“Unwrap the Unexpected: Discover the Strangest Christmas Traditions from Around the Globe!”

France

Yule logs are a thing in France around Christmas time, and I’m not talking about a rolled chocolate cake. I mean, people in France do eat those kinds of yule logs, but they also burn yule logs made out of cherry wood in their homes.

The log is sprinkled with red wine to make it smell nice while it’s burning. The log is left burning all night, and people leave out food and drinks for Mary and baby Jesus.

Iceland

Christmas is known as ‘Jól’ or Yule in Iceland. Christmas starts at 6pm on Jól eve and children open their presents after the evening meal.

One other big Jól custom is the coming of the ‘Jólasveinarnir’ or Jóltide Lads. Each day from December 12th until Christmas, a different “Lad” or magical being comes in from the mountains. Jólasveinarnir first came to Iceland in the 17th century as a pair of bloodthirsty ogres.

The Philippines

People in the Philippines like to celebrate Christmas for as long as possible. Shop owners start playing Christmas carols in their stores in September! Most Filipinos are Christians and 80% of them are Catholic, which is more than any other Asian country.

They have their own Christmas tradition called the ‘parol’ which is a bamboo pole or frame with a lit star lantern on it. It represents the star that guided the Wise Men.

Hungary