Surprising Christmas Traditions Around the World

When it comes to celebrating Christmas in the United States, things are pretty straightforward and textbook. Christmas in the US means trimming the Christmas tree, decorating it with shiny ornaments and sparkly lights, baking cookies and putting red and green frosting on them and getting gifts for our friends and family.

People buy all the decorative items at the time of Christmas to experience the celebratory feeling. If you want to do the same, then Holyart is the right website for shopping. You can buy religious items like coloured candles for your front yard or dining room, coloured onion and teardrop shaped ornaments, wooden stars, painted glass Christmas balls, and carved comet stars for your Christmas trees.

People go to church, groups come for carolling, people host Christmas dinners and children wait for Santa Claus to come and give them gifts.

The decorations, festivities and celebrations are all mainstream, but it is not the same worldwide. The following are some of the Christmas traditions of other countries that might surprise you.

1. Christmas in Japan

Even though Christmas is not a public holiday in Japan, its residents find it an intriguing and tasty method to enjoy. Instead of sitting around the tables for a turkey meal, families go to their nearest KFC. Yes, a KFC. The custom originated in 1974, following the hugely popular commercial promotion “Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii!” or “Kentucky for Christmas!”

2. Christmas in Sweden

Since early pagan festivities, the Yule Goat has become a Swedish Christmas emblem. However, in 1966, somebody coined the concept of making a giant straw goat, today is known as the Gävle Goat, which gave the ritual fresh life. The goat is taller than 42 feet, and it is 23 feet long and weighs 3.6 tonnes, as per the official site. Every year, the enormous goat is built in the same location.

3. Christmas in Iceland

Iceland commemorates 13 days of Christmas, the same as the 12 days of Christmas in the United States. The 13 Yule Lads meet Icelandic youngsters every evening before Christmas. The kids will go up to bed after putting their boots by the window. If they’ve been nice, they’ll receive sweets; if they’ve been naughty, they’ll be met with boots full of rotting potatoes.

4. Christmas in the Philippines

If, according to you, the US decorations are over the top then, wait till you see what the people of the Philippines do. Each year, the town of San Fernando celebrates Ligligan Parul, which features brilliant parols that represent the Stars of Bethlehem. Every parol is made up of thousands of rotating lights that brighten up the night sky. San Fernando has been dubbed the “Christmas Capital of the Philippines” due to the event.

5. Christmas in New Zealand

Since summer coincides with Christmas in New Zealand, many of their customs revolve around a barbeque or grill, when family and friends meet for a relaxing barbecue of raw seafood, pork, and local veggies. The Pohutukawa is known as the New Zealand Christmas tree, a coastal plant that blossoms a beautiful red hue in December, giving shelter during the hot days.

6. Christmas in Ireland

Overnight, the Irish ignite a giant and bright red candle in front of the window as a welcome signal of love and shelter for the Christmas season. In Ireland, Christmas meal frequently includes cooked, roasted geese, carrots, cranberry, and potatoes.