Fun Holiday Myths Around the World!
By: Joy Huang
It’s finally the time of year where holiday lights are strung on every house down the street and children anticipate the arrival of good old Santa Claus. When Christmas trees are set up and gingerbread houses are built, it’s time to spend winter with family and welcome the holiday spirits! Let’s take a look at how different places around the world do things their way…
1. Austria and Germany:
In Germany, children are taught about the devilish companion of St. Nicholas, Krampus. His name originates from the word Krampen, which means “claws” in German. Krampus, son of the Norse god, Hel, is said to arrive on December 5th and beat naughty children with sticks while St. Nicholas gives the good children presents. Now that’s quite the twist from our traditional coal-filled stockings!
2. Central Italy and Rome:
Instead of waiting for Santa Claus to deliver their yearly presents, children eagerly await the arrival of Befana, a grandmotherly woman who kind of looks like a witch. Also known as the Good Witch of Christmas, Befana brings gifts, candy, and toys to good children and chunks of coal, onions, and garlic for the naughty ones. She leaves after tidying up their house with her broom, a symbolic gesture for clearing out the old just as the new year is dawning. Instead of cookies and milk, children set out wine and local delicacies. I wonder if Santa Claus would also appreciate it if we did that for him instead.
3. Greece and Southeastern Europe:
Every year, little goblins known as Kalikantzaroi come up from under the Earth to wreak havoc and steal our candy. Since Christ hasn’t been baptized this time of year, he cannot protect humanity from the Kalikantzaroi’s evil doings. Kalikantzaroi spent all year trying to cut down the World Tree. When they return after 12 days of playing tricks on people they find the World Tree has healed. They troll in the darkness and are scared of the light, especially fire. They would sneak into people’s houses after they went to sleep and their fire burnt out. For this reason, Greeks would keep their fireplaces burning all throughout the holiday season. Let’s hope Santa’s elves don’t start to learn from these pesky little goblins!
Kalikantzaroi, or Christmas goblins, in traditional Greek folkloric art. Credit: Mikapanteleon/Pinteres
4. Catalonia
Catalonia's Tio de Nadal, Christmas Log is also known as Tia Caga of Pooping Log. It’s a log that wears a big smile and a traditional Catalan red hat, which is basically the Catalan version of Santa Claus. Children feed him candies and sweets and even water him everyday, beginning on the first day of December. They even cover him in warm blankets at night, hoping that the more they feed him and care for him, the more presents they will receive. When Christmas Day comes, the children take the log to the fireplace and begin to hit it with a stick while singing the Caga Tío song. After going to another room to pray for their gifts, they return to a pile of them that the log had supposedly “pooped”. Sounds like a great way to burn all your energy before settling in for a relaxing holiday!
5. Sweden
The Swedish Yule goat, also known as the Gävle Goat is a 42-foot-tall-straw-goat that was constructed for Christmas. It was built for the first time in the sixties or the seventies and is set up every year on the First Advent. In some stories, a local farm servant would dress in a white sheet and wear a goat skull on their head, they would burst people’s living rooms and shout random obscene lies and insults. The better the Yule goat is, the more he is rewarded with bear and treats at the party. In some parts of Scandinavia, the Yule goat would also hand out small gifts for children at the party. How would you feel if some random goat looking creature gave you a gift after yelling insults at you?
These are just some super fun and unique ways that people around the world celebrate their holidays. How do you plan to spend this holiday season with your family?
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