Weird Christmas Traditions From Around the World

Everyone knows about "Krampus" in Austria and parts of Germany. What other strange and usual Christmas traditions are there in the world? I found three of the World’s Weirdest.

"Yule Goat" in Sweden

I love goats! The Yule Goat is a figure from Scandinavian folklore who delivers gifts to children during the Christmas season. The legend of the Yule Goat dates back to ancient Norse mythology, where the god Thor was depicted as riding a chariot drawn by goats. In the Viking era, the Yule Goat was believed to be a spirit who traveled through the sky during the winter solstice. He visited each home to deliver gifts and celebrate the return of the sun. In modern times, the Yule Goat is often depicted as a large, straw figure that is carried through the streets in parades and other holiday celebrations. It is traditional in Sweden to leave out straw or hay for the Yule Goat to eat, and in some areas, children go door-to-door singing Yule Goat carols and receiving treats in return. The Yule Goat is just one of many Christmas traditions that have evolved over the centuries. While the specifics of the tradition may vary from place to place, the Yule Goat is generally seen as a symbol of the holiday season.

"KFC Christmas" in Japan

In Japan, it is becoming increasingly popular to celebrate Christmas with a feast of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Many Japanese people reserve their KFC meals weeks in advance, as the tradition has become so popular that the chain often runs out of chicken. This tradition began in the 1970s, when KFC launched a successful marketing campaign in Japan that positioned the fast-food chain as a festive alternative to traditional Christmas dinners. The campaign was so successful that KFC has become synonymous with Christmas in Japan. The KFC Christmas tradition typically involves a "party barrel," which is a large bucket of fried chicken, sides, and drinks that is meant to be shared among a group. Many Japanese also order individual meals or smaller party platters, which can include items such as fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, and coleslaw.

Some people in Japan have criticized the KFC Christmas tradition as being a superficial, imported custom that does not have any real cultural significance in the country. For many Japanese people, the tradition has become an integral part of their Christmas celebrations, and KFC remains a popular choice for holiday meals.

"Christmas Spider" in Ukraine

In Ukrainian folklore, they tell of a poor widow and her children who lived in an old hut with a pine tree outside. One day, a pine cone fell from the tree, and the children were excited to take care of it and turn it into a Christmas tree. However, despite their efforts, the family had a tree but no ornaments to decorate it with. They went to bed in tears, worried about their bare tree.

According to legend, the spiders in the hut heard the family weeping and decided to help. They spun beautiful, silky webs to decorate the tree overnight, turning it into a stunning sight when the sun's rays shone on the webs and made them appear silver and gold in the morning. Some versions of the story say that Santa Claus or Jesus transformed the plain spider webs into glittering decorations to bring joy to the family.

This legend is often used to explain the tradition of decorating Christmas trees with tinsel, which is believed to be inspired by the transformed spider webs.

The Christmas spider is just one of many unusual Christmas traditions that are practiced around the world. While the specifics of the tradition may vary from place to place, the Christmas spider is generally seen as a symbol of the holiday season and a way for people to come together and appreciate what they have.

Local Favorites

Santa and the Grinch may be our favorite local myths. But through the centuries there have been many other Christmas myths and legends that are enjoyed around the world. The legend of the Yule Goat in Scandinavia, the tradition of leaving out food for the Christmas spider in Ukraine, and the story of the Christmas Eve feast of KFC in Japan are my favorites! Myths and legends help to bring people together and add to the magic and joy of the holiday season.