Christmas is made of the most varied traditions and curiosities, such as those we have seen in this article, but what are the strangest that not everyone knows? To stay on the theme "Christmas and travels" we thought to tell you about Christmas through 15 curiosities from around the world.
CHRISTMAS CURIOSITIES IN THE WORLD
The Statue of Liberty can be considered the greatest Christmas gift ever made! In fact, the French donated it to the Americans on 25 December as a sign of friendship between the two peoples.
The Americans love Christmas decorations so much that not only are numerous themed "competitions" organized in the USA every year, but they spend up to 6 million dollars on lights and decorations.
In America, in the state of Washington, there is the "Christmas City" par excellence: Leavensworth! This small town inhabited by less than 2,000 people during the Christmas period is transformed into a faithful reproduction of a Bavarian village. Between gastronomic stands, decorations and ceremonies the city is a huge Christmas market.
The Euphorbia pulcherrima, known to us as "Christmas Star" grows like bush in Mexico and can reach 4 meters high. The Aztecs used it to make the red pigment and believed that the intense colour of its leaves was born from the drops of blood in the broken heart of a goddess who suffered for love.
In Germany and Austria there is the daemon of Christmas, the negative counterpart of St Nicholas. This demon called "Krampus" has the task of punishing bad children. In some cities, on St. Nicholas' Day, demon masquerade people roam the streets with chains in their hands to remind children to "be good".
- In the Czech Republic it is Christmas tradition for single women to position themselves in front of the door giving them their shoulders and throw a shoe backwards. If the latter falls with its tip facing the door, it means that they will find love by the end of the year.
- In Serbia there is the strange custom of discarding gifts two Sundays before Christmas. What makes the tradition special is that children are used to "kidnapping" mothers by tying them to their feet and then asking for a ransom for liberation that is usually paid for with gifts.
- In Sweden Santa Claus is very different from how we know him, in fact he calls Tomte, he's low almost like a leprechaun and turns with Yule, his goat.
- If we think that in Italy the Christmas lunch is particularly long, there are those who beat us great! In Poland, Christmas lunch in Poland includes 12 courses or one for each apostle.
- In Norway, tradition has it that on 24 December all household cleaning items are hidden, because it is thought that bad witches arrive at night to steal all brooms in the homes.
- In Spain the crib is a tradition, but in Catalonia among the classic shepherds there is the "Caganer", a shepherd with trousers that is "making his needs". The Spanish put it on the nativity scene as a good luck.
- In Ukraine it is not unusual to use cobwebs as Christmas decorations, this is because they are considered as lucky bearers.
- In Japan Christmas is not as we understand it, but it is celebrated more like a Valentine's Day during which couples exchange gifts. It is also customary throughout the country to dine with a "binge" of fried chicken, better if than the KFC chain!
- In South Africa among the gastronomic traditions of Christmas, we find tasty dishes of fried insects!
- In Brazil it is thought that "Popes Noel" (Babbo Natale) comes from Greenland so when Brazil arrives, because of the strong heat, he wears only silk clothes.