'Tis the season! From KFC in Japan to Caganers in Catalonia – how Christmas is celebrated across the world
If you’re in Norway this Christmas, make sure you hide your brooms away
Your support helps us to tell the story
Our mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.
Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.
Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.
Louise Thomas
Editor
Will you be in Japan this Christmas? Then prepare to eat fried chicken. Or in Germany? Tell your children to put their shoes out, not stockings. How about Norway? Hide the brooms.
Christmas is generally considered a time for giving presents and eating to excess, but dig a little deeper and there are some quirky - and downright weird - traditions around the world.
The UK's obsession with consuming mince pies leaves many baffled – if only for their lack of mince. As does the tradition of stirring the Christmas pudding mix in clockwise direction in order to make your wishes come true.
In Japan, Christmas has become a largely commercial celebration - and nothing says Christmas quite like a KFC. The mass popularity of the fast-food chain is down to a canny advertising campaign in 1974 and sales for the three days around 25 December can be equivalent to half the company's normal monthly sales.
Check out our gallery above for some more weird and wonderful seasonal traditions.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments