From a penny in the black pudding to kissing under the mistletoe, Christmas traditions are not just about Santa in the UK. But what about traditions celebrated in countries across the globe?
Whether it’s chocolate filled shoes, an evening roller skating or eating KFC, other nations have their own peculiar ways of celebrating the festive period.
Japan – KFC Christmas dinner
Christmas dinners in Japan look very different to most countries – there are no signs of turkey, pigs in blankets or Yorkshire puddings.
The Japanese typically celebrate with a meal from KFC for Christmas, with some pre-ordering their chicken meals months in advance.
Long queues are expected on the 25th outside KFC restaurants, as the nationwide tradition unfolds.
Christmas dinners in Japan look very different to most countries – there are no signs of turkey, pigs in blankets or Yorkshire pudding
Stores get a holiday-themed makeover in the run up to Christmas, decked out in red and green and even KFC’s mascot, Colonel Sanders, gets dressed up, with life-size models seen around Japanese cities, dressed as Santa Claus.
The KFC Christmas bucket, commonly called a barrel instead, comes with a limited edition Christmas-themed collectable plate.
Not surprisingly, the week leading up to Christmas Eve is the most profitable week of the year for the franchise, scooping up £38,000,000 (6.1billion Japanese yen) in 2018, and reaching record sales of £44,000,000 (7.1 billion yen) in 2019.
Poland – speaking animals
It’s common to wonder what your pet is thinking and what they would tell you if they could speak – in Poland, there’s a festive myth where this becomes a reality.
It is believed that during the Christmas Eve dinner, animals are given the gift of speaking for the night.
According to legend, this is thanks to the animals who helped receive baby Jesus during his birth.
As a result, polish children often try to get a word in with their often confused dogs and cats.
Germany – chocolate filled shoes
On the evening of the 5th December, a day before Saint Nicholas Day, German children polish their shoes and leave them on the street or near the fireplace.
Later, they will find them filled with chocolates and sweets from Nikolaus (St. Nicholas) as a reward for good behaviour.
Tangerines and small gifts are also commonly included in the shoes, similar to the concept of a Christmas stocking.
Some reports even say that naughty children will find a rotten potato in their footwear, rather than treats.
On the evening of the 5th December, a day before Saint Nicholas Day, German children polish their shoes and leave them on the street or near the fireplace
Venezuela – roller skating
For some, Christmas eve means a trip to the pub with friends and family – to others, it’s a cozy night in with a hot chocolate and a festive film.
To those in Venezuela, it’s a fun night of roller skating.
On Christmas Eve, residents of Venezuela’s capital city, Caracas, will be seen travelling to Christmas mass on roller skates.
Skating is such a popular tradition that the streets are closed to cars, allowing skaters to travel safely and enjoy this fun Christmas activity.
China – Santa’s ‘sisters’
If you’re in China for Christmas, you’ll be surprised to see no sign of little green elves helping Father Christmas.
Santa is known as ‘Sheng dan Lao ren’ and his helpers are called ‘sisters.’
This means that the Father Christmases dressed up in shopping centres will have costumed women by their side, and not pointy-eared elves.
The sisters often wear red and white and follow him around, as elves would.
The Netherlands – an early Christmas
Contrary to the UK, the evening of December 5th is the most exciting Christmas day for children as it is the time ‘Sinterklaas’ arrives with presents.
Kids will leave a shoe by the fireplace, sing Dutch Christmas songs and wait for their gifts to arrive.
It marks the beginning of festive celebrations and the man himself will often arrive mid November for various events and parades
It marks the beginning of festive celebrations and the man himself will often arrive mid November for various events and parades.
Sinterklaas is based on Saint Nicholas – however the tradition goes that he lives in Spain with his helpers, the Pieten and his white horse.
The Pieten, again similar to elves, are his helpers and dress in brightly coloured clothing to hand out sweets to children.
Italy – bagpipe playing shepherds
Italian tradition sees bizarre bagpipe-playing shepherds perform tunes in piazzas, normally dressed in traditional sheepskin and wool cloaks.
They’re known as the zampognari and they perform traditional hymns and music, in parts of Italy such as Naples and Rome
The pipers travel in pairs down from their mountain homes for a festive spectacle.
They’re known as the zampognari and they perform traditional hymns and music, in parts of Italy such as Naples and Rome.
It’s said that you’ll hear them before you see them so listen up if you’ll be in Italy for the festive period.
Romania – slaughtering of a pig
Romania’s Christmas traditions are very unique, and arguably the most important is the slaughtering of a pig.
Families will gather in rural areas to sacrifice one of their pigs and use the meat to cook Christmas meals.
It usually takes part on December 20 and is called ”Ziua de Ignat,’ which translates to Ignatius Day.
Although, some Romanians believe the tradition is cruel so it’s not as popular as it used to be.
Australia and the US- surfing Santas
Christmas in Australia is during the Summer, so it is common to see surfing Santas in bright red fleece suits, lined with white fur and big black boots.
Taking place on the 24th on Cocoa Beach in Florida, hundreds of surfers will catch a wave at the free event
Finally, the Spanish Christmas lottery is the biggest in the world and almost everyone in the country plays
The tradition has also extended to the US, and on Christmas Eve morning in particular, people from across the country gather to watch surfers dressed as santa take to the waves.
Taking place on the 24th on Cocoa Beach in Florida, hundreds of surfers will catch a wave at the free event.
Spain – Christmas lottery
Finally, the Spanish Christmas lottery is the biggest in the world and almost everyone in the country plays.
People usually take part with friends, coworkers or neighbours because and it pays out over two billion euros each year.
Known as El Gordo Spanish Lottery, it takes place on December 22 in Madrid and is the biggest and most popular draw of the year – tickets have already been on sale for a while.
The tradition began all the way back in 1812 and remains an exciting one for Spanish people today.