Different people and countries celebrate Christmas in different ways across the world. Most of these types of celebrations are not the typical use of giving presents under a Christmas tree or placing your construction Christmas cards on the mantel. In fact, after reading this article, you will be surprised at how much different countries perceive and celebrate this great holiday. Some ways other countries celebrate the Christmas holiday is so bizarre and intriguing you will be dumbfounded. Here are top Christmas traditions that top our list today.

1. The Santa Claus Olympics

Yes! There is a Santa Claus Olympics that people celebrate every year. This competition is held in Switzerland and hundreds of aspiring Santas from all around the world gather to compete in this annual Santa World Championships. Who says Santa must be an old fat person incapable of achieving any physical feat? This bizarre yet amazing competition brings a whole new meaning to the Christmas vacations. The competition comprises the usual holiday things most people do at home during Christmas like singing, dancing, climbing chimneys, and even snow sculpturing. And the best and strongest Santa is crowned and wins the event. The requirements; you only need to be 18 and older and be a kid at heart. Perhaps the most important requirement of all is to be shameless.

2. Eating caterpillars

This next Christmas tradition may disturb to some folks. It is mainly practiced in some parts of Southern Africa where caterpillars are considered a sumptuous meal. It is for this reason that these communities only take these ‘delicacies’ on special events and occasions like Christmas. To make this supposedly sumptuous Christmas treat, the communities boil mopane worms (caterpillars) in salted water. Afterward, they dry these caterpillars in the sun. they can also smoke them. They believe this process enhances the flavor of this meal. Say we take their word for it.
Unbelievably, would you imagine that selling these caterpillars is a multi-million-dollar industry in the region? The caterpillars are sold in cans in the countries. This meal is believed to be healthy too. The mopane worms are rich in minerals like zinc, magnesium, calcium, sodium, copper, and potassium. These meals even contain more iron than your typical beef. So, you may want to join in on the meal for the sake of your health.

3. Krampusnacht

The word is difficult to pronounce, yes. But wait until you know what it stands for in English. Krampusnacht means ‘night of Krampus.’ And this holiday is celebrated on December 5th which, in Austria, is the eve of St. Nicholas Day. Other parts of Europe have also adopted to celebrate this freakish holiday. Krampusnacht is portrayed as a quintessential devil. Austrians take Krampus to be the evil counterpart of the saint Nicholas. Krampus prides in punishing bad children. Many people come from everywhere to celebrate this holiday where they dress as the notorious sinister beings like the devils and witches. This holiday celebration has also made its way to America where cities like Calif and Los Angeles have embraced it.

4. Visiting the dead

Typically, people associate the Christmas holiday with fun and happiness. And at no point would they even imagine in the slightest of visiting the cemetery. Not if you were a Finn. The Finland folks celebrate their Christmas holidays by visiting the graves of their loved ones. They typically light candles beside their loved ones’ gravestones. when enough of these candles get together, the scene is spectacular. You will experience the best warm glow emanating from the millions of candles which create this amazing breath-taking effect. During Christmas Eve, the graveyards in Finland are always just so peaceful and beautiful. It is so attractive during this time that even the people whose loved ones are not buried in them go just to enjoy the serene environment.

5. Christmas pudding

This is a British tradition that has been around got a very long time. It was once called Plum Pudding. It is now also popular in Australia. This Christmas pudding is made of flour, dried fruit, and suet and it takes hours to prepare. The insane but freakishly amazing part is that it is served while still flaming hot. In other occasions, it is served while still actually flaming. How cool is that?

6. Burning of thorns

In Iraq, people celebrate their Christmas holidays by burning thorns. Yes! People celebrate Christmas in Iraq. Here is the short version of what happens.
Family members gather around and one of them starts a fire burning a pile of collected thorns while the other family members sing a hymn. When all the thorns have burned, each family member is expected to jump over the burnt thorns three times. Afterward, they can then make a Christmas wish.

7. Arrival of the three kings

This tradition is known to the Filipinos who are seemingly so obsessed with Christmas that their holiday begins as early as September and goes on till late January the next year. now that is a long holiday. During this time, the adults and children carol and this can happen as early as from October.
For hundreds of years, perhaps the most exciting practice among the Filipinos on these festive seasons is the Three Kings. Children would place their polished socks and clean socks on their windows hoping that the Three Kings would bless them with gifts as they travelled to Bethlehem. Sadly, the American culture came in and diluted this peculiar tradition and is barely practiced nowadays.

8. Letters to Santa

It has known children from across the globe write letters to Santa every Christmas holiday. But if you are a child, especially if you live in Canada, then the chances are high you will probably get a reply from the one and only Santa Claus. The Canadian Post has made this custom become a reality for their children and many more around the world. The posts even respond to the mails for free. You only need to include your postal address in the mail and leave the rest to Santa.

9. Broom stealing

This was a funny one and is more of a legendary myth now than it was before. It is more common among the Norwegians who believed on the eve of the Christmas holiday, evil spirits would break into homes and steal broom and ride on them in the middle of the night. So, families would hide their brooms before going to bed on the eve of Christmas hoping that the evil spirits would not find them.

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