Christmas, that joyous time of year when we gather with loved ones, exchange gifts, and consume our body weight in festive treats. But while we’re battling the wrapping paper and trying to keep the cat from climbing the tree, have you ever wondered how the rest of the world celebrates this special holiday? Let’s take a whistle-stop tour around the globe to discover some truly unbelievable Christmas traditions.
Japan: KFC for Christmas Dinner, Anyone?
In the land of the rising sun, Christmas is less about Silent Night and more about finger-licking goodness. Thanks to a wildly successful advertising campaign in the 1970s, “Kentucky for Christmas!” became a national phenomenon in Japan. Now, it’s customary to celebrate December 25th with a bucket of Colonel Sanders’ finest. Who needs turkey and stuffing when you can have fried chicken?
Venezuela: Rollerskating to Mass
Forget walking or driving to church on Christmas morning. In Caracas, Venezuela, they’ve put a fun spin on getting to Mass – quite literally! The streets are closed to traffic so that everyone can roller-skate to church. It’s like ‘Saturday Night Fever’ meets ‘The Nativity.’
Ukraine: Spiders and Webs for Good Luck
While most of us shudder at the thought of finding a spider in the Christmas tree, Ukrainians welcome these eight-legged creatures. They decorate their trees with artificial spiders and webs, a tradition based on a folk tale about a poor woman who couldn’t afford decorations. A magical spider spun beautiful webs on her tree, turning it into a thing of beauty. So, next time you find a creepy crawly in your tree, remember, it might just be bringing you some Ukrainian luck.
Catalonia, Spain: The Peculiar Pooping Log
Catalonia takes the prize for the most bizarre Christmas tradition with ‘Tió de Nadal’ or the ‘Christmas log.’ This colorful log ‘with a face’ is pampered with blankets and treats in the days leading up to Christmas. Come Christmas Day, children hit the log with sticks while singing traditional songs, encouraging it to ‘poop’ out presents. Yes, you read that right – a defecating log. It’s like Santa Claus but with more fiber.
Ethiopia: Christmas in January
While most of us are taking down our decorations and embarking on New Year’s resolutions, Ethiopians are just gearing up to celebrate Christmas. Following the Julian calendar, Ethiopians celebrate Christmas on January 7th with ‘Ganna,’ a day of prayer, sport, and feasting. So if you’ve ever wished Christmas could come twice, pack your bags for Ethiopia!
Wrapping Up Our Christmas Journey
So there you have it, folks, a snapshot of the wacky, wonderful ways Christmas is celebrated around the world. Whether it’s deep-fried chicken in Japan, roller-skating Venezuelans, lucky spiders in Ukraine, Catalonia’s pooping log, or a second Christmas in Ethiopia, one thing’s clear: Christmas is as diverse as it is magical. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to order a bucket of KFC and a pair of roller skates. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good flight!
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This article is intended for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only and should not be construed as advice, guidance or counsel. It is provided without warranty of any kind.