The holiday season is upon us.  I don’t know about you, but I like this time of year as things begin to slow down (although if you work in and around the legislature, you can never be sure when, and if, it WILL slow down!). You’ve got a few days off.  Family comes to town.  Gently falling snow.  The Hallmark movie set begins to emerge, where the city slicker lawyer gets lost in some rural mountain town and falls in love with the village chamber of commerce director.  Oh wait – forget that one.

I’ve been thinking about Christmas traditions lately.  My family goes out to cut a fresh tree every year. We also have an advent calendar that we read from each day leading up to Christmas day.  We go to church on Christmas Eve and we always have hors d’oeuvre that night as well (usually things that aren’t very good for you!). We allow the kids to open their gifts to and from one another that night as well.  On Christmas morning, I make them wait until the coffee is made and I’m at least halfway through the first cup before they can dig into the rest of the gifts under the tree.  They hate that one.

Have you even wondered what other Christmas traditions are out there in this crazy world?  Although you’ll find that some yuletide rituals remain the same, there are a number of Christmas traditions around the world that may surprise you. If you’re like me, you may even wish to adopt some of these celebrations!

Take Japan, for example.  Although Christmas isn’t a national holiday in Japan, its citizens still find an interesting and delicious way to celebrate. Rather than gathering around the table for a turkey dinner, families head out to their local Kentucky Fried Chicken. That’s right: the general and KFC! The tradition began in 1974 after a wildly successful marketing campaign called “Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii!” or “Kentucky for Christmas!” The fast-food chain has maintained its yuletide popularity, causing some people to order their boxes months in advance or stand in two-hour-long lines to get their “finger lickin’ good” food.

I mean, I like KFC and all but … not THAT much.

Similar to the 12 days of Christmas in the U.S., Iceland celebrates 13 days. Each night before Christmas, Icelandic children are visited by the 13 Yule Lads. After placing their shoes by the window, the little ones will head upstairs to bed. In the morning, they’ll either have received candy (if they’re good) or be greeted with shoes full of rotten potatoes if they’re bad. And I thought coal was a terrible gift to leave in a stocking.  I am absolutely stealing this idea this year – rotten potatoes all around!

On Christmas morning, Finish families traditionally eat a porridge made of rice and milk topped with cinnamon, milk, or butter. Whoever finds the almond placed inside one of the puddings “wins”—but some families cheat and hide a few almonds so the kids don’t get upset. At the end of the day, it is customary to warm up in a sauna together.  You know, because a family that sweats together, stays together.

Alpine countries like Austria have a legend that a devil-like creature called Krampus joins their St. Nicholas festivities on December 6. Children are asked for a list of their good and bad deeds; good children are rewarded with sweets, apples, and nuts, and bad children worry what Krampus might bring them on Christmas morning. Go ahead and Google a picture of Krampus.  You’ll sleep with one eye open for the rest of your life.  That’s not nice to do to a kid – even a naughty one!

Orthodox Christians in Ukraine observe Christmas Day on January 7 by dressing in traditional garments and walking through town singing carols. A dish called kutya, made of cooked wheat mixed with honey, ground poppy seeds, and sometimes nuts, is a popular Christmas Eve treat. Some families throw a spoonful of kutya at the ceiling: If it sticks, there will be a good harvest in the new year. Who gets to clean that mess up anyways?

What traditions do you have and how do you celebrate this time of year?

One thing is for certain: celebrations this year might look and feel a little different than in the past.  We may not be able to gather with family – or as much of it.  We might not be able to attend church or go to the mall.  We might have to alter our plans in the life altering year that 2020 has been.  All that aside, I know that I am blessed – and my guess is that you are as well.

Count your blessings this holiday season!

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