Bizarre Holiday Traditions

Everyone celebrates special days differently. Here at Why? World Headquarters we celebrate birthdays by ignoring the birthday boy or girl and acting like it’s a normal work day. Oh, memories…

But, when you look into Christmas traditions around the world, they can be a little… strange.

In Austria, you’re supposed to face your demons on Christmas. (For Heidi, this means staring down a banana.) The Christmas demon Krampus wanders the country, stealing bad boys and girls and dragging them down to hell. Man, and I thought being told not to pout or cry was a bit of an imposition.

In Venezuela, they roller skate to mass on Christmas morning. In fact, so many people roller skate to church that they close roads in Caracas. Why? No idea. Just don’t loose your skate key.

In Japan, creative marketing has convinced people that the only thing to eat for Christmas dinner is Kentucky Fried Chicken. The tradition has become so popular that YOU HAVE TO MAKE A RESERVATION TO EAT AT KFC on the 25th.

And, finally, you know we couldn’t let a list like this go by without including some nakedness. What better way to celebrate the birth of the Christ child by making some intense unbroken eye contact with Uncle Ron?

In Estonia, they like to celebrate the holiday by getting the whole family together, stripping down and taking a nice long sauna together before heading off to Christmas Eve mass.

So, however you celebrate, happy holidays. Save us a chicken leg for us to chow down on after the all skate, and save us a seat as far away from the sauna door as possible.

RSS Listen Now

  • Why? Episode 379- Mothership Connected
  • Why? Episode 378- Competitive Scrabble
  • Why? Episode 377- David Leaf on Brian Wilson
  • Why? Episode 376- Alternative for the Masses
  • Why? Episode 375- The Victorian Obsession With Death Pt 2
  • Why? Episode 375- The Victorian Obsession With Death Pt 1
  • Why? Episode 374- Actress/Therapist Ivy Austin
  • Why? Episode 373- Spice Girls Collector Liz West
  • Why? Episode 372- Princess Cheyenne: Boston's Most Famous Stripper
  • Why? Episode 371- Tom Huddleston on the World of David Lynch
  • Why? Episode 370- ERB-1 Touring a Nuclear Power Plant
  • Why? Episode 369-Talking Taylor Swift
  • Why? Episode 368- Escaping from Vault Disney
  • Why? Episode 367- Catching up
  • Why? Episode 366 Searching for David Ackles
  • Why? Episode 365- The Solve-Along Murder, She Wrote
  • Why? Episode 364- A Legally Naked State of the Union
  • Why? Episode 363- Beatles Hairdresser Leslie Cavendish
  • Why? Epsiode 362- Family rock n' roll with Secret Monkey Weekend
  • Why? Episode 361- The Mascot Hall of Fame