Picture: Calin Stan / Shutterstock©
Christmas is a special time of year. A time when magic fills the air, merry people frolic about with smiles on their faces and kids make snowmen. It’s also a time for reviving age-old traditions – we decorate our Christmas trees, exchange gifts, sing our favourite carols and wait for Santa. But people around the world don’t always celebrate Christmas in the same ways.
Christmas in Latvia – known as “Ziemassvētki” – is a melting pot of ethnic, religious and modern traditions. According to pre-Christian Latvian pagan traditions, this time of year marks the rebirth of the Sun Maiden.
Folk celebrations include the so-called mummers, who dress up with animal masks and perform, which is said to bring abundant blessings, get rid of evil spirits and boost fertility.
Meanwhile, the dragging and burning of the yule log symbolizes the elimination of the previous year’s problems and misfortunes.
ALSO SEE: Reindeer penis rings and other top-selling sex toys this festive season
According to old Icelandic folklore, everyone must absolutely have a new item of clothing to wear at Christmas by the end of Christmas Eve. Why? Because a big black mythical cat supposedly devours anybody who hasn’t received a new piece of clothing in time.
Meet Krampus, Santa’s evil companion. In Austria, usually around 5 December, people dress up as this sinister character roaming the streets, getting up to mischief and chasing naughty children.
The Norwegians have a pagan belief that on Christmas Eve, witches come out, steal brooms from households and ride away on them. So, hiding your brooms seems to be the most effective way to stop the evil spirits from making off with them.
“Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii!” (“Kentucky for Christmas!”). It may not be a national holiday in Japan, but thanks to some strategic marketing in 1974, the KFC Christmas has become an annual tradition in the country. So forget turkey, salmon or oysters, because fried chicken is Japan’s “finger lickin’ good” festive food of choice.
ALSO SEE: When the chips are down: McDonald’s rations fries in Japan
Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.