Top 5 Strangest Christmas Customs Around the World

What makes the holiday season even more appealing is the fact that around the world, countries have their own unique Christmas customs. We’ve selected some fascinating and charming Christmas customs; feel free to embrace and incorporate them into your own festivities.

Ukraine: Celebrating Christmas Customs with Spider-Webs

In addition to the annual Christmas customs such as brightly decorated and sparkling multicolored lights, Ukrainians also add a unique touch by decorating Christmas trees with plastic spiders and spider webs. According to Ukrainian folklore, there was a poor woman who couldn’t afford to decorate her Christmas tree. She silently made a wish and fell asleep. When she woke up on Christmas morning, the Christmas tree was adorned with a spider and shimmering spider webs. According to Ukrainians, this is considered a symbol of good luck during the festive season.

Catalan: Decorating Christmas Logs

It may not seem very strange, but the people of Catalonia dislike the monotony of traditional Christmas logs. Instead of plain logs to warm their homes during Christmas, logs are adorned with playful images. These symbolic figures often represent beloved celebrities dressed in pants or covered in fabric in a festive style. Rather than cutting the Christmas cake, people also indulge in a unique celebration by hitting the log until it “breaks” open. Particularly authentic Catalan households go to the extent of decorating their logs with small ceramic grapes painted.

Italy: Where Santa Claus is Replaced by a Witch

Amidst numerous traditions and religious beliefs, it is challenging for Italians to accept another Santa Claus into their sacred list. After much consideration, it seems the Vatican has agreed to replace Santa Claus with a female witch from a local fairy tale named La Befana. She is the one who delivers gifts to Italian children on Christmas Eve. A new legend has also emerged, suggesting that three wise men invited La Befana to join in welcoming the birth of Jesus. However, she declined the invitation as she was busy delivering gifts to children all over Italy.

Czech Republic: Predicting Marriage with Shoes

According to traditional Christmas customs, single women in the Czech Republic will stand with their backs to the door and toss one of their shoes over their shoulders. If the shoe lands with the toe pointing toward the door, it means they will get married in the coming year. Conversely, if the heel faces the door, it signifies another year of prolonged singleness.

Germany: Filling Children’s Boots

On the evening of December 5th, German children leave a boot or a shoe outside their bedroom door. When they wake up in the morning, if they have been good, they find their shoes filled with colorful and vibrant candies. However, if they have been naughty, they might only receive a piece of tree branch. German children cherish this tradition, often reserving their newest and most beautiful shoes to receive candies on the most special night of the year.

Japan: KFC for Christmas

The tradition of eating KFC on Christmas in Japan began in the 1970s due to a successful marketing campaign by the fast-food chain. The promotion, known as “Kentucky for Christmas,” featured a catchy slogan and presented the idea of enjoying fried chicken as a festive, Western-style holiday meal. The popularity of this campaign led to the establishment of unique Christmas customs in Japan, where many people pre-order their KFC meals weeks in advance to ensure they have a special Christmas Eve dinner. The association between KFC and Christmas has become deeply ingrained in Japanese culture.

Iceland: The Yule Lads

In Iceland, the Christmas customs of the Yule Lads add a touch of magic and mischief to the Christmas season. These 13 mischievous characters, offspring of the troll couple Grýla and Leppalúði, embark on a playful journey during the 13 nights leading up to Christmas. Each Yule Lad possesses a distinct personality, engaging in quirky behaviors like stealing sausages, licking spoons, or peering through windows. Icelandic children, anticipating the Yule Lads’ nightly visits, place their shoes on windowsills.

If they’ve been good, the Yule Lads leave small gifts, but mischievous deeds might earn them a potato instead. This centuries-old tradition weaves folklore and festive charm into the Icelandic Christmas experience, enchanting both young and old with its unique blend of fantasy and holiday spirit.

Conclusion

Exploring the strangest Christmas customs around the world unveils a fascinating tapestry of traditions that showcase the diversity of global celebrations during this festive season. These customs not only add a touch of quirkiness to the holiday season but also serve as a testament to the beauty of cultural diversity and the myriad ways people come together to celebrate the spirit of Christmas.