Lifestyle
25 Unique Winter Traditions Around the Globe You Might Not Be Aware Of
Winter isn’t all about the snow. It’s also about keeping with traditions.
It’s definitely Christmas all over the world. There are all sorts of celebrations anywhere you go, very cold weather and lots of dining and partying. Of course, cultural practices and traditions vary around the globe.
Know more about these traditions in our list of 25 unique winter traditions around the globe you might not be aware of:
25. Kids in sacks.
In Austria, Krampus punishes naughty children and sometimes takes them in his sack.
24. Three Kings.
Three Kings is celebrated on January 6. In Spain, this is the day when children receive their Christmas gifts just like Christ received his first gifts.
23. Losan.
The Tibetan word for New Year is Losan and it is celebrated for 15 days. Included in the festivities is the consumption of a special fermented drink called chhaang, dancing in special costumes, eating of special noodles and cleaning for the new year.
22. National Christmas Tree.
Every Christmas since 1929, the sitting US President lights the National Christmas Tree. It is a living tree that remains in place the whole year round, and is surrounded by 56 smaller trees.
21. Remembering Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac.
Eid Al Adha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice is celebrated every tenth day of the 12 month of the Lunar calendar. It is to commemorate the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son. Families dress in finest clothes.
20. Burning the Devil.
La Quema del Diablo or The Burning of the Devil is celebrated every December 7 in Guatemala. Families burn paper mache devils to burn the bad stuff during the year and start anew. It started before the Feast of the Immaculate Conception to make way for the Virgin Mary.
19. 30 bonfires.
Residents of New Orleans light 30 bonfires on Christmas Eve on the levees of the Mississippi River. The fires are teepee shaped and families eat and visit others as they celebrate.
18. Leaving shoes on windowsills.
In Iceland, children leave one of their shoes on the windowsill for 13 days leading up to Christmas for the Yule Lads (Iceland’s version of Santa Claus). The Yule Lads leave candy for the good kids and rotting potatoes for the naughty ones.
17. Horse skulls and white robes.
In Wales, a horse skull is attached to a white robe and carried door to door by people singing during the Christmas season. This celebration is called Mari Lwyd or Grey Mare. After the singing, the group and the “horse” are invited inside the house for some ale.
16. Fermented winter food.
Small birds called Auks are fermented winter food called Kiviak in Greenland Inuits. While it may be weird for other cultures, it is actually is a great idea to ensure food is available during the winter season.
15. Hiding brooms on Christmas Eve.
To this day, women of Norway hide their brooms on Christmas Eve before sleeping. It is a belief that witches and other spirits will steal the brooms and ride out on Christmas Eve.
14. Night of Radishes.
The Mexican state of Oaxca has a 3-day festival of vegetables, specifically radishes. It starts on December 23 and the event is called Night of the Radishes. The nativity is carved out of the radishes.
13. Message from the monarch.
Since 1932, the reigning monarch of England delivers a message to all the people of United Kingdom.
12. Jumping into an ice-cold bay.
Every January people of Maryland jump into ice-cold Chesapeake Bay as part of a tradition. This event is called the Polar Bear Plunge and the participants all wear regular swimsuit as they jump into the 30 degrees Fahrenheit water.
11. Celebrating in cemeteries.
Families in Finland celebrate a portion of their Christmas day in the cemeteries and leave lighted candles as they commemorate the special day with their dead loved ones.
10. Staying awake all night.
Iranians celebrate the winter solstice called Yalda. Families stay awake all night and fruits such as pomegranate, to symbolize the cycle of life are served. Yalda is a celebration of victory of light over darkness.
9. Throwing shoes at houses.
Want to know if you will get married next year? Do as the Czech women do. Throw a shoe at your house on Christmas day. If the shoe land with the heel facing the house, you’ll remain single throughout the year.
8. Christmas spiders.
A legend on Christmas spiders leaving their webs on Christmas day to see Christ is popular in Germany and Ukraine. Legend says Christ touched the webs so the lady of the house wont miss the spiders. Now, silver and gold tinsel on trees represent the webs.
7. Dong Zhi.
The arrival of winter is celebrated in China on December 22 and is called Dong Zhi. The Chinese eat Tangyuan, a rice dumpling and worship their ancestors.
6. The Crapper.
In some parts of France, Southern Italy and Spain have an extra figurine in their nativity scenes. The figure shows a guy squatting with his pants pulled down, crapping. The figurine is called The Crapper.
5. Lining up for KFCs.
Due to a KFC campaign in Japan in 1947, Japanese line up to avail of their Christmas chicken for December 25. Sometimes, they order months in advance to make sure they have Christmas chicken.
4. Soyal.
The Arizona Hopi Indians celebrate Soyal during winter solstice. Purification and welcoming of the spirits from the mountains are part of the Kachinas tradition.
3. Giant goat.
Gavle, a town in Sweden, places a giant goat in the town square as part of their winter tradition since 1966.
2. Bear carolers.
Carolers dressed as bears dance and sing during the New Year. This Romanian tradition is called Ursul.
1. Santa Lucia Day.
Every 13th of December, Saint Lucia Day is celebrated in Sweden. The youngest girl in the family dresses up as Saint Lucia and leads her family outdoors to sing, eat and dance.