In this video, you’ll discover 9 Christmas Traditions From Around the World.
Hey, I’m Alister from Al’s Action English and welcome to another video.
If you’re new here remember to subscribe and hit the bell notification so you don’t
miss any content.
Make sure you watch until the end and let me know in the comments any Christmas or holiday
traditions from your country.
Let’s start!
Number 1
Christmas isn’t even a holiday here.
In 1974 the American fast-food chain KFC - (Kentucky Fried Chicken) launched a festive marketing
campaign (Kentucky For Christmas) which still thrives as a national tradition today.
Families all over this island nation head to their local KFC at this time of the year.
Do you know where this is?
It’s Japan and reservations have to be made months in advance.
On the largest sales day of the year expect to pay close to 25 Euro for Christmas dinner.
Number 2
Over the Christmas period, women in this country have a superstition about predicting their
relationship status for the future year.
Unmarried women stand with their backs to their front doors and throw shoes over their
shoulders.
What’s the country?
It’s the Czech Republic.
If the shoe lands with its toe pointing towards the door, the woman will get married in the
next 12 months.
If the toe is pointing away from the door, the woman will remain unmarried.
Would you trust your love life to the random tossing of shoes over your shoulders?
Number 3
Here, it is thought that on Christmas Eve witches and evil spirits will rise from the
graves and cause trouble until dawn.
As brooms are their preferred method of transportation households hide all cleaning utensils attached
to sticks so that the evildoers cannot find them.
Do you know where this is?
It’s Norway and doesn’t it sound a bit more like Halloween?
Number 4
This unpleasant tradition involves Christmas food, but perhaps not as you know it.
In this frozen land, locals eat Mattak - raw whale skin with blubber and Kiviak - a small
bird (Auk) which has been wrapped in seal skin, buried for months and decomposed.
Anyone fancy going to Greenland to try it out? I think I’d even stick to Brussels
sprouts!
Number 5
In this capital city, residents travel to early morning mass on Christmas Day on roller
skates.
Due to this tradition the roads have to be closed from 8 a.m so the skaters can arrive
safely.
Can you guess the South American city?
This one is Caracas, the capital city of Venezuela and apparently children sleep with one lace
from their skates tied around their toes and the other hanging out the window so that their
friends can pull on the lace and wake them up for the journey to church.
By the way, this is the 6th video in my English Listening series - the link to the playlist
is up here and also in the description below - check it out after you’ve watched this
video.
Number 6
This tradition is not for you if you have arachnophobia.
Here, in the place of baubles, tinsel and angels, Christmas tree decorations include
fake spiders and webs.
Do you know this European country?
It’s the Ukraine.
The custom, which is said to bring good luck, originates as a folk tale.
A poor family wake up one Christmas morning to find their empty tree has been beautifully
decorated in spider webs that glitter like silver and gold in the morning sun.
Number 7
In 1958 a TV Christmas Special called “Donald Duck and his friends wish you a Merry Christmas”
was made in this country.
Each year, at exactly 3 p.m on Christmas Day, families sit down together around the television
to watch this Christmas special.
Can you guess this place?
It’s Sweden.
Everything on Christmas is planned around this TV special and still around 40% of the
entire population tune in to watch this special.
Number 8
Many homes here have their own sauna and it’s usual on Christmas Eve to strip naked and
have a long, respectful session.
An easy one here
It’s Finland, however, this one might make for some awkward family gatherings afterwards.
Now, one from my country - the UK
Christmas crackers are a fun item used to celebrate the holiday season in the UK.
Pulling a cracker requires two people, one at either end.
With a BANG the cracker splits unevenly and the person holding the longer end is proclaimed
the winner usually with a special prize.
Which is your favourite of these traditions?
How do you celebrate Christmas and the holidays?
Let me know in the comments.
Also, I’d absolutely love it if you could send this video to someone you know.
For more English, I made a video about 20 Advanced Words that Americans and Brits Say
Differently and also one about Northern Irish Words.
I recommend checking them out.
Thanks so much for watching, and I’ll see you over here in one of these videos.