UNIQUE CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

SPAIN Grapp ling with gr apes
If you’ve celebrated New Year’s Eve in Spain, you may
have spotted how locals scoff up 12 grapes as the clock
midnight. The ’12 uvas’ tradition is said to have begun
at the start of the century when vine growers in Alicante
(eastern Spain) had such an abundant harvest that they
had to come up with a way of selling the grapes before
they went off.
Photo: Chris Oakley/Flickr
Ukraine – The Sparkling Web
Ukrainian Christmas trees are traditionally decorated with
a fake spider and web. The custom, which is said to bring
good luck, stems from an old wives’ tale about a poor
woman who could not afford to decorate her tree. She
woke up on Christmas morning to find a spider had covered
it in a glittering web.
Japan – Chr istmas Cakes
Another Christmas food associated with Japan is the
Christmas cake. These sponge cakes with whipped
cream, chocolate and strawberries on top are ordered
months in advanced and are eaten on Christmas Eve.
Any cake that is not sold after the 25th is unwanted.
(Image Source: Make Do & Mend)
FINLAND – Candles for Their Kin
(Image Source: Huffington Post)
Families in Finland usually visit the graves of their ancestors
and relatives on Christmas Eve to light candles
in memory of the deceased. Even those who don’t have
their kin’s graves nearby visit cemeteries to place candles
in honor of their family members buried elsewhere.
Hence, on Christmas eve, cemeteries would be lit up with
candles presenting a beautiful sight.  AUSTRALIA – Surfboard Santas, Ukraine – The Sparkling Web
Ukrainian Christmas trees are traditionally decorated with
a fake spider and web. The custom, which is said to bring
good luck, stems from an old wives’ tale about a poor
woman who could not afford to decorate her tree. She
woke up on Christmas morning to find a spider had covered
it in a glittering web.
Japan – Chr istmas Cakes
Another Christmas food associated with Japan is the
Christmas cake. These sponge cakes with whipped
cream, chocolate and strawberries on top are ordered
months in advanced and are eaten on Christmas Eve.
Any cake that is not sold after the 25th is unwanted.
Families in Finland usually visit the graves of their ancestors
and relatives on Christmas Eve to light candles
in memory of the deceased. Even those who don’t have
their kin’s graves nearby visit cemeteries to place candles
in honor of their family members buried elsewhere.
Hence, on Christmas eve, cemeteries would be lit up with
candles presenting a beautiful sight.
AUST RALIA – Surfboard Santas
via Glogster
It’s summer down under on Christmas Day. Temperatures
in December are between 68 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit.
So Santa often pulls up on the beach on his surfboard.
Carolers also gather in masse in major cities to
sing by candlelight, and people decorate their homes with
“Christmas Bush,” a native plant.
However we might choose to celebrate it, the season is a
time for family, feasting and for giving. Wishing each and
every one a Joyous end to your year and a prosperous
beginning to a New Year full of kindness, caring, compassion
and HOPE.