- The US even made the list.
Do you know these December fun facts about other countries? The last may be my new favorite.
Hide Your Brooms
On Christmas Eve, Norwegians traditionally hide their brooms so witches and evil spirits can’t steal them for midnight rides. (Imagine explaining that to guests.)
13 Mischievous Yule Lads
Instead of one Santa, Iceland gets 13 troublemakers with names like Spoon-Licker, Door-Slammer, and Pot-Scraper and they leave gifts or rotten behavior, depending on if they were naughty or nice. *(Their mother, Grýla, eats naughty children.) And the Yule Cat, which eats people who don’t get new clothes.
La Befana, the Christmas Witch
In Italy, on January 5–6, a friendly old witch on a broomstick brings gifts. She enters homes through chimneys and sweeps your floor on the way out.
The Giant Yule Goat That Always Gets Burned
Every year the town of Gävle Sweden, erects a huge straw Yule Goat. Every year, people try to set it on fire despite efforts to protect it. It’s survived only a handful of Decembers since 1966. What do you think of these December fun facts?
The Longest Christmas Season
Christmas unofficially starts in September (“Ber months”) and runs until January in the Phillipines. That’s 4+ months of nonstop carols, lights, and holiday sales. (And people in the US think it’s crazy to decorate for Christmas preThanksgiving!?)
SantaCon & Ugly Sweaters
The US sees thousands of Santas engaging in rowdy pub crawls, competitive ugly sweater contests, and a national obsession with peppermint everything.
Night of the Radishes
On December 23 in Oaxaca, there’s a festival where artists carve massive radishes into elaborate scenes in Mexico, like nativity sets, monsters, politicians, or really anything. The radishes are grown especially to be huge and weirdly shaped.
Christmas Crackers & Paper Crown Rule
People wear bright paper crowns from Christmas crackers during dinner in the UK. It’s considered bad form for anyone to move it.
The Shoe-Throwing Relationship Test
Unmarried women toss a shoe over their shoulder on Christmas Day in the Czech Republic. If the toe points to the door, marriage is coming, if not, better luck next year! Did you know about this as one of the December fun facts?
Carols in 100°F Heat
Christmas happens in the middle of summer, so Australians often celebrate with beach BBQs, Santa in board shorts, and decorations that melt.
Sauna for the Dead
Finns often visit saunas for Christmas Eve… but traditionally, families believed dead ancestors used the sauna first.
So some of the people of Finland leave it warm for spirits.
Krampus Parade Chaos
Early December brings Krampusnacht, where people dressed as horned demons chase and “punish” misbehaving humans with sticks. Interestingly enough, tourists are often shocked to learn they are not exempt anymore than other Austrians are.
Seats for the Dead at Christmas Dinner
Some Portuguese families set extra places at the table for deceased relatives. This is a beautiful tradition that could be repeated across cultures.
The Pooping Log
Catalonia has Tió de Nadal, a friendly log children “feed” all December in Spain. On Christmas, kids beat it with sticks while singing songs, until the log poops out gifts. (There’s also a pooping Nativity figurine, the caganer.)
Day of the Little Candles
On December 7, people set thousands of tiny candles and lanterns in streets, windows, and parks In Columbia. It creates entire cities glowing with warm light.
What do you think of these December fun facts about other countries? Let us know what you think or add your own to the comments!