More than any other time of year, Christmas time brings out family traditions. That’s not saying traditions don’t pop up all year long at birthdays, Thanksgiving, Easter, or other special holiday or occasion, but it seems Christmas traditions begin on Black Friday and make their way through New Years.
After doing a bit of research, I’ve uncovered some crazy Christmas traditions that only the family that does them could possibly love. The list is below. Get ready to laugh, raise your eyebrows, and be totally shocked!
Christmas Traditions
Some of these Christmas traditions took me by surprise. I think they will do the same for you. Maybe you can use these Christmas ideas for your next holiday celebration.
- In Japan, the traditional Christmas dinner is Kentucky Fried Chicken. If you live in Japan and plan on eating in the restaurant, be sure to make reservations weeks in advance.
- In Venezuela, people go to church on roller skates and tug on strings hanging out the window. What are the strings tied to? The big toe of children whose feet are hanging out the window.
- In Ukraine, Christmas traditions say that a spider and a web should be hidden in the Christmas tree. Whoever finds the spider and web on Christmas morning will have good luck.
- In some countries, unmarried women throw one shoe over their shoulder to see if they will be married in the upcoming year. Christmas tradition has it that if the shoe lands with the toe facing the door, the unmarried woman will be married, but if it lands another way, she will remain single for the next year.
- In the United Kingdom at Christmas time, it is illegal to eat a mince pie.
- Also in the United Kingdom, when making Christmas pudding, everyone takes a turn stirring the batter clockwise while making a wish.
- In other countries, the Christmas tradition of hiding brooms is practiced. Why? It is believed that witches come out on that night and will steal your broom to ride on. Women hide brooms, mops, and other cleaning brushes before heading to bed on Christmas Eve.
- In countries like Ukraine, just before eating Christmas dinner, the man will take a spoonful of a traditional food and fling it to the ceiling. The more food that sticks to the ceiling the better his crops will be the following year.
While I can’t imagine doing any of these Christmas traditions, it is important to the people who practice them. At our house, every Christmas Eve we sprinkle reindeer food in the lawn for the reindeer to eat while Santa is leaving the presents under the tree. What are some of your family’s traditions at Christmas time?
Sources:
“10 Unusual Christmas Traditions From Around the World”, openjourney.com
“Santa Claus Christmas Journey: Traditions Kris Kringle Must Face When Travelling Around The World”, huffingtonpost.ca
“Hottest Christmas Toys”, help-parents.org
“Christmas Traditions – Humorous “, ourfarmhousechristmas.com
