The Most Unusual Christmas Traditions Around the World
Christmas is a magical time filled with heartfelt traditions that bring the whole family together. While some traditions are unanimous throughout the whole world, other countries have some unique celebrations that might seem extraordinary to us.
Today, we take a journey through the Christmas spirit across the world to find out which are the most unusual Christmas traditions and perhaps get inspired to implement them into our own celebrations / festivities.
‘Finger lickin’ good’ Christmas
Perhaps one of the most otherworldly traditions that you wouldn’t usually associate with Christmas is that of eating KFC on Christmas Eve! Following a long-held tradition since 1974, people in Japan flock to the American fast-food chain to eat “Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii!”, aka “Kentucky for Christmas!”
It all started with a marketing campaign that ignited the interest in the unusual Christmas dinner. Christmas isn’t a national holiday in Japan, and the perhaps explains the popularity of this custom. Yet, out of all the western traditions they could have picked up, the Japanese set on a rather unusual one!
KFC’s sales on Christmas Eve in Japan are sky-high, and some even pre-order their boxes a month in advance or wait in a line for two hours. Now, that’s what we call dedication!
Roller skate through Christmas
While some cultures like to have a stroll around town on Christmas Day, people in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, prefer to do in on roller skates. With this adventurous mode of transportation, they roller skate to Christmas mass in the morning, and even parts of the city are blocked off, so that they can safely get to church.
Children are usually woken up earlier on Christmas morning to allow enough time for preparation. Once they’ve put their roller skates on, they’re ready to head to church.
If you want to honour this tradition, why not take the whole family to an outdoor ice rink on Christmas Day or Boxing Day? This will be a fun activity that is sure to create unforgettable memories!
Hide your brooms and mops
Superstitions have been a big part of humanity for a long time, and Christmas is no exception. Norwegians believe that evil spirits return to Earth on Christmas Eve and steal people’s brooms to go on a joyride in the magical sky. That’s why, they make sure to hide their brooms and mops.
Let’s get steamy
The birthplace of Santa Claus is Finland. To pay homage for the good-hearted whitebeard, Fins have the tradition of locking themselves in a sauna, often followed by a dive in the snow straight after.
The Santa Parade
One of the most spectacular Christmas traditions in the whole world is the Santa Parade in Toronto, Canada. It’s a time for everyone to gather together on the city streets, dress in their festive attire and march with the Christmas spirit!
For the past two years, Canadians were deprived from the joy of the Santa Parade due to the pandemic, but this year, the celebration is back in full force. It features festive floats, joyful music, and, of course, Mr and Mrs Claus themselves!
It’s not only Canadians that are attending the majestic parade, with tourists from all over the world flocking to the city to see the grand event. If you want to chime in on the Christmas spirit, put on your best winter coat, your favourite women’s boots, and a croc-effect tote bag for the ultimate festive street-style look and join the parade of joy!
These boots are made for sweets
Boots are not just a winter fashion staple. In Germany, they take a central role in the celebrations. Children and adults alike clean and polish their winter boots and leave them outside the house on December 5th, St Nicholas Day, in the hopes of waking up and finding them stuffed with treats and sweets.
This tradition is the German retake of stuffing stockings with humble gifts and is definitely something we can look to incorporate into our own arsenal of Christmas customs. Imagine how happy the children will be if they receive double the treats around that special time!
BBQ for Christmas
While some countries are bestowed with a beautiful snowy tapestry on Christmas, other cultures in the Southern Hemisphere, such as Australia, are spending the festivities on the beach. With the sun blazing, it’s the perfect time to exchange gifts while enjoying a mouth-watering barbeque. It’s no surprise that the fish markets get overcrowded on Christmas Day, and everybody heads to the beach on Boxing Day with friends and family to swim and sunbathe.
But one might ask, what carols do Australians sing? Intriguingly, they sing the same ones as in the UK but change the lyrics that reference snow.
This year, diversify your Christmas by implementing a new tradition and honouring the celebrations of other cultures. Even just by reading and learning about the festivities around the world, you’re expanding your knowledge and instilling appreciation for all cultures!
