Christmas traditions go beyond Santa Claus, Christmas trees and gifts that are as unique as they are strange.

Christmas and New Year is the time of cheer and happiness. And to add to the fun, there are so many unique traditions across the world that is likely to surprise you as well.

Some of these include:

• Befana the Christmas witch in Italy
• The Caganer, Spain
• Ukraine’s Legend of the Christmas Spider
• Swedish Yule Goat
• Krampus in Austria
• Eating Fried caterpillars in South Africa
• Hiding Brooms, Norway
• Throwing Shoes, Czech Republic
• Christmas Eve Saunas, Finland

Read the full story that first appeared in Travel+Leisure online here:

The post Christmas Traditions with a Twist appeared first on Bindu Gopal Rao, Freelance Writer & Photographer.