New Delhi: Christmas is just five days away, and Christians across the world are already geared up to welcome the biggest annual event. Carol singing, decorating the Christmas Tree, and attending mass services are among the rituals associated with Christmas.
However, certain weird or unusual Christmas traditions exist in several places around the world. In this article, we will examine some such traditions.
Unusual Christmas Traditions in Europe: Norway, Sweden, Austria and Iceland
Norway
Norwegians think that Christmas Eve brings evil spirits and witches. To keep safe, they hide their brooms before bed. No one wants to find their broom broken and ruined by a witch on Christmas morning.
Sweden
Since its Advent, Sweden has had a long-standing tradition of building ‘Yule Goats’. This tradition dates back to the 11th century when a goat figure accompanied Saint Nicholas. The most famous goat is in Gävle and can reach 40 feet tall. Unfortunately, it has been destroyed 36 times since 1966 because some people tried to burn it down.
Austria
In Austria, St. Nicholas has a scary friend named Krampus who punishes bad kids before Christmas. People dress as Krampus, carrying chains and a basket to take naughty children away. This is one way to keep kids under control.
Iceland
In Iceland, children do not just have one Santa Claus; they have 13 playful trolls called the Yule Lads. These trolls visit kids two weeks before Christmas. Each Yule Lad has a unique personality, such as Doorway-Sniffer, Spoon-Licker, Sausage-Swiper, Candle-Stealer, Curd-Gobbler, and Window-Peeper. They take turns visiting children who leave shoes in their bedroom windows. Good children receive gifts, while bad children find rotting potatoes instead.
Unique Christmas Celebrations in Asia: Japan’s KFC Christmas
Japan
Many people in Japan celebrate Christmas with Kentucky Fried Chicken instead of turkey. Their small ovens and a clever ad campaign led to this tradition. It’s so popular on Christmas Day that people make reservations to eat at KFC. During the holiday season, Colonel Sanders statues outside KFCs wear Santa outfits, and the chicken comes in special holiday boxes. People even order their Christmas Family Bucket online to get it delivered.
Strange but Wonderful Christmas Customs in Spain, Portugal and Italy
Spain
Catalonia has a strange tradition called caga tió, or ‘defecating log’. Families create a character from a log, drawing a face and giving it a hat. They feed the log fruit, nuts, and sweets for two weeks. On Christmas Eve, the family hits the log with sticks while singing a song. They keep hitting it until it “defecates” all its treats. They also add small, pooping ceramic figurines, called caganers, to their nativity scenes. These often represent familiar characters from the news.
Portugal
During consoda, Portugal’s traditional Christmas meal, families sometimes set extra places at the table for deceased relatives. This practice is thought to bring good luck. Some families also leave crumbs on the hearth.
Italy
Since the Vatican couldn’t prove Santa’s existence, Italy supports the legend of La Befana, an old witch who brings gifts to children. The story says that the three wise men invited her to see baby Jesus, but she declined because she was busy.
Christmas traditions vary wildly across the globe. Unique customs abound, from Norwegians hiding brooms to ward off evil spirits to Japanese celebrating with Kentucky Fried Chicken. Sweden’s giant Yule Goat, Iceland’s 13 Yule Lads, Austria’s Krampus and Spain’s “defecating log”. Read on to learn more about weird traditions around the globe. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
