Lifestyle
10 Unexpected Christmas Traditions around the world
.png)
Holiday traditions that break the mold? These countries put their own playful, unusual spin on Christmas, making the festive season extra memorable.
By Robyn Lopez
Christmas comes around faster every year and yet the world keeps finding new ways to surprise us. Think you’ve seen every kind of Christmas? It turns out that the holiday spirit wears many hats: some sparkly, some spooky… and some shaped like a giant radish.
Beyond the classic tree, carols and roast lunch many of us are familiar with, across the globe people have created traditions so quirky and charming that they make the festive season feel brand new. Let’s take a sleigh ride around the world, no sky-diving required (unless you want to).
10. Yule cat (and lads) in Iceland
Icelandic children wake with excitement and place a shoe on their windowsills from 12 December. This is the day the first of the 13 Yule Lads or Jólasveinar in Icelandic, begins his nightly visits.
Over the next 13 nights, these mischievous figures leave treats in children’s shoes… or a potato if you’ve been naughty. But their family steals the show: Grýla, the troll-mother who sniffs out misbehaving kids, Leppalúði, the do-nothing troll-dad, and the terrifying Yule Cat, who supposedly eats anyone not wearing new clothes at Christmas. You have been warned…
9. The jolly log that poops gifts in Catalonia
Catalonia’s Tió de Nadal is a smiley little log that kids feed, cover with a blanket and, yes, whack with sticks on Christmas eve until it “poops” out presents and candy. Decorated with a painted face and a red hat, this centuries-old tradition is all about caring, fun and a little festive chaos.
8. Boots filled with holiday cheer in Germany
Every year on the night of 5 December, something magical happens across Germany: children polish a single boot and leave it outside their door, only to wake up to chocolate, sweets and sometimes even a little money tucked inside. Similar traditions can be found across Europe and beyond, with stockings and festive shoes appearing in homes throughout the holiday season.
7. Fruity tree in India
No fir trees available? No problem! In parts of southern India where fir trees are scarce, families decorate local trees available (like mango and bananas) with lights, ornaments and cotton “snow”.
While it’s far from a traditional white Christmas, the cotton gives a playful nod to snowy holidays elsewhere. Even without real snow, the festive spirit shines just as bright in the tropics.
6. Christmas fever hits early in the Philippines
In the Philippines, the countdown begins in the last days of August – yes, really! “Ber” months bring Christmas songs, carols echoing through malls, colourful parols (star-shaped lanterns) and streets decked with bright decorations. No wonder by January everyone’s already counting down to August again, ready to relive the festive magic all over!
5. Radish kinda night in Mexico
It’s basically Christmas, but with giant veggie sculptures stealing the spotlight! Who knew radishes could be so festive and so impressive?
Oaxaca hosts Noche de los Rábanos, where giant radishes are carved into intricate nativity scenes, mythical figures and local folklore. The competition draws crowds and turns humble vegetables into genuine works of art.
4. Merry skatemas in Venezuela
In Venezuela, Christmas means lacing up your skates. Roads are closed so everyone can roller-skate to early morning church services, with kids tying strings to their windows so passing skaters can tug them awake. Merry skatemas!
3. Brave your Christmas demons in Austria
St. Nicholas isn’t the only figure keeping kids in line In Austria. Meet Krampus, his horned, demon-like counterpart. On Krampusnacht, people don devilish costumes, roam the streets with rattling chains and sometimes carry baskets meant for abducting the worst-behaved kids. It’s a spooky, thrilling tradition and certainly an effective way to keep children on their best behavior before Christmas!
2. Santa brings KFC in Japan
In Japan, Christmas isn’t complete without a bucket of KFC. The tradition started in the 1970s with a clever marketing campaign that promoted fried chicken as a festive alternative to turkey and it stuck.
Today, an estimated 3.6 million families pre-order special Christmas KFC meals, which often include fried chicken, sides like shrimp gratin and a celebratory cake. It’s a uniquely Japanese way to celebrate the holidays.
1. Caterpillar dinner feast in South Africa
If you think turkey is the only option, South Africa will ‘crunch’ your expectations. In some regions, caterpillars aren’t just bugs… they’re a seasonal treat, typically harvested during the rainy months around December/January and again in April.
Families gather to enjoy them as a starter, often cooked with spices or peanut sauce. This centuries-old tradition is celebrated for both flavour and good luck, proving that Christmas feasts don’t always have to follow the usual menu.
No matter where you are in the world, these unexpected traditions show that Christmas is just as much about creativity and joy as it is just about the usual trimmings. So this holiday season, whether you’re sticking to the classics or adding a quirky twist of your own, remember: the magic of Christmas is as boundless as the traditions that bring it to life. Merry Christmas!
Feature image: iStockAscentXmedia
Tell us in the comments: What’s the strangest Christmas tradition you’ve ever heard of?
More festive articles here: