Unwrapping Intriguing Christmas Celebrations from around the world
Catalonian pooping logs, the terrifying Germanic Krampus, and Japanese trips to KFC...
The big three Christmas days have finished, and I have strictly adhered to the traditions of lethargy and overindulgence. But it’s still the festive winter period, and I love history and tradition - so here’s a Christmas-themed post.
These are just what I find interesting and the following isn’t going to cover everything or everywhere. All traditions are fascinating and welcomed (good ones, anyway,) so these are purely to inform.
The Mischievous and vaguely terrifying Krampus
In many Alpine countries, such as Austria, Germany, and Slovenia, Santa Claus doesn’t work alone. He’s accompanied by Krampus, a horned, half-goat, half-demon figure whose role is to punish naughty children. While Santa rewards the well-behaved with gifts, Krampus wields chains and birch sticks to scare and punish the naughty. In some cases, he has even been known to eat kids or whisk them off to Hell, which seems a tad extreme.
On December 5th, known as Krampusnacht, adults - often young men - dress as Krampus and roam the streets in terrifying costumes, trying to scare people. This duality of Christmas—rewarding the good and punishing the bad—is taken to a whole new level.
Its origin is unclear, but like so many festivals, it may have pre-Christian origins. Krampen is German for ‘claw’, and it is always easy to scare kids into line with creatures that have particularly impressive claws.
The Catalonian "Caga Tío" - aka the pooping log and the pooping man
It is probably best if you don’t eat while reading this next section.
Catalonia, a region in northeastern Spain, boasts a couple of peculiar scatological Christmas traditions. These also occur in the region of southern France near the Spanish border.
The first is a wooden log known as "Caga Tío" or the "pooping log." Decorated with a smiling face, red hat, and blanket, the log is “fed” small treats in the days leading up to Christmas. On Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, children sing a traditional song while hitting the log with sticks, urging it to "poop" out presents and sweets. Then the blanket is lifted and the log has hopefully left some ‘rewards’.
Another turd-related tradition in the region is to create a nativity scene and have a small pooping figure in the corner. This figure is called the Caganer, which means ‘crapper’. It used to be a peasant, but now, it is anyone you can think of, from superheroes to presidents.
“Dinner for One”: A surprising German New Year staple
Ok, this is more of a New Year tradition, but it is interesting, and there is a tenuous Christmas link. "Dinner for One" is a black-and-white British comedy sketch filmed in 1963 that follows the antics of an elderly woman and her butler as he impersonates her long-deceased dinner guests, drinking multiple toasts and getting increasingly drunk.
It is a New Year tradition in multiple countries, including Germany, Austria, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and as far afield as Australia and South Africa. It has been played every year on German TV since 1972 and is watched by half the population.
Despite being a British sketch, it is almost unknown in the UK. I’m British, and I had never heard of it until recently.
And my tenuous link - in Norway, it airs on the 23rd of December every year, so it counts as a Christmas tradition.
3.5 million Japanese go to KFC for Christmas
The Japanese Kentucky Fried Chicken tradition began in the 70s. The first store opened in 1970, and in 1974, its manager, Takeshi Okawara, had apparently overheard foreigners lamenting a lack of turkey for Christmas. So he came up with “Kurisumasu ni wa Kentakkii”, which means “Kentucky for Christmas”.
Now, three and half million Japanese flock to KFC over the Christmas period, with some restaurants taking 10 times their regular profits. And if you are in Japan and want the KFC Christmas dinner, you must book it weeks in advance.
Other random facts and traditions from around the world
In Iceland, the Yule Lads—13 mischievous troll-like figures—visit over 13 successive days in the lead-up to Christmas. Each one does something different. For example, one harasses sheep, another steals wooden bowls, while another is known for slamming doors. The Yule lads leave small gifts in the shoes children leave on window sills, but if the child has been bad - they get a potato.
In Venezuela, residents of Caracas attend early morning Mass on roller skates.
In Norway, on Christmas Eve, people celebrate by hiding brushes and brooms to ward off witches and evil spirits.
Final Festive Thoughts
Most cultures have a winter festival - especially those that get cold - and as someone from a Western country, for me, that’s Christmas. Even with a common holiday, different cultures have their own way of doing things, which I find fascinating.
In addition to many traditional UK family Christmases, I have also seen the Christmas lights decorating the skyscrapers of Hong Kong, had fresh seafood on a Thai beach while wearing a Santa hat, gotten drunk next to a Christmas tree in swimming trunks on Bondi Beach, and a few days ago had a roast at a fully Xmas decked out British pub in Bangkok. All were fun.
I am not religious, but I love a nice indulgent tradition. If you are currently celebrating something different, I hope you’re having a great time.
Happy festive period!
Interesting collection of tidbits! I’d heard of a few of these, but never put any research into them. Good stuff.