In Catalonia, families beat a hollow log while singing to make it 'defecate' gifts.

Tió de Nadal

Catalan nativity scenes often include a figurine of a person defecating, symbolizing fertility.

Caganer

In Italy, a witch named Befana delivers gifts to children on January 5, leaving treats for the good.

Befana

Austria celebrates Krampus, a demon-like figure who punishes naughty children during Christmas.

Krampus

In Sweden, giant straw goats are constructed, often attracting vandalism to burn them down.

Yule Goat

In Japan, it is a tradition to eat Kentucky Fried Chicken for Christmas dinner thanks to a 1970s marketing campaign.

KFC for Christmas

In Iceland, a giant cat eats children without new clothes during Christmas, promoting gift-giving.

Yule Cat

Venezuelans roller-skate to church for Christmas Mass in a popular festive tradition.

Roller-skating Mass

In Ukraine, Christmas trees are decorated with spider webs, symbolizing good fortune from a folk tale.

Spider Web Decorations

In the Czech Republic, single women throw shoes over their shoulders to predict marriage.

Shoe Toss

Guatemalans burn piles of trash topped with a devil effigy to cleanse evil spirits.

La Quema del Diablo

In Oaxaca, Mexico, locals carve intricate designs into radishes to celebrate.

Night of the Radishes

In Portugal, families set extra places for deceased relatives at Christmas dinner, honoring them.

Last-Minute Guests

Swedes gather around the TV at 3 PM on Christmas Eve to watch a classic Disney special.

Donald Duck Special

In Newfoundland, Canada, people disguise themselves and go from house to house performing.

Mummering

In Colombia, Little Candles' Day on December 7 marks the beginning of Christmas by lighting candles.

Candle Lighting

In Germany, families hide a pickle ornament in the Christmas tree, rewarding the finder.

Christmas Pickle

In Finland, it’s customary to have sauna gatherings on Christmas Eve to purify before celebrations.

Sauna Tradition

In Greece, mischievous goblins known as Kallikantzaros come out during the Christmas season causing mayhem.

Kallikantzaros

In Wales, people dress as a horse and visit homes for food and drink, performing songs.

Mari Lwyd

- Tió de Nadal: In Catalonia, families beat a hollow log while singing to make it 'defecate' gifts [1][2].
- Caganer: Catalan nativity scenes often include a figurine of a person defecating, symbolizing fertility [1][2].
- Befana: In Italy, a witch named Befana delivers gifts to children on January 5, leaving treats for the good [1][3].
- Krampus: Austria celebrates Krampus, a demon-like figure who punishes naughty children during Christmas [3][9].
- Yule Goat: In Sweden, giant straw goats are constructed, often attracting vandalism to burn them down [3][9].
- KFC for Christmas: In Japan, it is a tradition to eat Kentucky Fried Chicken for Christmas dinner thanks to a 1970s marketing campaign [1][6][11].
- Yule Cat: In Iceland, a giant cat eats children without new clothes during Christmas, promoting gift-giving [4][12].
- Roller-skating Mass: Venezuelans roller-skate to church for Christmas Mass in a popular festive tradition [3][5].
- Spider Web Decorations: In Ukraine, Christmas trees are decorated with spider webs, symbolizing good fortune from a folk tale [1][4][10].
- Shoe Toss: In the Czech Republic, single women throw shoes over their shoulders to predict marriage [2].
- La Quema del Diablo: Guatemalans burn piles of trash topped with a devil effigy to cleanse evil spirits [4][5].
- Night of the Radishes: In Oaxaca, Mexico, locals carve intricate designs into radishes to celebrate [4][10].
- Last-Minute Guests: In Portugal, families set extra places for deceased relatives at Christmas dinner, honoring them [4][10].
- Donald Duck Special: Swedes gather around the TV at 3 PM on Christmas Eve to watch a classic Disney special [1][6].
- Mummering: In Newfoundland, Canada, people disguise themselves and go from house to house performing [1][4].
- Candle Lighting: In Colombia, Little Candles' Day on December 7 marks the beginning of Christmas by lighting candles [4][8].
- Christmas Pickle: In Germany, families hide a pickle ornament in the Christmas tree, rewarding the finder [4][11].
- Sauna Tradition: In Finland, it’s customary to have sauna gatherings on Christmas Eve to purify before celebrations [1][12].
- Kallikantzaros: In Greece, mischievous goblins known as Kallikantzaros come out during the Christmas season causing mayhem [1][11].
- Mari Lwyd: In Wales, people dress as a horse and visit homes for food and drink, performing songs [4][9].

What are the weirdest Christmas traditions globally?

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