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In southern Italy and Rome in particular, you’ll find shepherds dressed in traditional sheepskins and wool cloaks (in honor of the traditional shepherds in the nativity) playing none other than the… bagpipes. They usually perform in pairs around squares and piazzas across the regions, all while everyone goes about their 'Buon Natale' festivities.

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Legend has it that the candy cane dates back to 1670, when the choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral in Germany handed out sugar sticks among his young and noisy singers to keep them quiet during the Living Creche ceremony. However, some people complained that sweets were not appropriate at a solemn place such as the church. So, the choirmaster added a hook to make the sugar sticks resemble a shepherd's staff.

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Central American countries like El Salvador toast Christmas with fireworks displays on December 24 and 25. Children celebrate with smaller firecrackers called volcancitos (little volcanos) and estrellitas (little stars).

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According to Norwegian folklore, witches and evil spirits come out on Christmas Eve to do mischievous things. To counter this, Norwegian families hide their brooms to stop them from being stolen for a midnight ride.

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According to an old Ukrainian legend, a poor widow and her children found a Christmas tree in their garden but didn’t have money to decorate it. However, when they woke up the next morning, it was covered by a spider’s web, which turned silver and gold in the morning light. In honour of this, Ukrainians hang spider web-shaped decorations on their trees to bring good luck.

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Swedish Christmases are planned around an unusual television special. In the afternoon, people gather around to watch Donald Duck. This dates back to the 1960s when televisions were new and played only two channels (one of which played Disney cartoons). One of the most popular ones is a 1958 Christmas special called Kalle Anka och hans vänner önskar God Jul or “Donald Duck and his friends wish you a Merry Christmas”.

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Christmas isn’t a big deal in Japan, apart from gift-giving and light displays. However, they do have an unusual Christmas Eve dinner. Thanks to a festive marketing campaign in the 1970s, Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii (or “Kentucky for Christmas”) has become a firmly established holiday tradition. Families from all over the country head to their local KFC for some festive fried chicken.

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Christmas trees can be found around the world but in Germany, families have an unusual addition to their ornaments. They hide a pickle ornament somewhere within the branches of the tree, and the first child to find it gets a special present.

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Every year between 16 and 24 December in Caracas, Venezuela, roads are closed to traffic to let people  roller skate to the early morning Christmas mass. On their way, skaters will tug on the ends of long pieces of string tied by children to their big toes and dangled out of the window.

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Each year on the Saturday before Christmas Eve, the city of San Fernando in the Philippines holds the Ligligan Parul Sampernandu, the Giant Lantern Festival. Several villages compete to build the most beautiful and elaborate paper lantern. They can measure up to six metres (20 feet) in diameter and are arranged in intricate patterns with vivid colours.

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On Christmas Day in the Czech Republic, unmarried women throw a show over their shoulders towards the front door. If the shoe lands with its toe towards the door, she will get married in the following year. However, if the heel points toward the door, she’ll remain single.

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According to one theory, the milk-cookies custom can be traced back to the 1930s, during the Great Depression. During that time of economic hardship, many Dutch parents tried to teach their children that it was important to give to others and to show gratitude for the gifts they received over the holiday.

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The Christmas season in the down under means sun, sea and… surf. Christmas traditions in Australia play out across a backdrop of sunshine and barbecues. You’ll find Australias wearing bikinis and swimwear on Christmas Day. In fact, if you head to Bondi Beach, you’ll likely spot surfers catching the swell while wearing Santa hats!

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According to traditional narratives of Alpine countries like Austria, a devil-like creature called Krampus would enter the towns, lashing his chains and bells, to capture the bad children in a basket and bring them down to the underworld. The Krampusnacht (Krampus Night) would occur the evening before December 6th (St. Nicholas Day).

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Christmas Day swimming at the Forty Foot in Ireland is a tradition that dates back 250 years. Irish people swim at many locations along the coast on Christmas Day in the freezing cold water.

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While no one may want to take the credit for ugly clothes, this tacky kind of holiday cheer has become a widespread festive tradition. The city of Vancouver in Canada claims to be the birthplace of the ugly sweater party after hosting an event in 2002. Every year since, the Original Ugly Christmas Sweater party has been held at the Commodore Ballroom, where the dress code ensures an ugly sweater affair.