11 Surprising Christmas Traditions From Around The World

Christmas is celebrated all over the world. But its traditions vary from region to region. Christmas traditions make it more loveable. Santa Claus, Christmas trees, and festive lights are familiar everywhere. Some countries celebrate Christmas in their own unique way. Even every family has some special traditions related to Christmas. These traditions reflect the history and folklore of different nations. Christmas is a time for Unique celebrations filled with humour and mischief. Let's dive into some of the most fun Christmas traditions from all around the world.

In Iceland, Yule Lads visit children. Yule Lady is a mischievous character who comes from the mountains on the 13th night leading up to Christmas. Their personality is like playful trolls. Each of the Yule ladies has a specific name. Some Yule ladies may be sausage swipers or spoon lickers. Children keep shoes in their windows to get candy from the young lady. However, if the children misbehave, they can find rotten potatoes instead of candy. In this way, the yule lady adds suspense to Christmas fun.

In Spain, Christmas logs bring gifts. A Christmas log is a part of the wood with a face and legs. This log is also called Tió de Nadal. It not only brings presents for families but can also cosy it up with its blanket. Isn't it cute? On the evening of Christmas, people put the log at the place of fire and beat it until it poops out candies and other presents.

In some countries, piñatas or other figures are filled with candies and tied with Mexico. These piñatas usually appear during the holiday season but show off with additional sparkle and glamour during Christmas. Traditional Christmas piñatas come in the shape of seven-point stars. These stars represent the seven dangerous crimes people commit to show their faith in God. Christmas piñatas are filled with fruits, peanuts, and other treats.

You hide mops and brooms when you do not want to clean anything. But in Norway, people conceal their mops during the Christmas period. Norwegians are very superstitious; their folks advise them to hide mops and brooms. According to them, evil witches and spirits return to earth at night on Christmas day and take cleaning tools to use them to fly.

Saint Nicholas is the character of Santa Claus in Germany. It is a religious vision of Santa Claus. During the night of Christmas, he leaves cute presents like fruits and coins in children's shoes. But if Saint Nicholas turns out to be naughty, children can also find twigs or stickers in their shoes.

Pickles are everyone's favourite. In some regions, pickles are also included in Christmas decorations. In some countries, people hide ornaments in the shape of pickles on Christmas trees. The person who finds this ornament gets extra presents and good wishes. However, it is still being determined where this tradition comes from.

The Night of Radishes is a vibrant night celebrated in Mexico. This tradition has its roots in the 18th century when farmers used to make intricate designs of radishes to catch shoppers' eyes at Christmas markets. With time, it became an annual competition to showcase highly detailed radish sculptures on the night of Christmas. Farmers grow these radishes specially for Christmas. These radishes are more significant than ordinary radishes. On the eve of Christmas, people gather to view the impressive displays of radishes, and the best carvings are awarded with prizes.

Roller skates are a super fun Christmas tradition in Caracas, Venezuela. On the morning of Christmas, people attend an early morning church service called Misa de Aguinaldo. Interestingly, Caracas's roads are closed until 8 a.m., and people head to church by skating. After that, they gather to enjoy the festivities of Christmas.

Different countries associate different animals with Christmas. In Sweden, people link Christmas with a different type of animal: the yule goat. According to historians, associating Christmas with the yule goat goes back to the eleventh century, when people thought the yule goat could ward off the devil. We can also see the yule goat as an ornament on Christmas trees. People also decorate their yards with yule goats during Christmas.

In Japan, one per cent of the population celebrates Christmas, so there is no national holiday for Christmas. However, the citizens of Japan have still found a way to celebrate Christmas deliciously. Families don't prepare dinner at home on the eve of Christmas; instead, they go to the nearby Kentucky Fried Chicken. This tradition started in 1974 after a successful KFC campaign called Kentucky for Chicken.

In Poland, Christmas evening is also called Wigilia. It is filled with meaningful traditions to symbolize hospitality and faith. One of the most cherished traditions is sharing oplatek, a type of wafer with a nativity embossed. Before the Christmas dinner, every family member takes a piece from each other's wafer and exchanges good wishes. This fantastic ritual symbolizes a renewal of the family bond.

Christmas is when the world lights up with joy and unique traditions. Each country and family has its unique way of marking the festive season of Christmas. These traditions bring people close together, from the Yule lady in Iceland to radiant sculptures of Mexico. Each custom weaves a rich Christmas celebration essence, whether gathering around a Christmas log in Mexico or sharing a simple wafer in Poland. The customs may differ, but the spirit of Christmas remains the same. So, embrace the magic of Christmas by celebrating it through your unique family traditions.