Check out these Christmas traditions around the world and tell your friends and family about them! From traditional Christmas dinners in Japan to rollerskating into church, there’s plenty here to think about whilst you celebrate your own cosy Christmas!
Have you decorated your Christmas tree yet?
Well guess what the tree is decorated with in Ukraine? Not baubles, not fruit, but spiders and webs! Ukrainians believe spider webs bring good luck. This tradition is based on a folktale where a spider’s web turned into silver and gold, saving a poor family.
Is it a bird, is it a plane…
No, it’s a goat! In Sweden, they make a giant straw goat and small straw goats are given as gifts. The tradition was that elves rode the straw goat through town to deliver presents, just like Father Christmas does now.
You gotta be picklin’ me?
In the United States, a pickle ornament is hidden in the Christmas tree and whoever finds it will have good fortune for the next year. Who would have thought a pickle could bring good fortune!
Christmas starts early in the Phillippines…
Filipinos start celebrating Christmas as early as September and host dawn masses called Simbang Gabi for nine days before Christmas. That’s a lot of mince pies for four months!
Presents come later in Italy…
La Befana, a kind old witch, delivers gifts on Epiphany Eve which is January 6th, riding a broomstick and leaving treats for well-behaved kids (and coal for the naughty ones!).
In South Africa, fried Emperor Moth caterpillars are considered a delicacy and are said to bring good luck for the year ahead! Makes a change from standard fries and ketchup!
Naughty children get potatoes!
Icelandic kids place shoes on windowsills for 13 nights. The mischievous Yule Lads leave gifts or rotten potatoes, depending on their behaviour. Hopefully it’s mostly gifts in Iceland this Christmas!
Rollerskating into church!
In Caracas, Venezuela, streets are closed to cars so people can safely roller skate to early morning Christmas services. How festive (and sporty)!
