize holiday cheer.
Hiding Brooms (Norway)
A strange superstition in Norway insists that all brooms be hidden on Christmas Eve. This practice originates from the belief that malevolent spirits and witches would attempt to steal the country’s brooms and use them to ride off throughout Christmas time. The Norwegians prevent those spirits from making off with their belongings by hiding their brooms.
KFC for Christmas Dinner (Japan)
Eating KFC has become a part of the ritual, even though Christmas is not a national holiday in Japan. Fried chicken became the favorite holiday dinner in the 1970s due to the famous “Kentucky for Christmas” advertising campaign. It was so popular that today many Japanese families spend Christmas eating at KFC, which is an odd success and Western tradition.
The Caganer Figurine (Catalonia, Spain)
The Caganer, a figurine in the nativity scene, is part of a quirky Christmas custom in Catalonia, Spain. This little statue of a human defecating is displayed in nativity exhibits. The Caganer represents fertility and good fortune for the upcoming year, despite its unusualness. It adds a distinctive and hilarious touch to the classic nativity scene and symbolizes the idea that both financial and personal growth will follow.
Roller Skating to Church (Venezuela)
People roller-skate around the streets of Caracas, Venezuela, where Christmas Mass is a unique experience. Even roads are blocked to traffic so that skaters may get to early dawn services. This custom offers a quick and elegant way to celebrate Christmas while getting to church in a fun way.
The Christmas Spider (Ukraine)
An interesting Christmas custom in Ukraine is decorating Christmas trees with spiderweb ornaments. This is a folktale about an impoverished widow who had no money to buy decorations for her tree one Christmas. Miraculously, spiders used their webs to adorn her tree, producing a lovely shimmer of good fortune. This tale represents wealth for the upcoming year, hope, and family harmony.
Krampus Night (Austria)
The infamous Krampus, a horned creature that punishes naughty children, is accompanied by St. Nicholas in Austria. Men dressed in terrifying Krampus costumes parade and engage in other activities on Krampus Night, which falls in early December. While the jovial St. Nicholas hands out treats to the good kids, Krampus gives Christmas a dark edge by warning kids to behave or else suffer the consequences.
Each of these weird Christmas customs exemplifies how different cultures celebrate the holiday in their unique manner, combining humour, superstition, history, and inventiveness to create happy and meaningful celebrations all over the globe.
