FROM rollerskating to church to fried chicken for dinner, the best and most bizarre Christmas traditions from around the world have been revealed.
Despite much-loved British rituals for the festive season, a survey has shown that we would like to adopt some from our friends in other countries.
In Sweden the locals celebrate with a 13-metre high “Yule goat” or the “Gavle Goat” that is erected every year on the first day of Advent.
It made its first appearance in 1966 when an advertising consultant, Stig Gavlen placed it in central Gavle, Sweden.
One slightly less joyful tradition is Austria’s Christmas demon known as Krampus – the terrifying horned beast who punishes naughty children.
However, he is celebrated in traditional parades such as Krampuslauf – Krampus Run – which sees men dress up as St Nicholas’s opposite in snow-capped Alpine towns.
Iceland’s Yule Lads – 13 cheeky troll-like characters who visit each child, leaving gifts or rotting potatoes depending on the child’s behaviour – and decorating windows with red paper pagodas, as seen in China, would also be welcome here.
Commissioned by Air China, the research of 2,000 UK adults found around a quarter believe Christmas traditions are the most important thing about Yuletide.
The research also found 56 per cent of those polled have or would go abroad to celebrate Christmas and enjoy different festive traditions for the first time.
Further to this, half enjoy learning about different customs from around the world as they help us understand and appreciate what Christmas is really about.
FESTIVE TRADITIONS ACROSS THE WORLD
- Chinese people exchanging apples wrapped in coloured paper, as the Chinese word for ‘apple’ sounds similar to the word for ‘peace’
- Celebrating with a beach barbeque in Australia
- Chinese people decorating their windows with red paper pagodas
- The Giant Lantern Festival in the Philippines
- The ‘Cavalcade of Lights’ in Toronto
The Christmas Eve ‘Grand Market’ in Jamaica - British people hiding a coin in the Christmas dinner
- ‘Little Candles Day’ in Columbia
- Iceland’s “Yule Lads”, 13 tricksy troll-like characters
- The 13-metre-tall “Yule Goat” in Sweden
- The Austrian demon known as the “Krampus”
- People in Japan having fried chicken for their Christmas dinner
- Hiding brooms in Norway
- Visiting church on Christmas Eve in Venezuala – on roller skates
While 13 per cent revealed they look at how other countries celebrate the big day for inspiration.
This comes at a time when 48 per cent are concerned the true meaning is declining – and this is resulting in less interaction with friends and family.
China, India and Australia are among the countries those polled would like to visit over the festive period – along with the USA, Germany and Japan.
Sixteen per cent revealed spending Yuletide abroad would make it more enjoyable, while 15 per cent would also like to go oversees to do a spot of Christmas shopping.
The Air China research carried out by OnePoll, also found one in 10 would prefer to eat Chinese food on the big day – instead of over the traditional British Christmas dinner.
The research also identified the parts of China we’d most like to visit over the festive period – and Hong Kong top topped the list.
Second spot went to Shanghai, third to Beijing and fourth to Chengdu.
And when there, 42 per cent would most like to visit the International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival – the largest ice and snow art exhibition in the world.
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Almost a fifth would like to go to Yiwu Christmas market located in South East China’s Zhejiang province.
A spokesman for Air China said: “It’s fascinating to see all the fantastic ways people across the world celebrate Christmas.
“This is further shown in how half of Brits enjoy learning about other cultures’ customs to inspire new practices too.”
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News Pictures Gift-wrapped apples, a festive demon and rollerblading to church are some of the world’s weirdest Christmas traditions
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Hayden Panettiere
Size: 8
Age: 18
Height: 5ft 1in
Weight: 8st
To achieve her kick-ass figure, Hayden – who plays cheerleader Claire Bennet in Heroes – follows the ‘quartering’ rule. She eats only a quarter of the food on her plate, then waits 20 minutes before deciding whether she needs to eat again.
Hayden says: “I don’t have a model’s body, but I’m not one of those crazy girls who thinks that they’re fat. I’m OK with what I have.”
Nicollette says: “I don’t like diets – I see it, I eat it! I believe in eating healthily with lots of protein, vegetables and carbs to give you energy.”
kim cattrall
Size: 10-12
Age: 52
Height: 5ft 8in
Weight: 9st 4lb
SATC star Kim swears by gym sessions with Russian kettle bells (traditional cast-iron weights) and the South Beach Diet to give her the body she wants. To avoid overeating, Kim has a radical diet trick – squirting lemon juice on her leftovers – so she won’t carry on picking.
Kim says: “I am no super-thin Hollywood actress. I am built for men who like women to look like women.”
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