5 Unusual Christmas Traditions You Probably Didn’t Know Of
Think Christmas is all about green trees and red baubles? Here are 5 unique Christmas traditions you didn’t know of.
Christmas is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the world. But while many of us associate the season with snowy landscapes and sparkling trees, certain countries have their own unique take on the celebration. Read on to learn about five strange Christmas traditions practiced around the world.
1. Christmas Demons in Austria
Austrians took ‘gotta find out who’s naughty and nice’ to a whole ‘nother level. According to their tradition, children who make it onto the ‘naughty’ list will be punished by St. Nicholas’ (or Santa’s) evil counterpart, Krampus, a half-goat demon.
On Krampusnacht, December 5th, men dressed as Krampus parade in the streets, carrying chains and baskets that are meant for abducting bad children. Most of the time, these men would drink alcohol before setting out to terrorise kids.
But why the demons during such a lovely time as Christmas? This tradition actually originates from pre-Christian Eastern Europe beliefs and anthropologists speculate that Krampus was derived from a pagan deity who is likened to Satan. Today, many European countries celebrate Krampusnacht. While Christmas generally gives more good vibes, it does bring out the elements of good vs. evil which is pretty fitting for Christmas, isn’t it?
Regardless, it’s a good reminder to always put on your best behaviour, especially for the kids!
2. Poop-Related Traditions in Catalonia
Ah, Christmas. ’Tis the season for warm drinks, presents, and if you’re Catalan, pooping.
In Catalonia, there’s a tradition of caga tió, or ‘defecating log’, and the ‘poop’ of this log will be sent out as Christmas gifts. Starting two weeks before Christmas, families will create a character out of a wooden log and ‘feed’ the log with nuts, fruit, and sweets. Then, on Christmas Day, the family will beat the log with sticks until the log ‘defecates’ all its treats. And that’s not the only poo-based tradition in Catalonia. Catalans also decorate their nativity scenes with the figurine of a peasant boy, a caganer, who’s in the middle of doing his №2.
But why do Catalans associate Christmas with poo? This can be traced back to pagan beliefs, where faeces were used as fertiliser. In a way, the caganer was a symbol of healthy crops and good fortune for the new year. Contextualising this tradition to current times, it’s a good practice to bring good and hopeful vibes into the new year — whether it’s related to poop or not.
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Originally published at https://university.taylors.edu.my on December 5, 2021.
