The World’s Most Intense and Unusual Christmas Traditions

When the holiday season rolls around, many of us expect familiar sights—twinkling lights, a beautifully decorated tree, Santa Claus—but Christmas celebrations vary wildly across the globe. Some cultures mark the season with traditions that might seem odd, quirky, or even downright intense to outsiders. Let’s explore some of the world’s most unusual Christmas traditions that add a little twist to the holiday season!

In Alpine regions, Christmas isn’t all candy canes and presents. The legend of Krampus, a terrifying horned creature who punishes naughty children, adds a darker edge to the festivities. Each December 5th, known as Krampusnacht, adults dress as the half-goat, half-demon creature, roaming the streets to frighten (and sometimes chase) onlookers. While Krampus is rooted in European folklore, his story has spread globally in recent years, sparking a cult following in North America.

Read more about Krampus here.

In Catalonia, holiday celebrations include a character known as Tió de Nadal (the “Pooping Log”). This hollowed-out log, often painted with a smiling face, is “fed” nightly in December. On Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, the family hits the log with sticks, “encouraging” it to poop out presents and candy hidden inside. The tradition may seem bizarre, but it’s a beloved part of Catalonian holiday culture. This might not be my cup of tea but I'll never say no to extra presents. :)

Learn more about this tradition here.

In Japan, KFC has become the Christmas dinner of choice. Since a 1974 marketing campaign encouraging the Japanese to enjoy a “Kentucky Christmas,” ordering KFC has become an annual tradition. Each Christmas Eve, families around Japan enjoy fried chicken as a seasonal treat, often placing their orders weeks in advance to avoid missing out. Coming from an Italian family, this would be blasphemous, but I totally co-sign on this idea.

Find out more about Japan’s KFC Christmas here.

In Caracas, Venezuela, Christmas morning sees streets filled with worshippers roller-skating to early church services. Roads are closed to cars, allowing crowds to skate safely to their destination. It’s a fun, lively tradition that brings a unique festive spirit to the streets of Caracas and has even inspired Christmas-themed skates. I don't know about you, but this seems like a fun way to celebrate the holiday (if you know how to roller skate of course).

Read about this Venezuelan tradition here.

In Gävle, Sweden, Christmas is celebrated with the construction of a giant straw goat, known as the Gävlebocken. Built every year since 1966, the goat is a tribute to a traditional Swedish Christmas symbol. However, its size has made it an easy target for vandals, who often try to burn it down before Christmas. The city has increased security over the years, but the Gävle Goat is still set aflame more often than not, adding an element of suspense to the tradition.

Discover more about the Gävle Goat’s history here.

These diverse and unique holiday traditions show how Christmas can be celebrated in wonderfully different ways around the world. While Krampus might be too intense for some, and a “pooping log” might sound silly, each of these customs brings a sense of community, history, and celebration to the season. So, next time you’re hanging stockings or putting up a tree, remember that unusual Christmas traditions come in all shapes and forms, and each one adds its own magic to the holiday season.

Happy Holidays, Friends!

Expecting a holiday bundle of joy but don't know what to name your baby? There has been a notable rise worldwide in Google searches for "Christmas baby names" over the past 12 months -- a whopping 272% increase. Researchers at Absolute Digital Media have ranked the top 209 festive baby names using Forebears, to establish which festive baby name is most popular worldwide. It calculates this by determining how many people have that name, which country it is most prevalent and the origin meaning. Another analysis was conducted using Name Berry's seed list of Christmas baby names. Christmas names considered include: names that mean blessed or holy, star or light, joy or peace; nature names related to snow or the trees and flowers of Christmas; names of the Holy Family, the angels and the Wise Men. Some of the names on the list are more unique, such as Snow, Drummer, Lumi, Lucian, Kerensa and Pace.

54 of the most popular festive baby names in the world are most prevalent in the United States.

If you're expecting a baby born during the end-of-year holidays, or simply want a name that reflects the magical season, see the top 10 list of Christmas baby names below: