The holidays are quickly approaching, and with it comes traditions to celebrate with your family. Here in the states, our traditions look like hanging stockings, drinking eggnog, and watching holiday movies. But across the globe, there are eccentric traditions that people in different cultures partake in. Here are a few traditional holidays around the world you may not have heard of.
Giant Lantern Festival, Philippines
Known as Ligligan Parul Sampernandu, the Giant Lantern Festival is held annually on the Saturday before Christmas eve. The festival features a contest where villages come together to build the most elaborate lantern. After the competition, the giant lanterns are exhibited at various venues across the city for about two weeks.
La Befana, Italy
While many cultures have some version of “Father Christmas,” the holiday gift giver for Italians is an old witch named La Befana. She travels on her magic broom, bringing gifts to every house during the Feast of the Epiphany in early January. If the child has been good, they will receive candy and presents; if they’ve been bad, they will receive coal or a stick.
Gävle Goat, Sweden
Since 1966, a 43-foot high yule goat made of straw has been built in the center of Gävle’s Castle Square for the Advent, and every year someone tries to destroy the goat. In the past 50 years, the Gävle Yule goat has been destroyed 35 times. There is a webcam at Castle Square, where you can follow the Gävle Goat from the first Sunday of Advent until after New Year or until the sad day that he meets his tragic fate.
Yule Lad, Iceland
Like the 12 days of Christmas in the states, Iceland celebrates 13. Each night before Christmas, Icelandic children receive a visit from mischievous yuletide characters called the Yule Lads. Before heading to bed, children place their best shoes by the window, and a different Yule Lad visits, leaving gifts for nice children and rotting potatoes for the naughty ones.
Christmas Roller Skating, Venezuela
Every Christmas eve, residents of Caracas strap on their roller skates and head over to the church for Christmas mass. Skating to mass became so popular that the government started closing the streets until 8 am so that families could skate together in safety. When mass finishes, families convene in the road and each other’s houses to share food, play music, and dance.
Christmas Boats, Greece
Christmas trees are popular in Greece, but you’ll also find boats wrapped in strings of lights, whether in the water or the main square. The story goes that women of the Greek islands would decorate small wooden boats to celebrate and welcome weary seafarers. An alternative explanation is that decorated boats were in honor of Saint Nicholas, patron saint of sailors.
Junkanoo, Bahamas
On Boxing Day and New Year’s Morning, bands outfit themselves in handmade costumes and dance through the streets of Downtown Nassau overnight and into the morning with a grand mixture of European brass and traditional African instruments, like goatskin drums and cowbells. At the end of the famous Junkanoo procession, judges award cash prizes for the best music, best costume, and best overall group presentation.
As you can see, holiday traditions vary depending on the location of your celebration. How wonderful would it be to experience one of these traditions in person? Consider stepping out of your comfort zone and spending your next holiday celebrating a different way.
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