While Brits may debate the merits of turkey versus beef and the appropriate date to erect the tree, other nations celebrate the festive season with far more eccentric flair. From devilish parades to faecal-themed figurines, Christmas traditions around the globe offer a fascinating glimpse into diverse cultural histories, some centuries old.
European Eccentricities: From Alpine Demons to Catalan Logs
In Germany and Austria, the festive period isn't just about Saint Nicholas. On 5 December, the terrifying Krampus takes centre stage during Krampusnacht. This horned, hairy beast from Alpine folklore is said to punish naughty children. The night is marked by chaotic parades where hundreds don Krampus costumes and chase through the streets.
Meanwhile, in Catalonia, traditions take a scatological turn. Families adopt a caga tio or "defecating log" in the fortnight before Christmas. This smiling log is fed fruit and sweets daily before being beaten with sticks on Christmas Eve to "excrete" its treats. Another peculiar custom is the caganer, a small figurine depicted in the act of defecation, traditionally placed in nativity scenes. Modern versions often parody celebrities like Donald Trump.
Global Festive Oddities: Skating, Chicken and Predicting Love
Venturing further afield, traditions become even more unique. In Caracas, Venezuela, roads are closed on mornings between 16 December and Christmas Eve so that revellers can roller-skate to early morning church services.
In Japan, where Christmas is not a national holiday, a surprising culinary custom has taken root. Many head to KFC for Christmas dinner, with the week leading to 25 December being the chain's most profitable period in the country. Orders are often placed over a month in advance.
Over in the Czech Republic, unmarried women perform a unique ritual to forecast their romantic future. They stand with their back to their front door and throw a shoe over their shoulder. If the toe points towards the door, it is believed a wedding may occur within the year.
Ancient Beliefs and Unusual Feasts
Many traditions are rooted in ancient superstitions. In Norway, families hide all their brooms and mops on Christmas Eve to protect them from witches and evil spirits believed to be abroad that night.
Ukrainian trees are often decorated with artificial spider webs for good luck, stemming from a folk tale about a poor woman's tree being magically adorned by a spider. In Scandinavia, the Yule Goat, once a supernatural spirit overseeing celebrations, is now commonly represented as a straw tree decoration.
Festive feasts also push boundaries. In Greenland, mattak – raw whale skin with blubber – is a Christmas delicacy. Another is kiviak, made by fermenting a small bird inside a seal skin for months.
From Portugal's consoda, where places are set at the table for deceased relatives, to Slovakia's practice of throwing pudding at the ceiling to predict luck, these global customs show that the Christmas spirit manifests in wonderfully strange ways far beyond the UK's traditional celebrations.
