40 Christmas Traditions Around the World That Will Surprise You

While many of us associate Christmas with Santa Claus, decorated trees, and turkey dinners, the holiday takes on fascinating and sometimes unexpected forms across the globe. Here are 40 surprising Christmas traditions that will make you see the holiday in a whole new light.

Europe:

• Krampus (Austria) Rather than getting coal, naughty Austrian children have to watch out for Krampus, a horned creature who punishes misbehaving kids. On Krampusnacht (December 5th), young men dress up as this fearsome figure and roam the streets.

• The Christmas Pickle (Germany) Parents hide a pickle-shaped ornament in the Christmas tree, and the first child to find it on Christmas morning gets an extra present. Though many believe this is an old German tradition, it's actually a marketing strategy that gained popularity in America!

• The Yule Cat (Iceland) In Iceland, the giant Yule Cat prowls on Christmas Eve and will eat anyone who hasn't received new clothes. This tradition encouraged employers to reward hardworking employees with new clothing, ensuring everyone was safe from the giant feline.

• Little Candles Day (Ukraine) Ukrainians decorate their Christmas trees with spider web ornaments. According to legend, a poor widow's tree was decorated by actual spiders who spun beautiful webs that turned to gold and silver, blessing her family with good fortune.

• Mari Lwyd (Wales) People carry a decorated horse skull door-to-door, challenging residents to a battle of rhyming verses. Winners get food and drinks!

• Befana (Italy) Italian children wait for Befana, a friendly witch who delivers presents on January 6th, riding a broomstick and entering through the chimney.

• Christmas Sauna (Finland) Finns traditionally take a Christmas Eve sauna, believing that the spirit of the sauna, the "saunatonttu," comes out to warm it up for the family.

• Caga Tió (Catalonia, Spain) Children feed a hollow log called Caga Tió throughout December, then beat it with sticks on Christmas Eve while singing songs, hoping it will "poop out" presents.

• Saint Nicholas' Helpers (Netherlands) Instead of elves, Sinterklaas has helpers called "Zwarte Pieten" who assist in delivering presents to children.

• Christmas Eve Carp (Czech Republic) Families keep a live carp in their bathtub for several days before Christmas Eve, then prepare it for dinner.

• Hidden Broom (Norway) Families hide their brooms on Christmas Eve to prevent witches from stealing them for a midnight ride.

• Christmas Swim (UK) Brave swimmers take a Christmas day dip in freezing waters.

• Thirteen Yule Lads (Iceland) Instead of one Santa, children are visited by thirteen mischievous characters over thirteen nights.

• Marzipan Pigs (Germany) People give each other marzipan pigs as good luck tokens.

• Christmas Caves (France) Some regions celebrate midnight mass in caves decorated with lights.

Asia:

Image Credit: @luannhunt180

• Kentucky Fried Christmas (Japan) Thanks to a wildly successful marketing campaign in the 1970s, eating KFC has become a Christmas tradition in Japan. People order their Christmas Kentucky weeks in advance to avoid the massive queues.

• Giant Lanterns (Philippines) The city of San Fernando is known as the "Christmas Capital of the Philippines" for its spectacular Giant Lantern Festival, featuring intricate lanterns up to 40 feet in diameter.

• Christmas in Summer (South Korea) South Korea's Christmas celebrations often include a trip to the beach or an amusement park, as it's seen more as a romantic holiday for couples than a family gathering.

• Artificial Spider Webs (Ukraine) Christmas trees are decorated with spider web ornaments for good luck.

• Apple Christmas (China) In many cities, people exchange apples on Christmas Eve because the word for apple (píngguǒ) sounds similar to the word for peace (píng'ān).

• Christian Dior Christmas (Hong Kong) Shopping malls compete for the most elaborate designer Christmas displays.

• Christmas Light Gardens (Singapore) The entire Orchard Road shopping district transforms into a spectacular light display.

• Midnight Fireworks (Philippines): Families launch fireworks at midnight on Christmas Eve.

The Americas:

• Roller Skating to Church (Venezuela) In Caracas, Venezuela, streets are closed to cars on Christmas morning so people can roller skate to church. Some neighborhoods even have children tie strings to their toes and dangle them out windows—passing skaters give them a gentle tug to wake them up.

• Night of the Radishes (Mexico) In Oaxaca, Mexico, December 23rd marks the Night of the Radishes, where artisans carve elaborate scenes from oversized radishes.

• Barbecue Christmas (Brazil) Many Brazilians celebrate Christmas with a "churrasco," or barbecue, on the beach.

• Old Man Flour (Guatemala) Adults throw flour at each other as part of Christmas celebrations.

• Monkey's Christmas (Peru) Hot chocolate is served with panettone while children dance "La Danza del Mono" (The Monkey's Dance).

• Christmas Parade of Lights (Canada): Decorated boats parade through harbors in coastal cities.

• Poppy Seed Rolls (Paraguay) Families gather to make traditional Christmas poppy seed rolls.

• Horse Racing (Barbados) The Garrison Savannah hosts special Christmas racing events.

• Three Kings Day (Puerto Rico) Children leave grass under their beds for the kings' camels, similar to leaving cookies for Santa.

Oceania:

• Beach Barbecue (Australia) Australians often celebrate Christmas with a barbecue on the beach, as December falls in their summer season.

• Pōhutukawa Trees (New Zealand) Instead of pine trees, New Zealanders associate the red-blooming Pōhutukawa tree with Christmas.

• Christmas Island Red Crabs (Christmas Island) Millions of red crabs migrate across Christmas Island during the holiday season, creating a unique natural Christmas spectacle.

Africa:

• Star Singing (Ghana) Children process through streets carrying bamboo poles topped with stars, singing carols.

• Palm Trees (Congo) Christmas trees are made from palm trees decorated with local fruits.

• Camping Christmas (South Africa) Many families go camping during Christmas, as it falls during summer vacation.

• Tribal Ceremonies (Ethiopia) Christmas celebrations include traditional tribal ceremonies and games.

• Banana Tree Christmas (Uganda) Families decorate banana trees instead of traditional pine trees.

Tips for Celebrating International Christmas Traditions

• Research the cultural significance before adopting traditions

• Consider incorporating new traditions gradually

• Respect the original meaning and context

• Share the stories behind the traditions with family members

• Adapt traditions to fit your family's needs while honoring their origins

Whether you're looking to expand your holiday celebrations or simply appreciate the rich tapestry of global Christmas customs, these traditions remind us that there's no one "right" way to celebrate the season.

Remember, while some of these traditions might seem unusual to us, they're cherished parts of local culture that have evolved over generations. They showcase the beautiful diversity of how people around the world celebrate this beloved holiday.

What's your favorite international Christmas tradition?

Share in the comments below!