As streets are dipped in lights and Christmas songs echo from shops, homes and cars, people from all over the world come together in celebration. In Malta, vetch seeds are bought and placed carefully in the dark, beautifully detailed nativity cribs start being assembled and the smell of honey rings baking spikes the air.

As we embrace Christmas traditions, so do millions of people all over the globe and although some traditions are shared across countries, including Christmas trees, family gatherings and Father Christmas, some are as different as they come.

Caga Tio - Catalonia

‘Caga Tio’, translated as ‘the pooping log’ is a Catalan custom. The log is hollowed out, with legs and a face added to make it appear more lifelike. The Spanish custom demands that the log is ‘fed’ every day, starting from December 8. On Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, the log is placed in the fireplace and beaten with sticks until candies, fruits, and nuts pop out. The final object to come out is usually a salt herring, garlic bulb, or onion.

Gävle Goat - Sweden

In Sweden a 13-metre-tall Yule goat is built in the centre of Gävle’s Castle Square at the beginning of every advent. As part of the wider Yule celebrations, people regard the Yule goat as a figure that would appear some time before Christmas to make sure that the Yule preparations were done right. This connects to ancient proto-Slavic beliefs where the Koliada (Yule) festival honors the god of the fertile sun and the harvest, the god represented as a white goat.

Seen this way, the idea of presenting the Yule goat in the middle of the square became a loved tradition among families. However, a new tradition soon arose – that of burning it down. Despite security warnings, the goat has been burned to the ground most years since its first appearance in 1966. As of December 2017, the goat has been destroyed 37 times.

Zwarte Piet - Netherlands

Zwarte Piet, or Black Peter, is Santa’s helper in the Netherlands. In the story, Zwarte Piet arrives with Sinterklaas, an elderly white man. Since about 1850, Dutch children who don’t behave were told that Black Peter will take them back to Spain, where Sinterklaas lives.

The racist elements of the custom have been downplayed in recent decades, and the tale of Black Peter now describes him as a chimney sweep instead of a slave, which explains the black face. But charges of racism still follow Black Peter, as he is often portrayed with afro hair and exaggerated features.

Krampus - Austria

Quite different to the friendly, bearded old man that hands out presents worldwide, in Austria a beast-like demon roams the streets frightening kids and punishing the bad ones.

Meet Krampus, Santa Claus’s evil accomplice. In Austrian tradition, Santa Claus rewards nice little boys and girls, while Krampus is said to capture the naughtiest children and whisk them away in his sack. In the first week of December, young men dress up as the Krampus frightening children with clattering chains and bells.

Shoes over shoulder - Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic Christmas is a time for giving – giving into superstitions, that is. Unmarried women stand by a door and throw a shoe over their shoulder. If the shoe lands with the toe pointing towards the door, they will be wed within the year. Simple.

Brooms - Norway

Perhaps one of the most unorthodox Christmas traditions can be found in Norway. People here believe that Christmas Eve coincides with the arrival of evil spirits and witches looking for brooms to ride on. Logically, therefore, households hide all their brooms before they go to sleep. This tradition dates back centuries and although people might no longer believe in witches, they still proceed to hide their brooms every year.

A Christmas sauna - Finland

Finland is the home of the sauna and many homes come equipped with their own. Come Christmas this cosy spot becomes a sacred space. Rural folk believed that the spirits of dead ancestors came to bathe in the sauna after sunset. The holiday season traditionally starts with a visit to the sauna where fresh bench covers, candles and lanterns are brought in to create the perfect atmosphere of intimacy and togetherness in the family.

The Christmas spider - Ukraine

In addition to the usual decorations, Ukrainian Christmas trees are also adorned with an artificial spider and web. Its origins lie in the tale of a poor woman who couldn’t afford to decorate her tree. When she and her children awoke on Christmas morning, they discovered a spider had covered it in a wonderful sparkling web. Some people credit this tale as the origin of tinsel on Christmas trees.

The Yule Lads - Iceland

In the 13 days leading up to Christmas, 13 troll-like characters come out to play in Iceland. The Yule Lads visit the children across the country. For each night of Yuletide, children place their best shoes by the window and a different Yule Lad visits leaving gifts for nice girls and boys and rotting potatoes for the naughty ones.

Dressed in traditional Icelandic costumes, these figures are pretty mischievous, and their names hint at the type of trouble they like to cause: Stekkjastaur (Sheep-Cote Clod), Giljagaur (Gully Gawk), Stúfur (Stubby), Þvörusleikir (Spoon-Licker), Pottaskefill (Pot-Scraper), Askasleikir (Bowl-Licker), Hurðaskellir (Door-Slammer), Skyrgámur (Skyr-Gobbler), Bjúgnakrækir (Sausage-Swiper), Gluggagægir (Window-Peeper), Gáttaþefur (Doorway-Sniffer), Ketkrókur (Meat-Hook) and Kertasníkir (Candle-Stealer).

In Japan, KFC has become a Christmas tradition.In Japan, KFC has become a Christmas tradition.

Kentucky for Christmas - Japan

The celebration of Christmas in Asia usually involves imported western traditions, but with one main difference: they celebrate this day with KFC. Yes, KFC. This is a tale of a marketing campaign any business heading to Japan ought to study. Takeshi Okawara, manager of the first KFC in the country, came up with the idea after overhearing a couple of foreigners talk about missing turkey for Christmas. Okawara thought fried chicken would be a fine substitute and began marketing Kentucky for Christmas.

Every Christmas season an estimated 3.6 million Japanese families treat themselves to fried chicken from the American fast-food chain, in what has become a nationwide tradition. In fact, getting the KFC special Christmas dinner often requires ordering it weeks in advance, and those who don’t will wait in line for hours.

This article first appeared in Christmas Times magazine.

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