Christmas is the time of joy, family, and being with your loved ones. We know about the Christkind, Christmas trees, and
reindeer, but not all countries celebrate the holiday in the same way.
Some unique and special Christmas traditions can be found in different cultures around the world. Some of them are charming, while others are quite spooky!
Many of them involve some kind of magical gift-bringer loved by all children, but there are also a few eerie characters who scare them if they misbehave. Have you been good this year?
Let’s take a look at some interesting and unusual Christmas traditions from around the world.
Tió de Nadal – Catalonia
Of all the magical Christmas gift-bringers, none is cuter and more unique than the Tió de Nadal – the Catalan pooping Christmas log!
Every year, children in Catalonia can hardly wait for Caga Tió to appear in their homes on December 8.
They take good care of him for the rest of the month, feeding him and keeping him warm with a blanket and a traditional Catalan hat called a barretina. Then, on Christmas Eve, they sing a funny traditional song and hit him with a stick to make him “poop” out gifts!
If you haven’t already, you can meet Tió de Nadal in our interactive Christmas map. Click here to play!
Did you think one little pooper was enough? There’s another one!
It is called the Caganer, literally “the pooper.” It is a small figurine of a man squatting with his pants around his ankles, defecating on the ground. He is often seen in nativity scenes in Catalonia and other regions of Spain.
The Caganer essentially fertilizes the soil while doing his business, making him a symbol of good luck for a rich harvest in the coming year.
La Befana – Italy
Forget leaving cookies for Santa by the fireplace. La Befana prefers it when children leave her a nice glass of wine!
According to legend, La Befana was a kind-hearted witch with excellent housekeeping skills who gave food and shelter to the Three Wise Men on their journey to find Jesus. They were so pleased with her hospitality that they invited her to join them on their journey.
She declined the invitation at first but later changed her mind and set off alone to search for the baby Jesus. Since then, she flies on her broomstick on January 5, leaving gifts for children who have been good and coal for those who have not. It is her way of making up for never finding Jesus.
Every year, festivities take place in Italy where hundreds of people dress up as La Befana. And the piece of coal in naughty children’s stockings is nowadays actually candy made from black caramel!
The Yule Lads and the Christmas Cat – Iceland
One Santa isn’t enough for you? How about 13?! Well, they’re not exactly Santas. They are a group of mischievous pranksters who come down from the mountains around Christmas to play tricks on the local population.
On December 12, children in Iceland place their shoes on their windowsills in the hope of receiving some gifts. Then, the 13 Yule Lads visit the children every night until Christmas. Well-behaved children find sweets in their shoes, while naughty children receive rotten potatoes!
In the past, the Yule Lads were much scarier—so much so that in 1746, it was officially forbidden for parents to frighten their children with stories about these troublesome mountain dwellers. Today, they are portrayed as harmless and good-natured tricksters.
But don’t think everyone is off the hook, because there is still the Christmas Cat!
It is a huge, bloodthirsty cat that roams the snowy landscape during the Christmas season and devours anyone it finds who isn’t wearing a new piece of clothing. Well, that sounds a bit harsh—but what do you expect from the Yule Lads’ pet?
Mari Lwyd – Wales
Can’t get enough of Halloween? Then this South Welsh Christmas tradition is just right for you! It dates back to the late 18th century, although it is believed to have much older pagan origins.
Mari Lwyd is a horse skull mounted on a stick, decorated with ornaments, ribbons, and a large cloth that hides the person carrying it. Around Christmas, Mari Lwyd is led from door to door by a group of cheerful men who sing songs and challenge the people inside with rhymes and riddles.
This ritual is known as “Pwnco,” where the Mari Lwyd group tries to gain entry to the household by outwitting its residents in a battle of rhymes. If they succeed, they are welcomed inside and treated to food and refreshments before moving on to the next house.
Mari Lwyd is considered a bringer of good luck to every household it enters, which is why it is rarely defeated in a rhyme contest. Win or lose, most people are happy to let it in!
Krampus – Germany and Austria
He is half goat, half demon, with fangs, a long tongue, and large pointed horns, carrying chains, bells, and whips to discipline misbehaving children. But you probably already know that.
Burning of the Devil – Guatemala
The Christmas season in Guatemala begins each year with a tradition called “La Quema del Diablo,” which translates to “The Burning of the Devil.”
According to folklore, it is believed that the devil and other evil spirits live in the dark and dirty corners of people’s homes. So, the Christmas season in Guatemala begins with people cleaning their houses of all dirt and clutter and gathering it outside into a large pile.
Just like placing a star on top of a Christmas tree, an effigy of the devil is placed on this pile of trash and then burned on December 7 as a unique purification ritual.
Every year, large crowds gather on this day for various ceremonies and celebrations. It symbolizes burning away all the misfortunes of the past year so that the new year can begin fresh!
Roller Skating to Mass – Venezuela
Okay, enough of the spooky stuff—put on your roller skates and let’s go!
Every year between December 16 and 24, special holiday masses are held in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas. But what makes them even more special is the way people get there: on roller skates!
No one is entirely sure how this unique Christmas tradition began, but it is believed that roller skating serves as a tropical alternative to ice skating and sledding.
According to legend, in the week leading up to Christmas, children would go to sleep each night with a small string tied to their toes, with the other end hanging out of the window. When the roller skaters gather in the morning and pass by their houses, they gently pull on the strings to wake the children so they can put on their skates and join them.
This tradition has grown so much over the years that many streets in the city are closed to traffic during these days, allowing the roller-skating parades to safely make their way to the Christmas masses.
And there you have it. We hope these unique Christmas traditions have helped get you into the holiday spirit and brought a smile to your face.
No matter how you celebrate Christmas in your culture and traditions, may you spend it with your loved ones in health, love, and harmony!