For many in the United States, Christmas is a time for baking and decorating cookies, finding the perfect gifts for loved ones, and rewatching beloved classics like Elf and Home Alone. However, Christmas traditions vary greatly from country to country. Here are some unique and fascinating holiday customs from around the world.
Japan
A meal from Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) may seem like a strange choice for Christmas. But in Japan, a bucket of the fast-food giant's world-famous fried chicken is a beloved holiday tradition.
This unique custom dates back to 1974, when KFC launched a successful marketing campaign called "Kurisumasu ni wa Kentakkii" (Kentucky for Christmas). Today, about 3.6 million Japanese people enjoy KFC on Christmas. Many pre-order the holiday meal – which includes cake and champagne – weeks in advance to avoid long lines. The festive feast costs around 6,500 yen ($45).
Joonas Rokka, an associate professor at the Emlyon Business School in France, has a theory on why the KFC campaign was so successful. "It filled a void," he says. "There was no tradition of Christmas in Japan, and so KFC came in and said, this is what you should do on Christmas."
Ukraine
In Ukraine, Christmas trees are decorated with at least one or more jeweled spiders. The unusual custom is credited to a folktale about a family who could not afford to buy ornaments for their Christmas tree. The spiders in the hut heard their prayers and covered it with beautiful webs. When the sun shone on the tree, the webs transformed into glittering gold and silver ornaments. From that day forward, the widow and her kids were never in need again.
Spiders are now believed to bring good luck for the new year. In addition to decorating Christmas trees with tinsel spiders, Ukrainians also avoid removing any real spiders or cobwebs from their homes during the holiday season.
Iceland
In Iceland, kids eagerly wait for the Yule Lads during Christmas. The 13 gnome-like creatures take turns sneaking into children's rooms on the nights leading up to Christmas. Well-behaved kids receive small gifts, while those who have been naughty get rotten potatoes. The most popular Yule Lad is Kertasnýkir (Candle Stealer), who arrives on Christmas Eve. He "steals" candles but leaves behind generous gifts in their place.
Italy
Italian children eagerly await the annual visit from La Befana, a generous witch who arrives on January 5 of the new year. According to legend, La Befana met the Three Wise Men during their search for baby Jesus. They invited her to join them on their journey. But she declined, preferring to finish cleaning her house instead.
Since then, La Befana has been looking for baby Jesus. On the night of January 5, she flies around on her broomstick, visiting homes. She leaves gifts for children, hoping that one of them might be the Christ Child. The friendly and tidy witch is also known to sweep every house she visits, leaving it spotless. In return, families often leave out a glass of wine and a plate of traditional treats for La Befana to enjoy.
Merry Christmas!
Resources: History.com, Wikipedia.org, cbc.ca, smithsonian.org, momondo.com
