All around the world millions of people will be celebrating Christmas and will be enjoying the holiday season. Not all countries and cultures celebrate in the same ways and with the same traditions. Here is a list of unusual Christmas Traditions and folklore from around the world.
10. Great Britain- stirring the pudding
Christmas pudding, also known as plum pudding has been a tradition in Great Britain since medieval times. The pudding consists of fruits, eggs, suet, ginger, cloves cinnamon, nutmeg, and molasses.Another special ingredient added are coins.
During the making of the pudding, it is the tradition for each family member to take a turn stirring the batter and making a wish. The tradition is supposed to bring good luck and prosperity.
9. Norway- hiding all the brooms
Hiding all the brooms is a tradition that happens on Christmas Eve in Norway. Families all across Norway hide their brooms out of superstitions. Legend has it that on Christmas Eve witches and spirits come out and still brooms to fly around. With hiding all the brooms it gives people an excuse to clean up.
8. Japan- KFC Day
Eating Kentucky Fried Chicken has grown in popularity in Japan. Back in the 1970’s KFC sales were down in Japan, so in 1974 the company decided to launch an advertising campaign to help bring their sales up.
The company came up with Kentucky for Christmas, which was a great success and ever since has gained popularity throughout the decades.
7. Ukraine- Christmas spider
In the Ukraine, many families decorate their Christmas trees with spider webs.This tradition comes from folklore and it is also where the idea of tinsel is believed to come from.
The legend is about a poor women who had children and could not afford much. One day a small pinecone fell on the floor in the small house. As time went by the tree grow bigger as Christmas approached and the children were upset that they had nothing to use to decorate it. It is believed that spiders who were also living in the house heard the children and decided to surprise them by decorating the tree.
The spiders covered the tree with webs so that when the children woke up their tree was decorated.
6. Germany- Christmas shoes
You won’t find Christmas stockings hanging from the chimney with glee in Germany. Children in Germany leave a boot or a shoe freshly polished out instead on December 6th. The shoe is filled with candy and chocolate for the children to enjoy.
5. Italy- Befana
In Italy, Santa does not deliver presents to children according to tradition Befana does. Befana first appeared in 1549 in a poem written by Agnolo Firenzuola. He described Befana as an old women dressed in rags, who on the nights of January 5th and 6th and flies on her broom bringing gifts. She gets into homes through chimneys and keyholes and will leave candy for good children and onions and coals to bad children.
4. Iceland- Yule Cat
The Yule Cat of Iceland is not your typical house cat. The Yule Cat is considered a monster to children. If children do not behave or are not dressed properly, the cat will come and take the children away to be eaten. Families exchange winter clothing to keep warm and leave an offering to the Yule Cat so they are not victims.
3. Sweden- Gävle Goat
The Gävle Goat dates back to pagan times in Sweden. It was originally used in hopes to bless and to help grow crops that would be used for winter. Over time the tradition changed and people started dressing up as goats and gave presents out. Sweden puts a huge goat made out of straw on display during advent and is custom to decorate it with ribbons.
many people hang goat ornaments from their Christmas trees as a reminder of the tradition.
2. Greece- Kallikantzaros
Kallikantzaros are known as Christmas goblins. According to Greek folklore, Kallikantzaros live underground but come out December 25th to January 6th. The goblins try to destroy the world tree hoping that the world will collapse, but they never get to finish before Christmas morning. This lead to traditions of fireplaces burning all night long and colanders left on front porches. By keeping them busy the goblins lose all sense of time and disappear in the morning light. People have claimed that they look like small devils.
1. Austria- Krampus
Krampus is the opposite of Santa and considered to be a devil.
He is an ugly beast half goat, half demon with long horns on his head. Krampus comes out to punish the naughty children. It is believed that Krampus drags children away not to be seen again. It is believed the legend was created in the 1600’s and continues to gain in popularity around the world.
