When you think about it, Christmas often seems like one wacky tradition after another, from bringing trees indoors and decorating them in rather loud accessories to serving up some pungent Brussels sprouts next to much tastier plates. The UK is rather set in its ways when it comes to celebrating Christmas , but compared to other countries throughout the world, Britain’s Christmas traditions – whether that’s decorations, cuisine or present giving – are rather tame. Other countries don’t waste time arguing over trivial matters like when is it too early to begin decorating the house or considering swapping turkey for a beef joint at a Christmas dinner .
Instead, they’re off throwing around their shoes, hiding cleaning equipment, decorating their trees with spider’s webs or goats, and dining out at KFC . From Catalonia to Caracas, the world has a slew of Christmas traditions, with some dating back hundreds of years, some barely decades, but they have all become an intrinsic part of local Christmas traditions. In celebration of these festive eccentricities, we’ve rounded up 12 of the most unusual customs from across the globe.
Read more: Best Northern Lights holidays, short trips and packages In Austro-Bavarian Alpine folklore, the Krampus is Father Christmas’s scary friend, a devilish creature who punishes naughty children throughout the festive period. The mythical beast, who is hairy, with hooves and large horns, is ‘celebrated’ every year on 5 December in.