While many in the US celebrate the holidays with Santa and Christmas Trees, and Menorahs, other countries have their own special and unique traditions. Keep in mind they may also celebrate with Santa but here are a few other fun traditions.
Spain
Spain has deep roots in the Christian faith so the celebration happens at the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, on December 8th and is a family celebration. In Catalonia and areas of Aragon, there is a tradition of the Tio de Nadal, a cute little Christmas Log! This log is decorated with legs, a face, and an adorable red hat. Children must feed the log and tuck it in at the end of the night with a blanket so that it does not get cold! If the children are good to the Tio and take care of it they will find presents wrapped in the blanket in the morning.
Norway
A unique tradition from Norway is to hide all their brooms on Christmas Eve. It stems from an ancient pagan concern that witches and mischievous spirits would come on Christmas eve and steal them. Another adorable legend is that gnomes, called Nisse would deliver presents. But don’t’ worry, Santa comes to Norway too but he is called Julenissen in Norwegian.
Not completely Japanese but they celebrate with Kentucky Fried Chicken. While Christmas isn’t a national holiday in Japan, many celebrate by visiting a KFC and eating together with friends and family. As the story goes, the tradition started in the 1970s when KFC released a special Christmas dinner on their menu for homesick expats. Now, the lines get so long and KFCs, it’s suggested that those wishing to celebrate place their holiday order two months in advance, like we must do with Honey Baked Ham!
It’s rare that a spider becomes the hero in a holiday tale. I can’t run fast enough when I see one. But as this legend goes, the children of a poor widow wanted to decorate their Christmas tree, but with no money to buy decorations, the tree went without them. The spiders in their house heard the children’s wish and spun intricate webs throughout the tree during the night. In the morning sun, the webs turned to strands of silver and gold. Now, people decorate their Christmas tree with webs to invite good luck in the coming year.
Wales
This sounds a bit morbid but ends on a high note so hang in. Nobody knows what day the bleached skull of a horse will show up at their door, cheerfully singing songs, but most people in Wales expect it sometime between Christmas and late January. This is called Mari Lwyd, the Grey Mare. The traditions varies a bit by region but here is the just of it. One person dresses up as a horse, using an actual horse skull, with streamers for a mane and a cloth to hide the wearer of the skull. They gather five or six of their friends together, and they go from house to house singing Welsh songs like carolers would during the holidays. Sometimes they quote rude rhymes but that’s another story. If the household invites them in, the household will have good luck for the year. Residents or pub owners often compensate the group by offering food or drink.
Iceland
As you are strolling through a residential Icelandic town leading up to Christmas, keep an eye out for shoes on the windowsill. Children leave their shoes there for the 13 Icelandic Yule Lads, who come down from the mountains at night and leave presents in the shoes. Each lad will come down on a different night leading up to Christmas. But only good children get presents. Bad children will only find potatoes filling their shoes
Scotland
Christmas is celebrated in Scotland however a fun tradition is that of “First Footing” on New Year’s. Like most, after a quiet family Christmas, the Scottish gear up for an explosive celebration to bring in the new year. The first visitor to the home, or the “first foot in the door” in the new year is said to predict the amount of good fortune the family will have! The luckiest person to cross your threshold is a dark-haired man. The tradition calls for the person to bring with him, real or symbolic, coal, shortbread, salt, black bun, and whisky. This is also practiced in Northern England.
Italy
Those spending the holidays in Italy should keep an eye out for the ugly witch named Befana. In spite of her appearance, Befana, or Giver of Gifts, is a kind witch who flies around the world on her broomstick delivering toys, clothing, and candy to good children, while enjoying a plate of broccoli and spiced sausage with a glass of wine at each house! She visits on the eve of Epiphany, January 5th, to the delight of children all throughout Italy.
Tina Vestal is the agency owner of Vibrant Travel.
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