The annual Christmas is coming again.
As one of the biggest festivals in the world.More than 160 countries around the world have a public holiday for Christmas.
We often say, ten miles different customs
Similarly, Christmas customs are not the same around the world!
Is Christmas only dress up the Christmas tree, hang the socks, Santa Claus?
After reading this article, you can’t help but say:
There was such a wonderful country, Have a creative Christmas that you will never think of!!!
Ukraine
Hang spider webs on the Christmas tree
What is usually decorated on Christmas trees? We would definitely say: treetop stars, colored lights, colored balls, snowflakes, bells… … But isn’t it strange that Ukrainians like to hang spider webs on their Christmas trees? In fact, it has something to do with a traditional local fairy tale.
In the story of a single mother and her child living in a suburban cabin, life is very miserable.
One day, a pine cone appeared in the doorway of the house. The child took good care of it, and finally, before Christmas, it grew into a big tree. But because they could not afford to decorate the tree, they left it standing naked in front of the door.
The spiders in the house saw the mother shed tears on Christmas Eve, so they made intricate webs on the trees as decorations. The next morning, the sun shone brightly on the webs of the trees. They were surprisingly beautiful.
The fairy tale became so popular in Ukraine that the custom of decorating Christmas trees with spider webs became a household tradition. Of course, these “spider webs” on the trees are no longer real spider webs
Japan
Eat KFC fried chicken
Christmas in Japan does not have much religious significance, and most people enjoy it as a lively holiday. It has nothing to do with the birth of Jesus or the Bible, and the people who go to Mass in church are almost all Christians.
The Japanese don’t eat Turkey at Christmas, they eat KFC instead.
KFC set up shop in Japan in the early 1970s. Due to various reasons, it was difficult to get Japanese people’s recognition. However, with the “American style” blowing in Japan in the 1970s, the foreign fast food fried chicken gradually began to be accepted.
At this time, a foreigner ran to KFC to buy fried chicken and said, “There is no Turkey in Japan, so we can only buy some fried chicken for Christmas.”
Inspired by this, the company began to launch Christmas packages in 1974, vigorously promoting “Christmas = KFC fried chicken.”
First came the slogan: “Of course you want to eat KFC at Christmas.” Later also said KFC grandpa Sanders on the principal like Santa Claus. In this way, many Japanese people gradually accept the saying!
The idea of Christmas = KFC is gradually fixed in Japanese society. It has to be said that this is a victory for Japanese advertising and marketing.
Inspired by this, the company began to launch Christmas packages in 1974, vigorously promoting “Christmas = KFC fried chicken.”
First came the slogan: “Of course you want to eat KFC at Christmas.” Later also said KFC grandpa Sanders on the principal like Santa Claus. In this way, many Japanese people gradually accept the saying!
The idea of Christmas = KFC is gradually fixed in Japanese society. It has to be said that this is a victory for Japanese advertising and marketing.
Spain Catalonia
Hide gifts under the “wooden man”
In the Spanish region of Catalonia, children’s Christmas presents are not delivered down the chimney by Santa Claus, but “pooped” through Caga Tió
Legend has it that if Catalan children take good care of it before Christmas (instructions: feed it and keep it from catching cold), the little piece of wood will “pooped” for them on Christmas Day
The small wooden toy is usually about 30 centimeters long, with a slender body supported by four “legs” and a small red hat on its head.
According to tradition, on December 8 each year, the parents would bring the wooden man home, and the children would leave some food for it at the end of each meal to “feed” it and cover it with a small red blanket to keep it warm.
This process of “raising” the wooden doll will continue until Christmas, and the child’s hard work on the wooden doll should be rewarded. So on Christmas Eve, parents would hide Christmas presents for their children under the wooden blanket.
The children took the wooden figure to the fireplace and pretended to threaten to throw it into the fire so that it could “expel” presents from its hollow wooden body. Because of this, wooden people also have a less elegant common name, called “pooping doll”.
Because real fireplaces are rarely used in European homes today, this part of the process is sometimes replaced by the beating of wooden heads with small sticks.
Norway
Hide the broom on Christmas Eve
Compared with the quiet Christmas of Ukrainians, Norwegians have a lively Christmas every year.
On Christmas Eve, they take the trouble to hide all their broomsticks, and many take out their shotguns and fire a few shots into the air as a warning, a pagan custom. There is an allusion to this: Local legend has it that witches and other demons haunt Christmas Eve, and the broom is the only thing witches need to walk around.
So, in order to keep witches and demons from finding tools to invade, the Norwegians used this unique way every year to get rid of the filth of the year.
South Wales, United Kingdom
Sing hymns like a dead horse
If the first two customs are with a bit of childlike fun, then the following activity may make children avoid. In South Wales, from Christmas to New Year’s Day, people dress up as Dead Horse Street parades.
The dead horse outfit consists of a hideous fake horse head mask, supporting wooden poles, and linen covering the player’s body. The procession ranges from a few to a dozen people, with one posing as a dead horse and the others as other religious figures. The parade would knock on doors along the road and chant at the gates.
Czech Republic
Throw high heels for a date
For the people of the Eastern European country of the Czech Republic, Christmas, a holiday itself inextricably linked with religion, is a good time to predict the future. Czech single girls use a high heel to predict their next year’s love luck.
On Christmas Day, young unmarried girls, surrounded by family and friends, stand facing the door and throw their high heels out the door. If the toe of the shoe points inside the door after landing, she will usher in her wedding in the next year. If, on the other hand, the toe points out the door, she’ll still be single come Christmas next year.
This slightly strange custom actually has historical roots. As an Eastern European country, the Czech Republic suffered heavy losses during World War II, with many men dying on the battlefield.
After the second world war, the high ratio of men to women in the Czech Republic was the reason for the rise of the prediction game.
Today, the shadow of the war is long gone, but the custom has been preserved. The custom of deciding marriage by throwing high heels may seem metaphysical, but it also represents the best wishes of Czech girls.
Venezuela
Roller skating in groups
In the tropical South American country of Venezuela, there is a very special activity on Christmas Day — roller skating. It has been popular in Venezuela for decades.
In the early morning of December 25, people have already put on ready roller skates, in groups from all sides of the church sliding, and then together into the church for Christmas Mass. Active children are the main force in the Christmas roller skating team.
Not wanting to miss the annual entertainment, children tie a string around their toes before going to bed on Christmas Eve. The other end of the rope is hung from the window, and when the roller skating army passes by, the parents pull on the rope, and the sleeping children rush to their feet and join the great procession.
In the Venezuelan capital city of Caracas, the government to ensure the safety of citizens, every Christmas morning before 8 a.m., the related roads are closed to allow roller skating teams to pass.
The reason for the popularity of this custom is hard to pin down, but many believe it has something to do with the European tradition of sledding at Christmas. Because of the hot climate in Venezuela, South America, people use roller skates instead of sledges.
After reading these Christmas customs, do you think it is very interesting. Do you know any special customs about Christmas?
Our company also provides you with custom Christmas style clothing, please click the picture below to enter our official website for consultation！
