Let’s be honest, a British Christmas involves some very strange behaviour. Pulling crackers, wearing paper hats, watching miserable soaps on the telly – these are all customs that might look a bit odd to an outsider.
Weirdness is most definitely in the eye of the beholder, and festive celebrations around the world come in lots of wonderful shapes and sizes. From sinister Santas to feasting on Kentucky Fried Chicken, here are some of the world’s most peculiar Christmastime customs. Who knows, maybe you’ll be inspired to take on some new traditions this year.
The Japanese love a KFC Christmas dinner
Every Christmas Eve, millions of Japanese head to their local KFC for a special festive bucket of chicken. While Christmas isn’t a holiday in Japan, this fun secular celebration has become a national tradition thanks to a 40-year-old marketing campaign.
Back in 1974, the American fast-food restaurant released a festive campaign with the slogan: ‘Kentucky for Christmas!’ It spawned an offbeat custom that still thrives to this day.
Austria has a bad Santa
In Austria, Father Christmas’s devil-like counterpart, Krampus, is said to roam the streets in search of badly-behaved children. Taking the form of a huge hairy beast, with cloven hooves and horns, he carries chains and a basket for abducting naughty boys and girls.
This holiday tradition is celebrated at Krampusnacht parties and Krampus Runs, during which costumed revellers run through the town scaring kids with ghoulish pranks. Terrifying.
Catalonians give nativity scenes a peculiar twist
In the weeks leading up to Christmas, Catalonians liven up their nativity scenes with the addition of ‘el caganer,’ which translates as, ahem, the crapper. These figurines, which have been part of the local celebrations for centuries, traditionally depict a Catalan peasant defecating on the floor.
No one really knows where this odd tradition comes from, but it’s thought that perhaps it may have something to do with fertilising the nativity scene. Who knows?
Roller-skating to mass in Caracus
In the Venezuelan capital of Caracas, it’s the Christmas Day custom to travel to early-morning mass on roller skates. The city’s streets are even closed to traffic to allow safe passage.
Radish carving in Mexico
In the city of Oaxaca, December 23 marks the Night of the Radishes, when thousands of people flock to the main square to see a display of sculptures carved from radishes.
The Welsh ritual of Mari Lwyd
In some parts of rural Wales, a villager is chosen to perform the ritual of Mari Lwyd, which translates as Grey Mare. It involves parading around the streets with a mare’s skull attached to the end of a wooden pole, accompanied by singers and dancers. The tradition is thought to be a holdover from pagan celebrations.
Ukrainians like to decorate with cobwebs
In Ukraine, it’s tradition to add an artificial spiderweb to the Christmas tree, alongside the standard tinsel and baubles. It’s a custom that harks back to a folktale about a poor widow who couldn’t afford decorations, only to wake in the morning to find her tree covered in beautiful webs.
Norwegians hide their brooms
Norwegians traditionally hide their brooms out of sight on Christmas Eve thanks to an old legend in which nasty witches will steal any brooms left on show, before riding off to wreak havoc throughout the Christmas season. Who wants to clean on Christmas Day anyway?