The final months of the year are an exciting time with so many holidays to celebrate – and with holidays come fun family traditions!
In America, we’re famous for having some holiday traditions that are quite silly, as well as festive.
In honor of the holiday season, the FSB team wanted to share these unique holiday traditions, including some from all around the world!
Festive Family Fun
Most of us are familiar with timeless holiday traditions like decorating the Christmas tree, watching holiday movies, drinking eggnog, and doing last-minute holiday shopping.
Let’s not overlook these less popular, but fun and quirky traditions featured in the New York Post. Who knows? You might even feel inspired to embrace a few new traditions for your family this year.
- Dressing animals up in festive costumes
- Playing Mario Kart video games on Christmas morning
- Exchanging ugly ornaments
- Camping in the living room on Christmas Eve
- Watching horror movies on Christmas Day
- Making ornaments with an animal’s paw print
- Wearing silly Christmas pajamas
- Opening all presents on Christmas Eve
Wacky Traditions From All Around the World
Some of the activities that we declare traditions here in the United States are just part of what makes the holiday season so magical, even if a few are a little odd… ugly holiday sweater party, anyone?
If you think some of our American traditions are weird, check out these wacky alternatives from all over the world!
1. Krampus (Germany, Austria, and Hungary)
Krampus is quite literally Santa’s opposite. He’s a creepy, beastly-looking creature that is said to punish the kids who are on the naughty list. Some even say that he throws bad children into his sack and chains them up – terrifying, to say the least. The Krampus story has become a way to scare children into behaving around the holidays. We’ll stick with Elf on the Shelf, thank you!
2. Night of the Radishes (Mexico)
In Mexico, December 23 is known as La Noche De Rabano – “The Night of The Radishes.” This day includes a festival where people sell radishes that have been carved with different nativity scenes, wildlife, familiar architecture, or other aspects of the culture. The radishes are intended to be Christmas centerpieces and the person who creates the best radish design wins a prize.
3. KFC for Christmas (Japan)
Traditional Christmas dinners often consist of ham or turkey, mashed potatoes, bread, cranberry sauce, and a vegetable or two. But in Japan, it’s all about Kentucky Fried Chicken. An estimated 3.5 million Japanese families enjoy fried chicken on Christmas Eve. The KFC Christmas order is so popular that many families have to pre-order the meal, months in advance.
4. The Gift-Giving Witch (Italy)
In Italy, they don’t have a traditional Santa Claus. The Italian version of the gift-giver is a witch referred to as La Befana. Just like Santa, La Befana also delivers toys to children, but on Epiphany, which falls on January 6. Instead of leaving out milk and cookies for jolly old St. Nick, Italians leave La Befana a plate of sausage, broccoli, and a glass of wine. We’re into it!
5. Beach Party (Australia)
In Australia, their seasons are quite opposite from ours. While Christmas falls during the winter holiday season for Americans, it takes place during the summer in Australia. The temperatures can even get around 84 degrees around Christmas time. So what would be the best possible way to celebrate Christmas during the summer? A trip to the beach! Families in Australia will migrate to beaches to celebrate with some surfing Santas.
Do you have a unique holiday family tradition? Share it with us on social media by tagging us in your posts. We’d love to see what fun things you and your family are up to during the holidays!