Christmas around the world! Habits that will leave you speechless.

Do you think “ el Tió” is a Christmas eccentricity? When we talk to people from outside Catalonia (and especially from outside Spain ) and we explain to them what the Catalan tradition of “el Tió” consists of, they are usually perplexed and sometimes they don’t quite understand it, has this happened to you? Well, get ready to discover traditions that will surprise you! Christmas is a global celebration, but each culture adds its own personal touch, creating a very curious mix of habits.

Iceland : 13 ” Santa Clauses ” !

Is there only one Santa Claus ? In Iceland they have thirteen! The 13 Yule Lads, as they call them, they visit children every night before Christmas, leaving small gifts or coal if they have misbehaved.

Instead of just one Santa Claus, Icelandic children are visited by 13 characters during the 13 days before Christmas. Each of these Yule Lads It has a name and a particular characteristic , and they are usually a bit naughty. Some steal food, others dirty the dishes or even lick the bowls.

How does it work?

• One Lad per day: Every night, one of the 13 Yule Lads comes down from the mountains and visits the houses.
• Shoes in the window: Children leave their shoes in the window and, depending on their behavior, they will find a small gift or a rotten potato.
• Legend: Legend has it that these Yule Lads are the children of two trolls , Gryla and Leppaludi, who live in a cave in the mountains.
• Some of the Yule Lads best known​ are :​
  • Stekkjaraugur: The one who looks in the closets.
  • Stúfur :​ The smallest of all.
  • Pottasleikir: The one who licks the bowls.
  • Bjúgavinur: The one who steals sausages.
  • Gluggagægir: The one who looks out the windows.

Other Icelandic Christmas traditions:

• Jólabókaflóð ( Book Flood): It is customary to give and receive books for Christmas .
• 13 days of Christmas carols : During the 13 days before Christmas, traditional Christmas carols are sung. If you can, search for “ Icelandic Christmas Music ” or “ Jólasveinar ” on your ovine music platform and tell us what you think!
• Christmas dinner: Christmas dinner usually includes lamb, potatoes and cabbage.
• Yule bonfires: In some areas of Iceland , bonfires are lit to celebrate the arrival of winter .

Why are there 13 Yule Lads ? or 13 Christmas songs ? The number 13 has great significance in Icelandic culture and is associated with bad luck. However , in the case of the Yule Lads, it has become an essential part of the Christmas celebration .

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Japan : KFC for Christmas

Forget the nougat . In Japan , the excellence Christmas dinner is a good meal from KFC. Yes , you read that right . This tradition began in the 70s and has become a classic .

How did this peculiar tradition arise ?

It all started in the 1970s, when the fast food chain KFC launched a very creative advertising campaign . Taking advantage of the fact that Japan did not have a Christmas tradition as deep-rooted as other Western countries , KFC associated its star product, fried chicken, with the Christmas holiday.

The idea was to offer fried chicken as an alternative to turkey, which is the typical Christmas dinner dish in many Western countries . The surprise was a resounding success: The Japanese, attracted by the novelty and the advertising campaign , began to adopt this custom. Over time, eating KFC at Christmas became a deeply rooted family tradition .

How is Christmas celebrated with KFC in Japan ?

Advance reservations: Due to high demand, many people reserve their KFC order weeks in advance . Special menus : KFC often offers special menus for Christmas, which include not only fried chicken , but also other side dishes and desserts. Festive atmosphere : KFC restaurants are decorated with Christmas motifs to create a festive atmosphere.

Other curiosities:

In Japan , Colonel Sanders, the founder of KFC, is often depicted as Santa Claus, further reinforcing the association between the brand and Christmas. Beyond the chicken: Although fried chicken is the star, many Japanese also accompany their meal with Christmas cakes and other seasonal delicacies . The custom of celebrating Christmas with KFC continues to evolve, with new variations and related traditions emerging every year .

We have more traditions different from ours, but let ‘s leave them for a second part!

And you? What is the most important Christmas tradition ? strange What do you know?

Merry Christmas for everyone!