10 Christmas traditions from around the world

ON the night before Christmas South African children hang up stocking for Father Christmas to fill with goodies.

However, not all children are so lucky – some wait for a witch to visit or hope they don’t wake up to find a branch in their shoe!

Check out some of the strangest Christmas traditions from around the world, as reported by Summer24.com

Germany

On December 5 German children leave a shoe outside the house. If you were good, your shoe gets filled with sweets overnight. But if you were naughty, you will find a tree branch in your shoe!

Italy

Instead of Father Christmas, Italian children await the arrival of Befana, a friendly witch. She brings them sweets and toys on  January 5.

Guatemala

Guatemalans sweep out their houses before Christmas and then each neighbourhood will create a large pile of dirt. Afterwards they place an effigy of the devil on top  and then they burn it.

Slovakia

The most senior man in the household will take a spoonful of loksa pudding and throw it to the ceiling. The more it sticks, the better!

USA

Americans have created a boozy Christmas tradition called the Running of the Santas. During the event many people dressed as Santa take part in a large bar crawl.

Venezuela

Venezuelans attend Mass in the run-up to Christmas. However residents from Caracas have developed a strange tradition – going to Mass on roller skates!

Japan

Thanks to an advertising campaign in 1974,  many Japanese families eat at KFC on Christmas Eve.

Czech Republic

Unmarried women stand by the door and throw a shoe over their shoulder. If the shoe lands with the toe pointing towards the door, they will get married within the next year.

Estonia

Families traditionally head to the sauna together on Christmas Eve.

Iceland

The Yule cat is said to stalk the Icelandic hills. Those who don’t receive new clothes before Christmas Eve are said to be devoured by this mythical beast.

Source: Fox News