You Won’t Believe These Strange and True Holiday Traditions
The Alternative Daily
If you think that cutting down a tree from the forest and hauling it indoors just to decorate it with colorful ornaments and telling your children tales of a red-suited midnight intruder are strange Christmas traditions, prepare to be shocked. These unusual holiday traditions from around the world are totally true and totally strange.
The following are 11 holiday traditions, still embraced today, which may to us seem mildly weird.
Decorating banana and pear trees In India, fir and pine trees don’t grow. Instead, banana and pear trees are decorated.
Christmas goat
In Sweden, a giant straw goat is assembled during the holiday season. Unfortunately, just about every year, vandals have burnt it down.
KrampusIn Austria, if you have been a bad little boy or girl, you better watch for Krampus. He’s the evil twin of Santa Claus, and has goat horns jutting from his head. According to the legend, he beats children, punishing them for being bad.
The Good Witch
In Italy, children await the arrival of La Befana. She’s a good witch who delivers candy and a toys to children. She usually comes through the chimney, which is probably where Santa gets it from.
The Sh*tting LogMany Catalan homes will feature a hollow filled with candy this season. On Christmas day, children beat the log with sticks, singing to it and asking it to sh*t candy.
Christmas KFCIn 1974, KFC advertised “Kentucky for Christmas” in Japan. The advertisement was so successful that eating KFC on Christmas has become Japanese tradition. You have to order you chicken weeks in advance, and the Colonel is the new Santa. Not a healthy tradition, to be sure – but it’s popular.
Spider web treesIn Ukraine, families decorate their trees with spider webs and fake spiders. This tradition originated from a story about a poor family that could not decorate their tree, so the spiders did it for them.
Yule CatIn Iceland, if children have not worked hard they are told the Christmas Yule Cat will eat them. This is probably why Iceland works more overtime than any other country.
Night of the RadishesIn Mexico, there is a Christmas event every year called the Night of the Radishes. Mexican artists get together and carve intricate figurines out of radishes. There is even a contest for the best carvings.
KiviakIn Greenland, 500 dead, intact auk birds are placed in a dead seal skin. The skin is then sewn up and sealed, and the air is removed. After a few months, the skin is cut open and everyone enjoys eating the fermented birds.
Pickle in the treeIn Germany, a pickle is hidden somewhere in the Christmas tree. On Christmas morning, whoever finds the pickle is given a reward.
What’s the weirdest holiday tradition you’ve ever been a part of?
