Location: Japan (nationwide cultural phenomenon). 🇯🇵
Story: In 1970s Japan, Christmas was a minor, non-religious observance. KFC manager Takeshi Okawara, struggling at his new Nagoya store, overheard foreign customers lamenting the lack of turkey for Christmas. Spotting an opportunity, he fabricated a marketing story, claiming fried chicken was the traditional American Christmas meal. He dressed the Colonel Sanders statue as Santa, blending the icons. The campaign claimed, "Kurisumasu ni wa Kentakkii" (Kentucky for Christmas). KFC Japan later amplified this with special "Party Barrels," offering a complete, convenient holiday meal. 🍗
Twist: The lie worked spectacularly. It tapped into a need for a simple, shared Christmas ritual in a country with small kitchens and no turkey tradition. Today, it's a deeply ingrained national custom. December 24th is KFC's busiest day in Japan, with orders placed months in advance and queues stretching for blocks. For many Japanese, especially children, Colonel Sanders is the image of Christmas. This is a masterclass in "invented tradition," where a single marketing campaign permanently altered a nation's cultural celebration. ⛄