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12 Unusual Christmas traditions from around the world

Christmas Day SWIM
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Cerith Gardiner - published on 12/20/18
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Who knew that caterpillars, saunas and pickles were so Christmassy!

2025 CHRISTMAS CAMPAIGN

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For many Catholic families around the world, Christmas Day entails some very similar traditions: opening gifts, enjoying tasty treats for breakfast, attending Mass, and a delicious family lunch or supper. While these familiar rituals vary a little from country to country, there are a lot of unusual customs that are particular to different cultures.

Children are at the heart of most of these interesting traditions, and you’ll find some pretty unusual activities that might get you thinking about your own Christmas Day. A little warning: for some you might need a little courage, athletic prowess, or a willingness to experiment with your taste buds. And if you have any unusual family traditions, we’d love to hear about them in the comments section!

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