Discover Top 7 Extraordinary Christmas Traditions Worldwide
People around the world celebrate the Christmas in many special ways. Below is top 7 extraordinary traditions over 5 continents from Europe to Latin America.
1. “CUCUMBER” CHRISTMAS TREE IN GERMANY
According to Germany’s tradition, German usually hide glass or plastic cucumbers inside Christmas tree. If any child find out cucumbers, the child will be rewarded with a lucky gift in the new year.
2. LUCKY “COBWEBS” CHRISTMAS TREE IN UKRAINE
At Christmas, every Christmas tree is decorated with a man-made cobweb hidden inside branches. Everyone trys to seek out the cobweb because it is believed that the finder will be lucky and happy all year. The Ukraine often make cobwebs with paper, crystal or plastic.
3. LA BEFANA WITCH IN ITALY
A “La Befana” parades through the streets of Urbania January 7, 2008. “La Befana” is an imaginary old woman who is thought to bring gifts to children during the festival of Epiphany. Italian children do not sleep for a wink to wait for La Befana Witch with her magical broom.
In accordance with legends, La Befana Witch will come to give gifts to children and sweep untidy houses with her broom. Italian always dress up witch costumes with brooms on their hands and walk around streets on Christmas.
4. LEFTOVERS FOR THE DECEASED IN BULGARIA
After the Christmas night, families in Bulgaries will not clean up their table to leave leftovers for the deceased. They believe that souls of the deceased will come home and eat the rest when they have slept.
5. KRAMPUS – THE CHRISTMAS DEVIL IN BELGIUM
In Belgium, it is said that Krampus Devil – the opponent of Santa Claus will punish spoilt children. Until now, in some regions, people disguise to be Krampus to threat local children.
6. THROWING CHRISTMAS SHOES TO LOOK FOR HUSBAND IN CZECH REPUBLIC
Single girls in Czech Republic would look toward the door and throw their shoes outside. If the toe-cap turns to the house, it indicates that the girl will have her husband in the new year and if the heel of the shoe turns to her house, she has to wait one year later.
7. PATIN – ROLLING TO REACH CHURCHES IN VENEZUELA
Roller skaters dressed as Santa Clause skate along the streets during the Santa Skate in London, capital of Britain, on Dec. 19, 2009. More than 400 roller skaters from Britain and neighboring countries participated in the annual street skate on Saturday night,
The event was originally launched in 2004. Residents in Caracas capital, Venezuela has the tradition of rolling patin to arrive churches for a week until Christmas.
