Part of what makes Christmas so special are the traditions we uphold. From Christmas Eve pajamas, putting up the tree Thanksgiving night, setting cookies and carrots out for Santa and his reindeer, we all love to participate in the activities that inspire joy, laughter, and memorable moments of just being together with those we love.
Have you ever consider adopting some not-so-traditional traditions? Here are some unusual or downright wacky traditions from around the world and from mamas right here locally in Omaha. Maybe there is an idea or two you’d like to incorporate into your holiday.
In Caracas, roller skating to and from various activities on Christmas day is the preferred mode of transportation. On Christmas Eve, family members tie string to the toes of the smallest ones at bedtime. The ends of the string are then hung out of the window. In the morning, church goers (who are often skating) tug at the strings to awaken the children.
In Gavle, Sweden, a goat made of straw stands about 45 feet tall on Christmas Eve. It is assembled right in the heart of the town. On the first occasion that the goat was built, the goat was set on fire at midnight. Mischief makers have set the structure aflame a total of 25 times from the first year 1966 to 2011. A 45 foot goat in your yard would attract attention, that’s for sure. The jury is out on whether it will win you the neighborhood contest for best lawn display, though!
Also in Sweden, about 40% of the population watches Donald Duck Cartoons on Christmas Eve. This activity started about 1960. The tradition stuck, not because Donald Duck is particularly mesmerizing, but because American animation was broadcast on such a limited basis at that time.
This next tradition is one mentioned by several local moms right here in Omaha and Council Bluffs: The glass pickle. There is some question as to whether the game truly originated in Germany, as folklore states. Some believe the game and the legends surrounding it were made up by a store selling imported ornaments made from glass. In any case, the first person to find the glass pickle hidden within the boughs of the Christmas tree gets an additional gift. Some families re-hide the pickle several times allowing for multiple gifts to be distributed.
There is a village in Peru that encourages its people to settle all conflicts by fist fighting on Christmas Eve. Have a grudge from earlier in the year that didn’t get resolved to your satisfaction? Well, then, take it to the streets. Once the fighting is over, everyone starts with a clean slate for the next year. While this may be tempting for some in your family, allowing this tradition may make for some awkward Christmas photos!
Icelanders will often give each other books on Christmas Eve. The rest of the night they will eat chocolate and read their new books. This is know as Jolabokaflod, or “The Christmas Book Flood.” This is a tradition I can get behind!
Trying new foods could get a whole lot more interesting if you take on the traditional delicacy from South Africa: deep fried caterpillars of the Emperor Moth.
Whether you found a new tradition to incorporate into this year’s festivities or not, I hope you enjoyed reading about these particularly unusual traditions from around the world. Have a tradition you want to share with other mamas? Please leave a comment here or on our Facebook page!
