December 24, 2024, 11:36 am | Read time: 6 minutes
For Christians and many others who celebrate Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ is one of the most important celebrations of the year. Every year, billions of people in more than 160 countries celebrate the “festival of love”—often in very different ways. TRAVELBOOK shows some of the most bizarre Christmas traditions.
Decorating the tree at Christmas, going to church, giving presents, opening a little door every day during Advent, decorating the gingerbread house, or baking cookies. Most people in this country are probably familiar with these Christmas traditions. But have you ever heard of the supposedly typical German Christmas gherkin, the Caganer, or festive chicken wings? TRAVELBOOK presents five bizarre Christmas traditions from around the world.
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5 Bizarre Christmas Traditions From Around the World
The Caganer, Catalonia
Hard to believe, but true: In Catalonia, i.e., in the area around Barcelona, the Caganer, who is doing his business, is a must in the nativity scene. According to “Bayerischer Rundfunk“, the word is derived from the Latin “cacare”. In Catalonia, even toddlers who are not yet potty-trained are affectionately referred to as “caganer”, meaning “little one who poops”.
Every year, the Caganer is hidden in the nativity scene at Christmastime. According to Catalan tradition, the children look for the “little shit”. It is a lucky charm, as its tidy pile was an important fertilizer for farmers.
The Pooping Tree Trunk, Catalonia
In fact, the Catalans have not one but two Christmas traditions involving feces. In addition to the Caganer, there is also the “Caga Tió”. The stick with a smile on its face sits on the dining table in December and shortens the children’s wait for presents. The “Caga Tió”, or “pooping log”, is “fed” with nuts and sweets daily. It is kept warm under a blanket, only to be playfully hit with sticks on Christmas Eve to “release” the presents. When only onions or garlic cloves are left at the end, the “Caga Tió” is empty.
Christmas Gherkin, (allegedly) Germany
The Christmas gherkin is allegedly an old German tradition. But while hardly anyone in this country knows it, the “Christmas Pickle – Made in Germany” is a real Christmas classic in the US. According to the US certificate, it definitely comes from Germany.
According to WELT, there are three theories for this. One legend says that a German immigrant and soldier almost starved to death on Christmas Eve during his imprisonment in the American Civil War. But then he asked for a pickle and survived. After returning to his family, he therefore hung a cucumber on the tree every Christmas. Others suspect that people in the Spreewald were once so poor that they could only decorate the tree with cucumbers. Poverty is also the basis of the third idea. According to this, at the beginning of the 20th century, some families had too little money to give presents to all their children. Therefore, only the child who first discovered a cucumber among the branches received a gift.
However, there is also a theory that the Christmas cucumber originated in Spain. According to this theory, St. Nicholas brought back to life three boys who were trapped in a cucumber barrel and died in it. Others suspect that the “Christmas pickle” is simply a marketing stunt.
Wherever the tradition comes from, Americans consider the Christmas pickle to be an original German custom. They hide a glass Christmas pickle in the tree on Christmas Eve. Before the presents are given, the children look for the Christmas vegetable. The child who discovers the gherkin is rewarded with an additional present. It also has the privilege of opening their gifts first, and is said to be blessed with good fortune for the next year, as the legend goes.
The Krampus, Primarily Alpine Regions
As if the danger of not receiving presents wasn’t bad enough for children, children in Alpine countries (in southern regions of Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, and the Czech Republic), in the autonomous Alpine region of Trentino-South Tyrol, and in parts of northern Italy outside the Alps also have to fear the Krampus. At least all those who end up on Santa’s “naughty list”. “If you haven’t been good, the Krampus will get you” is a saying that every Austrian child probably understands.
The pairing of the merciful St. Nicholas and the scary Krampus illustrates at Christmastime that “good” and “evil” cannot always be separated. While St. Nicholas traditionally rewards the good children, the terrifying, devilish Krampus frightens all those who have not been good. Shaggy goat fur, a long tongue, horns, a scary grimace, a cow’s tail, chains, iron bells, a rod and a so-called “butte” on his back, in which, according to legend, particularly naughty children are caught. The Krampus is seen as the fearsome counterpart to the more benign Farmhand Ruprecht.
Even though Krampus Day is on December 5 and St. Nicholas Day on December 6, the two often appear together. On Krampus Night on December 5, it is a tradition in most towns for several Krampuses to chase noisily through the streets and across the Christmas markets. They spread fear and terror and sometimes strike with their bundles of brushwood. Brave children are allowed to tease the Krampuses. But they risk being beaten with a rod. Or even landing in the Butte, the sack for naughty children on Krampus’ back.
Christmas at KFC, Japan
Since the 1970s, it has been a Christmas tradition in Japan to eat at Kentucky Fried Chicken. Families either dine in at the fast-food chain on Christmas Eve or carry out festive chicken meals to enjoy at home. This fourth of the bizarre Christmas traditions is attributed to the success of the “Kentucky for Christmas” advertising campaign in 1974. A time when Japan’s economy was booming, the US was considered the economic center, and people in Japan had money to indulge in consumer culture.
Riding to Christmas Mass on Inline Skates, Venezuela
The inhabitants of the Venezuelan capital Caracas have changed the Christmas custom of going to mass in a unique and bizarre way. Every year, they strap on inline skates and glide there. Christmas rollerblading has become so popular that, according to WELT, the city even closes its streets so that families can skate together safely.
Do you know of any other funny or bizarre Christmas traditions? Then write to us at redaktion[at]travebook.de.