It is Christmas time again and the festivities are in full swing. The holidays have always been one of my favorite times of the year. There is good food, time with family and friends, and a sense of joy. Today, I thought it would be a great chance to highlight some fun Christmas traditions around the world. Some of them you may already know, but others you may not. Take a tour with me as we close out the Christmas season!
Christmas Traditions in Sweden
In Sweden, one of the most recognizable symbols of the Christmas season is the Yule Goat. It dates back to ancient pagan festivals. Almost 60 years ago, in 1966, the tradition got enhanced when someone decided to make a giant straw goat. This is called the Gavle Goat; it stands 42 feet tall and 23 feet wide while weighing almost 4 tons. It gets constructed in the same spot every year. The construction is shown via live stream, which concludes with the tear down around New Year’s.
Christmas Traditions in Japan
Japan doesn’t technically consider Christmas as a national holiday; this is because the population is only about 1% Christian. Despite this, the country finds a fun way to celebrate the day: Kentucky Fried Chicken. The annual event began shortly after a 1974 marketing campaign called ‘Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii!’ (Kentucky for Christmas!). The long lines and millions of orders placed on this day may bring to mind a daily drive-thru line at Portillo’s in Chicagoland.
Christmas Traditions in Austria
Many Alpine countries, including Austria, believe in the legend of Krampus. Krampus is a devil-like
creature that is rumoured to bring nefarious things to children who are bad. On the flip side, good
children are rewarded with candies, fruits, and nuts. Krampus is also well-known in the US from all of
the horror-themed movies… very scary! Thankfully, the actual Krampus legend is more so mythical than reality. No one has reported seeing Krampus lately.
Conclusion
All of these traditions are unique to their countries and provide a great way for their people to celebrate the holiday of Christmas. Krampus is well known in the US because of the various horror movies, while KFC in Japan is known simply by how prevalent the tradition has been for so long amongst so many people. Perhaps you may not have heard of the Yule Goat? It is a great time to be joyful, thankful, and celebrate this time of love. I hope you and your families have a terrific Christmas! Take a look ahead to 2022 to get ready to tackle next year’s challenges if you haven’t already.