Nothing Says Christmas Eve Like, KFC, Roller Skates, Horse Skulls and Pooping Logs

Image Credit, Pema G. Lama

Christmas Eve is a magical time of year when people across the globe gather with their loved ones to partake in cherished traditions. However, not every family’s holiday customs look like a Norman Rockwell painting. Some are bizarre, some are chaotic, and some are downright side-splitting. If you’re tired of the same old carols and cocoa, take a peek at these wacky Christmas Eve traditions from around the world that might just make your holiday a lot more fun—and weird.

In Catalonia, Spain, families introduce us to the “Caga Tió,” or the “pooping log.” Yes, you read that correctly. This cheerful wooden log is painted with a smiley face, dressed in a jaunty red hat, and placed near the fireplace. Children “feed” it scraps of food in the days leading up to Christmas Eve, and then—here’s the kicker—they beat it with sticks while singing traditional songs, coaxing it to “poop” out presents. Nothing screams holiday joy like whacking a log for candy, right?

Meanwhile, over in Austria, forget about Santa’s elves. On Christmas Eve, the Alpine region is home to the terrifying Krampus, a horned, goat-like creature who stomps around punishing naughty children. Picture this: you’re seven years old, trying to enjoy your festive evening, and instead of sugarplums, a demon with chains and sticks bursts through the door. Nothing brings family together like mutual fear.

Head to Caracas, Venezuela, and you’ll find a Christmas Eve tradition that’s wheels away from the ordinary. Residents don’t simply walk to Midnight Mass; they roller skate there. Entire families zoom through the streets on rollerblades, often with firecrackers lighting their way. Who needs reindeer when you’ve got wheels and a good sense of balance?

In Japan, Christmas Eve is more finger-lickin’ good than holly-jolly. Thanks to a genius KFC marketing campaign in the 1970s, families there now celebrate with buckets of fried chicken. The idea of Colonel Sanders as a jolly stand-in for Santa is absurdly brilliant. Families book their chicken dinners weeks in advance because nothing says “Silent Night” like crispy drumsticks and mashed potatoes.

Iceland takes bookworms to a whole new level with “Jólabókaflóð,” or the Christmas Book Flood. On Christmas Eve, people exchange books and spend the night reading. This tradition might sound tame compared to others, but imagine a family of five in matching pajamas, furiously flipping pages like it’s an Olympic sport. Bonus points if someone spills hot cocoa on the plot twist.

Let’s not overlook Norway, where people hide their brooms on Christmas Eve. Why, you ask? Because it’s believed witches and evil spirits roam the night, searching for transportation. It’s a hilarious image: a modern family frantically stuffing their Swiffer into the pantry because Granny said so. Can’t risk a rogue witch stealing your mop, after all.

Over in the Czech Republic, single women get in on the festive fun by tossing a shoe over their shoulders. The way it lands supposedly predicts their romantic future. If the shoe points toward the door, congratulations—you’re getting hitched. If not, well, better luck next Christmas. It’s basically Tinder, but with footwear.

Australia flips the script entirely. Instead of cozying up to fireplaces, Australians celebrate Christmas Eve with backyard barbecues and surfing Santas. Picture a jolly old man wiping out on a wave, his beard full of seaweed. It’s hard not to laugh when Christmas smells more like shrimp on the barbie than pine needles.

In Greenland, Christmas Eve dinner is not for the faint of heart—or stomach. Families serve up dishes like “mattak” (whale skin with blubber) and “kiviak” (a bird that’s been fermented inside a seal for months). It’s less of a meal and more of a dare. This might be the one night where it’s okay to skip seconds.

Finally, in Wales, the Mari Lwyd tradition is a fever dream come to life. Picture this: a group of carolers, one of whom is wearing a horse skull on a stick, roams the streets challenging households to a battle of rhymes. If the skeletal horse wins, it gets to raid your pantry. If the family wins, well, at least they get to keep their snacks. Nothing says holiday spirit like a horse skull demanding cookies.

If you’re looking for ways to spice up your own Christmas Eve, why not borrow one of these laugh-out-loud traditions? Whether you’re chasing off witches with hidden brooms or trying to freestyle rap against a skeleton horse, one thing’s for sure—your holiday will be unforgettable.