The Associated Press, via Robin Donovan
There are some strange and surprising holiday customs all throughout the world that are overshadowing Santa and his reindeer. These customs demonstrate how inventive and fanciful the holiday spirit can be, from a gift-pooping log in Spain to a legendary cat that chastises slothful Icelanders.
Catalonia s pooping log
The Ti de Nadal, also known as the pooping log, is one of the most strange holiday customs in existence. A wooden log with a face adorned is fed goodies throughout December and kept warm under a blanket in this cherished Catalan tradition. To get the log to poop sweets and presents on Christmas Eve, kids beat it with sticks and sing traditional songs.
If you’re wondering, “What the heck?” you’re not alone. However, the Ti de Nadal is a beloved holiday tradition for Catalan families, combining comedy, happiness, and a certain kind of festive ingenuity.
The Yule cat: Iceland s giant feline enforcer
Christmas in Iceland has a furry twist, and it’s not a cute one. Introducing the fabled Yule cat, who is rumored to scour the wintry countryside in search of everyone who hasn’t gotten new clothes before Christmas.
The story said that workers would be rewarded with new clothes if they completed processing the autumn wool before Christmas. The Yule cat would devour them if they didn’t succeed. Icelandic holiday customs are given a distinctive and a little unsettling flavor by this well-loved but somewhat sinister Christmas mythology.
Befana the Witch: Italy s gift-giving crone
Santa isn’t the only person in Italy giving away presents.On January 5, Epiphany Eve, children get candies and gifts from Befana, a witch who rides a broom. According to legend, she missed the birth of Jesus and has been looking for him ever since. As a kind of cosmic apology, she has been leaving goodies for children.
In Southern Italy, where she is praised with humor and tenderness, Befana is particularly well-liked. She stands out in the Christmas pantheon because of her grandmotherly persona and unusual tale—less ho-ho-ho, more hocus pocus.
The Mari Lwyd: Wales singing horse skull
Perhaps the creepiest Christmas tradition goes to Wales.With a horse skull adorned with ribbons and affixed to a pole, the Mari Lwydis is a centuries-old custom.
When the Mari Lwyd visits houses, pubs, and other gathering spots with a band of singers and performers, they challenge the people inside to a creative and funny rhyming contest that resembles a rap fight. The Mari Lwyds want to gain admission to the house and be greeted with refreshments, food, and fun.
Although the Mari Lwyd’s beginnings precede Christianity, it is today a beloved custom in Wales that is closely associated with Christmas. Quirky and distinctively Welsh, it unites communities in friendly, if slightly eerie, enjoyment.
Chinese food: The Jewish Christmas ritual that delivers
Have you ever wondered why so many Jewish families in America spend Christmas Day eating broccoli beef and dan dan noodles? This custom originated in the early 1900s, when Chinese and Jewish immigrants frequently lived next to each other in cities. Chinese eateries became a natural meeting place for Jews with nothing better to do on Christmas, as they were probably the only establishments open. Meanwhile, their Christian neighbors went to church, unwrapped presents, and enjoyed holiday ham.
Nowadays, a lot of Jewish families in America eat at their favorite Chinese restaurant on Christmas Day. They will probably eat more salt and pepper chicken, stir-fried egg noodles, and sesame beef instead of the non-kosher char siu and Szechuan shrimp.
Roller skating to church in Caracas
Ignore sleighs. Skateboarders enjoy Christmas morning in Caracas, Venezuela. Many families use roller skates to get to church as a solution to the issue of clogged roads on a day when everyone is attempting to make it to early morning Mass. As people make their way to Christmas services, music fills the air and the city is alive with pleasure and happiness.
Venezuela’s love of celebration and sense of community are reflected in this lively custom. Roller skating is a lot more fun than sitting in traffic, and it’s evidence that even holy rites can have a playful side.
KFC: Japan s finger-lickin holiday feast
Kentucky Fried Chicken is a staple of Christmas dinner in Japan. Every December, millions of Japanese families line up for KFC, a tradition that started with a 1970s marketing campaign called Kentucky for Christmas, which really hit the mark. In Japan, December accounts for over one-third of KFC Global’s yearly revenues. You would not think of fried chicken as Christmas, but in Japan, it’s just as iconic as a holiday sweater.
Naked Santa: San Francisco s bare-it-all holiday antics
San Francisco is the perfect place to give holiday festivities a mischievous twist. Every year, the city hosts SantaCon, which draws crowds of Santas for a fun-filled day. In typical San Francisco tradition, mischievous Santas jumped at the chance to flaunt all of their presents by joining the otherwise benign party in the nude.
Even if not everyone is prepared to decorate the city’s halls in nothing but Santa hats, Naked Santa has become a legendary figure that embodies San Francisco’s fun nature and propensity for testing limits. It’s sunny in California even in December, so remember to wear sunscreen.
Why these traditions matter
From pooping logs to giant cats, these quirky customs remind us that there s no right way to celebrate the holidays. The best traditions are those that bring people together. And if they happen to involve a horse skull or a giant mythical cat? Better still. Because let s face it: Weird, wonderful and wildly unexpected customs are what make the season truly magical.
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