Around the World with Unique Christmas Celebrations

The festive season is celebrated glamorously around the world with lights, cakes, a merry cheer and lots of love. It makes the dreary winter feel cosy for a couple of weeks. There are many traditions and rituals which are celebrated in different countries. These customs are varied and make the holiday season so special. Some unique such traditions are

Giant Lantern Festival, Philippines

It is held each year on Saturday before Christmas Eve in the city of San Fernando which is the “Christmas Capital of Philippines”. It attracts people from far and wide to be a spectator to its beauty. Eleven villages take part in the festival and the competition gets more fierce with every passing year to make the most elaborate lantern. In the Philippines, once Halloween is over, the décor goes down immediately to be replaced with Christmas lights to commence the celebrations making it the longest Christmas celebration in the world.

Gavle Goat, Sweden

Ever since 1966, a 13m tall Yule Goat has been built in the centre of the Gavle’s Castle Square. This goat’s origins are rooted in mythology. The tradition has led to another where people have tried to burn the goat down. They have been successful 29 times, most recently being in 2016. Half of the people take pride in this huge goat while the rest half are proud of burning it down.

Krampus, Austria

People dress up like a beast-like demon to roam the city streets and frighten kids by punishing the ‘naughty’ ones as they clatter chains and bells. It isn’t a Halloween tradition. Here, Krampus is the evil accomplice of the cheery old St. Nicholas. In the first week of December, the good kids are treated as a tradition while the naughty ones are taken away in sacks by Krampus. 

Hide the Broom, Norway

People in Norway hide their broomsticks as a Christmas Eve tradition. It seems quite unorthodox since they believe by an age-old tradition that witches and evil spirits came out on Christmas Eve to look for brooms to ride on. This continues even today as people hide their brooms in the safest corners of their house so that they are not stolen away.

The Yule Lads, Iceland

For 13 days before Christmas, troll-like creatures come out in Iceland to play. They visit children across the country. Children place their best shoes by the window and a different Yule Lad visits them and leaves from gifts – nice gifts for the good kids and rotten potatoes for the naughty ones. These lads are dressed up in traditional Icelandic costumes and are mischievous by nature.

Days of the Little Candles, Colombia

With Little Candle Day, the holiday season begins in Colombia. People place candles and paper lanterns on their windows, balconies and front yards in the honour of Virgin Mary and the Immaculate Conception. The tradition of lighting the candle has grown so much that entire towns and cities are lit up across the country.

Cavalcade of Lights, Toronto

The annual Cavalcade of Lights marks the start of the holiday season in Toronto. It first took place in 1967 to show off the construction of then-new City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square. The Christmas tree is decorated with more than 300,000 LED lights that glow from dusk to 11 pm till New Year. There are also spectacular fireworks to witness while people engage in ice skating popularly.