In the north east Asian countries of Japan and South Korea, the carrying of an umbrella is a vital tool come rain or shine. Either to keep the rain off, or the sun from beating down on you, umbrellas are carried everywhere. So the idea of reminding people to take their umbrellas isn't such a strange thing. Despite the message that these posters give off. Looking into them more deeply, explains that maybe Japanese culture isn't quite as weird as it may appear on the surface.  For example, the random Marilyn Monroe poster, is a play on words. The text in the top right corner "Kaerazaru kasa" (umbrella of no return) is a play on "Kaerazaru Kawa," the Japanese title for "River of No Return," the 1954 movie starring Monroe. The Jesus image, reads at the top "Wishing to God again and again". The poster makes a play on the words "kasa" (umbrella) and "kasane-gasane" (again and again). A little bit of insight into graphic design choices and public information posters? Do you really care?

Dong Chim (똥침) is a bizarre tradition, that is the bane of foreign teachers when they first arrive in South Korea. As many foreigners who go to teach in Korea start teaching in private after school academies or in schools, they find themselves suddenly and without warning being poked up the bum (with some force) by one of their innocent looking students. With a shout of "DONG CHIM!!!" Which translates as "poop needle". The tradition stretches over into Japan too, where it is called "Kanchō", which there translates as "enema!"

The tradition is so popular in South Korea, that they have even built a statue dedicated to the act. And there are a number of comic book characters, animations, and even stickers you can buy in the local DC Stores (discount stores)... All "dong chim" related. For both Koreans and Japanese, the practice is a mild and "inoffensive" form of prank, and an initiation rite for all foreigners who go to these countries to teach English. In Korea, the phrase "dong chim" is one of the first pieces of Korean that many teachers learn, soon followed by "하지 마" (Don't do it!)

It gets weirder, as in 2001 a arcade game manufacturer in South Korea released Boong-Ga Boong-Ga, a game based on the tradition. It was developed for the Japanese market (who else?!) The game has lower half of a human body, with its arse in the air, which players must ram their fingers up as hard a possible. The eight characters on screen that they must punish include, an ex-boyfriend/ex-girlfriend, the mother-in-law, a con-artist, a gangster, a gold-digger, a prostitute and... wait for it... A child molester!!!

The game also dispenses cards that rate the players on their "sexual behaviour", and for exceptionally adept players who perform the best "dong chim"  the machine will dispense a small plastic trophy in the shape of a cute little pile of poop. See, I told you it would get weirder... But we are not finished just yet.

In April 2009, a bunch of around 20-30 people gathered in a central park in the middle of Seoul, to carry out a "dong chim" style flash mob. I was bored at work, I had some time on my hands, and so I decided it would be fun to organise the event. In the pouring rain, the brave souls all lined up one behind the other and carry out both a simultaneous "dong chim", followed by a domino effect, or as I called it "The Mexican Wave Dong Chim!" Oh how we laughed! And, the weirdest thing? This all seemed like a perfectly normal thing to do!

Wassail refers to both the Norse/Old English salute of "you be healthy" and to the drink concoction made in the winter, dating back as far as the 1400s. The drink was passed around when a bunch of glorified beggars turned up at your door, or in your orchard chanting incantations and singing songs. Their payment, or their punishment was to be given "wassail" an ale or cider based spiced hot drink.

Sounds all lovely and Christmas like doesn't it? As you imagine their jolly rosy cheeked faces, quaffing from a Loving Cup, cheering and singing harmonious carols as the snow gently floats around them. Rather than desperate and starving peasants, turning up at their lord and masters door, squawking out a few random songs and being offered the dregs of the ale barrel maybe mixed with the rotten apple cider pressings, mixed with spices to mask the awfulness of the whole thing. Wassail, traditionally wasn't as you'd imagine, a deep rich sort of mulled wine, with pieces of orange floating on top. 

The Yule goat is a Scandinavian tradition, whose origins are believed to go back pre-Christian pagan beliefs of the Norse god Thor, who is said to have rode through the sky in a chariot drawn by two goats.  In Sweden, the Yule goat is considered as an invisible spirit that would appear some time before Christmas. The goat would be created out of straw and left secretly at a neighbour's house as a prank. The neighbour's would then have to secretly pass the goat onto another neighbour.

The Gävle Goat is a giant version of a traditional Swedish Yule Goat figure made of straw. In 1966, an advertising consultant, Stig Gavlén, came up with the idea of making the giant goat and placing it in the Castle Square of Gävle. Usually erected over two days, to celebrate the first day of Advent.

The burning of a Yule Log is a tradition that goes back centuries, but in the modern era many homes no longer have a fireplace on which to burn the log. So in 1966 Fred M. Thrower, President and CEO of WPIX in New York hit on an ingenious idea. He wanted to give a Christmas gift to the people of New York, who lived in apartments and so couldn't experience the wonders of an open fire at Christmas time. The idea of broadcast, also provided time for employees of the television station to stay home with their families, instead of working for the usual morning news program.

The film was a looped shot of a fireplace, with accompanying Christmas traditional  music available until 1988 via the radio station WPIX-FM. The whole thing was broadcast without any commercials from Christmas Eve through to Christmas Day. And has been a tradition every year, except during the 90s and the year 2000.

Over the years, a number of TV stations across America have picked up the footage made their own broadcasts. Some have even imitated the original WPIX Yule Log, for broadcast. In the age of VHS tape and into DVD, there have been a large number of video fireplaces produced. And with the spread of the Internet and the availability of YouTube videos, traditionalists can go back and enjoy the wonders of the original WPIX Yule Log.

"El Caganer" translates as "The Crapper" or "The Shitter", which is a little figure that appears in Nativity scenes in Catalan and the surrounding regions of southern France and Spain. No-one is sure of the origins of the little pooping man, other than it appeared in nativity scenes around the 17th and 18th century.

Even theories on what he represents  vary, from just that he's there as humorous figure of fun for children, to that the he's a good luck figure who represents the 'every man', as we all poo. Whatever the reason, in modern times the traditional caganer (pictured left) is often replaced with famous figures from contemporary history. From celebrities to politicians, no one is exempt from being made into a caganer at Christmas. 

The Tió de Nadal, which translates as "Christmas log", but popularly referred to as Caga tió or "Shitting log", is a character in Catalan mythology. Originally just a simple hollowed out log, the addition of legs and smiling face are more recent. According to tradition however, starting on the 8th of December which is the  Feast of the Immaculate Conception, you are supposed to give the Tió a little bit to eat every night and then cover him with a little blanket so that he will not be cold at night.

On Christmas Day or Christmas Eve (depending on the traditions of the family), the Tió is brought out and ordered to poo. To make it poo, the children beat the Tió with sticks, while singing various songs of related to the Tió de Nadal. The Tió "poos" small gifts for the children, which were secretly hidden under the blanket by the adults earlier.