In Austria, the Krampus is a traditional figure found during the Christmas season. Image from Canva.
Christmas is a famous holiday that became popular around the fifth century in which individuals celebrate the birth of Jesus. Principally, we spend this holiday with our family and receive gifts, but not everybody celebrates the same way.
Japan
In Japan, the population is mostly made up of Buddhists and Shinto followers, so Christmas is more commercial, fun, and romantic than holy. In fact, if we ask the Japanese what Christmas is about, some might say that it is for Santa Claus.
In 1974, KFC made a campaign to associate fried chicken with the season. Nowadays, the Japanese KFC Christmas meal is so popular that they have to pre-order it!
Vietnam
In Vietnam, only a small percentage of the people are Christians, and Christmas is not a public (or official) holiday. But because of the French colonial influence, celebrations happen just the same.
The Vietnamese get into the Christmas spirit by throwing confetti, having large group gatherings, and enjoying the light shows and festive decorations, which include life-size nativity scenes in the more Catholic neighborhoods.
Ukraine
Ukraine has a unique decoration tradition. Their Christmas trees are often decorated with an ornament in the shape of a spider (usually made of paper and wire) and they also decorate their Christmas trees with artificial spider webs. Traditionally, this represents good luck.
Another tradition that entails luck is the practice of throwing “kutya” on the ceiling, if it sticks, it is a sign of a good harvest in the future. Kutya is a popular Christmas dish that is comparable to a sweet porridge.
Sweden
In Sweden, the Yule Goat tradition is celebrated for Christmas. Each year since 1966 a giant goat made of straw and bound with red ribbon is located in a little Swedish city named Gävle. The legend says that the goat is an invisible spirit that would appear before Christmas to make sure that the holiday preparations were done correctly.
For a long time, the goat was destroyed every year by people who intentionally burned it. That’s why the goat has been rebuilt every year. The reason why people burned it is unknown, but it has become a sort of tradition. The last time the Goat was burned down was in 2021.
Austria
Finally, the Krampus Run is an especially unique (500 year old) tradition where onlookers are attacked by these monstrous-looking, horned creatures called Krampuses. The purpose of the Krampus is to straighten up and punish unwieldy children.
Oona Ngabonziza, Reporter
(Featured Image from Canva)