ODD CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS AROUND THE WORLD

Well, we’ve run out of Christmas stories and we’ve still got three weeks to go. So, here are some weird Christmas traditions from other, heathenish countries.
– In Italy on January 5, children enjoy a post-Christmas visit from Befana, a good-hearted witch. She’s like Santa: She flies through the night on her broomstick, enters through the chimney, and gives candy and presents to good boys and girls, and coal to the bad ones. Unlike St. Nick, Befana wants wine and sausage instead of milk and cookies. (* Wine and sausage? Crack a window!)
– In Norway, Norwegians hide their brooms on Christmas Eve so no mischievous witches can steal them and fly off into the winter night to do witch-business. (* They know we have vacuum cleaners now, right?)
– In Japan, eating Kentucky Fried Chicken on Dec. 25 is a tradition. The company does 5% of its annual business in Japan on Christmas day. (* Because the three wise men brought gifts of gold, frankincense and a bucket of KFC?)
– In Venezuela, on Christmas morning, people set off firecrackers to wake everyone up, then everyone straps on roller skates and skates to Christmas mass.
– In South Africa, Christmas is a lot like July 4th in the US: an excuse to go camping and have barbecues.
– In Sweden, the country watches a televised message from Donald Duck at 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve, and then watch a collection of Disney cartoons from the ‘30s, ‘40s, and ‘50s.
– In Austria, they have Krampus – maybe you’ve seen the movie? A hairy, horned beast who beats naughty children with sticks while Santa gives the faithful presents and sweet treats.
– In Iceland, Christmas is ruled by Jólakötturinn, The Yule Cat, a gigantic black feline that roams the countryside devouring anyone who isn’t wearing any new clothing. (* Do NOT let Jólakötturinn near any catnip! It’ll go nuts and destroy the town!)
– In Oaxaca, Mexico, December 23 is Noche de Rábanos, the night of the radish, an annual tradition where hundreds of artists carve thousands of radishes into elaborate scenes from the Bible and contemporary life.
– In Wales, they have Mari Lwyd: On New Year’s Eve, groups of revelers dressed as ghosts stick a horse skull to a pole and go from house to house, singing a song that asks if they can come in. People inside the house hurl insults at the ghosts and their dead-horse puppet. Each side tries to verbally best the other. If Team Dead Horse wins, they are invited in for drinks and food. If the home-owners win, they don’t have to invite the group in.
* This is like a Mad Libs that just keeps getting crazier and crazier.
* That stupid Elf on the Shelf doesn’t seem so nutty now, does it?
* I’d pay a lot of money to see “A Charlie Brown Krampus.” Lucy would really get hers for pulling the football away all the time.