Whether it's decorating the Christmas tree, building a snowman (if you're lucky enough to experience a white Christmas), or exchanging presents - we owe our current Christmas traditions to the Victorian folk (circa 1860.) 

For hundreds of years, the combination of secular and religious traditions from around the world has become part and parcel of Christmas celebrations. 

But in recent years, some countries have adopted more individualistic traditions - forgoing convention for something a little more unique.

Take India for example, where banana trees are decorated with Christmas decorations - instead of fir trees; while in Ireland, Santa gets a bottle of Guinness and mince pies - instead of milk and cookies. 

The following are 10 of the more bizarre Christmas traditions we've come across:

Finland:

Finnish people traditionally mark Christmas with a touching tribute to the dead. In Finland, it's customary to visit the gravesites of dearly departed family members on Christmas Day. While on Christmas Eve, Finn's flock to the saunas!

Guatemala:

In Guatemala, people sweep out their houses before Christmas Day, with each neighbourhood accumulating a collective pile of dirt. This is then set alight - after an effigy of the Devil is placed upon it.

South of France:

In some villages in the south of France, people burn a log in their homes from Christmas Eve until New Year’s Day. This stems from an ancient tradition in which farmers would use part of the log to ensure good luck and prosperity for the next year’s harvest.

Ukraine:

The Ukranians prepare a traditional twelve-course meal on Christmas Day. A family’s youngest child will watch through a window for the evening star to appear, which is a signal that the feast can begin. 

Another quaint Ukranian tradition is to drape an artificial spider web - or even a plastic spider - on a Christmas tree. The folk tale goes that a poor family woke up on Christmas morning to find their once-bare tree decorated with spider webs - that shined silver and gold in the morning sun.

Greece:

While in Greece, many people believe in goblins that appear to cause mischief during the 12 days of Christmas - by intimidating people, urinating in flowerbeds, spoiling food, and tipping things over. 

To keep these uninvited guests from entering their homes, Greeks ward off the gaggles of goblin louts by using the legendary precaution of a black-handled knife. Others swear by hanging the lower jaw of a pig behind the front door, or inside the chimney. 

 Gifts in Greece are also traditionally exchanged only on St. Basil’s Day (January 1).

Venezuela:

Fancy a quick ride to mass? Why not do like the Venezuelans and rollerskate there!

From December 16 to December 24, there’s a very unique tradition that takes place on the streets of Caracas, which sees scores of people rollerskating to mass at various churches.

Italy:

In Italy, it isn't Santa that children stay up waiting for to bring them presents. In Italian folklore, an old witch delivers gifts and candy to children on Epiphany Eve (January 5). 

Santa’s competitor, La Befana, is usually portrayed as an old lady riding a broomstick, usually covered in soot as she enters homes through chimneys. 

Similar to the tradition of leaving cookies and milk for Santa, children will leave wine and food out for the Befana.

Japan:

While roast chicken or turkey is synonymous with Christmas feasts, the Japanese have taken the poultry tradition to a whole new level, with somewhat of an unhealthy obsession with a popular fast food brand.

Thanks to a successful 1974 “Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii!” (Kentucky for Christmas!) marketing campaign, Japan just can't seem to get enough KFC on the night before Christmas! 

The fast-food chain in the country records its biggest sales on December 24 each year- which means that by default, a bucket of KFC has become the go-to Christmas Eve meal for most Japanese.

Sweden:

The Swedes believe that the person who finds a whole almond in the festive rice pudding dessert, will be married within the year.

Another Swedish tradition involves a folk tale about the tomte - a small creature (similar to a gnome) who occupies a homes and helps its inhabitants. 

On Christmas Day, children leave out a bowl of porridge for the tomte to thank him for his work throughout the year, and receive gifts in return. 

Catalonia, Spain: 

But probably the most bizarre Christmas tradition comes from the principality of Catalonia, where it has become customary to decorate the traditional nativity scene with an extra something - or rather, someone - in a rather compromising position. 

This extra character is known as El Caganer, also known as “the pooper.” 

While traditionally the ceramic figure has been that of a shepherd, contemporary figures range in all different personalities - including Albert Einstein, Barack Obama, and even Her Majesty the Queen!

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