Strange Christmas Traditions Around the World

Christmas is not just about pine trees and Santa Claus, each country in the world has its own traditions for the year-end festive season.

Sweden

Swedish people have a tradition of decorating Christmas with a giant straw goat named Gavle.

The Gavle goat has become a symbol of Christmas in Sweden. Photo: Tech Times.

Every year, the 13-meter-tall goat is erected in Gavle Castle Square, becoming an indispensable symbol of the end-of-year holiday season. In its 50 years of existence, the giant goat has been hit by cars or set on fire 37 times.

This has not stopped the Swedes from celebrating this unique decorative animal. Last year, Gavle was burned down almost a month before Christmas.

Shirt

While children around the world eagerly await Santa Claus, Austrians have a more sinister version of Santa: Krampus.

Krampus is an evil version of Santa Claus who punishes naughty children. Photo:Wikipedia.

According to legend, the Krampus demon punishes naughty children by carrying them in a bag on his back.

Thousands of people will gather at Hollabrunn Market Square in Austria to take part in the traditional scares of 120 Krampus demons. Austrians seem to love a spooky version of Christmas.

Japan

Since there is no turkey, the Japanese use fried chicken for their Christmas feast.

Thanks to a clever advertising strategy, the image of Colonel Sanders representing KFC fried chicken in a red Santa Claus costume has become familiar. Approximately 40 million families in Japan buy KFC fried chicken every year to celebrate Christmas.

In December, the restaurant chain's sales in Japan increased about 10 times.

Italy

Children in this country have to wait until the new year to receive Christmas gifts, because the gift giver is not Santa Claus.

The female version of Santa Claus in Italy is Mrs. Befana. Photo: Pacificworld.

Accordingly, the kind old lady named Befana will ride a broom, carrying candy and gifts on January 5. Like Santa Claus, she also enters the house through the chimney.

Legend has it that Befana was invited to go with the three wise men to find Jesus, but she refused. Today, she regrets it and still runs after the wise men and gives gifts to children along the way.

India

Indians hang twinkling stars on their front doors. Churches are decorated with poinsettias and candles.

Indians decorate banana trees during Christmas, Photo: Business Insider.

Pine trees are not popular so Indians use bananas and mangoes instead. Mango leaves are used to decorate the house. And because it is a tropical country, Santa Claus in India does not ride a reindeer, instead he delivers gifts in a horse-drawn carriage.

Iceland

The Yule Cat is a motivation for people to work hard during the year. Photo: Hugleikur Dagsson.

Icelanders also love a spooky Christmas and they have the Yule Cat. This is a bloodthirsty cat that roams the countryside on Christmas and looks for people who don't have new clothes for the holiday.

The only way to escape Yule is to let it see you wearing new clothes, new socks, new woolen hats...

This legend started when Icelanders always wanted to work hard during the year to have money to buy new clothes for themselves and everyone in their family before the new year.

According to Zing