Japanese people eat KFC chicken instead of turkey on Christmas
The origin of this unique Christmas custom probably started with the “Kentucky for Christmas!” campaign of a KFC branch in Japan during the 1974 holiday season.
Inspired by the Western Christmas chicken, KFC chicken was the perfect alternative at that time because it was not easy to buy a turkey in Japan in the 1970s. Many people saw this and ordered KFC fried chicken, causing it to be sold out all over Japan on Christmas.
The slogan "kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii!" was used by the company as a further affirmation to customers: Christmas must have KFC fried chicken!
Not Santa Claus, Haraboji is the Santa Claus of Korea
The unique Christmas customs in Korea will make many tourists extremely excited. Koreans have a way to change the Christmas tree and Santa Claus to suit their tradition and culture.
Instead of using round balls, snowflakes or five-pointed stars, Koreans decorate their Christmas trees with silk slippers and drums. In addition, for Christmas dinner, Koreans, like the Japanese, do not eat turkey but bulgogi, a famous grilled beef dish of the kimchi land.
Santa Claus in Korea does not wear a red suit, ride a reindeer or go down a chimney, but wears a green suit and a traditional Korean hat. Koreans call him Haraboji, which means grandfather.
Bright and dancing lights everywhere in Hong Kong
As a vibrant young city, every year many tourists flock here to see the unique Christmas customs in Hong Kong.
Almost all businesses and amusement parks in Hong Kong get into the festive Christmas spirit and treat people to a display of hundreds of dazzling lights. The most notable is Victoria Harbour, where people can see Christmas wishes created by countless electric lights.
Immersing yourself in the light party and swaying to music at Victoria Harbour is a favorite activity of Hong Kong residents and tourists every Christmas Eve. This is also one of the most unique Christmas celebrations in the world.
Mango and banana Christmas tree in India
Unique Christmas customs in Asian countries must certainly be mentioned in India. Instead of delivering gifts by the usual reindeer and sleigh, Santa Claus in this populous country will travel by horse and cart.
As for Christmas trees, don’t expect to see them on Christmas in India. Instead, Indians decorate their homes with mango or banana trees. I wonder if the bananas and mangoes will be ripe enough by the end of Christmas to be eaten.
Also, to demonstrate that Jesus is the light of the world, people in South India will light small clay lamps on the roofs of their houses.
Wayang Kulit shadow puppet performance in Indonesia
Christmas is a time for most Indonesians to gather with their friends and family for a traditional feast and watch a Wayang Kulit shadow puppet show, a unique Christmas tradition in the country that recounts the birth of Jesus, instead of a church and a nativity scene or manger.
In addition, in the capital city of Jakarta, Indonesia, there is another unique Christmas custom in which people will use white powder to smear on each other's faces in the hope of washing away all the mistakes of the past year.
Celebrate Christmas with parol lanterns in the Philippines
The Philippines is the only country in Asia with a majority Christian population, so their unique Christmas customs are also very interesting. Filipinos take Christmas very seriously and will prepare for it months in advance. On Christmas Day, after the obligatory church mass, they will celebrate the birth of Jesus with traditional dishes such as sticky rice, stuffed chicken and cakes.
A unique Christmas tradition in the Philippines is the use of star-shaped lanterns called Parols, which symbolize the star of Bethlehem, which guided them to the birthplace of Jesus. The special thing about these lanterns is that they are made from rice paper and bamboo, and are meant to light the way to church in the dark. Today, designing a Parol has become a contest in the Philippines to find the most beautiful lantern on Christmas Eve.
