By Caitlyn McGregor, Contributing Writer
Christmas is a time of joy, family, and giving, but it can also be a time for what can be considered weird celebrations. What is seen as a typical Christmas is eating a big feast and opening gifts on December 25. However, only some celebrate Christmas this way.
One unusual way people celebrate Christmas is by attending the annual “Running of the Santas” event. This unique tradition involves participants dressing up as Santa Claus and sprinting through the streets. It all began in Philadelphia, where thousands of “Santas” gather in unique costumes every December and race through the city. While it may seem strange, this event is a fun and festive way to bring people together during the holiday season.
Students on the SLU campus also have some weird or unique ways of celebrating Christmas.
Emily Vandercar, a freshman majoring in criminal justice, said, “Since my family is Italian, we do the Italian tradition called the seven seas. Basically for our Christmas dinner, instead of the normal Christmas dinner, we cook clam, mussels, halibut, shrimp, anchovy, calamari, scallops, and pasta for our dinner.”
The Feast of the Seven Fishes is a tradition that goes back decades to ring in Christmas when Roman Catholics celebrated the midnight birth of Jesus, known in Italian as “La Viglia.” Fish is a traditional ingredient in the Christmas Eve dinner because custom calls for the eschewing of red meat leading up to the holiday.
Another peculiar way to celebrate Christmas is the way they do it in Japan; Japan has adopted a unique approach to the holiday by ordering Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) for Christmas dinner. This tradition began in the 1970s when KFC launched an advertising campaign, and it has since become deeply embedded in Japanese culture.
Ali Hernandez, a freshman majoring in criminal justice, says, “In my family, we never really celebrate Christmas on Christmas. We always open our presents at like 10:00 PM on Christmas Eve instead of Christmas morning.”
Many families have adopted this tradition of opening Christmas presents the night before.
Celebrating Christmas in weird and unconventional ways can add fun and excitement to the holiday season. Whether it involves running through the streets dressed as Santa, eating a feast of the seven seas, celebrating early, or even enjoying some KFC, these unusual celebrations bring people together, spread cheer, and create lasting memories.
While they may defy traditional expectations, these traditions allow individuals to create their own unique, fun-filled Christmas experiences. So, what unique way do you celebrate Christmas?
