Christmas celebrations around the world are incomplete without the usual elements – the decorated tree, Santa Claus, snow and the likes. Or so we think! Let us tell you about places, which follow some fun, some unexpected and some grand Christmas routines.

The Yuletide season is upon us and we cannot wait for the usual sights of decorated fir trees, lit up houses, and Santa Claus in malls. Can Christmas be any different? Well, yes! There are places in the world, which celebrate this festive season quite differently; actually, so different, it is almost unbelievable!

Here are 10 offbeat Christmas celebrations around the world:

The Krampus Parade in East Europe

Waiting for Santa Claus and his gifts is a Christmas tradition for kids in most countries. However, in some European countries such as Austria and the Czech Republic, kids and adults eagerly wait for Krampus. Krampus is believed to be the son of Hel, the God of the underworld. He is a furry monster with horns on his head and terrifying teeth.

In these countries, you can see people dressed up as Krampus, strolling around on roads, in an organized parade. Many Krampuses can be seen donning an elaborate costume, carrying a light broom to jokingly hit those who have been naughty or to scare them. Now that would be one (hel)luva Christmas!

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Sydney's Yacht Race, Australia

While the world gets busy welcoming the cold Yuletide season, Australia starts to bask in the summer sun. And Sydney’s iconic summer sport – the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, what with all the brouhaha around the event, makes it look like anything but Christmas. The race starts in Sydney on 26th December and ends at Hobart, Tasmania on New Year’s Eve.

The organizers set up ‘Sydney Race Village’ for friends and families of the participants and invitees to watch the race from a prime location. Lakhs of people head to various vantage points around the Sydney harbour to spend a day watching the fancy yachts, enjoying brunch or so. Many even use the opportunity to step out for a day picnic on the shores around Sydney and Watsons Bay.

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From Napa to the North Pole

No, there is no railroad between Napa and the North Pole, however, the Napa Valley Wine Train trip offers a Christmas experience like one would imagine happening around Santa’s home. There are games, toys and baked goodies on the train for the merriment of young passengers. The train travels till Yountville, a station that’s decorated to resemble the North Pole. The place is done up with Santa’s house, reindeers, and a Christmas tree. And yes, Mr. and Mrs. Claus are right there to meet you.

While Christmas celebrations here are totally out of the ordinary, the vintage train which is booked for the ride is charming, too. Adults can choose from a selection of some amazing wines, relax in the luxurious seats and soak in the scenic beauty visible outside. Could Christmas be more fabulous?

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Surfing Santas at Florida

Spotting a Santa Claus somewhere is exciting, no doubt! But spotting hundreds of Santas, wearing red swimming shorts or costumes, surfing on waves on the morning of Christmas Eve is unusual and downright funny! Visit Cocoa Beach at Florida on the morning of Christmas Eve and you will see Surfing Santas.

While Santas ride the waves, the beach turns into a hotspot of activities with live music and what not! Other Christmas characters such as elves and the Grinch can also be spotted in the crowd. While the theme of the event is still Christmassy, its concept is far from the regular.

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The Night of the radishes in Mexico

Christmas festivities and radishes just don’t go together, do they? But for the people of Oaxaca, Mexico, the humble radish gains spotlight around this time. The Night of the Radishes is an annual carving event, where people carve out radishes to depict important events from Mexican folklore. In fact, radishes are specially grown for this festival.

Imagine hundreds of exhibits with impressively-carved radishes! One can see oodles of creativity put into carvings, which also include mission-style architecture, local wildlife, and even Mayan imagery. The one-of-a-kind festival also sees people line up to see novices and artists competing to create what will become the town’s most impressive carved radish!

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Christmas-themed pop-up bars in the USA

Christmas might be all about the eggnog, but cities across the US also rejoice over different kinds of cocktails at the Christmas-themed pop-up bars. These pop-up bars hold up a kitschy and infectious festive mood, with cocktails bearing whimsical names like ‘Run Run Rudolph’ and ‘Kris Kringle Colada’ flowing and thousands of fans enjoying Christmas and ‘spirit’.

Vintage Christmas and holiday season décor, including ribbons, garlands, and lights make for the perfect ambience. Large gatherings of people wearing ugly sweaters at 'Ugly Sweater' parties up the fun quotient, even as everyone sings along to wonderful holiday songs at these Christmassy bars.

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Copa Nadal in Barcelona

The last thing you want to do in winters is touch water. However, hundreds of people swim across Barcelona Port in the freezing waters on Christmas Day! That’s the century-old swimming competition of Copa Nadal, wherein swimming a distance of just 200 meters in freezing temperatures is the challenge! 450-odd swimmers participate in this competition, which makes for a unique spectacle at Barcelona harbour, at 12pm on Christmas Day.

Organised by the Barcelona Swimming Club, the traditional competition of Copa Nadal sees participation from people of all ages. What’s more? You might even spot a Santa or two in their gloriously red costumes amongst a sea of people in bathing suits!

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The World Christmas Circus and the Light Festival at Amsterdam

December of every year, Amsterdam turns ground zero for unique holiday fun with the World Christmas Circus and Amsterdam Light Festival. Coming a full circle at Amsterdam’s Royal Theatre Carré is the thrilling World Christmas Circus, which features wondrous, larger-than-life artistry à la Cirque du Soleil.

The entirety of Amsterdam lights up during the spectacular Light Festival, where the waterways and streets are lit up with around 30 beguiling light installations that are hard to look away from. Whether you view the installations on foot, or in true Amsterdam fashion, by boat, their beauty and brilliance will blow you away.

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Valkenburg's underground Christmas markets

Valkenburg, Southern Netherlands’ cosy Christmas town is believed to be the native of Santa. This historic subterranean world is also home to Europe’s largest underground Christmas market. The market is spread across the gorgeous Municipal, Velvet, and Wilhelmina caves, which also showcase their history in the form of films, artwork, and stunning marlstone sculptures. The markets transform the charming town into a visual Christmas card.

Wilhelmina Cave is famous for sand sculptures at the Winter Wonderland, while Christmas shopping is on in full swing at the spacious Municipal Cave, Europe’s oldest and largest Christmas market. MergelRijk cave is pure magic, featuring enchanting Christmas trees, figurines, moving attractions, and tiny houses created by artisans from around the world.

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The Dutch Ice Sculpture Festival

Lastly, there is the breath-taking icy and snowy winter fun is the highlight of the Amsterdam’s Dutch Ice Sculpture Festival, one of Netherlands’ biggest winter events. Starting mid- December, this blue-and-white hued festival sees families flocking the sprawling exhibition hall, where the temperature is minus 10 degrees!

The life-like ice exhibition sees the work of 40 of the world’s best ice-sculpting artists. Their artworks include snow and ice sculptures portraying the world’s classic places and moments in time in a Christmassy winter atmosphere.

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This article was originally published on 25th December, 2019.