Understanding the psychology of generalizations
The British tradition of serving up a heavy dried-fruit-and-suet dessert at the end of the immense Christmas dinner is questionable in itself. But tradition also dictates that one or more coins should be hidden inside. The tradition has been enthusiastically embraced by Australia, too.
In a practice dating back to pre-Christian pagan tradition, a phantom horse crops up on Welsh doorsteps, embarks on a rhyming battle with the inhabitants, and then demands entry for snacks and drinks. This is Mari Lwyd, a horse skull draped in a white sheet covering the person carrying it to give the illusion of an equine ghost.
The Greek holiday season extends a few days past New Year's, ending with a purifying splash on January 6. Festive processions wind through towns and villages, from the church to the nearest body of water, where members of the Greek Orthodox community plunge into the waters to mark the Epiphany, or "Enlightenment."
Brits and Americans are among the nations that routinely hang up mistletoe in a doorway at Christmas, demanding that people caught below have to kiss. The tradition is thought to trace back to the Celtic Druids, who saw its year-round blossoms as a fertility symbol.
In Iceland, families mark Christmas Eve with the cozy tradition of Jolabokaflod, or "Book Flood." In a tradition dating back to the days of World War II, when paper was one of few commodities not rationed, books are given as presents, then everybody curls up drinking cocoa to spend the evening reading.
Want to know if wedding bells are in store for you? Throw a shoe at the door on Christmas Eve! Unmarried women line up on December 24 to throw a shoe over their shoulder towards the door. If the toe points towards the door, nuptials are in store. If not, they'll be unwed for at least another year.
The Italian version of Santa Claus is in fact a witch. La Befana comes a-calling on January 5 (the eve of the Epiphany), leaving treats for good kids, and coal for naughty ones.
In Germany, kids leave a shoe out on their doorstep on the evening of December 5. Why? Because that's when St. Nicholas, or Sinterklaas, comes calling. Good little children will find their boot filled with candies, fruit, and other treats on the morning of December 6.
The US has its own share of festive eccentricities. A relative newcomer is the Elf on the Shelf, who keeps tabs on children in the days running up to Christmas, and reports back to Santa. The elves began to crop up in 2005, with the publication of the book 'The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition', written by Carol Aebersold and her daughter Chanda Bell. The tradition has been picked up across the pond in the UK, too.
In Guatemala, dirt is the devil's work. Locals spend the weeks before Christmas sweeping out every corner of their home to banish bad spirits, and piling it all outside before a ritual 'burning of the devil,' which clears the way for good fortune to rise from the ashes.
Religious families in Portugal set extra places for dead relatives at their Christmas table. The consoada is enjoyed late on December 24, and leaving room for departed loved ones is said to bring good fortune to the household.
In the Ukraine, don't be shocked if you see spiders nestling in the Christmas tree. In a tradition rooted in a folk tale of a woman who couldn't afford decorations and awoke to find glistening webs on her tree, artificial webs and spiders are a key part of the festive furnishings.
Pooping comes to the Catalan Christmas party again in the form of Caga Tió ("Pooping Log"). This piece of hollowed-out wood is given a smiling face, legs, and a festive hat, and is fed candies and treats before Christmas. Then, on Christmas Eve, the whole family beats it with sticks until it poops out its sweet haul!
Get me to the church on time! Venezuelans attend early morning church services in the run-up to Christmas, and locals in the capital Caracas have developed a tradition of making the journey to the church on roller skates.
No child's letter to Santa goes unanswered in France. Since 1962, a law has held that every single letter to Père Noël must get a postcard in reply.
Santa may get milk and cookies on his rounds in the US, but in booze-loving Britain he can expect something stronger. A glass of whisky, and a fruity mince pie are the norm, along with a carrot for Rudolph.
British tradition dictates that everybody should enjoy their Christmas feast while wearing a paper crown. Brits pull Christmas crackers–table decorations that snap open when pulled between two people–to reveal the crown, a small treat, and a traditional bad joke.
The Christmas sauna has been a part of Finnish holiday festivities for centuries. Families gather on Christmas Eve to cleanse body and spirit in the sauna, leaving it warm for the spirits and elves who may come to use the facilities after dark.
The French mark the Epiphany on January 6 with Galette des Rois, or "King Cake." In a tradition going back to the 14th century, anybody lucky enough to find a tiny charm in their slice gets to wear a crown and declare themselves king or queen for the day.
In the Mexican city of Oaxaca, December 23 is the Noche de Rábanos, or "Night of the Radishes." With its origins in colonial times, the tradition sees locals carve intricate figures and scenes from oversized radishes, competing to be the best in their category.
Sources: (Wanderlust) (Country Living) (BBC)
See also: Adorable animals ready for Christmas Eve
The Catalonia region of northeastern Spain takes an oddly scatological approach to Christmas. For starters, there's El Caganer, or "The Pooper." Going at least as far back as the 18th century, the bare-butted peasant poops his way into nativity scenes across the region.
Christmas–it's a time for eating, drinking, merry-making...and hitting a festive log until it poops, if you're in Catalonia! If you're in Australia, you might want to throw on a Santa suit and go for a surf, and if you're in Mexico, you might carve complex figures out of radishes. Holiday traditions vary wildly across the world, and many are totally unknown outside their country of origin. Ready for a festive adventure? Click through the following gallery to discover some weird and wonderful Christmas traditions from around the world.
The presépio, or "nativity scene," is a very big deal in Portugal. Schools, libraries, and other public buildings create vast, intricate scenes depicting the Christmas story, with no attention to detail spared.
With its German-style architecture, the picturesque Brazilian mountain town of Gramado goes all-out for the traditional European Christmas celebrations. No matter the fact that December is high summer in Brazil, the 'capital of Christmas' hosts its snow-themed festivities from October to the end of the year.
In Slovakia, families will often keep a live carp swimming in their bathtub in the days leading up to Christmas. But it's not a new pet–the fish is cooked and eaten for the festive feast on Christmas Eve!
Clever marketing, combined with small Japanese ovens, has helped make KFC a Japanese Christmas tradition. You'll need to book in advance if you want to eat in a KFC restaurant on Christmas Day, and Christmas Family Buckets are in high demand for delivery.
The British seaside is less-than-balmy even in the height of summer, so imagine how cold those waters are in late December! Still, hardy Brits brave the waters on Christmas Day and Boxing Day (December 26) to raise money for charity, and build up an appetite for more festive feasting.
The holiday season falls in high season over in Oz, where tradition dictates that the surfing community dress in full Santa regalia to brave the waves. Often raising money for charity, the 'surfing Santas' draw huge crowds each December.
Dating back to pagan times, the Yule Goat has long been a symbol of Swedish Christmas. While small versions of the straw goat are found beneath Christmas trees across the country, a gigantic version has been erected in the city of Gävle since the 1960s.
There's no need for tinsel on New Zealand's Christmas trees–they have their own natural decorations! The Pōhutukawa trees come into bright red bloom during December (high summer in New Zealand), providing shade for beachfront festivities.
Brooms are bad news at Christmas in Norway. Local lore has it that witches and other bad spirits come out to play on Christmas Eve, so it's important to hide all the brooms in the house to prevent them riding around causing chaos.
Weird and wonderful Christmas traditions from around the world
Anybody up for a candy-pooping Christmas log?
LIFESTYLE Holidays
Christmas–it's a time for eating, drinking, merry-making...and hitting a festive log until it poops, if you're in Catalonia! If you're in Australia, you might want to throw on a Santa suit and go for a surf, and if you're in Mexico, you might carve complex figures out of radishes. Holiday traditions vary wildly across the world, and many are totally unknown outside their country of origin. Ready for a festive adventure? Click through the following gallery to discover some weird and wonderful Christmas traditions from around the world.