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Japanese people eat KFC chicken instead of turkey for Christmas.
The origins of this unique Christmas tradition likely stem from the "Kentucky for Christmas!" campaign launched by a KFC branch in Japan during the 1974 holiday season.
Inspired by the chicken served at Western Christmas parties, KFC chicken was the perfect alternative at the time because buying a turkey in Japan in the 1970s wasn't easy. Many people saw this and ordered KFC fried chicken, causing it to be constantly sold out throughout Japan during Christmas.
The slogan "kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii!" was introduced by the company as a further affirmation to customers: Christmas is only truly special with KFC fried chicken!
Not Santa Claus, but Haraboji is the real Santa Claus of South Korea.
The unique Christmas customs in South Korea will delight many tourists. Koreans have adapted Christmas trees and Santa Claus figures to suit their traditions and culture.
Instead of using round ornaments, snowflakes, or five-pointed stars, Koreans decorate their Christmas trees with silk slippers and drums. Additionally, like the Japanese, Koreans don't eat turkey for Christmas dinner; instead, they eat bulgogi, a famous Korean grilled beef dish.
In Korea, Santa Claus doesn't wear a red suit, ride reindeer, or climb down chimneys; instead, he wears a green suit and a traditional Korean hat. Koreans call him Haraboji, which means grandfather.
Bright lights and dancing fill the air in Hong Kong.
As a vibrant and youthful city, Hong Kong attracts many tourists each year who come to experience its unique Christmas traditions.
Almost all businesses and amusement parks in Hong Kong join in the festive Christmas atmosphere, treating people to a dazzling display of hundreds of different lights. Most notably, Victoria Harbour is a highlight, where people can see Christmas greetings created by countless electric lights.
Immersing oneself in the light show and swaying to the music at Victoria Harbour is a favorite activity for Hong Kong residents and tourists every Christmas Eve. It's also one of the most unique ways to celebrate Christmas in the world.
Mango and banana Christmas tree in India
Among the unique Christmas customs in Asian countries, India certainly deserves a mention. Instead of delivering gifts with the usual reindeer and sleighs, Santa Claus in this populous nation travels by horse-drawn carriage and cart.
As for Christmas trees, don't expect to see any during Christmas in India. Instead, Indians decorate their homes with mangoes or banana trees. I wonder if the bananas and mangoes will be ripe enough for them to enjoy during the festivities by the end of Christmas?
Additionally, to demonstrate that Jesus is the light of the world, people in South India will burn small clay lamps on their rooftops.
Wayang Kulit shadow puppet show in Indonesia
Christmas is a time when most Indonesians gather with their friends and family for a traditional feast and watch the Wayang Kulit shadow puppet show, a unique Christmas custom in the country that recounts the birth of Jesus, instead of a church and nativity scene or manger.
Additionally, in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, there is another unique Christmas custom where people apply a white powder to each other's faces in the hope of cleansing themselves of any mistakes from the past year.
Celebrate Christmas with parol lanterns in the Philippines.
The Philippines is the only country in Asia with a predominantly Christian population, so their unique Christmas customs are quite interesting. Filipinos take Christmas very seriously and prepare for it months in advance. On Christmas Day, after the obligatory church service, they celebrate the birth of Christ with traditional dishes such as sticky rice, stuffed chicken, and pastries.
A unique Christmas custom in the Philippines is the use of star-shaped lanterns called Parols, symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem, which guided people to the birthplace of Jesus. The special thing about these lanterns is that they are made from rice paper and bamboo, signifying the lighting of the way to church in the darkness. Today, designing Parol lanterns has become a competition in the Philippines to find the most beautiful lantern on Christmas Eve.
