The happiest time of the year in the whole world is Christmas. We are all imbued with the spirit of this holiday and everyone celebrates it in their own way. For some, Christmas means cooking hearty meals, while for others, Christmas involves completely different customs.

Norwegians hide their brooms

Do witches exist in real life? I would advise asking a Norwegian. During Christmas, Norwegians hide all their brooms in the house to avoid evil witches who come out the night before and ride on brooms.

Before Christmas, the house is decorated with wreaths, angels, gnomes, hearts, stars and maybe a gingerbread house. More and more people decorate their homes and streets with lights and wreaths. Most families have a Christmas tree in the living room.

Most Norwegians eat RIBBE (pork ribs), PINNEKJØTT (lamb) or LUTEFISK (fish) on Christmas Eve. The Norwegian word for Santa Claus is JULENISSE.

Another popular tradition in Scandinavia is the Christmas goat (Julebukk in Norway or Julbock in Sweden).

Venezuela: Ice Skating for Christmas!

If you happen to be in Caracas, Venezuela during Christmas, make sure you have a pair of skates. From December 16 to 24, Venezuelans attend morning services and people skate from home to church.

Las patinatas – “skating” – is a Venezuelan tradition that began in the 1950s. Since the climate is tropical, Christmas is spent outdoors with neighbors and friends. Many children are equipped with roller skates, skateboards, bicycles – anything with wheels. “What better way to use these gifts than to go outside with your community for a party?” says a local. The tradition became so popular that sometimes the authorities officially closed the streets for it.

However, starting in the 2000s, las patinatas began to change. Since 2010, Venezuela has been marked by political unrest, socioeconomic decline, food shortages, and crime. Festive traditions were also affected.

Germany: Christmas with Krampus, “half goat, half demon”

At Christmas people come out to see beautiful streets decorated with lights and pretty props and people enjoy street food in the comfortable weather. But this is not the case in some countries, such as Germany, where the merry holidays are haunted by Krampus: “half goat, half demon”.

Many European cultures had such a character, the opposite of the kind and generous Santa. Parts of Germany and Austria fear Krampus, while other German regions have Belsnickl and Knecht Rupprecht, black-bearded men who carry sticks with which they beat children. France has Hans Trapp and Pierre Fuettar.

The name Krampus comes from the German word krampen, meaning claw, and he is said to have been the son of the Norse god (Hel).

Portugal: Dinner with deceased relatives

In Portugal, a traditional Christmas meal awaits not only family members, but also those who have ascended to heaven. During the annual celebration known as consoda, held on Christmas morning, people also set the table for deceased family members (alminhas a penar – “souls of the dead”). In some regions, crumbs are left on the hearth for these souls, a custom that stems from the ancient practice of entrusting pieces to the lost among us in the hope that they will yield a bountiful harvest.

It is believed that Santa Claus (“Pai Natal”) brings children gifts on Christmas Eve, not Christmas. Gifts are left under the Christmas tree or in shoes by the fireplace. However, some people say that it is baby Jesus, not Santa Claus, who brings the presents.

As in Spain, a traditional Christmas meal in Portugal called “Consoada” is eaten on the evening of Ajuni and consists of cod with green vegetables and boiled potatoes.

After the meal, people go to the church for the “Missa do Galo” service. During the service, an icon of the Baby Jesus is brought out and everyone lines up to kiss it. After the service, people go home and open presents

Catalonia: Beat the deck until it makes… presents

One of the strange traditions of Catalonia (Spain) is that local residents bring a small log into the house, draw a person’s face on it and feed it fruit and sweets until Christmas Eve. That evening (Eve) the family beats the log with sticks, and I, beating it, say: “I will beat you until you behave yourself!”

And gifts come out of the deck.

The practice originates in rural areas. There, families would burn the log to symbolize light for the holidays and scatter its ashes over the fields as a symbol of fertility.

The annual log hunt is known in Catalan simply as Caçations Hunts. Parents can take their kids to the Caga Tió special forest (actually a small business) where logs are hidden and the kids have to find them. Like a treasure hunt.

When the log is brought home, it is “fed” every night. By December 24, Kaga Tio is “gordito” or plump and ready to get down to business. He just needs some privacy.

In religious families, the children are told to go to the bedroom to pray in order to receive the gifts. Before the children return, the parents hide the gifts under a “cape” of a log, which is more like a blanket.

Sources:

https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/7-weird-and-strange-christmas-traditions-from-around-the-world-dining-with-dead-to-hiding-brooms-546115

https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/1960812/christmas-traditions-strangest-world/

https://www.wanderlust.co.uk/content/worlds-weirdest-christmas-traditions/