Christmas is one of the most popular holidays globally, with more than 2 billion people participating in Christmas traditions around the world each year. Even in countries with few Christians, Christmas is still considered an important celebration.
But when you compare Christmas traditions around the world, those differences become much more noticeable – especially when you consider that many of them didn’t begin with Christmas at all.
1. The Swedes burned a giant goat
Every year, on the first Sunday of December, the people of Gävle, Sweden erect a giant straw goat on the town’s main square. It stands there proudly, bringing joy to chilly winter days. And then, vandals regularly try to burn it down.
The Julbocken (Christmas goat) has caught fire almost every year since 1966, when it was first installed, and now, every year, Swedes watch the news closely to see if it can. pass Christmas no.
Authorities have tried everything to deter people from burning goats, from installing surveillance cameras to soaking straw with fireproof material. They had brief success in 2015, when the goat survived until Christmas Eve – only to burn down again two days later.
2. Japanese people eat KFC
In Japan – a country with few Christians and no tradition of celebrating Christmas. Marketing experts have convinced people that eating KFC is a Christmas tradition.
It all started in the 1970s, when foreign tourists visiting Japan tried KFC chicken as an alternative to the traditional turkey during Christmas. With a little help from advertising, this trend has exploded with locals.
Today, reports say, sales at KFC restaurants at Christmas are five times higher than at other times of the year, with many customers ordering fried chicken months in advance.
3. The Spanish made a model of a person “defecating”
In Catalunya, Spain, the traditional nativity scene takes on a more exotic tone.
Every year, in the weeks before Christmas, in Catalunya, “el caganer” appears. These are ceramic models erected with the image of a Catalan farmer… defecating.
No one is really sure where this odd tradition came from, but it is thought that it may have something to do with “fertilizing” to help harvest good crops and bring good luck in the new year. These quirky patterns have been part of this local Christmas celebration for centuries.
4. Norwegians hide their brooms
Norwegians have a tradition of hiding their brooms from view on Christmas Eve. In addition to wanting to avoid holiday cleaning, they also believe in an old legend that says that if their brooms are left overnight, evil witches will steal them, then ride on them and destroy them. destroyed during the Christmas season.
5. Iceland won gifts from the Yule Lads
Other than Santa Claus, children growing up in Iceland can expect visits from 13 separate Yule Lads in the days leading up to Christmas, who will leave beautiful gifts or spoiled potatoes, depending on their behavior. child’s en – in a shoe at the end of their bed.
Not all Yule Lads are friendly. So the kids will have to rethink their misbehavior before Christmas.
6. Costume actor (Latvia)
In Lativa, “mummers” (amateur actors) will dress up as animals such as cranes, goats, wolves, bears, horses or horror characters symbolizing death. They must hide their identities, wear masks and impersonate different voices to ensure that people in their neighborhood do not recognize them. Mummers will go from house to house to chase away evil spirits with traditional music and songs. Families will invite them into their homes to eat and drink. If recognized while in disguise, the mummer will have to remove the mask.
7. Mari Lwyd
Although the origins of the Mari Lwyd tradition are relatively obscure, most scholars agree that it began as a pagan ritual. The tradition itself involves a group of people parading horse skulls around town decorated in white robes with ribbons or holly and ivy flowing out like a “mane”.
The group goes door to door with the skull, singing Welsh songs or participating in a ritual known as pwnco, a rhyming game in which participants exchange playful, crude quips hole. If the homeowner loses, he must invite the Mari Lwyd procession inside and it is considered that he will have good luck for the year. If they win, Mari Lwyd must throw a party for them.