Unique Christmas Traditions Around The World

British children are familiar with Father Christmas, Santa Claus, or Saint Nick, but they will come across something a bit more sinister in Austria. This is because a ghoulish monster known as 'Krampus,' the evil accomplice of St Nicholas, is claimed to roam the streets looking for rebellious children. During the month of December, you can expect to witness creepy masked characters terrorising children and adults alike with horrific pranks. If this festive custom appeals to you, make plans to attend Vienna's annual Krampus march.

One of Ukraine's greatest festive customs is not for those who have a fear of creepy crawlies! Ukrainians utilize decorations that replicate the natural development of spiders' webs sparkling with dew instead of ornaments, tinsel, and stars. The custom comes from a folktale about a poor widow who couldn't afford to adorn a Christmas tree for her children. According to legend, spiders in the house felt sorry for the family and built lovely webs all over the tree, which the children discovered on Christmas morning. In Ukrainian tradition, spider webs are often considered fortunate.

KFC, an American fast food restaurant, launched a Christmas marketing campaign in Japan in 1974. The seemingly simple statement "Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii!" (Kentucky for Christmas!) sparked a national tradition that is still going strong today. Despite the fact that Christmas is not a national holiday in Japan, families from all across the country go to KFC for a special Christmas Eve lunch.

The modern Christmas tree tradition is said to have originated in Germany in the 16th century, so it's no wonder that our continental companions still have some distinctive rituals associated with the festive conifers. One of these is to conceal a pickle among the tree's branches and present a gift to whichever child in the home finds it. Some argue that the tradition is not actually German. According to history, the Christmas pickle began in Spain when two young boys were imprisoned within a pickle barrel. Saint Nicholas saved the lads and brought them back to life.

Every year on Christmas morning, swaths of people living in cities make their way to church on roller skates in Venezuela's capital, Caracas. Many of the city's streets are now restricted to traffic beginning at 8 a.m., so that the skate congregation may safely get to church. Children are even supposed to sleep with one lace from their skates tied around their toe and the other skate dangling from the window so that their friends can wake them up with a gently tug on the lace.

Many Finnish families have their own sauna, which becomes a hallowed location associated with long-dead ancestors during the Christmas season. On Christmas Eve, it's usual to strip naked and spend a long and respectful session in the sauna, which is also said to be the home of the fabled sauna'elf. After the sauna, Finns go out to celebrate the evening, while the ghosts of their ancestors take their place in the bubbling water.

When in Italy, forget about Santa and the 25th of December; everything happens on the 5th of January. According to legend, an old woman named Belfana visits all of Italy's kids to fill their stockings with candy and give them presents if they've been nice. Belfana, like Father Christmas, arrives through the chimney and is given gifts by the children who reside there, usually wine and local foods.

One of the more unusual Christmas traditions we've heard comes from Iceland, where a big cat is claimed to wander the cold landscape over the time of year. Farmers would traditionally employ the Yule Cat as an incentive for their workers, with those who worked hard receiving a new set of garments and those who did not being devoured by the massive cat-like beast. To avoid an unpleasant demise, it is now normal for everyone in Iceland to purchase new attire for Christmas.