However, this unique form of punishment is no longer considered an appropriate scare tactic. Residents of Iceland often wear new clothing on Christmas Day to ward off the Yule Cat (stock image ...

but they have all become an intrinsic part of local Christmas traditions. In celebration of these festive eccentricities, we’ve rounded up 12 of the most unusual customs from across the globe.

One posted to Reddit: "If I'm not at work I choose to spend Christmas on my own, which I suppose is unusual." Another added: "Christmas tradition [is] spending all of Christmas Eve and Christmas ...

In Japan, Christmas is not a traditional holiday, but it has become synonymous with a KFC feast. Thanks to a successful marketing campaign in the 1970s, families now enjoy buckets of fried chicken ...

Here are some of the most unusual Christmas customs from around the world: Naked Santas in San Francisco San Francisco’s annual SantaCon takes a different approach to holiday tradition ...

From Santa Claus to Christmas trees, various traditions have emerged, including unique customs like Japan's KFC meals and Austria's Krampus. India's traditions include choir singing and festive ...

For this month's panel, we asked our participants: Does your congregation have any special or unusual Advent or Christmas customs? Are there any that are characteristic of your country/culture?

It may not be a public holiday in Japan, but Christmas there is big business. Quirky seasonal customs take place in people's homes across the country, while city squares host elaborate Christmas ...