most curious Christmas traditions around the world

Australia: Surfer Santa Claus

The customs in Australia (but also in California, in the USA) are decidedly more exotic: the beaches are filled with surfers dressed as Santa Claus, who ride the waves in the traditional bright red fleece costume.

  Brazil: Santa Claus arrives by helicopter

Brazilians celebrate Christmas a bit like Carnival. The Brazilian Santa Claus, Papa Noel, inaugurates the holiday season with a bang: in the presence of around 200,000 cheering people, he lands by helicopter at the Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro and distributes gifts while a colorful and cheerful party is celebrated around him.

Sweden: Donald Duck and the goats

On December 24, around four million Swedes (almost half the population) sit in front of the television. Every year since 1960, public TV has broadcast a "Kalle Anka" marathon. Kalle Anka is none other than the “Swedish Donald Duck”.

Norway: away with the broom

It is said that the country is full of witches. And to prevent them from disturbing the quiet delivery of presents, Norwegians hide their brooms, mops and floor mops particularly well during the Christmas period.

The side effect: no cleaning at Christmas.

Catalonia (Spain): the "Caga Tio"

The "Caga Tio" is a log-shaped character who wears a hat. In the two weeks before Christmas the Catalans symbolically feed him.

On Christmas evening, after a ceremony during which the children hit the log with sticks, they eat the sweets that their parents have collected under the blanket that covers the log.

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fonte rivista DOVE