The Origins of 6 Unique Christmas Traditions
Observed on December 25, Christmas is both a religious holiday, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, and a secular holiday that includes cultural customs and traditions, many of which have their roots in the pagan festival of Saturnalia, honoring the agricultural god, Saturn. For more than 2 billion people in over 160 countries, Christmas is a time of joy and festivity, family and friends. From the snowy landscapes of Scandinavia to the sun-warmed beaches of Australia, the way we celebrate the holiday season varies widely from one community to the next. Here are the origins of six unique Christmas traditions around the world.
Krampus in Austria
Krampus is a mythical creature with roots in Alpine folklore, who acts as a menacing counterpart to the jolly figure of Santa Claus or St. Nicholas. He is often depicted as a horned, anthropomorphic goat-like demon with claws and a long tongue. His primary role is to accompany St. Nick during the Christmas season and punish naughty children with beatings while Santa rewards the well-behaved kids with gifts.
The legend of Krampus blends pagan celebrations of the winter solstice with the Christian traditions associated with St. Nicholas. In many Alpine communities, especially Austria, Bavaria, and other parts of Central Europe, Krampus Night (Krampusnacht) falls on December 5, the night before the celebration of the Feast of St. Nicholas. Several European communities host a Krampus Run (Krampuslauf) each year, a tradition that is believed to be hundreds of years old. During the run, adults dressed in devilish costumes take to the streets, often accompanied by a St. Nicholas character, to playfully menace spectators.
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Fried Chicken in Japan
Around 1% of Japan’s population identifies as Christian, making Christmas more of a cultural holiday than a religious one in the country. As in many other parts of the world, holiday traditions in Japan include colorful light displays, festive markets, and gift-giving. But one food that is uniquely enjoyed at Christmas in Japan is fried chicken. The Christmas tradition of eating fried chicken started a few years after KFC came to Japan in 1970, when the store manager of the first KFC, who went on to be the CEO of KFC Japan, introduced the idea of a KFC Christmas “party barrel.” The idea caught on, and now millions of people in Japan enjoy a meal of fried chicken on Christmas.
The Good Witch of Christmas in Italy
In Italy, the traditional Christmas holiday season lasts through Epiphany on January 6. The Feast of the Epiphany commemorates the 12th day of Christmas, when the three Magi arrived in Bethlehem with gifts for the baby Jesus. While Italy’s version of Santa Claus, known as Babbo Natale, delivers gifts on December 24, it is the witchy La Befana who rides a broom and leaves gifts for children on Epiphany Eve, the night of January 5.
The legend of La Befana is older than Babbo Natale and may date back to the Neolithic era, but she has become linked to the Nativity story. Italian folklore says that the three wise men asked La Befana to join them on their journey, but she refused. She later changed her mind and gathered gifts to bring to Jesus, but she never found him. So La Befana continues to search houses for the baby Jesus, leaving behind gifts for other children.
The Grey Mare in Wales
The Welsh tradition of Mari Lwyd, or “Grey Mare,” takes place in December and January and may be rooted in pagan rituals, though its exact origin is unknown. Traditionally, a horse’s skull is decorated with brightly colored ribbons, holiday greenery, and lights, and put on a pole that is carried by a person under a white sheet. The ghostly horse head is then carried through villages and used to try to gain entry into people’s homes. Participants in the Mari Lwyd processional dress in traditional Welsh clothing, while singing and trying to engage each other in a competition of rhyming Welsh insults, called pwnco. Tradition says that those who welcome the mischievous Mari Lwyd into their homes will receive good luck in the coming year.
The Yule Lads in Iceland
Iceland’s gift-giving tradition includes the 13 Yule Lads, or Jólasveinar, who visit children on the 13 nights leading up to Christmas. Each night, children leave one of their shoes on the windowsill, hoping for treats from the Yule Lads. Per tradition, good children will receive candy in their shoes while naughty children will find a raw or rotten potato. According to Nordic folklore, the Yule Lads are the sons of a troll named Grýla, who is known to collect bad children in her sack to take back to her cave and be made into stew. While the Yule Lads aren’t as threatening as their mother, each one is known for a particular mischievous act, from stealing milk from sheep and cows to licking spoons and slamming doors.
Roller Skating in Venezuela
The majority of Venezuela’s population is Roman Catholic, and the tropical climate of the South American country encourages people to gather outdoors, making community block parties a popular holiday tradition. While Venezuelans may not get to enjoy ice skating or sledding in December, they have their own Christmas tradition that’s just as much fun: In the week leading up to Christmas, they put on their roller skates and race through the streets to Misa de Aguinaldo, or early morning mass. Known as las patinatas, or “the skating,” this tradition began in Venezuela’s larger cities, including the capital city, Caracas, in the 1950s. The tradition likely started as a warm weather alternative to ice skating, though no one knows for sure. Skating to mass became so popular that the government has closed streets to automobile traffic to keep skaters safe.
