Germany
While kids in Australia look up to Santa Claus, in Germany the mythical creature Krampus exists as Saint Nicholas’ scary friend. Folklore has it that Krampus is a hairy, demonic creature with hooves who punishes naughty children throughout the holiday period - definitely something that will keep the children in check around Christmas time!
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England
In the making of Christmas pudding, it is traditional for every member of the family to stir the mix clockwise while making a wish. Sometimes a coin, thimble or ring is cooked into the pudding, bringing good luck, wealth or marriage to the person who finds it in their serving.
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Japan
While Christmas isn’t a national holiday in Japan, the streets still light up with Christmas lights around December. And thanks to a powerful marketing campaign in 1974, many Japanese families actually eat at KFC on Christmas Eve. We’re not kidding about this one. I bet you wish you could have Kentucky for Christmas every year! (Read more about it!)
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Ukraine
Forgoing tinsel and baubles, Ukrainians opt to decorate their Christmas trees with artificial spiders and web. It’s said to bring good luck and is thought to stem from an old wives’ tale about a poor woman who was unable to afford decorations for her tree. The tale goes that she woke up to find a spider in a glittering web adorning her tree. It is believes that decorating the tree in this way brings good luck.
Iceland
The Yule Lads come out to play and cause mischief in the 13 nights leading up to Christmas. These 13 days are called the Yuletide, and each night children place their best shoes in the window, receiving gifts or rotting potatoes depending on whether they have been naughty or nice! Definitely a magical sight!