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Unique Christmas Traditions Around The Globe

Unique Christmas Traditions Around The Globe

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Regardless of where you live, Christmas is a time to spend time with family, reflect on the religious significance, and celebrate time-honored traditions. But while some traditions are fairly popular — exchanging presents and joyful decorations — others are less so. Check out these unique traditions from all around the world that present an interesting perspective on celebrating Christmas.

Sources: IBTimes.com, OpenJourney.com, Coca-ColaCompany.com, PolicyMic.com, HuffingtonPost.com, Babble.com

Wheelville.Blogspot.com
Wheelville.Blogspot.com

Austria’s holiday devil

Forget Santa — Austrian children have more to fear than anticipate on Christmas. Krampus, the holiday devil, is Santa’s evil counterpart and usually is represented as a horned goat devil. He’s rumored to punish children who misbehave, giving them something more to worry about than coal in their stocking. And while his existence hasn’t been exactly verified, many people choose to don Krampus outfits and scare children across the country as Christmas approaches. Happy holi – RAWR!

ThinkStockPhotos
ThinkStockPhotos

Omniscient walnuts and shoes in the Czech Republic

Wishing someone good fortune takes on new meaning in the Czech Republic, where several traditions exist to predict whether this will actually happen or not. Each member of a family makes a little boat and fills it with walnut shells to float in a bowl of water. If the boat gets across the bowl – great luck for life! If the boat sinks – uh oh. Meanwhile, unmarried women will throw shoes over their shoulder towards a door. If the shoe lands pointing towards the door, expect a wedding within the year! Otherwise it’s another 364 days before there’s any hope.

HoleintheDonut.com
HoleintheDonut.com

The Caganer, aka The Shitter

In Spain, Portugal, and Italy, a new figure has been added to some nativity scenes. Families will add in a caganer (the translation approximately comes to “shitter”), or a figurine who is in mid poop. Sometimes it’s a regular, nameless man, but many have chosen to have their caganer made in the likeness of popular celebrities or world figures (even Santa has made an appearance or two).

Travel.ca.MSN.com
Travel.ca.MSN.com

Hide your brooms!

In Norway, legend has it that witches and their evil friends come out on Christmas Eve looking for trouble. But in order for the trouble to happen, they need brooms, and will steal them from households to make their mischief. So in defense, Norwegians will hide all of their brooms and some will even fire warning shots with shotguns into the air to keep the evil at bay.

Blog.TravelPickr.com
Blog.TravelPickr.com

Beach barbecues in Australia

With no snow, Christmas takes on a bit of a different theme in the middle of a sunny Australian summer. And while many common traditions still happen — although most serve ice cream with their figgy puddings — many head to the beach on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and host barbecues rather than enjoy a roast by the fire. Outdoor concerts are also commonplace, something most wouldn’t even dream of in colder climates.

Commons.Wikimedia.org
Commons.Wikimedia.org

Visiting Finnish cemeteries

It may not be Halloween, but in Finland, it’s tradition to head to the cemeteries after Christmas Eve dinner to visit deceased loved ones and light candles over their graves. Even if no loved ones are buried nearby, many families will still head there to enjoy the tranquility and pay their respects to others.

En.Wikipedia.org
En.Wikipedia.org

Sweden’s Yule Goat

Forget Burning Man. In Sweden, it’s all about the burning goat. Every Christmas, a massive goat built of straw is built in the town square and lit up. The goat is also represented in Christmas tree ornaments and figurines. Legend has it that a hammer-wielding god named Thor rode through Scandinavia pulled by a herd of goats, resulting in the tradition. Thor is associated with thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, the protection of mankind, hallowing, healing and fertility.

NikhilanJalyadventures.Blogspot.com
NikhilanJalyadventures.Blogspot.com

The Icelandic Christmas Cat aka Godzilla

It’s more than just societal pressure that enforces Christmas cheer in Iceland. Legend has it that a Christmas cat wanders the country (which granted, isn’t all that big) during the holiday season and chows down on anyone not wearing Christmas-themed clothing or accessories on Christmas Eve.

JapanToday.com
JapanToday.com

Classic fried chicken traditions in Japan

This is a marketing scheme that succeeded beyond everyone’s wildest dreams. Kentucky Fried Chicken started marketing its fried chicken as a holiday meal staple more than 30 years ago…and it worked. KFC is now so in demand around the holidays that there is a waiting list just to get a bucket ordered.

Kwintessential.co.uk
Kwintessential.co.uk

Ukraine’s spiderwebs

In a “Charlotte’s Web”-style tale, the story goes that an old woman was too frail to decorate her Christmas tree, and woke up one morning to find that a spider had decorated it in a shimmering, sparkling web. In homage to this, many Ukrainians add a spider ornament, figurine, or other small token to their Christmas decorations along with other more traditional options.