Pooping log or dead birds: These are the strangest Christmas traditions!
Upon hearing the word Christmas, most people immediately imagine gifts under the Christmas tree, the intoxicating aroma of mulled wine and sweet Christmas cookies. Some countries, however, have a lot of strange customs that boggle the mind. Let's be glad we have our own traditions and enjoy the magic of Czech Christmas!
Spaniards have their little stinker
They spend their family evening watching the draw of lucky numbers in the Christmas lottery. And it's really generous - billions are handed out to a large number of winners every year. That's why December 22 is reserved for the world's oldest lottery. In Catalonia, a character called Tió de Nadal brings children gifts and sweets. It is actually a wooden log with a face drawn on and a red cap, the backside of which is covered with a blanket. Since December 8, they keep it in their living room and "feed" it every night, and on Christmas Eve, or the day after, the children sing to it, whereup it "poops out" their gifts.
Iceland has a slightly different baby Jesus
There is no baby Jesus in Iceland - Christmas elves bring children gifts instead, putting them in prepared shoes. And all Northmen have to get a new garment for Christmas, otherwise, as the legend says, they'll be eaten by the Christmas cat.
Tropical Australia and postcards behind the window
In Australia you can enjoy Christmas feast in the garden, in the park or even on the beach. Care to guess where in the world you'd be able to find the most Santas in one place? Yep, right here! At Christmas, a plethora of surfers brave the waves on their board in characteristic red Santa clothes. Children must be pretty confused about that. They also love Christmas decorations made of postcard. People compete in who has more postcards behind their window.
Lithuania claims: "Let's burn the log and things will get better!"
In Lithuania, they have an interesting Christmas method of driving all life problems and woes away. They drag a wooden log, singing Chritmas carols on their way - whole families gather for this occasion. Finally they burn this placeholder symbol of life difficulties, so as to banish any misfortune. That could actually work here, what do you say?
Delicacies from seal skin filled with dead birds
In a faraway land beyond the Arctic Circle, seal skin filled with dead auks, a kind of bird, is served on Christmas Eve. Of course, this gastronomic delicacy is prepared several months before Christmas, to make sure that everything would ripen nicely. Is your mouth watering yet? If you wante a taste of this delicacy, you have to fly to Greenland.
Body cleansing in Norway
Whole families enjoy a thorough cleansing in small private saunas. Here in the Czech Republic, we like to go sledding together, but in Norway the whole family gets naked and, with a towel around the waist, disappears in steam.
What does a proper Christmas Eve feast look like in South Africa?
Here, we serve fish soup, laboriously pick bones from our portion of fried carp and add a serving potato salad for good measure. What would people in South Africa have say about this menu? There, among other goodies, they feast on nourishing fiber in the form of fried caterpillars. No distaste against taste, but what would you rather have for dinner?
