Peculiar Christmas Traditions Around the World
Holidays are great times of celebration all around the world. But, the ways of which the celebrations are carried out can vary greatly from one culture to another. Since it is the end of the year and Christmas is around the corner, let’s take a fun stroll around the most bizarre festivity traditions of some cultures. Of course, every individual family has their own holiday tradition, but many places have common customs. So, here we go:
CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS ARE UP IN SEPTEMBER - PHILIPPINES
While Christmas is a season that only lasts for 2 months in most of the world, Phillipines take it a bit too far by celebrating Christmas for almost half the year. They start decorating their homes and streets in September – Yes, even way before Halloween – and the celebrations keep going until the first Sunday of January. Parols are used by most families; they’re paper lanterns that are used for sprucing up homes. And, needless to say, it’s a tradition that people eat a huge family meal on Christmas Eve.
KEEPING A LIVING CARP IN THE BATHTUB – POLAND
Fish is usually the main dish to eat as a Christmas celebration in Poland. However, according to the Polish traditions, it’s a luck bringer if the lady of the house buys a live carp and keeps it in the bathtub for a few days before Christmas. It’s also worth noting that it’s even better if the lady kills it herself before she cooks it. This tradition may seem a bit odd to some cultures, but it’s actually popular in several other ones, including Croatia, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Austria.
LITTLE CANDLES EVERYWHERE – COLOMBIA
Little Candles’ Day marks the start of the Christmas season across Colombia. In honour of the Virgin Mary, Colombian people place candles and paper lanterns in their windows, balconies and front yards. The tradition of candles has grown, and now entire towns and cities across the country are lit up with elaborate displays. Some of the best are found in Quimbaya, where neighbourhoods compete to see who can create the most impressive arrangement.
THE RED IN KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN (KFC) STANDS FOR CHRISTMAS – JAPAN
You read that right and, no, it’s not a joke. Japanese families actually celebrate Christmas by treating themselves to a large bucket of KFC fried chicken. So many traditions around the world are considered more secular, but actually this one is, by far, the weirdest in some way. Moreover, KFC is not just a Christmas meal, but it’s also deemed the perfect meal for a romantic date.
SKATE YOUR WAY TO CHURCH – VENEZUELA
It seems that things can get even weirder on Christmas in some places around the world. There are some traditions that only the locals know why they happen. Every Christmas Eve in Caracas, Venezuela’s capital, the city’s residents head to church in the early morning – so far, so normal – but, for reasons known only to them, they do so on roller skates. This unique tradition is so popular that roads across the city are closed to cars so that people can skate to church safely.
LET’S KEEP THE BROOMS OUT OF SIGHT – NORWAY
Perhaps one of the most unorthodox Christmas Eve traditions can be found in Norway, where people hide their brooms. It’s a tradition that dates back centuries to when people believed that witches and evil spirits came out on Christmas Eve looking for brooms to ride on. To this day, many people still hide their brooms in the safest place in the house to stop them from being stolen.
