If you think your crazy family does the most outrageous traditions for the Christmas season, think again. Countries around the world all have their own unique traditions that happen at Christmastime other than leaving cookies out for Santa.
1. Christmas on Skates in Venezuela
On Christmas Eve in Caracas, children tie one end of a string to their big toe and they leave the other end outside their window before they go to bed. If you are a late sleeper, you will be woken up by neighbors skating by on roller skates pulling your string. They close off the streets to cars for roller skaters going to early morning mass Christmas morning.
2. Mummers roam the streets of Latvia
If you go you Latvia, you might encounter a group of trick-or-treaters going caroling. What??? It is a tradition for “mummers” to dress up in different costumes and go from house to house singing and dancing to drive away evil spirits. The homeowners will then give them a warm greeting and treats.
3. Italy had an Epiphany
Who knew that witches could be friendly? In Italy, children await the arrival of Befana to deliver presents and sweets instead of St Nicholas. Befana is an old woman who bears gifts on Epiphany Eve, the night of January 5th.
4. North Pole, Canada H0H 0H0
As Santa says, “ho, ho, ho!” Want to mail a Christmas list to the real Santa Claus? Just address your letter to the postal code, H0H 0H0, which happens to be in Canada. The best part is you actually might get a response! Thousands of Canada Post volunteers help Santa reply to millions of letters from children around the world.
5. Ukraine's version of Charlotte's Web
When you look at a Christmas tree in Ukraine, you will find it covered with cobwebs and artificial spiders instead of tinsel and ornaments. Why? It is an old folktale that a poor woman couldn’t afford to decorate her tree, and in the morning her children found it covered in spider webs. When the morning sunlight shown on the webs, they turned into gold and silver. Now it is believed that seeing a spider web on Christmas morning is good luck.
6. Christmas is the real G.O.A.T. in Sweden
During Christmas at the town square of Galve, you can find a 13-metre tall goat waiting to be burned down. In 1966, a goat made of straw was built in Galve and at the stroke of midnight, Christmas eve, the goat was burned down by vandals. The people don’t want the goat to be burned down, however every year someone tries to light it up in flames.
7. Kentucky Fried Christmas in Japan
KFC instilled a brilliant marketing campaign decades ago that stuck in Japan. On Christmas, instead of buying a turkey, many Japanese will wait in long lines for Kentucky Fried Chicken as their traditional Christmas meal.
8. Czech Republic shoe toss
If there aren’t any weddings for you to catch a bouquet at coming up, try tossing your shoe on Christmas day instead. In the Czech Republic, people will stand with their back facing the door, and toss their shoe behind their head at it. If it lands with the toe pointing the door, it means they are going to get married soon.
9. The proof is in the pudding in Britain
It is a tradition in Great Britain to have the whole family make the Christmas pudding, each member stirring clockwise while making a wish. Earlier traditions say that putting a ring in the mix will bring luck in marriage, a thimble for luck in life, and a coin for wealth to whoever finds it.
10. Iceland's "Meow"y Christmas
In Iceland, those who don’t receive new clothes before Christmas Eve will be eaten by the Yule Cat, which is said to stalk the Icelandic hills.
11. Shoe stuffers in Iceland and Philippines
Children in Iceland and the Philippines leave one of their shoes out on their bedroom windowsill every night during the 12 days of Christmas for Icelanders and all the way until January for Filipinos. Each morning children find it is stuffed with gifts and sweets ready to enjoy.
12. Germany in a pickle
Who knew that a pickle is considered special when decorating a fur tree for Christmas. In Germany, a pickle ornament is always the last to be hung on the tree, with the parents hiding it in the branches. The first kid to find the pickle in the tree receives an extra gift from Santa for being the most observant.
Hopefully you found some traditions that you do, and some that you never knew about!
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