Top 26 Most Unusual Christmas Traditions Around the World

In the town of Gavle, Sweden, locals celebrate Christmas with a truly strange custom. They construct a giant straw goat, 12 meters in length, and then burn it at the end of the holiday season.

Some people believe that the Christmas Goat is a companion of Thor, the god of thunder, storms, and strength from Norse mythology. Others in Scandinavia view the goat as a symbol of Christmas, appearing before Santa Claus to deliver gifts to children. Imagine that – a goat handing out presents! Quite unusual, right?

This is another fascinating tradition observed in Spain, Italy, and France. Cagner (or Shitter) is a statue of an elderly man wearing a hat and a red robe, in the act of defecating. Adults stuff money into the Cagner and hide it away.

Children then search for these statues. This custom gradually became a fun holiday pastime during the 17th and 18th centuries. It symbolizes luck and fairness. Today, both ordinary people and celebrities are often used as models for Cagner.

The traditional image of Santa Claus, with his long white beard and red robe, is well known. However, in Los Angeles, USA, a different version of Santa is chosen – a handsome young man selected through an annual contest for the best-looking man, held at the Beverly shopping mall.

Like the classic Santa, this Handsome Santa also distributes gifts to children and allows them to sit on his lap for photos. In addition, he shares advice on nutrition and exercise to help them maintain a healthy physique just like his.

Christmas celebrations in France are diverse across different regions. In most parts of France, Christmas is celebrated on December 25th, marking the start of the holiday season. However, in the eastern and northern regions of France, Christmas festivities begin on December 6th with St. Nicholas Day. Additionally, in some provinces, the Feast of the Three Kings (when the wise men visited the infant Jesus) is one of the most significant holidays during the Christmas season.

While many people hang stockings for children, in France, it is customary to hang shoes by the fireplace. Children eagerly wait for Santa Claus to fill their Christmas shoes with candies and toys. Shoes can hold sweets, but what about toys? It's a fun and unique tradition!

In Japan, Santa Claus is known as Santa Kurohsu, and he is said to have an eye on the back of his head to watch over naughty children. Christmas cakes are often made with a spongy base, whipped cream, and strawberries.

People in Japan also send each other white Christmas cards, symbolizing purity, rather than the traditional red cards seen in many other countries. This is because, in Japan, the color red is traditionally associated with writing obituaries.

Unlike most countries, people in Catalonia, Spain don’t celebrate Christmas around a Christmas tree. Instead, they gather around a decorated log, which is made to look like characters from animated movies, complete with a cute hat and a big smile.

These log characters are prepared about two weeks before Christmas, where they are cared for and fed fruits and sweets. On Christmas Eve, the family members take turns hitting the log with sticks to release all the treats it has been 'fed' and celebrate by singing Christmas carols.

In Caracas, Venezuela, locals celebrate Christmas morning by joining the crowds on ice skates. This tradition has become so popular that many streets close by 8 a.m. on Christmas Day to ensure skaters can safely make their way to church.

There are stories that children tie their skates to their toes the night before Christmas and hang the other skate outside their window, so friends can tug on the strings and wake them up the next morning.

Every Christmas, children around the world eagerly await the arrival of Santa Claus. Many of them write wishes to Santa, hoping for their dreams to come true. However, some of these wishes are so bizarre that they leave listeners laughing at their absurdity.

One of the UK's Christmas traditions involves making a Christmas pudding, where people make a wish while mixing the ingredients. If they stir the mixture clockwise, their wish is believed to come true.

When it comes to Christmas, people usually think of traditional symbols such as the nativity scene, Santa Claus, Christmas trees, reindeer sleighs, and the charming gifts exchanged between loved ones. However, in one place, Christmas is celebrated with the same symbols, but with a twist: instead of using a Christmas tree, they decorate a banana tree for the occasion. This is a tradition in India, where it's known as the 'banana tree Christmas' instead of the usual pine tree.

Although only about 2.3% of India's population is Christian, this still represents around 25 million people in one of the most populous countries in the world. During Christmas, people indulge in festive feasts and exchange meaningful gifts. But here, instead of a pine tree, people use banana or mango trees to decorate in celebration of Christmas.

The Christmas tree tradition in Ukraine is somewhat reminiscent of Halloween rather than the celebration of Christ's birth. In Ukraine, it's customary to decorate the tree with... spider webs. This unusual tradition originates from a story about a widow and her son, who loved decorating the Christmas tree but couldn't afford decorations. On one Christmas morning, they woke up to find the tree beautifully adorned with spider webs. As the light shone on the webs, they turned into gold and silver. To this day, Ukrainians hang fake spiders and webs on their Christmas trees to bring good luck and prosperity during the holiday season.

In Italian folklore, there is a popular story about La Befana, a witch who delivers gifts to children on Christmas Eve. She is said to enter homes through the chimney and ride a broomstick, unlike Santa Claus, who uses reindeer. La Befana brings presents to both well-behaved and naughty children. In contrast to the red-suited Santa seen around the world, Italian children eagerly await the arrival of this magical witch during the Christmas season.

Among the strange Christmas traditions around the world, placing a carp in the bathtub in some Eastern European countries and hiding brooms in Norway are among the most unique. In Norwegian folklore, brooms are associated with witches, and it is believed that during Christmas, witches and evil spirits will come out and steal brooms to fly off into the sky. To prevent this, families in Norway hide their brooms during the holiday season.

In Australia, the land of kangaroos, Santa’s sleigh is not pulled by reindeer like in Northern Europe, but by eight white kangaroos. One of the key events during this time is the “Carols by Candlelight,” a Christmas Eve tradition where thousands gather to sing carols with candles in hand. This event began in Melbourne in 1937 and continues to this day, spreading a message of ‘peace on Earth and goodwill to all.' Christmas in Australia is also marked by the tradition of gift-giving and sporting events like baseball games and yacht races.

While people in Western countries typically gather around the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve, Mexico has a unique and fascinating tradition. On Christmas Day, Mexicans buy sweet pastries called 'buñuelos' from local bakeries or near churches, and then they smash plates that once held these pastries. This custom symbolizes the letting go of the old year and the welcoming of the new one.

Spending Christmas at home with loved ones is a wonderful choice, but experiencing the unique Christmas traditions of different countries is equally fascinating. In Sandycove, Dublin, Ireland, people have a rather unusual custom to jump into freezing cold water to celebrate Christmas. Afterward, they warm themselves up with a drink of alcohol. This tradition has drawn many participants over the years.

While many countries enjoy traditional dishes like roasted lamb or chicken for Christmas, some have unusual foods to celebrate the holiday.

In Greenland, one of the strangest Christmas customs involves eating the skin of the Auk bird. The process begins with the birds being wrapped in sealskin and buried under rocks for several months before Christmas. On Christmas Day, the birds are unearthed, their decayed flesh discarded, and only the preserved skin is eaten.

Turkey and Yule log cake are popular Christmas dishes around the world, but in certain parts of Southern Africa, the special Christmas treat is caterpillars.

These caterpillars are prepared by boiling them in salty water, then drying or smoking them to enhance their flavor. They are so highly valued for their nutritional benefits that the caterpillar trade has become a multi-million-dollar industry in the region.

Known as the birthplace of Santa Claus, Finland is home to the renowned Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, situated right on the Arctic Circle. During Christmas and New Year, the village is filled with festive activities, and the locals begin their preparations a month in advance to ensure everything runs smoothly. On Christmas Day, most people attend church and later visit the graves of their loved ones to honor the departed.

One unique Finnish tradition is to take a sauna before Santa arrives, followed by a cozy family dinner. Finnish Santa, or “Joulupukki,” visits homes through the front door and always asks children if they have been good before delivering gifts. Traditional Finnish Christmas dishes include roast pork, mashed potatoes, salmon, rice porridge, and turkey.

As part of a beloved tradition, French mothers buy their children an “Advent Calendar” at the end of November. Inside this unique calendar are square chocolate candies, each corresponding to a numbered window from 1 to 24. Every morning, children must find the correct number and open the window to receive a piece of chocolate. This special treat is exclusive to the Christmas season.

In addition to this, French children place their shoes near the fireplace on Christmas Eve to receive gifts from Santa Claus. Older children, on the other hand, join the adults for midnight Mass before heading home to enjoy a light meal called “Le Réveillon.” Puppet shows are also a popular part of Christmas festivities in France, especially in Paris and Lyon.

According to Italian tradition, it's not Santa Claus who brings gifts on Christmas Eve. The Christmas dinner on December 24th in Italy is typically a lavish feast, often featuring dishes like roasted eel, a traditional vegetable called cardoni, and pastries filled with creamy cheese.

As the candles glow and children gather around, they tell stories about the holiday and the birth of the Holy Child. But instead of Santa, it’s the old witch, La Befana, who delivers presents. According to legend, La Befana flies around Italy on a broomstick, bringing toys, sweets, and fruits to well-behaved children, while also punishing those who have misbehaved.

Located in the Southern Hemisphere, Christmas in New Zealand takes place in the middle of summer. Instead of sipping hot drinks, Santa often receives a cold beer. Many families enjoy picnics or go to the beach on Christmas afternoon. Traditionally, they prefer smoked meats over a turkey dinner.

The colors red, white, and green hold significant meaning here. Red represents the pohutukawa tree, known as New Zealand's Christmas tree. Green symbolizes the lush tropical vegetation, and white stands for the sandy beaches that stretch along the coast.

In Brazil, Christmas takes place during the hot summer season. Whether in small towns or large cities like São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Recife, people decorate their homes, set up Christmas trees, and exchange gifts. After praying, they eagerly wait for midnight to open their presents.

Parties are often held right on the beach, continuing through the night until Christmas morning. One of the fun traditions is creating sand sculptures in the shape of Santa Claus to celebrate the holiday. Children leave their stockings by the window, hoping that Santa will fill them with gifts in exchange for their empty socks.

In New Zealand, Christmas coincides with the height of the summer holiday, and celebrations often take place on the beach or while camping. Some families prefer to spend this time at home, enjoying the holiday in their own way.

The colors red, white, and green hold great significance here. The red represents the pohutukawa tree, which is considered the Christmas tree of New Zealand. The green symbolizes the lushness of the tropical vegetation, while the white stands for the sandy beaches.

In Switzerland, there is a unique tradition where children don't celebrate Christmas with Santa Claus, but with Schmutzli. This character is quite frightening in appearance, with a dark face, a long cloak, and he often accompanies Santa Claus during the festivities.

Rather than bringing gifts, Schmutzli punishes naughty children with a bundle of twigs. However, this tradition has softened over time, and nowadays, Schmutzli is seen alongside Santa, handing out presents and treats to well-behaved children.

In Austria, children face an even scarier Christmas tradition than those in Switzerland, as they celebrate the holiday with the terrifying figure of Krampus. According to legend, Krampus is a demon who targets naughty children, often portrayed with goat-like fur, horns, and a sharp tongue.

These demons are said to punish the misbehaving by abducting them and taking them away. However, in modern times, Krampus appears during Christmas festivals, sometimes alongside Santa Claus, or even on his own, bringing joy and excitement to children in the streets.

Zwarte Piet, also known as Black Pete, is a key figure in Christmas celebrations in the Netherlands. In the country, Santa Claus is referred to as Sinterklaas, based on a tall, thin bishop from Turkey. According to legend, Zwarte Piet was once Sinterklaas' servant. However, in an effort to avoid accusations of racism, Zwarte Piet is now considered Santa's "helper", and his dark skin is explained by the soot he collects while climbing down chimneys to deliver gifts.

In the past, children were frightened by Zwarte Piet, as they were threatened with punishment if they misbehaved, with the threat of being taken to Spain. Nowadays, children in the Netherlands are fond of him, as he brings sweets and places gifts in their stockings during the Christmas season.