Christmas Around the World: 5 Strange and Fascinating Traditions You Need to Know

Christmas Around the World!

When we think of Christmas, we immediately picture Santa Claus, a tree full of lights, and a Christmas dinner with turkey.

But if you take a trip around the world in December, you'll discover that Christmas can be much stranger — and much richer — than that.

In some places, Santa Claus is accompanied by a whipping demon. In others, the star of the feast is a live fish that "stares" at you.

Likewise, there are countries that exchange gifts for... old shoes filled with carrots.

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Christmas Around the World, Here's the itinerary:

1. Why is Christmas so different in each country?
2. Krampus (Austria, Germany, Hungary): Who is this demon that accompanies Santa Claus?
3. KFC in Japan: How a Marketing Campaign Became a National Tradition?
4. La Befana (Italy): Why does a witch fly on a broomstick delivering gifts on January 6th?
5. Ghana in Ethiopia: What is Orthodox Christmas like that takes place in January and includes a Sacred Hockey Game?
6. Caganer and Tió de Nadal (Catalonia): Why is Defecating Part of the Christmas Magic?
7. Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas Around the World

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Why is Christmas so different in each country?

Firstly, the Christmas we know today is a cultural melting pot.

It blends pagan traditions of the winter solstice (Yule, Saturnalia), the birth of Christ, and centuries of local adaptation.

Therefore, each people took what they already celebrated in December and placed a "Christian ornament" on top.

Furthermore, the climate matters.
While in the northern hemisphere Christmas is synonymous with cold and darkness, in Australia it's summer, beach and barbecue.

Consequently, the idea of a "white snow night" simply doesn't make sense there.

Finally, colonialism and globalization have had a curious effect:
Traditions that were once regional became national symbols when they needed to differentiate themselves from the colonizer.

The clearest example is Japan: lacking a Christian tradition, it created a commercial—and absurdly unique—Christmas.

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According to a 2024 YouGov survey, 681,300 people worldwide celebrate some type of end-of-year holiday in December or January, even if they are not Christian.

In other words, Christmas has become a much bigger cultural phenomenon than religion.

Krampus (Austria, Germany, Hungary): Who is this demon that accompanies Santa Claus?

Imagine the scene: December 5th, you hear bells and chains in the street.

Suddenly, a hairy creature with horns, a protruding tongue, and a whip appears at your window.

This is Krampus, the "anti-Santa Claus" who punishes disobedient children.

In this sense, the tradition comes from pre-Christian Alpine folklore.

While Saint Nicholas rewards the good with gifts, Krampus takes the bad ones to hell in a sack (or, in modern versions, just gives them a few symbolic whippings).

Today, the Krampusläufe (Krampus races) attract tens of thousands of tourists.

In short, young men dress in hand-carved wooden masks (which cost up to 2,000 euros) and run around terrifying (and enchanting) those who watch.

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It's as if Halloween and Christmas had a noisy, gothic child.

And it works: in Austria, 421,300 families still tell Krampus stories to their children to help them behave all year round.

KFC in Japan: How a Marketing Campaign Became a National Tradition?

In 1974, the manager of the KFC in Tokyo had a crazy idea:
“Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii!” (Kentucky at Christmas!).

In this sense, the campaign showed foreigners happily eating fried chicken because "they didn't have turkey in Japan.".

It was so successful that today 3.6 million Japanese people eat KFC on Christmas Eve — reservations are required up to two months in advance.

Thus, the special Christmas bucket costs around 4,500 yen (R$ 170) and comes with cake and champagne.

The most striking thing? Only 11.3% of the Japanese population is Christian.

Christmas there has become a romantic holiday (like Valentine's Day) plus a family dinner at KFC.
It's the greatest cultural marketing case study in history.

La Befana (Italy): Why does a witch fly on a broomstick delivering gifts on January 6th?

In Italy, January 6th (Epiphany) is more important than December 25th itself.

An old witch named Befana comes down the chimney and fills children's stockings with sweets—or coal, if they've been naughty.

In this sense, legend says that the Three Wise Men invited Befana to go see Jesus, but she refused because she was cleaning the house.

Later he regretted it and to this day he flies searching for the Baby Jesus, leaving gifts for all the children he meets.

In cities like Urbania (the "official city of Befana"), a festival takes place with thousands of witches rappelling down from buildings.

In short, it's an extended Christmas, more feminine and more magical than the traditional Santa Claus.

Ghana in Ethiopia: What is Orthodox Christmas like that takes place in January and includes a Sacred Hockey Game?

In Ethiopia, Christmas (Ganna) is celebrated on January 7th, following the Julian calendar.

People wear traditional white clothes (netela) and go to mass at 4 am.

After the ceremony, the men play genna — a violent game that mixes hockey and wrestling, with a wooden ball.

Thus, legend says that the shepherds threw something similar when they received the news of Jesus' birth.

There's no Santa Claus, no tree, no expensive presents.

It involves a 43-day fast beforehand, raw beef afterward, and a sense of community that is the envy of many.

Tradition	Country	Date	Most Bizarre Element	Why Has It Continued Until Today?
Krampus	Austria/Germany	December 5	Demon whips children	Fear works better than reward.
KFC Christmas	Japan	December 24-25	Fried chicken for dinner	Marketing + lack of Christian tradition
La Befana	Italy	Jan 6	Witch leaves coal in socks	She postponed the end of the festivities and gave a role to elderly women.
Ganna + Genna	Ethiopia	Jan 7	Sacred hockey after mass	It connects sport, faith, and national identity.
Tió de Nadal	Catalonia	8-24 Dec	Trunk that defecates gifts	Absurd humor + cultural resistance to Spanish Christmas

Caganer and Tió de Nadal (Catalonia): Why is Defecating Part of the Christmas Magic?

In Catalonia, the traditional nativity scene has a detail that shocks tourists: the Caganer — a man with his pants down defecating hidden behind the stable.

It could be anyone: Messi, the Pope, Trump. New versions come out every year.

The explanation? Soil fertility.
Poop symbolizes fertilizer for a bountiful new year.

It's so popular that 1 in 3 Catalan homes has a Caganer.

Nadal's Tió, on the other hand, is a tree trunk with a face, legs, and a hat.

Starting on December 8th, the children "feed" the tree trunk with orange peels and cover it with a blanket.
On Christmas Eve, they sing a song telling their uncle to "go to hell" (literally) and hit him with a stick.
The tree trunk then "defecates" small, sweet, and lumpy gifts.

It's the most scatological Christmas on the planet — and one of the most beloved by Catalan children.

In short, have you ever stopped to think: what is the line between strange and charming when it comes to tradition?

Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas Around the World

Question	Response
Can I participate in Krampuslauf as a tourist?	Yes! In many cities you can rent a costume and go for a run, but be prepared: it's physically demanding and has strict safety rules.
Is Japanese KFC different from ours at Christmas?	Yes, the "Christmas Chicken" comes in a themed bucket, with cake, salad, and even champagne. It's more expensive and fancier than usual.
Does La Befana replace Santa Claus in Italy?	Not exactly. Many families give gifts on the 25th (Babbo Natale) and even more gifts on the 6th with Befana. Double the joy!
Do I need to be a Christian to celebrate Gana in Ethiopia?	No. Tourists are very welcome at the celebrations and genna games. Just observe the fast if you plan to partake in the traditional food.
Is Caganer offensive?	Not for Catalans. It's popular humor and a symbol of equality: even the king poops. Tourists who are shocked are gently teased.
Which of these traditions is growing the most in 2025?	Krampus. Events in Central Europe and even the USA (Krampus Nacht in Los Angeles and Philadelphia) have exploded in the last 5 years.

Christmas around the world proves that there is no single "right" way to celebrate.

Each culture took the same event — or the same end-of-year excuse — and transformed it into something that reflects its history, humor, and values.

So, what unusual tradition would you like to bring to your Christmas?

Useful links (2025):

1. BBC Travel – “Four of Europe's most fascinating pre-Christian winter festivals“

2. Garden & Gun – “How KFC for Christmas Became a Thing in Japan”

3. Grokipedia – “Ethiopian Christmas”