From cobwebs to camels and KFC, Christmas traditions around the world look a little different than the ones we have in the United States!
Every year, about 75 million U.S. families celebrate Christmas. Many of us decorate our homes, sing carols, bake cookies, and give presents to one another. But have you ever wondered what the holiday looks like for families in other countries?
Christmas is celebrated in around 160 countries worldwide, and not every Christmas looks the same!
Here are 6 surprising Christmas traditions from around the world:
Ukraine: Christmas Spiders
If you saw a spider in your Christmas tree, you might scream and try to get rid of it, but for families in Ukraine, it’s tradition to hang spiders on Christmas trees! These spider ornaments are known as pavuchky, or little spiders. This tradition comes from a folk tale known as the Legend of the Christmas Spider.
In the story, a pinecone drops from a tree outside a poor family’s home. The children are excited by the idea of having a tree for Christmas, so they tend to the seedling until it grows. However, as Christmas approaches, the family realizes they will not be able to afford to decorate the tree.
The family goes to bed on Christmas Eve with a bare tree, but a household spider hears their plight and wants to help. When the family wakes up the next morning, they see the tree covered with cobwebs, which turn silver and gold when hit with rays of sunlight.
This folk legend is also said to be the origin of tinsel on Christmas trees. Families in Ukraine and other Eastern European countries decorate their trees with spiders and webs as they remember the friendly spider who brought joy to a poor family.
Japan: KFC for Christmas
In 1974, KFC ran a marketing campaign in Japan called Kurisumasu ni wa Kentakkii, or Kentucky for Christmas. Christmas was not a widely celebrated holiday in Japan, so there were no established traditions; thus, the new ritual of eating KFC at Christmas quickly became a countrywide phenomenon.
Every year, statues of Colonel Sanders, the KFC mascot, are dressed up as Santa Claus during the holiday season, cementing the character as a Christmas icon in Japan.
Many Japanese families order large meal packages from KFC called Party Barrels weeks in advance. With Party Barrels, families can share food with one another as they gather together to celebrate the holidays. Those who don’t preorder may have to wait in line for hours on Christmas Eve — KFC’s busiest day in Japan.
Guatemala: Burning the Devil
Every year, families in Guatemala celebrate Christmas with the tradition of la quema del diablo, or burning the Devil. On December 7th, people gather outside their homes to burn trash they don’t need, with an effigy of the Devil on top.
Families do this to cleanse their homes of evil the night before the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, an important holy day for many Christians, especially Catholics. More recently, some people have begun using Devil-shaped piñatas instead of lighting bonfires because they are safer and more eco-friendly.
In many communities, neighbors celebrate together with music and special treats such as buñuelos. For many Guatemalans, this event is seen as the start of the Christmas season.
Syria: The Littlest Camel
In Syria, rather than Santa Claus and his reindeer delivering presents, children have a Christmas camel to bring them toys.
According to tradition, when the Three Wise Men traveled to Bethlehem to find the newborn Jesus, they were accompanied by a caravan of camels. One of the camels was smaller than the rest and struggled to keep up, but he wanted to help bring gifts to Jesus. When the animals arrived in Bethlehem, Jesus blessed them with eternal life.
Today, the Littlest Camel is a beloved symbol of Christmas in Syria because of his perseverance and kindness. On Christmas Eve, the night the camel is said to bring gifts, children welcome him by putting out shoes filled with hay, similar to how children in the U.S. put out cookies and milk for Santa.
Sweden: Gävle Goat
The Yule goat has been a traditional part of Scandinavian and Northern European celebrations for hundreds of years. In the 19th century, it was said that the goat brought gifts at Christmas, but by the 20th century, that role went to Santa Claus. The modern Yule goat is an ornament made out of straw and bound with red ribbons.
In 1966, the town of Gävle, Sweden decided to mark the beginning of the Christmas season with a giant version of the straw Yule goat. The Gävle goat is 13 meters tall — that’s more than 42 feet!
The Gävle goat quickly became a target for pranksters, and every year, people attempt to burn it down. The town tries to protect the goat with guards, fences, and security cameras, but more often than not, it gets destroyed. Now, every holiday season, people wait to see whether or not the Gävle goat makes it to Christmas intact.
South Africa: Summer Celebration
Because of the tilt of the Earth’s axis, countries in the Southern Hemisphere experience seasons opposite to those in the Northern Hemisphere. This means that in December, countries such as South Africa (as well as Australia and New Zealand) are in the middle of summer!
In South Africa, families celebrate Christmas by singing carols, decorating, and exchanging presents, similar to the way many countries in the Northern Hemisphere celebrate. But because of the warm weather, they also enjoy beach days, outdoor sports, and braais, or barbecues.
On Christmas Day, South Africans often play games of soccer or cricket. Then, they enjoy grilled meats at the braai before having malva pudding for dessert. Christmas in South Africa has a fun and relaxed feeling that brings families together outdoors.
These are just 6 of the many unique Christmas traditions from around the world! Learning about these rich cultures can help us appreciate the different ways people celebrate joy and togetherness each holiday season. Merry Christmas!
