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As Christmas draws near, it's time to wrap up gifts, indulge in copious amounts of eggnog, and reflect on another year of the Earth completing its orbit around the Sun (and ponder the endless supply of festive socks and sweaters we've received). But how much do we really know about our Christmas traditions? And what about the holiday customs in other parts of the world?
Many Christmas traditions around the world are quite peculiar and unusual. In this article, we delve into some of the most surprising and fascinating Christmas customs and legends from different cultures.
10. The Nikolaus Boot and Knecht Ruprecht
The Germans take the idea of the “naughty or nice” list to a whole new level. On December 5, children across Germany place a boot outside their doorsteps in preparation for Saint Nicholas Day. Sankt Nikolaus consults his golden book to check which children have been good. Well-behaved kids find gifts, candy, and chocolate in their boots, while those on the naughty list might receive a bundle of twigs—and possibly even a visit from Knecht Ruprecht, Nikolaus’s stern companion.
In various parts of Europe, such as Austria and the Czech Republic, Knecht Ruprecht is better known as Krampus. Krampus is a terrifying creature, half-goat and half-demon, characterized by fearsome horns. During festive parades, people dress up as this monstrous figure, chaining themselves up and chasing naughty children through the streets with bundles of birch branches. According to the lore, Krampus drags the captured children off to his lair, where he punishes or devours them.
Krampus is rooted in ancient Germanic paganism and Norse mythology. This fearsome figure is believed to be the son of Hel, the goddess of the underworld. A unique blend of pagan traditions and Christianity led to the creature becoming part of festive celebrations.
9. The Christmas Pickle
The Christmas pickle is arguably one of the most peculiar ornaments found on American Christmas trees. Traditionally, the glass pickle is hidden deep within the branches of the tree, and eager children search for it on Christmas morning. The lucky child who discovers the hidden pickle is rewarded with presents and is believed to receive good luck throughout the year.
The precise origin of this odd tradition remains unclear, but many theories exist. One popular belief is that the tradition of the Christmas pickle started in Germany. However, the majority of Germans are unfamiliar with this unusual custom.
Another version of the story centers on John C. Lower, a soldier who enlisted during the US Civil War. According to the tale, Private Lower was captured and taken to Camp Sumter, a Confederate POW camp. On Christmas Eve, a famished Lower supposedly asked one of the camp guards for a pickle. Allegedly, the guard granted his request, a compassionate gesture that is said to have saved Lower's life. From this moment, the tradition was born. However, this narrative was debunked because the Civil War had ended before these glass ornaments became popular.
In reality, it is believed that the Christmas pickle originated as a clever marketing strategy—intended to promote and sell glass ornaments made in Germany.
8. El Gordo
Every December 22, people in Spain eagerly anticipate the Spanish Christmas Lottery. The grand prize—El Gordo, or 'The Fat One'—earned its name because of its enormous size. In 2016, 70 percent of the revenue from ticket sales was distributed as prizes, with over €2 billion shared among the winners. In recent years, the top prize has been set at €4 million. The Spanish Christmas Lottery offers more total prize money than any other lottery, thanks to the abundance of smaller cash prizes.
The expensive tickets make the Spanish Christmas Lottery a very social event. A full ticket sheet costs €200, and a tenth of a ticket (a decimo) is priced at €20. As a result, it’s common for families, friends, and coworkers to pool their money together to purchase a ticket sheet. Unlike many other lottery systems, participants must buy preprinted tickets, meaning they can’t choose their own numbers.
For the lottery draw, a group of Spanish schoolchildren selects lottery balls from two golden drums—one containing the winning numbers and the other with the prize amounts. As they draw the balls, the children sing the lottery results for the public. Due to the large number of winners, the entire process can take several hours, and students are assigned to different shifts until all the balls have been drawn.
7. Kentucky Fried Chicken
When thinking about Christmas dinner, Kentucky Fried Chicken might not be the first food that comes to mind. But for many people in Japan who celebrate the holiday, KFC is a top choice. This phenomenon is the result of an exceptional marketing strategy. KFC Japan launched its Kentucky for Christmas campaign in the 1970s, introducing products like the Party Barrel, which was promoted as an alternative to more traditional Christmas meals, and quickly became a festive staple for many families.
Although only one percent of Japan's population identifies as Christian, Christmas is still widely recognized and celebrated throughout the country.
In Japan, December has become such a busy month for the fast food chain that many customers end up preordering their special KFC Christmas dinner. Those who don't preorder are often faced with long lines. During the Christmas season, millions of Japanese people buy Kentucky Fried Chicken, with the company’s advertisements featuring some of Japan's most famous celebrities.
KFC Japan's rise in popularity is believed to be linked to the scarcity of turkey. Tourists who had difficulty finding turkey for Christmas initially turned to KFC. Upon hearing about their struggle, Takeshi Okawara, the manager of Japan's first KFC restaurant, created the Christmas-themed Party Barrel. This marketing campaign was a massive success and continues to be a model for modern advertising.
The Colonel's Christmas buckets include KFC, cake, and champagne. Be sure to preorder if you're planning to enjoy it during the holidays.
6. Night Of The Radishes
On December 23, the people of Oaxaca City gather to celebrate the Night of the Radishes. Locals engage in a friendly competition, crafting elaborate displays by carving radishes into various imaginative forms.
The custom was originally a creative way to attract customers to the local Christmas market. It became so popular that in 1897, the city's mayor officially recognized the Night of the Radishes as an annual event. Special land is now set aside for cultivating the radishes used in the festival.
Each year, the radish displays are judged, and the winner receives 12,000 pesos. Mexican artists showcase their talents by transforming radishes into nativity scenes, festive characters, animals, mythical creatures, and other iconic figures from folklore. These intricate creations also serve as beautiful Christmas decorations in local homes.
5. Candy Canes
The origin of the iconic candy cane is surrounded by mystery, but we do know that straight candy canes were already present in Europe during the 17th century. There are three main theories on how they came to have their distinctive hooked shape.
One theory suggests that the curved candy cane was invented by a German choirmaster as a clever way to keep children quiet during nativity services. The first candy canes were straight white sugar sticks. After seeing them in a candy store window, the choirmaster thought they would help calm the children. Concerned that parents might disapprove of the sugar-filled plan, he asked the candymaker to add a hook to the candy. The hooked shape resembled a shepherd’s crook, which then became a symbol used to teach children about the three kings and the baby Jesus.
Another theory comes from the time of Oliver Cromwell’s rule in the mid-1600s when Christmas decorations were banned. It’s believed that Christians created the candy cane as a secret way to identify one another in the streets of England.
A third, simpler theory is that the candy cane’s hooked shape was just a practical design to make it easier to hang on Christmas trees. This idea fits with Occam’s razor. It’s also worth noting that by the time candy canes became popular, German Christians had already been decorating trees with food and candies.
Although the exact origin of the modern candy cane is unknown, we do know that candy store owner Bob McCormack played a key role in popularizing the process of coloring them. This led to the iconic red and white stripes we recognize today. McCormack’s brother-in-law went on to invent the Keller Machine, which automated the process of bending the candy canes.
4. Defecating Nativity Figurines
The caganer: No Catalonian nativity scene is complete without one of these figures. These small figurines are positioned under the Christmas tree, pants down, as they relieve themselves.
The precise origins of this tradition are unclear, but it likely emerged between the 17th and 18th centuries. According to superstition, any Catalan who doesn’t display their own defecating figurine is doomed to face bad luck. The caganer, or ‘the crapper,’ symbolizes fertility by literally enriching the soil.
While the classic caganer often depicts a peasant, many modern versions have appeared. You can now find caganers shaped like the Queen of England, Darwin, Freud, Princess Leia, Jon Snow, and even Santa Claus.
3. The Yule Cat
The Yule Cat (Jolakotturinn) is a monster from Icelandic folklore that preys on those who cannot afford new clothes. This bloodthirsty feline devours people who are poorly dressed as Christmas approaches. The tale was likely created to motivate people into a hardworking frenzy. Those who slacked off would have to face the wrath of this massive beast, which towers over even the tallest buildings.
The Yule Cat keeps a watchful eye over homes, inspecting the gifts children have earned. If a child has been naughty and has not received new clothes from their parents, they face the punishment of being eaten by the monstrous cat.
As if the Yule Cat wasn’t terrifying enough, it is accompanied by its dreadful owners, Gryla and her offspring, the Yulemen. Gryla hunts down misbehaving children and throws them into a stew, while the Yulemen steal food, frighten wrongdoers, and leave rotting potatoes on the windowsills of disobedient children.
In the 18th century, the tales of the Yulemen became so grim that the Danish rulers of Iceland banned people from sharing them. Initially, there were 50 Yulemen, but over time their number shrank to 13. As the legend softened, the pranksters became more like mini-Santas, rewarding well-behaved children with gifts.
13 days before Christmas, an Icelandic child places a boot on their windowsill, and the Yulemen deliver gifts on each of the following 13 nights. But even with these gifts, they still have to deal with the ominous Yule Cat.
2. Boiled Sheep Heads And Deep-Fried Caterpillars
In a culinary tradition reminiscent of the jungle survival challenges on the show I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, Christmas dinner in South Africa often includes deep-fried caterpillars. Known as a delicacy in parts of Africa, the mopane caterpillar provides a major nutritional source. These caterpillars are typically harvested and enjoyed during the festive season.
For those not keen on eating bugs, Norway offers its own unique holiday dish: smalahove. A traditional meal in Western Norway, smalahove consists of a boiled sheep’s head, often served with potatoes, rutabagas, and sausages. The head can be served with or without the brain, and diners scoop out the brain using a spoon. The eyes, ears, and tongue of the sheep’s head are all considered edible parts of the smalahove dish.
1. The Christmas Witch
Italy has a unique tradition surrounding Christmas, embodied by La Befana, a witch who flies around delivering gifts to joyful children. Similar to Saint Nicholas, this magical journey takes place on the eve of Epiphany, January 5.
La Befana travels on her broomstick, sneaking through chimneys to bring presents to well-behaved children. For those on the naughty list, she leaves behind sticks or lumps of black coal.
The legend of La Befana has deep religious roots. As the story goes, the Three Wise Men once sought La Befana’s guidance on their journey to visit the baby Jesus. While she couldn’t direct them, she offered them shelter. However, she declined their invitation to meet the Christ child, a decision she would come to regret, leading to her yearly gift-bringing ritual.
