The Christmas Log from Catalonia
In northern Spain, both the language and customs stand apart from the rest of the country and the world. Here, on December 8th, a log called "Tió" is brought into homes and carefully decorated. According to a very old tradition, children feed "Caga Tió" (which literally means "pooping log") every day until Christmas. On December 24th, they sing to it, gently tap it with a stick, and collect the gifts the log "poops" out. Hearing it for the first time might sound strange, but it’s really not much weirder than the Easter Bunny delivering eggs!
The Mexican Festive Season
In Mexico, every celebration is done with style, and Christmas is no exception. The festivities stretch nearly a month, from December 12th to January 6th. Nine days before Christmas—symbolizing the nine months of the Virgin Mary’s pregnancy—the Posada begins. Similar to our nativity plays, it reenacts the Holy Family’s search for shelter. This centuries-old tradition kicks off on December 16th, with homes decorated in branches, moss, and lanterns to set a festive mood. Children carry candles as they accompany the family searching for refuge, going door to door. Finally, on Christmas Eve after midnight mass, fireworks light up the sky to make the celebration unforgettable.
Ukraine’s Spider Web Christmas Tree
In Ukraine, Christmas trees are decorated with spider webs, recalling an old story. A poor widow and her children couldn’t afford to decorate their tree, but by morning, spiders living in the house had woven shiny silver webs all over it. After that, the family’s fortunes turned around, as the spiders brought them good luck.
Broom-Free Homes in Norway
Up north, there are plenty of unique Christmas traditions. In Norway, for example, all brooms are hidden away on Christmas Eve. Historically, men would even take out their weapons and fire shots into the air at intervals. This was to keep away witches and evil spirits believed to roam the skies on these nights.
Rolling Together to Mass in Venezuela
In many South American countries, Christmas is a deeply important holiday. With many devoted believers, attending mass together is a key part of the celebration. Thanks to many young worshippers, families often roller-skate to church on Christmas Eve. The crowds are so large that entire streets are closed off to keep everyone safe as they skate to the service.
Christmas at KFC in Japan
Only a small portion of Japan’s population is Christian, so Christmas doesn’t have the same deep roots as in Europe. Still, the Japanese have made the holiday their own. They’ve long admired the U.S., and since the 1970s, KFC’s clever marketing has made its spicy fried chicken a popular festive dinner choice.
