You’ve got your Christmas traditions down pat. The tree goes up the day after Thanksgiving. Stockings hang from the mantel. Cookies get left out for Santa.
But here’s the thing. Christmas looks wildly different around the globe. Some countries hide pickles in trees. Others celebrate with bucket loads of KFC. And in one place, a giant straw goat becomes the star of the season.
These traditions might sound quirky at first. But they’re rich with meaning and joy. Let’s explore Christmas customs from around the world that’ll make you see the holidays in a whole new light. You might even find inspiration for your own home this year.
Japan’s KFC Christmas Feast
Want to know what Christmas dinner looks like in Japan? Picture this. Families line up at KFC to pick up buckets of fried chicken. It’s the ultimate holiday meal.
This tradition started in the 1970s with a brilliant marketing campaign. KFC positioned itself as the Christmas dinner solution for a country that didn’t have turkey traditions. It stuck. Now millions of Japanese families order their “Christmas chicken” weeks in advance.
The meal comes in special holiday packaging. You get chicken, cake, and all the festive trimmings. Some locations even have Colonel Sanders dressed as Santa greeting customers.
Bring it home: Host a fun, non-traditional Christmas dinner. Break away from the usual turkey or ham. Make it a casual, joyful gathering without all the pressure of formal dining.
Iceland’s Thirteen Yule Lads
Forget one Santa. Iceland has thirteen mischievous characters visiting homes during the holidays. They’re called the Yule Lads, and each one has a unique personality.
These guys arrive one by one in the thirteen nights leading up to Christmas. Kids leave shoes in their windowsills. Well-behaved children get small gifts or treats. Naughty ones? They wake up to find a potato in their shoe.
Each Yule Lad has a funny name that describes what he does. There’s Spoon Licker, Door Slammer, and Sausage Swiper. They’re pranksters who steal food and make noise. But they bring joy and laughter to Icelandic homes.
Bring it home: Create a countdown tradition with small daily surprises. Hide tiny gifts around your house for kids to find each morning. It builds anticipation and makes the whole season magical.
Norway’s Hidden Brooms
Here’s a tradition that sounds straight out of a fairy tale. On Christmas Eve, Norwegian families hide their brooms. Every single one.
Why? Legend says witches and evil spirits come out on Christmas Eve looking for brooms to ride. Hide your brooms, and you protect your home from mischief. It’s been a tradition for centuries.
Some families still do this today. It’s a playful nod to folklore that adds a bit of mystery to the holiday. Plus, it’s a fun conversation starter when guests notice all the brooms have vanished.
Bring it home: Add a quirky tradition that’s uniquely yours. It doesn’t have to make perfect sense. The best traditions are the ones that make your family laugh and wonder years later, “Why do we do this again?”
Venezuela’s Roller Skate Mass
Christmas morning in Caracas looks different. Really different. People lace up their roller skates and glide to church for early morning mass.
This tradition is so popular that cities close streets to traffic. Everyone skates together through the neighborhoods as the sun comes up. After mass, families head home for traditional tamales and hallacas.
Kids tie one end of a string to their toe before bed. The other end hangs out the window. Early morning skaters tug the strings as they pass by, waking children up to join the fun.
Bring it home: Start an active Christmas morning tradition. Take a family walk before opening presents. Go for a bike ride. Do something that gets everyone moving together before the day becomes a whirlwind of wrapping paper and cooking.
Austria’s Krampus Night
Not all Christmas traditions are sweet and jolly. In Austria, Krampus roams the streets on December 5th. He’s the anti-Santa. A horned, devilish creature who punishes badly behaved children.
Young men dress in elaborate Krampus costumes with fur, horns, and masks. They parade through towns carrying chains and bells. It’s part theater, part folklore, and totally intense.
While Santa rewards good kids, Krampus scares the naughty ones straight. Some say he carries them away in his sack. It’s a darker side of the holidays that reminds everyone to behave.
Bring it home: You don’t need to terrify anyone. But acknowledging that the holidays include all kinds of emotions feels honest. Create space for the full spectrum of the season, not just forced cheerfulness.
Sweden’s Gävle Goat
Every year since 1966, the Swedish city of Gävle builds a massive straw goat in the town square. It stands over 40 feet tall. And every year, people try to burn it down.
The Gävle Goat has become an international sensation. It’s been destroyed more than 30 times by arsonists, vandals, and pranksters. Security gets tighter each year. Webcams watch it 24/7. Yet somehow, it often still goes up in flames.
The goat represents an old Scandinavian Yule tradition. But now it’s also a symbol of rebellion, humor, and the unpredictable nature of the holidays.
Bring it home: Display one large, statement piece in your holiday decor this year. Make it the conversation starter. Whether it’s a massive wreath, an oversized ornament, or a unique centerpiece, go bold with one element.
The Philippines’ Giant Lantern Festival
The Giant Lantern Festival in San Fernando is pure magic. Enormous star-shaped lanterns, called “parols,” light up the night. Some are 20 feet in diameter with thousands of spinning lights.
These aren’t your standard decorations. Each parol is a work of art created by skilled craftsmen. Neighborhoods compete to build the most spectacular one. The patterns are synchronized to music, creating a mesmerizing light show.
The tradition represents the Star of Bethlehem. But it’s grown into a dazzling display of creativity and community pride. Families travel from across the country to witness it.
Bring it home: Make your outdoor lights more intentional this year. Instead of covering every surface, create one stunning focal point. A beautifully lit tree, an illuminated doorway, or a creative window display makes more impact than random string lights everywhere.
Ukraine’s Spider Web Christmas Trees
In Ukraine, Christmas trees glitter with spider webs. Artificial ones, made from silver and gold tinsel. It’s based on a folk tale about a poor widow and her children.
The story goes like this. A family couldn’t afford decorations for their tree. On Christmas morning, they woke to find spiders had covered it in beautiful webs. Sunlight hit the webs and turned them into silver and gold.
Now Ukrainian trees shimmer with metallic strands draped like delicate webs. It’s a reminder that beauty can come from unexpected places. And that the holidays aren’t about expensive decorations.
Bring it home: Add an ornament or decoration that tells a story. Something with meaning behind it. Start a collection that represents your family’s values, not just what looks pretty in the store.
Bringing Global Cheer Into Your Home
These traditions show us something important. There’s no single “right” way to celebrate. Christmas around the world is wildly creative, deeply personal, and sometimes wonderfully weird.
You don’t need to adopt these exact customs. But you can steal the spirit behind them. Be playful. Honor your heritage. Create something unique that brings your household together. The best traditions are the ones that make you smile and bring meaning to your celebration.
This year, pick one new element to try. It might become your family’s quirky tradition that future generations remember and love.
Final Thought;
Christmas traditions reveal something beautiful about humanity. We all find ways to celebrate, connect, and create joy. Whether you’re hiding brooms, skating to church, or gathering around fried chicken, it’s the togetherness that matters. This year, let these global traditions inspire you. Mix a little magic from around the world into your own celebration. Create something that feels authentically yours. After all, the best holiday traditions are the ones that make your heart feel full and your home feel like the center of the world.