August M
With Christmas Day just around the corner, households across the UK are settling into familiar routines. From choosing the perfect tree to debating the best festive dinner, many traditions feel almost universal at this time of year.
But step beyond Britain’s borders and Christmas can look very different. According to a travel expert, “some countries embrace customs that may strike British audiences as unusual.”
Speaking to Daily Record, Simon Hood, executive director of relocation firm John Mason International, shared some of the strangest Christmas traditions he has encountered through years of helping people move abroad.
Christmas KFC
One of the most surprising traditions comes from Japan, where millions of families skip the roast dinner altogether.
It is estimated that around 3.6 million Japanese families eat KFC on Christmas Day. Rather than cooking at home, many head to their local fast-food branch to enjoy fried chicken.
The tradition dates back to 1974. Hood explained that Japan’s largely secular population means Christmas is less tied to religion and more about social customs.
“This must be my favourite tradition, albeit one Brits might prefer not to take part in and opt for the usual turkey and roast dinner,” he said.
“Nobody eating at KFC on Christmas Day has to do an hour of washing up, so who is the real winner here – us or Japan?” reports the Daily Record.
Swedish goats
Scandinavian countries also have festive customs that differ from UK norms. In Sweden, Christmas decorations often include goat ornaments placed on trees and around homes.
The tradition has roots in pagan and Viking folklore. Hood said the Yule goat later became associated with St Nicholas and gift-giving.
“Although seen as odd when thinking about its connection to the birth of Jesus, goat ornaments are incredibly common in Sweden,” he said, notes the Daily Record.
Romanian Capra
According to the Daily Record, goats also feature in Romanian Christmas celebrations through a tradition known as the Capra. Between Christmas and New Year, young men dress in colourful goat masks and costumes and dance from house to house.
The custom, which dates back to pagan winter solstice beliefs, is meant to bring good fortune for the year ahead.
“It’s not uncommon to see young men in Bucharest dressed in the whole Capra get-up,” Hood said. “It’s a strange tradition, but also a joyful one.”
He added that not every Christmas custom needs to be serious. “If one turned up at your door with music and began dancing, tell me you wouldn’t love it.”
Sources: Daily Record
