Do You Know Which Country Prefer Eating Caterpillars On The Christmas Eve?

November 1, 2017

Christmas is celebrated all around the world and every family has their own way to celebrate it. Some follow this and some believe that – but the main focus is to spend quality time with the family together and enjoy.

Here, we are discussing the 25 weirdest or the Bizarrest Christmas rituals which are followed all around the world.

S.No.	PLACES	WEIRD TRADITIONS
1	GERMANY	• People of Germany use to hide a pickle in the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. • The first child to find it in the morning will be a given a prize or a reward. • On 5th of December, children of Germany leave a shoe outside their house and it is filled with sweets, the next morning.
2	JAPAN	• In the country of sunrise, people avoid sending red cards to people on Christmas. • The reason behind this is that RED color is considered as the color of funeral announcements.
3	FINLAND	• The Finnish people mark Christmas with a touching tribute to the dead. • People use to light candles at the graves of their departed loved ones.
4	ENGLAND	• It is believed that Santa Claus leaves presents in the stockings of the children. • And the naughty children find a lump of coal in their socks on the Christmas morning.
5	USA	• Americans have created a Christmas tradition named, “The Running Of The Santa”. • In this event, a number of people dressed as Santa and take part in the large bar crawl.
6	SOUTH AFRICA	• There is a horror story attached with the Christmas of South African people. • The children are told the story of DANNY. He was a young boy who angered his grandmother by eating the cookies prepared for Santa. • To which, she killed him and it is said that he haunts homes at Christmas. • Another weird custom in South Africa is that the locals over there enjoy deep-fried caterpillars.
7	CANADA	• In Canada, the address Santa Claus, North Pole, Canada has been given recognition. • Along with that, any letter received on this address is opened and also given a reply.
8	CUBA	• Every year, in December; Cuban city Remedios plays host to the Parrandas festival.
9	GREECE	• In Greece, a race of evil goblins, named KALLIKANTZAROI; lurk underground according to Greek legend. • During the 12 days of Christmas, they supposedly surface, wreaking havoc.
10	ICELAND	• Here, the children leave a shoe on their bedroom windowsills during the 12 days of Christmas. • Each night, it is filled with sweets and gifts, ready to be enjoyed in the morning.
11	UKRAINE	• Ukrainians use to decorate their Christmas trees with artificial spiders and web, instead of tinsel and baubles.
12	PORTUGAL	• There is a traditional Christmas morning feast in Portugal, called CONSODA. • They celebrate this occasion in the remembrance of the dead and their late loved ones.
13	CZECH REPUBLIC	• There is a unique tradition which the people of Czech Republic follow on the day of Christmas. • According to that, an unmarried woman stands by the door and throws the shoe over her shoulder. If the toe is pointing towards the door, then they will get married within the next year.
14	WALES	• Mari Lwyd is performed in some Welsh villages on Christmas Eve. • A villager is chosen to parade through the streets, bearing the skull of a mare on the end of a stick.
15	SWEDEN	• Since 1996, authorities in Gavle have installed a straw Swedish Yule Goat. • After that, every other year; vandals have succeeded in burning it down. • Another tradition in Sweden involves the festive rice pudding. • A peeled almond is hidden in the desert and the one who find it is supposed to be married within in a year.
16	GREAT BRITAIN	• According to an old tradition of Great Britain, each member of the family must stir must stir the Christmas pudding mix in a clockwise direction. • Along with that, a custom of making a wish is also there.
17	ITALY	• In Italy, the children wait for Santa Clause as well as the arrival of BEFANA. • Befana is a friendly witch who delivers sweets and toys on the 5th of January.
18	LATVIA	• Here, a group of ‘mummers’ dressed in a variety of costumes and visit from home to home. • Each household must give them a treat in return for the blessings.
19	BAVARIA	• A tradition of noisy Christmas is there in Bavaria. • It also includes the firing of mortars into the air by wearing the national costume of lederhosen.
20	SLOVAKIA	• Here, the most senior man of the house takes a spoonful of LOKSA pudding. • After that, he throws it at the ceiling and it is believed that the more it sticks, the better it is.
21	GUATEMALA	• In Guatemala, people use to sweep out their houses before Christmas. • Each neighborhood vanishes large piles of dirt out of their house. • Then, they place an effigy of the DEVIL on the top and burn it.
22	ETHIOPIA	• People of Ethiopia celebrate Christmas on 7th of January. • People over there use to wear white clothes and men play GANNA (a fast-paced game with sticks and wooden balls).
23	ESTONIA	• On the day of Christmas, Estonian families traditionally head to sauna together.