Welcome to day 9 of Blogmas! As we count down the days to Christmas, I’m excited to share a little holiday cheer with you. Each day until December 25th, I’ll be posting festive content to help get you into the spirit of the season. From the way we see the holidays in pop culture to the way Christmas is celebrated around the world, I hope these posts bring a little extra joy and warmth to your holiday preparations. So grab the eggiest of nogs, wrap up in your slanket, and let’s celebrate the most wonderful time of the year together!

So, you think you know all there is to know about Christmas? Santa Claus, reindeer, elves, and all that jazz? Well, buckle up, because we’re about to take a sleigh ride through some of the more obscure and downright bizarre Christmas traditions from around the globe. Trust me, after this, you’ll never look at the holiday season the same way again.

Let’s start with everyone’s favorite Christmas demon, the Krampus. This horned, hairy beast hails from Austria and other parts of Central Europe, where he serves as Santa’s grumpy sidekick. While jolly old St. Nick rewards the good kids, Krampus is in charge of punishing the naughty ones. And by punishing, I mean dragging them to the underworld. Talk about a lump of coal in your stocking!

But wait, there’s more! In Iceland, they have the Yule Lads, a group of mischievous pranksters who visit children in the 13 days leading up to Christmas. Each lad has a unique personality and way of causing trouble, like Doorway-Sniffer, who (you guessed it) sniffs doorways, or Sausage-Swiper, who steals sausages. I guess even mythical beings can’t resist a good sausage.

Moving on to Italy, we have the Befana, a witch-like figure who delivers gifts to children on Epiphany Eve (January 5th). Legend has it that the Befana was invited to join the Three Wise Men on their journey to meet the baby Jesus, but she declined because she was too busy cleaning her house. Talk about misplaced priorities! Now, she spends eternity making up for her mistake by giving presents to good children and coal (or garlic) to the naughty ones.

In Catalonia, Spain, they have the Tió de Nadal, also known as the “pooping log.” Yes, you read that right. This hollow log is decorated with a face, and children “feed” it leading up to Christmas. On Christmas Eve, they beat the log with sticks while singing a song that essentially translates to “Poop, log, poop!” The log then “poops” out gifts for the children. And you thought your family traditions were weird.

So there you have it, folks. A glimpse into some of the stranger and more obscure Christmas traditions from around the world. From demon sidekicks to pooping logs, there’s no shortage of quirky ways to celebrate the holiday season. And hey, if you’re feeling adventurous, why not incorporate one of these traditions into your own Christmas celebration? Just maybe skip the Krampus part.

I’d love to hear from you in the comments: what’s the strangest Christmas tradition you’ve ever encountered? And would you rather be visited by the Krampus or the Yule Lads? Let me know!