weird european christmas traditions
This is why the log is usually referred to as Tió Caga, meaning pooping log. Similar events take place in other Alpine countries, with slight variations in their outfits. 1. The UK has many weird and wonderful Christmas traditions. In the Netherlands, friendly St. Nicholas has a very different companion. Unusual Christmas Traditions From Around The World. Parade organizers have taken notice and introduced Green Pete, Purple Pete and even Stroopwafel Pete, whose face is painted like the famous Dutch cookie. And, we’ll be honest, we found some pretty weird stuff. Czech Republic. He's a figure in the mythology of many Eastern European countries, including Austria, and he comes during Christmas to punish children that have been bad. Krampus is the Anti-Claus – a horned demon who not only leaves rotten vegetables and other foul presents for naughty children but whips them for their trouble. 1. So why not go all out and take on a brand new tradition this festive season? Probably one of the better known European holiday traditions, made into a fun movie by Michael Dougherty. Read on to discover what goes on in Europe at Christmas time. Well, some European Christmas traditions are a little bit different from what you’re used to. The biggest stick of all, however, is made blatantly obvious by another Norwegian tradition – to walk around the Christmas tree in concentric circles, singing carols and holding hands. One thing that hasn’t changed however, is St. Nicholas’ outdated choice of transport. Share. People are different. And, we’ll be honest, we found some pretty weird stuff. At Eurail.com, we know that the best way to see more of Europe is by train. Here are some surprise treats you can look forward to if you’re spending Christmas in Europe: If you think you might be on the naughty list this year, you might want to stay clear of the Austrian Alps. He arrives in the Netherlands on a steamboat from Spain, then travels from city to city on a white horse called Amerigo. By Victoria December 8, 2017 January 22nd, 2019 No Comments. Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. What I love about Christmas Day is you know everyone is doing pretty much the same thing. But every country has its own set of unique Christmas traditions. Nothing says Christmas like getting naked with your family! Speaking of broomsticks, Norwegian Christmas traditions dictate you should hide yours on Christmas Eve. If the tree falls down, the world will end, but luckily the Kallikantzaroi never seem to succeed. In many European countries, people prefer to have a lighter meal on Christmas Eve. Dec 15, 2017 - Explore Stephanie Dargon Luce's board "European Christmas" on Pinterest. From the weird to the wonderful, get ready to add these customs to your festivities. We can help you sort a cheap flight to Norway. Tió de Nadal is a hollow log that is found in the homes of many people in this area during the Christmas season. In Poland, families traditionally gather for a meal on Christmas Eve, which is known as Wigilia. Summer in Europe: Where to Go to Make It Unforgettable! Christmas Holidays 2020 are likely to be family affairs centred around the Christmas dinner, a feast of turkey, roast potatoes and the dreaded sprout! Each nation has its own background and celebrates some special events. And they look so innocent... Catalonia is literally OBSESSED. The folklore behind it tells the story of a poor family who couldn’t afford to decorate their tree. She deposits her catch into a pot of naughty children stew. 5 of Europe's Weirdest Christmas Traditions Caga Tió. We reveal the weird and wonderful festive traditions around the world... 1. ), we thought we’d give you a lowdown on some bizarre Christmas traditions across Europe. They come up to the earth’s surface every Christmas to terrorize humanity, only to find upon their return that the World Tree has fully healed itself. Interesting pre-Christian elements have survived throughout the centuries and are still a part of Christmas celebrations today. Christmas in emerging Europe is unsurprisingly centered around the Christian traditions of the continent. Anyone who’s ever missed out on a unique party will sympathize with the Italian witch La Befana. Many of these traditions, which might look weird to people coming from outside of the region, are very much alive and comprise an important part of the festivities. Searching far and wide, the witch was unable to find the baby. On this night, witches are said to come out looking for broomsticks they can steal. The Kallikantzaroi are nasty little creatures that spend most of their time sawing away at the World Tree. Here you can read about some of the weirdest traditions across Europe. These Christmas traditions and rituals are quintessentially German. In Catalonia and several other regions in Spain, it’s tradition to dress up a piece of wood (Tió de Natal) and keep it in your house. By Benito Cereno / Nov. 29, 2020 7:37 pm EST. Another interesting feature of Catalonian Christmas is the caganer figurine. And the last thing you want is to see some old hag fly off on your brand-new Nimbus 2000…. If you’re not easily frightened, check out one of the many Krampus runs on December 5th. She has thirteen mischievous sons but it seems its only other people’s children she likes for supper. Krampus. This little elf doll that is widely available for purchase, is set out by parents at the beginning of December to watch the behaviour of young children. Wait, what?! Lost your broom? With early December almost over already, we’ve cast our eyes over some of Europe’s Christmas traditions. He props himself up with two twiggy stumps so that children can feed him turron (nougat) and orange peel every night in the build-up to Christmas. Come December time, she leaves their cave abode to go on the prowl for badly behaved kids. With Christmas fast approaching (have you picked out presents yet for all the expats in your life? Bizarre Christmas Traditions Facts 42. Well, if you feed it daily the log will eventually poop presents on Christmas Day! 7 Catalonia, Spain: Tió De Nadal. No joke. These customs are some of the strange and bizarre practices in some of the most wonderful places in the world. As Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year, I wanted to put together these weird and wonderful British Christmas traditions for you. Check out these cheap flights to Ukraine. It’s an ideal approved for more than a thousand year by its best spirits”. Japan: All I want for Christmas is… KFC. Share your best artwork for a… https://t.co/Zg3Frop2s0, Ditch the TV and binge-watch Europe this summer, with 20% off Passes. This tradition is probably as close as we will ever get to being snails, carrying their houses on their backs. Here are 42 strange and creepy Christmas traditions from around the world that you might not have heard of… and you might wish you never had! Well, bizarre for us and completely normal for them. Spiders are a common feature of the Christmas trees of the Ukraine. If you’re traveling to Greece this December, you need to watch your back for small goblins! By Internetbureau Redkiwi, Eurovision Rotterdam 2020: A Eurail Guide, The Best Places to Celebrate Carnival in Europe, 7 National Holidays in Europe to Experience, The best LGBT+ friendly destinations in Europe, Benefits of 1st class train travel in Europe. Icy Dips. All throughout Austria, you can see hundreds of people running around in scary Krampus costumes. Take a look at Netflights’ cheap flights to Iceland from UK airports today. Christmas Traditions in Europe United Kingdom. The locals of this region – which includes... Krampus. European Christmas Traditions; European Christmas Traditions 16/12/2020 at 08:00h . Twice divorced Gryla lives up in the mountains with her third husband Leppalúði. Then don’t forget to bring your Christmas log! Venezuelans skate to church, Norwegians hide their brooms, and Catalans are obsessed with festive pooping. Christmas is, to many, the most wonderful time of the year, in large part thanks to traditions that have been handed down through generations within a family. However, there are are a few lesser-known traditions that you’ll definitely want to learn about. Seriously, you can’t make this stuff up…. Christmas customs and traditions in Europe: the Christmas dinner What are Christmas feasts like in Europe? Interesting pre-Christian elements have survived throughout the centuries and are still a part of Christmas celebrations today. Catalan people sometimes think that ourtió, a log that defecates presents when you hit it, is very original. Sometimes boring, sometimes folkloric, they teach us a lot on Europeans’ history, culture and philosophy. Here are some of our favorite unique traditions. The Krampus – Germany, Austria and eastern Europe. Visiting Europe at Christmas is fantastic, and we’ve shared many videos about traveling over the holidays. I'm here to tell you cool stories about Europe. If you happen to be in the country in mid-November, you’ll find the saint at one of his arrival parades, accompanied by Zwarte Piet (Black Pete). In this day and age, you’d think he’d at least take a canal boat and a trusty Dutch bicycle. Some Christmas traditions from around the world make lighting the pudding seem tame. They will start... Netherlands. With normal Christmas traditions such as advent calendars and the standard Christmas Eve gift-giving rituals, some French Christmas traditions are quite familiar and global. From Russia to Greenland, all kinds of traditions take place Dec. 25 each year. It’s one of the most unusual Christmas traditions in Europe, and one everyone should experience at least once. Whereas old Nick is a Santa-like saint that hands out presents to good children, Krampus takes care of the bad children by abducting them in his bag. Christmas celebrations start early in the Netherlands, and parts of Belgium, as Sinterklaas - that is St... Finland. 10 Christmas traditions from Europe to try at home. This figure’s painted face has caused a lot of controversy over the last few years with the jolly servant being linked to slavery, which has resulted in heated arguments and political debates. Goodbye Santa Claus, hello Christkind! All rights reserved. Shop our sale and get ready to press play on… https://t.co/fMT5s79kd6, © 2017 Eurail.com. This Christmas tradition is one that is specific to the people of Catalonia, Spain. Obviously. cheap flights to Europe, America and more. These Are The Best Winter Destinations in Europe, From Tatras to Towns: Poprad to Bratislava by Train. But not every Christmas tradition is as nice and wholesome. BuzzFeed Staff . Here you will run the risk of bumping into Krampus, a demonic figure that serves as the counterpart of friendly St. Nicholas. Today we’re sharing some of the more eccentric and interesting European Christmas traditions that you might see if you travel here for winter break. However, they compensate with a richer dinner on Christmas Day, where they enjoy drinking red wine and feast on roast pork, turkey, goose, or duck. It’s a time for family, presents, demons and witches. St Nicholas Day (Sankt Nikolaus Tag) St Nicholas Day is a favorite holiday with German children. Caga Tio is a wooden log with a gleeful smile and a blanket covering his back end. Let’s find some of the most bizarre Christmas traditions out there! Natalie Lineberger from Tourist 2 Local ⤷ Read My Travel Diary: Three days in Barcelona here. In Norway, people hide their brooms, to stop all the witches from finding new sticks to ride off into the night. As things are already going to be different, let’s lean into it and celebrate in a new way. It’s unclear how the caganer ended up having a place in Bethlehem, but it’s said he brings good luck and joy. https://blog.eurail.com/crazy-christmas-traditions-in-europe It’s a time for family, presents, demons and witches. European Christmas Traditions - Weird and Wonderful Most European countries start their Christmas celebrations with Advent (4 Sundays before Christmas Day) and end on January 6, Epiphany. Next morning, they find their shoes filled with nuts, candy, and small gifts from St Nicholas. St. Nicholas, Father Christmas, or Santa Claus is the weirdest Christmas tradition ever, but he is so well known and so well documented that … Christmas is marked in a special way in each country where it is celebrated. While Christmas may have begun solely as a Christian holiday, and is often still celebrated as such, people from all over the world have embraced the festive season and added their own traditions along the way. Dried mutton, lamb ribs or freshly caught cod take precedent over turkey here, often served with sauerkraut and boiled potatoes. Planning to visit Barcelona around Christmas time? Ten European Christmas traditions Poland. From world-renowned cities to smaller villages, it's all well connected by rail.
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