Unique Christmas Traditions Around the World
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Unique Christmas Traditions Around the World

That’s what makes Christmas so special

Photo by Roberto Nickson on Unsplash

Christmas is not only a time for giving and receiving but also for hiding your brooms, roller skating to church, or building a straw goat— at least in some corners of the world.

Although some of the rituals are common, and remain the same, like singing carols, decorating a Christmas tree, they are accompanied by something very unique, something very special.

Here are some of the strangest festive traditions from across the globe

Yule Goat in Sweden

Every year in Sweden, a town celebrates the start of the Christmas season by putting up a giant straw statue of a goat. The Yule goat was supposed to help deliver presents, so sometimes Santa Claus would ride a goat instead of his sleigh.

Image of Gävle Goat. Taken by the author’s friend

In 1966, the town of Gävle built a giant Yule out of straw, now referred to as the Gävle Goat. According to the official website, the goat is more than 42 feet high, 23 feet wide, and weighs 3.6 tons.

The Swedes are proud of their Yule goat. It’s been in the Guinness Book of World Records for its size, and every year in December lots of people visit to see the goat and take part in the Yule time celebrations.

Krampus in Austria

Every year in early December, children in Austria get ready for St. Nicholas to visit them. If they’ve been good, he’ll reward them with presents and treats. But if they’ve been bad, they’ll get a lot more than a lump of coal — they’ll have to face Krampus

Photo by Alessio Zaccaria on Unsplash

He is the half-man, half-goat who comes around every year to chase naughty children and maybe even drag them to hell. European versions of St. Nicholas have long had scary counterparts like Belsnickle and Knecht Ruprecht who dole out punishment. Krampus is one such character who comes from folklore in Austria’s Alpine region, where he’s been frightening children and amusing adults for hundreds of years.

Krampus’s name is derived from the German word krampen, meaning claw, and is said to be the son of Hel in Norse mythology. The legendary beast also shares characteristics with other scary, demonic creatures in Greek mythology, including satyrs and fauns.

Broom Hiding in Norway

Perhaps one of the most unorthodox Christmas Eve traditions can be found in Norway, where people hide their brooms. It’s a tradition that dates back centuries to when people believed that witches and evil spirits came out on Christmas Eve looking for brooms to ride on. To this day, many people still hide their brooms in the safest place in the house to stop them from being stolen.

Photo by Daniel von Appen on Unsplash

December is the darkest time of the year and in Norway, it’s a long-held belief that mischievous spirits and witches roam the lands during the period.

Even if you are not in Norway, it may be a good idea to put the cleaning aside for the night, hide the brooms and just enjoy the time of the year with your family and loved ones.

Roller skating in Venezuela

Love Christmas, but think it could be improved by a spot of roller-blading? If the answer is yes, visit Caracas, Venezuela this year. Every Christmas Eve, the city’s residents head to church in the early morning — so far, so normal — but, for reasons known only to them, they do so on roller skates.

Photo by Gustavo Fring from Pexels

For locals in the capital of Caracas, it is customary to strap on your roller skates and glide to Christmas mass. As legend has it, children go to bed with a piece of string tied around their toe and the other end dangling out of the window. As skaters roll past, they give the string a tug and children know that it’s time to, well, get their skates on.

Venezuelans are known for their love of fireworks and Christmas is no exception — residents awake to the sound of firecrackers exploding in the street, adding to the peel of church bells. Skating to mass became so popular that the government took to closing streets until 8 am so that families could skate together in safety.

Kentucky Fried Chicken in Japan

Over the past few years, it’s become customary for the Japanese to tuck into a festive feast of KFC on Christmas Day. Thanks to a successful advertising campaign, KFC branches throughout Japan report that families will queue around the block to pick up their battered thighs and wings. The tradition has now become so popular that orders for the KFC Christmas Party Barrel are taken as early as October.

Photo by Aleks Dorohovich on Unsplash

In Japan only around 1% of the population is Christian, and Christmas is not an official holiday, writes the BBC.