My family celebrated Christmas as my grandparents did in the Old Country – the Italian way- with family, food, and more food. On Christmas Eve, we started with the traditional Feast of Seven Fishes, which included salt cod, shellfish, eel, squid), conch meat, and clams. Fried artichokes, pickled vegetables, and fried squash blossoms accompanied them.
Food preparation continues the next day, starting early Christmas morning in preparation for the scores of aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandchildren coming to Grandma’s house in the evening with hungry stomachs and great expectations.
I enjoyed reminiscing about the festivities, though writing was beginning to feel like a tiresome list of dishes. That changed, however, when I recalled Grandpa’s favorite Christmas dish, roasted Lamb’s head, a delicacy that made the adults’ mouths water and gave the children heebie-jeebies at the sight of ‘Mary’s little lamb’s cleaved head served up on a platter.”
I decided to change direction and write about unusual Christmas Foods and customs. Keep in mind that my internet search was “Interesting,” “Creepy,” and “Weird” Christmas Foods and customs from around the world.
Here are a few I found interesting.
Japan:
Christmas is celebrated with a “Christmas cake” — a light sponge cake topped with strawberries and whipped cream. Another surprising tradition? Eating fried chicken! Thanks to a successful marketing campaign by KFC in the 1970s, fried chicken became the go-to meal for Christmas dinner, and many people still make reservations months in advance.
Venezuela:
People attend Christmas Mass on roller skates in Caracas, Venezuela! Streets are closed to cars to make way for skaters heading to church. It’s an unusual but festive way to start Christmas Day.
Greenland:
Greenlandic Christmas food includes kiviak, which is made by fermenting seabirds (typically auks) in sealskin for several months. It’s said to have a strong flavor and is served alongside other unique local treats during the holidays.
Norway:
Norwegians believe that Christmas Eve is when evil spirits and witches come out, so they hide their brooms to prevent them from being stolen and used by witches for midnight flights.
Ukraine:
In It’sine, decorating with spider webs is a sign of good fortune. Legend has it that a poor widow had no money to decorate her tree, but on Christmas morning, her children found it covered in webs that sparkled in the morning sun.
The Philippines:
Known for the longest Christmas season in the world, Filipinos begin celebrating in September. They create intricate lanterns called parols, symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem. The festival culminates with the Simbang Gabi, a nine-day series of dawn masses leading up to Christmas.
South Africa:
In South Africa, fried caterpillars are considered a Christmas treat!
Catalonia, Spain:
A log called Tió de Nadal (or “Caga Tió”) is celebrated in Catalonia. This small log is decorated with a red hat and little legs. Kids feed and care for it through December, and then, on Christmas Eve, they hit it with sticks and sing songs asking it to “poop” small treats, sweets, and sometimes small gifts. The custom may sound strange” but it'” a beloved Catalan tradition!
Finland:
In Finland, it’s common for families to gather in a sauna on Christmas Eve as part of the holiday ritual. The sauna, considered a sacred space, is thought to be inhabited by spirits of ancestors. In some regions, people even believe that the spirits will come to visit, so families keep their saunas clean and respectful, bringing a unique Finnish warmth to the holiday.
These customs make the holiday season wonderfully weird, showing that each culture brings its own brand of magic to Christmas!
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