• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
GO TO EXPAT LIVING SINGAPORE
GET OUR NEWSLETTER

Expat Living Hong Kong HomepageExpat Living Hong Kong

Moving to Hong Kong and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Hong Kong.

Menu
  • Living In Hong Kong
      • Living Here
      • Where To Live
      • Schools
      • For Guys
        • school interviews Ruth BennyTips for school interviews (PODCAST)
        • Serviced apartments and places to stay in HK
        • outdoor activities18 outdoor adventures in Hong Kong
        • Townplace Soho - barProperty Watch: An urban oasis in Soho
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things To Do
      • What’s On/Calendar
      • Competitions & Offers
        • What to watch this month
        • Woman’s Hour PodcastGreat podcasts we are listening to!
        • outdoor activities18 outdoor adventures in Hong Kong
        • Mount Davis - viewHiking Ideas: A Mount Davis Meander
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Activities & Things To Do
      • Education & Enrichment
      • Health & Wellness
      • Mums & Babies
      • Podcasts
      • Kids Offers
        • school interviews Ruth BennyTips for school interviews (PODCAST)
        • School news - new schools in Hong Kong, new curriculums, new facilities and more!What’s new on the school scene?
        • Pregnancy scan image for web article on how to choose an obstetrician in Hong KongHow to choose an obstetrician
        • Baby spit upReflux in newborns: tips and treatment
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Home Décor
      • Readers Homes
        • Dining tables and chairs - TREEWhere to go for dining tables
        • Home news: décor, furniture & more!
        • Townplace Soho - barProperty Watch: An urban oasis in Soho
        • Top furniture finds for your home office
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Short Breaks
      • Further Afield
      • Travel News & Offers
        • Mount Davis - viewHiking Ideas: A Mount Davis Meander
        • Gorgeous waterfalls around the world
        • Travel news: Places to stay and play
        • MongoliaWomen on a Mission take on Mongolia
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Recipes & Groceries
      • Bars & Restaurants
        • Fiamma Italian restaurant - tortelliniTaste Test: Peak Italian Cuisine at Fiamma
        • Vegetarian recipe: Vietnamese rice roll with quorn mince and bolognese sauce5 meat-free meal ideas to try
        • Indian-Restarants-New-Punjab-ClubTop Indian restaurants to try
        • Fagara Aperitivo - Hong Kong restaurantsNew nibbles: where to dine this month
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
        • laser treatments hong kongHow to get super smooth skin
        • Tried & Tested: Body lotions we love
        • online shopping websites21 fashion websites shipping to HK
        • Mazu ResortwearFashion news: the latest launches
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Medical & Dental
      • Fitness
      • Wellness
        • Gyms in Hong Kong - best places for keeping fit8 great places to go to keep in shape
        • Pregnancy scan image for web article on how to choose an obstetrician in Hong KongHow to choose an obstetrician
        • menopause - symptoms and how to get helpManaging menopause: how to get help
        • heartAre you at risk of heart disease?
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
      • Magazine
      • Advertise With Us
        • Mar-May 2021
        • Mar-May 2021 – $36 (Usual Price $48)
        • December – February 2021
        • DEC-FEB 2020 – $36 (USUAL PRICE $48)
      • View all
    Close
Home » Travel » Weird & Wonderful Christmas Traditions

Weird & Wonderful Christmas Traditions

7 December, 2020 by Expat Living 4 Min Read

https://expatliving.hk/weird-and-wonderful-christmas-traditions-around-the-world/

Our travel options may be limited this Christmas, but there’s nothing stopping us importing traditions from around the world and giving them a try in our own homes. Take your pick from this collection of interesting festivities we stumbled across. Oh, and “Seng Dan Fai Lok”!

Christmas traditions - sandman on beach

Catalonia

Put this Spanish autonomous enclave on your Christmas destination bucket list to experience the tradition of Caga tió or the “poo log”. We’re told it starts with getting craftsy and creating a character out of a log. Then you give it a face and a hat, and the family “feeds” the poo log nuts, treats and sweets for a fortnight. On Christmas Eve, you round up the family to beat “poo log” with sticks to help it, erm, excrete its gifts. And if it needs a little persuasion, there’s even a song that accompanies the tradition; it (kind of) translates as, “If you don’t poop well, I’ll hit you with a stick”. How … Christmassy?!
How to say Merry Christmas in Catalan: “Bon Nadal”

Christmas Traditions - Catalonia

Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, some single women are said to take part in a unique tradition to find out whether the upcoming year will continue to be one of single-hood, or whether marriage is on the cards. On Christmas Eve, they turn their backs to the house door and throw one shoe over their shoulder. If the shoe lands with the heel facing the door, the woman will stay single for another year; if the front of the shoe faces towards the door, she should move out of her parents’ house and start making wedding preparations!
How to say Merry Christmas in Czech: “Veselé Vánoce”

Guatemala

Sticking with the spooky theme, in Guatemala some locals are thought to believe that evil ghosts and spirits lurk in the dirty corners of the home. That’s why they have a massive clear-out the week before Christmas, sweeping, cleaning, decluttering and collecting all their rubbish. They then pile it up in a massive heap outside, stick a devil effigy on top, and set the whole monstrous pile on fire. The tradition is called La Quema del Diablo –“Burning the Devil”. The idea is to set alight the rubbish from the year and start the new year in a decluttered fashion. Marie Kondo would be proud!
How to say Merry Christmas in Guatemalan (Spanish): “Feliz Navidad”

Rubbish heap - Christmas tradition in Guatemala

India

India’s population is mainly Hindu and Muslim, but those who do celebrate Christmas tend to decorate mango or banana trees instead of purchasing a Christmas tree!
How to say Merry Christmas in Indian (Hindi): “Śubh krisamas”

Japan

If you fancy celebrating the season in bright and merry Japanese style, just head down to your nearest KFC for its finger-licking, festively good chicken. The famous fast-food chain has become a popular Christmas hangout in Japan, due to an advert that ran in 1974 called “Kentucky for Christmas!” (Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii!). You can even order your crispy fried chicken in advance (along with an estimated 3.6 other million people) in what has become a nationwide festive tradition.
How to say Merry Christmas in Japanese: “Merii Kurisumasu”

Christmas traditions - Japan

Norway

Hide your broom, the witches are out! We’re told that in Norway, those spooky women in black with the pointy hats decide to head out to join festivities on Christmas Eve. So it’s a smart move for everyone to hide their broomsticks. You really don’t want to wake up to find your favourite sweeping brush stolen or trashed by a party-pooping witch, right?
Merry Christmas in Norwegian: “God Jul”

Witch on broomstick

Russia

Russia and Ukraine celebrate this special day, not on the 25th of December, but on the 7th of January! This is because the Orthodox church uses the old Julian calendar for religious celebrations. A traditional Russian Christmas can see people fasting up to 39 days, then celebrating once the first evening star appears in the sky on January the 6th (Christmas Eve), when a 12-course meal, in honour of the 12 apostles, will begin.
How to say Merry Christmas in Russian: ‘S rozhdyestvom Hristovym!’

Sweden

For decades now, to mark the beginning of the festive season, the town of Gävle in Sweden has erected a huge straw goat in the town centre. At which point, some residents of the town promptly start planning to destroy it – usually by burning it to the ground! While it’s actually illegal to destroy the goat, it doesn’t stop ne’er-do-wells trying everything in their power to vandalise the festive symbol. Even if that means dressing up in a Santa disguise. Since the goat first appeared over 50 years ago, it has only survived until Christmas Day around 15 times!
How to say Merry Christmas in Swedish: ‘God Jul’


Need more festive inspo? Try these Christmas articles:


Christmas recipes we love

Christmas gift ideas for all the family
Top restaurant picks for Christmas dining

Categories: Uncategorized Tags: Christmas Travel Fact Files

Primary Sidebar

Expat Living Hong Kong 🇭🇰

expatlivinghk

Open
* Friday GIVEAWAY *

We have teamed up @janeeveinteriors to give one lucky winner two beautiful handmade scented candles from Jane's “Refresh Me” and “Relax Me” ranges.  Here's how to have a chance of winning:

1. Like this post
2. Follow @janeeveinteriors  on Instagram
3. Enter your details via the competitions section of our website - link in our bio.

Good Luck! 🤞🏻

#hongkong #hkig #hk #discoverhongkong #hkiger #fridaygiveaway #giveawayhk #winwinwin #handmadehk
Open
There's so much to love in Jen and Jeff's Happy Valley flat, for the full story head over to our website, link in bio. @moftstudio 

#hongkong #discoverhongkong #hkig #hkiger #hkinteriordesign #hkinterior #balivibe
Open
Ever wondered what it is like to live in Tai Hang? EL reader Neelam Daswani @neelampurehealth gives us the lowdown. For the full story and Neelam's recommendations see our MARCH-MAY issue.

#hongkong #discoverhongkong #hkiger
Open
❤️HK❤️

#hongkong #discoverhongkong #hkig #hkiger #view
Open
* Friday GIVEAWAY *

We have teamed up @gingerjarlampco to give one lucky winner a stunning Ginger Jar Lamp worth $4,000!  Here's how to have a chance of winning:

1. Like this post
2. Follow @gingerjarlampco on Instagram
3. Enter your details via the competitions section of our website - link in our bio.

Good Luck! 🤞🏻

#hongkong #hkig #hk #discoverhongkong #hkiger #fridaygiveaway
Open
Jo Lodder and Catherine Cormack recently set out to raise much needed funds for @stop.hk and @tails.lantau by tackling Hong Kong’s famous hiking trails over four days in March.  To find out how they got on, head over to our website to read all about it, link in bio.

#hongkong #hkig #discoverhongkong #hkig #hikeforfreedom #hkhiking #hkhiker #adoptdontshop #stophumantrafficking
Open
📸 @ colsimphotography

#hongkong #hkig #hk #discoverhongkong #hkiger
#photography #photooftheday #streetphotography #streetsigns #hkstreet
Open
A chocolate overload and cute little bunnies – what’s not to like about Easter celebrations? We’ve rounded up some things to do in Hong Kong for a cracking good time over the break - check out the full article on our website - link in bio.

#hongkong #hkig #hk #discoverhongkong #hkiger #easter #eastereggs #easterbunny
Open
Whether you're a newbie or have been here a while, our guide is sure to help you make the most of living here.  Read it for free on any device 👉 expatliving.hk/cg/ig
Open
Beaches and swimming pools are progressively re-opening 🏊‍♀️🏝👏👏

#hk #hkig #hkiger #hkbeach #hkpools
Open
*Friday Giveaway*  Win one of 50 Early Access Passes to the Affordable Online Art Fair 2021. Like this post & enter your details via the competitions section of our website - link in our bio

Good Luck! 🤞🏻

#hongkong #hkig #hk #discoverhongkong #hkiger #art #affordableart #affordableartfair #giveaway
Open
Jo Lodder and Catherine Cormack are currently on a Hike for Freedom, tackling four trails – the Maclehose, Hong Kong, Wilson and Lantau – to raise money for two organisations doing incredibly important work. @stophk - a charity that strives to put and end to human trafficking in Hong Kong and @ tails.lantau - an animal rescue organisation based on Lantau. The Hike will cover 300km and 18,600m in elevation over just four days! 

Read the full article on our homepage - link in bio - including how you can donate and follow their progress.

#hikeforfreedom #hkhiking #adoptdontshop #hongkong #hkig
Open
In our new spring issue we take a look at Jenny Perry's  impressive village house renovation in Sai Kung 🏡 there's so much to love! Check out the article for all her tips and local recommendations 👉 link in bio
Open
Read our latest Spring issue on any device for free 👉 expatliving.hk/digital/FB/

In this issue, we’ve got some of the best finds to make your home office functional and looking good. We also check out two beautifully renovated homes, get an insider’s guide to Tai Hang and discover home-decorating trends and the latest properties on the market.

There's loads more, including great Mexican food, easy recipes from our team, beauty tips and facials to try, and a look at Hong Kong’s country parks and hiking trails.

👨‍🎓 Plus, an eight-pager School Special! Everything from getting your kids IB-ready and enrichment options to great advice on battling bullies and trolls.
Open
* Friday GIVEAWAY *

We have teamed up with Assaggio to give one lucky winner a fabulous 35oz Fiorentina T-Bone Steak & Seafood Set Dinner for Four, worth $2,488!  

Featuring the 35oz Fiorentina T-Bone Steak served on a red hot sizzling iron plate with rosemary, the set dinner comes with Seafood Platter (Oyster Fine de Clair, Alaska King Crab Leg, Black Mediterranean Mussel, Veraci Clam), Kobocha Pumpkin and Tomino Cheese Soup, and Italian Black Truffle Tagliolini. 
Finally, wrap up the meal with the signature dessert trio: Tiramisu, Panna Cotta and Wild Berry Sorbet.

Sound good?

Here's how to have a chance of winning:

1. Like this post
2. Follow @miradining on Facebook
3. Enter your details via the competitions section of our website - link in our bio 

Good Luck! 🤞🏻
Open
📷 @colsimphoto we love his new collection #hongkonginmotion
Open
We are looking for readers to tell us about their area and why they love it.

We will send you some questions to answer and feature you in the Street Talk section of our print magazine and will also publish it online.

Drop us a PM with some info of where you live and we will get our team to be in touch 😊
Open
One of the many ways to enjoy HK’s waters! Head to our website for a comprehensive guide, link in bio. 📷 @ wanchaibelle
Open
Love a tasty taco, a classic plate of nachos or a frosty margarita? 

We recently road tested 3 Mexican restaurants – read the full reviews in our March magazine ✨📖 or online – link in bio.
@taqueriasupermacho 
@elmachohk
@tqmhk
Open
HK resident and award-winning artist Martin Lever recently spent 14 days in quarantine. Inspired by the mountain view, he created a stunning series of artwork, The Room 202 Project. 

What's more, Martin has teamed up with ImpactHK and is selling limited-edition digital prints – 50% of sales will  support HK's homeless.

For the full story, head to our website – link in bio.
  • COMPETITIONS & OFFERS
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Subscribe

© 2021 Expat Living Hong Kong, All Rights Reserved.