Ah, the holiday season. Sweater weather, Yule logs, the constant suspense over whether or not one of your well-meaning relatives is going to get you yet another pair of socks. Although we in the US have a pretty good idea of what any given Christmas looks like, interpretations vary internationally. You likely already knew about Japan's fixation on KFC around Christmastime—but what about the fried caterpillar dinner in South Africa, or going to Christmass mass on roller skates in Caracas? If that tickles your fancy, check out this list of regional Christmas customs that may just make you reconsider your own.
International Christmas traditions
KFC in Japan, at Christmas. Quality Stock Arts / Shutterstock
World's heaviest radish grown in Japan
Guinness World Records has officially recognized the world's heaviest radish, grown by Manda Fermentation Co. in Japan. This radical root weighs in at a staggering 101 pounds, handily dethroning the… READ THE REST
Japanese authorities cracking down on men taking gross sexual photos with statues at new Studio Ghibli theme park
Japanese officials are cracking down on men taking gross photos of themselves pretending to fondle statues of young female characters at Japan's new Ghibli Park, the new theme park dedicated… READ THE REST
Japan realizes it has double the number of islands than it previously thought
For the last 35 years, Japan has thought that its territory includes 6,852 islands. Turns out, the number is actually 14,125. The happy news comes from Geospatial Information Authority of… READ THE REST
Easily master languages on Babbel for $149 for a limited time only
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. Learning a new language can seem… READ THE REST
Snag this high-performing refurbished MacBook Pro for under $300
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. You can't go to many places… READ THE REST
Bring some color into your life this spring with the Nix Mini Sensor V2, now only $59
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. Spring is just around the corner,… READ THE REST
