No.2 Christmas Funfacts-Louis-Andy V2

TRADITIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD Crackers, mulled wine, and a giant roast turkey are Christmas staples to most of us in the UK, but Christmas abroad can be a very different animal! We’ve rounded up a few of the most interesting Christmas traditions from around the world, enjoy! JAPAN’S CHRISTMAS KFC OBSESSION Christmas has never featured highly in Japan’s traditions, that is, until KFC capitalised on this huge gap in the market by launching a wildly successful ad campaign in the early 70s. Japan’s interest in western culture was all it took for KFC to establish their products as a tradition, and it’s been enjoyed by millions of families each year! The Christmas menu should be posted shortly to https://www.kfc.co.jp/top.html if you’d like to see what festive delights they have on offer ROLLER SKATING IN VENEZUELA Sledding is a staple Christmas-time activity, but what if you live somewhere… rather warm? Well, roller skating is the obvious answer! Around 70% of the Venezuela’s population is Catholic, and their unusual spin on Christmas activities is to strap on roller skates and glide on down to Christmas mass. Just don’t plan to drive anywhere on Christmas Day as the government closes the roads to allow for safe skating! “DIA DE LAS VELITAS” COLUMBIA Little Candle’s Day officially marks the beginning of the Christmas Season across Columbia. It’s customary for people to jazz up their towns and cities with candles, paper lanterns, and more recently LED light displays (as seen in the picture above, from Quimbaya). The tradition started small, but now entire towns across the country are decorated with fantastic light displays. KRAMPUS! AUSTRIA Santa keeps a list of who’s naughty and nice, but in Austria it’s Santa’s evil assistant “Krampus” who takes center stage – and he’s only interested in who’s naughty. Krampus wanders the streets searching for all of the children who didn’t make the ‘nice’ list. It’s common to find celebrators wearing terrifying masks and scaring kids (and probably adults!) all across Austria at Christmas. GÄVLE YULE GOAT, SWEDEN About 150Km north of Stockholm, the city of Gävla has a more recent tradition which attempts to celebrate Advent. Starting in 1966 the locals have made a 13m tall traditional Yule Goat out of hay attached to a metal structure over the course of 2 days. The first goat stood until New Year’s Eve when it was burnt down. Since then it’s become the target of arsonists every year despite several people being convicted for the act. It has survived 16 of the last 53 years; with the shortest lived goat reaching a ripe old age of 6 hours. 2019’s goat is currently standing and has double fencing, monitored CCTV, and 2 guards with dogs patrolling 24 hours a day. TIÓ DE NADAL, SPAIN Translating as “the Christmas log” and sometimes known as “Caga tio”(the pooping log), this hollow log from Catalonia in North East Spain is ‘fed’ and clothed from the 8th of December (the Feast of the Immaculate Conception). On either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day the log is traditionally serenaded and hit with sticks (of no relation) to aid its ‘digestion’. Treats then ‘fall out’ of the log until garlic or an onion emerges which marks the end of the treats for this year. LAS POSADAS, MEXICO A Mexican take on carolling and advent rolled into one, Las Posadas takes place from December 16th to Christmas Eve and celebrates the story of Mary and Joseph finding a place to stay. Every evening during the period people will gather and go around friends’ houses and sing a carol outside each house. At each house they’ll be told there is no room and be turned away. Eventually they will be welcomed in where they will pray before celebrating with food, games, and fireworks. On the last Posada, on Christmas Eve, the groups will finish with a midnight church service and more partying to celebrate the start of Christmas. And they also usually have Pinatas at the parties, because it is Mexico after all! IT’S NEARLY TIME XX DAYS TO GO.

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