Bizarrest Christmas Traditions

 

BY KATHOLIKI PATSAI

 

 

 I’ve gone away and handpicked the weirdest Christmas tradition from around the world from deep fried to rotting birds. Here are the world’s most unusual festive rituals from 22 different countries:

 

1. South Africa

The locals in the festive of South Africa tuck into the deep-fried caterpillars of the ‘Emperor Moth”. Also, South Africa children are told the story of Danny, a young boy who angered his grandmother by eating the cookies that have been left for Santa. In her rage she killed him, and he is said to haunt homes at Christmas.

 

2. Austria

Austria’s children live with a fear on Christmas days. The fear of Krampus a man who threatened to beat the naughty children.

 

3. Venezuela

Venezuela’s attend Mass in the run-up to Christmas. However, Caracas residents have developed a strange tradition to journeying to Mass on roller skates.

 

4. Greenland

Greenland has some unusual Christmas recipes. Mattak is raw whale skin, served with blubber. Kiviak is 500 dead auk birds, stuffed into a seal skin, and left to ferment for 7 months.

 

5. Germany

Germans hide a pickle in the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. The first child to discover it in the morning receives a small gift. Furthermore German children leave a shoe outside the house on December 5^th, which is the filled with sweets overnight. Naughty children awake to find a tree branch in the shoe instead. 

 

6. Portugal

Consoda is a traditional Christmas morning feast in Portugal. This is a time for remembering the dead, and families lay places for the souls of their late ones.

 

7. Ukraine

Ukrainians forego tinsel and baubles instead decorating their Christmas trees with an artificial spider and web.

 

8. Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, unmarried women stand by a door and throw a shoe over their shoulder if the toe is pointing towards the door when it lands, they will get married within the next year.

9. Estonia

On Christmas Eve, Estonian families traditionally head to the sauna together.

 

10. Wales

Mari Lwyd is performed in some Welsh villages on Christmas Eve. A villager is chosen to parade through the streets, bearing the skull of a mare on the end of a stick.

 

11. Iceland 

The Yule Cat is said to stalk the Icelandic hills. Those who don’t receive new clothes before Christmas Eve are said to be devoured by this mythical beast.

 

12. Italy

Rather than Santa Claus, Italian children await the arrival of Befana, a friendly witch who delivers sweets and toys on the fifth of January.

 

13. Ethiopia 

Ethiopians celebrate Christmas on January 7^th. People wear white clothes and the men play “ganna” -a fast- paced game with sticks and wooden balls.

 

14. Guatemala

Guatemalans sweep out their houses before Christmas. Each neighborhood will then create a large pile of dirt, before placing an effigy of the devil on top, and burning it.  

 

15. Bavaria

In Bavaria, a noisy Christmas tradition has taken hold. Wearing the national costume of lederhosen, Bavarian Highlanders five mortars into the air.

 

16. Greece

The Kallikantzaroi, a race of evil goblins, lurk underground according to Greek legend. During the 12 days of Christmas they supposedly surface, wreaking havoc.

 

17. Slovakia

In Slovakia the most senior man of the house takes a spoonful of “loksa” pudding and throws it at the ceiling-the more that sticks, the better.

 

18. Japan  

White Christmas cards are sent to friend and family. Red card, however, are to be avoided- this is traditionally the colour of funeral announcements.

 

19. Canada

Canada Post recognizes the address Santa Claus, North Pole, Canada, HOHOHO. Any letters received bearing this address are both opened and replied to.

 

20. Finland

Finnish people traditionally mark Christmas with a touching tribute to the dead. Families light candles at the graves of their departed loved ones, making Finnish graveyards a beautiful sight.

 

21. England

Santa Claus traditionally leaves presents in a child’ s stocking on Christmas Eve. However naughty children may wake up on Christmas morning to find a lamp of coal in their stockings.

 

22. USA

Americans have created of boozy Christmas tradition called The Running of the Santas. Each event sees scores of people-dressed as Santa- taking part in a large bar crawl.