A world tour of unexpected christmas cheer

Christmas twinkles with familiar traditions – twinkling lights, family feasts, and time-honored rituals. But beyond the roast turkey and carols, a world of quirky customs awaits! Let's embark on a journey to discover these delightful oddities:

1. Spain: The Defecating Log – In Catalonia, Spain, a touch of whimsy graces Christmas. Meet "Caga Tió," the Pooping Log! This log gets "fed" with treats for weeks leading up to Christmas. Then, on Christmas Eve, families gather, sing festive songs, and whack the log with sticks. Miraculously, the log "poops out" presents and sweet treats for everyone to enjoy!
2. Japan: KFC Feast – Christmas might not be a traditional Japanese holiday, but a delicious twist has emerged – a KFC Christmas feast! Thanks to a clever marketing campaign, many families now indulge in a bucket of fried chicken as their holiday meal. The tradition is so popular that KFC reservations are a must during this festive season.
3. Ukraine: Web of Wonder – In Ukraine, Christmas trees take on a shimmering, web-like appearance. Legend tells the tale of a poor widow who found a bare Christmas tree. Come Christmas morning, the tree was adorned with glistening spiderwebs, transformed into strands of gold and silver! Today, Ukrainians decorate with spiderwebs and gift them as symbols of good luck and prosperity.
4. Iceland: Santa's Mischievous Minions – Forget Santa and his elves! Iceland boasts its own crew of gift-givers – the Yule Lads. These thirteen mischievous characters, sons of the mountain-dwelling Grýla, visit children during the thirteen nights leading up to Christmas. Each Yule Lad has a unique personality, leaving gifts or rotten potatoes (depending on behavior) in shoes placed by the windowsill.
5. Venezuela: Roll into Christmas Mass – In Caracas, Venezuela, Christmas spirit takes an active turn! Here, the tradition is to attend early morning Christmas Mass on roller skates. Between December 16th and 24th, roads are closed, and people of all ages skate their way to church in a joyful display of festive cheer.

From gift-giving logs to roller-skating church services, these traditions showcase the incredible diversity of Christmas celebrations around the globe. So, this holiday season, embrace the unexpected – you might just discover a new kind of magic!