For a lot of, Christmas is a time of exchanging gifts, log cakes and turkey dinners.
But that is not the case in all places.
In its annual series, CNBC Travel highlights the diverse celebrations of Christmas around the world.
Austria
Christmas takes a terrible twist in Austria, Germany and other Alpine countries that commemorate St. Nicholas’ Day in the first week of December.
“Krampuslauf”, which suggests “Krampus run” in German, is an annual parade normally held on December 5 or 6 where participants dress up as half-goat, half-demon Krampus to scare onlookers.
Krampus costumes often consist of a mask, a horn, a coat of sheep or goat wool, in addition to chains, bells and a rod, says Helen Bitschnau, a representative of the Austrian National Tourist Office.
Jure Makovec | AFP | Getty Images
In line with legend, Krampus accompanies St. Santa on his journey to offer good children gifts, says Helen Bitschnau, representative of the Austrian National Tourist Office.
Nevertheless, the children who were evil face the wrath of Krampus. “The function of Krampus is to punish every little thing bad with a rod or a ponytail,” said Bitschnau.
A mixture of anticipation, excitement and a few nervousness fills the air at Krampuslauf, Bitschnau said.
“For those who’ve been good all yr – there’s really nothing to fret about,” she said.
Bitschnau added that she “was all the time afraid of Krampus.”
“Now I like going to Krampuslauf in my hometown because I do know all the people behind Krampus costumes [which] makes it a bit less scary for me.”
Oaxaca, Mexico
Every yr on December 23, participants gathered in the principal square of Oaxaca to submit delicately carved radishes to the “Radish Night” competition.
These are not bite-sized radishes – they could be the size of a toddler’s foot.
“Artists spend their days carving radishes for the competition, consistently soaking them in order that they don’t dry out,” said Ileana Jimenez, who was born and raised in Oaxaca.
The winners of the radish carving contest receive small money prizes, said resident Ileana Jimenez.
Patricia Castellanos | AFP | Getty Images
“There are lines of individuals patiently waiting their turn to are available and admire the great work [of] artisans from Oaxaca, she said.
The atmosphere in the Zocalo, Oaxaca’s city square, is joyous with live music, fireworks and swarms of locals and tourists, Jimenez said.
“It’s an event that lifts people’s spirits.”
Gavle, Sweden
He’s 42 feet tall and weighs over 7,000 kilosan enormous handmade straw goat is an annual Christmas spectacle in the Swedish town of Gavle.
This yr’s goat took greater than 1,000 hours to construct, said Anna-Karin Niemann, spokeswoman for the special committee that protects the goat.
The Gavle goat is moving to a latest location this yr for the first time in 56 years, based on Visit Gavle, the city’s visitor guide.
Astrand mats | AFP | Getty Images
Even though it is a criminal offense to burn or destroy it, the Gavle goat was surrendered quite a few arsons since the first one was inbuilt 1966.
The arsonist who broke the last goat’s four-year streak was sentenced to 6 months in prison and ordered to pay 109,000 Swedish kronor ($10,450) in damages. Swedish news site.
Sweden’s prized goat figurine is manufactured from straw despite its flammability because “it’s a practice,” Niemann said.
“He means lots to us in Gavle and is a giant a part of the festive spirit,” she said.
Miniature versions of the goat make fun souvenirs or holiday decorations for travelers, said Mark Wolters, creator of the popular travel YouTube channel Wolters world.
Those all in favour of how this yr’s goat is doing can follow it through, amongst others, live webcam.
Ukraine via Krakow, Poland
In a show of resilience amongst Christmas celebrants, 40 Ukrainian refugees in Krakow sold handmade items similar to candles, Christmas decorations and gingerbread at a Christmas crafts market organized with the help of United Nations Refugee Agency.
Stand at the Ukrainian Christmas market in Krakow.
Omar Marks | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
Sales at the Christmas market provided the refugees, most of whom were women, with an income to make ends meet, said Tarik Argaz, a representative of the United Nations Refugee Agency.
He said locals, tourists and the Ukrainian community got here to the market.
It was a possibility to showcase “great talent in the refugee community,” said Argaz, adding that the idea for the event was born when UN staff received an “intricately painted” stone from one among the residents of the collective center where he’s staying large variety of refugees.
Philippines
While during the holiday season, houses in the Philippines are decorated with star-shaped lanterns, called “parol”, said the travel blogger Kach Umandap, who was born and raised in the Philippines.
The paroles were originally used to light the way for the Simbang Gabi tradition, a nine-day period of pre-dawn mass celebrated from December 16 to 24, in addition to a midnight mass on Christmas Eve, called Misa de Gallo, Umandap said.
Teachers, students and fogeys hold Christmas lanterns constituted of recycled materials during a campaign for a sustainable Christmas celebration at an elementary school in Quezon City, Philippines.
Ted Aljibe | AFP | Getty Images
“Now the lanterns are used as decorations,” said Umandap. “Parol symbolizes the victory of sunshine over darkness and hope.”
About 90% of individuals living in the Philippines discover as Christian — mostly Catholic — based on the Harvard Divinity School. The Philippines stays the only Asian country where Christianity is the national religion.
She said many Filipinos use materials similar to shells, glass and LED lights to make paroles brighter and more colourful.
Umandap, who now lives in Europe, said the lanterns reminded her of home.
“Once I see them, they [give] I hope that whatever struggles I encounter shall be overcome,” she said.
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Brazilians love their parties, says Bruna Venturinelli, writer of the Brazilian blog I like Brazil. That is why their Christmas parades are “infectiously fun” with “numerous laughter and joy,” she said.
She said costumed characters dance alongside Santa and his elves as they interact with children in the crowd.
Brazilian Christmas parades typically feature characters from Korvatunturi, the mountainous region of Lapland where Santa Claus is claimed to live.
Krys Faga | Nurphoto | Getty Images
“There are many Christmas parades in the neighborhoods that are organized by the city council or a non-public institution to advertise the start of the holiday season, like the parade in the mall pictured here,” she said.
“If I’m in Brazil over Christmas, I take my nephew and niece to the Christmas parade and we now have a blast! … Additionally they take the opportunity to say that they wrote a letter to Santa Claus and behaved well all yr, although the last part just isn’t 100% true.”
Many individuals in Brazil will have fun Christmas Eve with their family by sharing Chester chickenshe said.
She said that on Christmas Day, people gather again to eat leftovers for lunch while listening to Brazilian music.
The North Pole’
The fashionable tradition of writing letters to Santa could have been began by Americans Fanny Longfellowwife of poet Henry Wadsworth, based on Smithsonian Magazine.
But in the starting it was Santa who wrote to the children, not the other way around.
In line with Longfellow magazine, she wrote letters to 3 of her children about their behavior over the past yr.
In one among Longfellow’s letters, dated 1853, “Santa Claus” wrote:[Y]you picked up some rude words that I hope you’ll throw away like sour or bitter fruit,” the article reads.
A baby sends a letter to Santa Claus in Fort Value, Texas.
Richard Rodriguez | Getty Images Sport | Getty Images
As the practice caught on, parents began to depart letters from Santa Claus by the fireplace or in a stocking, where their children wrote responses in return.
Today, the tradition of writing to Santa has spread beyond the home.
In the United States, the US Postal Service runs an annual program called Operation Santa where children and families in need can write anonymous letters to Santa about what they need for Christmas. In line with the USPS, these letters are “adopted” by people across the country who buy and send requested gifts to their families.
The UK postal service Royal Mail provides personalized responses to children who write to “Santa Claus”.
But some parents use other ways to get in contact with Santa, including apps and even balloons.
in 2021 a pair of four-year-old twins in Kansas, United States, released balloons with letters to Santa Claus. A pair living in Louisiana found one and, through donations, fulfilled the twins’ Christmas wish lists, including giving them a puppy.