Unusual Christmas Traditions

Unusual Christmas Traditions
By Andrew A. Francis

Christmas is often the season of lights and frivolity, and a big jolly man in red. But in some countries, there is a darker side to this festival in the depths of winter. If you are of a Gothic disposition, or simply fed up of all the meaningless enforced jollity, here are five suggestions of countries to travel to whose festive traditions you might appreciate:

Finland:

For the Finnish, Christmas time is the season to remember the dead. It is a tradition on Christmas Eve for families to head down to the graveyard after mass and chill out for a time with their deceased relatives. They will eat porridge by the graveside, and the one who finds the almond hidden therein must sing a song. It may seem ghoulish to some to eat lunch in a graveyard, but really it is a celebration of the lives of those who have passed on - a truly meaningful ceremony.

Austria:

In Austria, beware the Krampus! Throughout the country, at Christmas markets and in town centres, young men will dress up as demon-like creatures and will brandish cow bells and rods, scaring everyone they come across. Krampus is the Christmas devil, the flip side of St. Nicholas, who will punish those who have been bad over the course of the following year. Krampus is known in several Alpine regions, and he is said to drag particularly naughty children off into the black forest!

Norway:

If you are visiting Norway this Christmas, be sure not to leave any brooms lying about. On Christmas eve, witches and other spirits roam the skies causing mischief, and they will take advantage of any brooms or mops left lying around as a means of transportation. Be sure not to aid them in their devilment!

Denmark:

In Denmark, on Christmas Eve, be sure to leave out a bowl of porridge or rice pudding for Nisse, a bad little elf, who will sometimes play pranks, or even steal presents, or worse. Tales tell of Nisse's who have killed livestock on a farm or even severely beaten someone! Make sure to appease these little household guardians, however, and they will give you gifts, much like Santa Claus.

Catalonia:

Catalonians seem to have an obsession with the scatological! In amongst the beauty of the wide nativity scenes frequently depicted in this region there is a strange figure to be found - the Caganer - a person defectating. He is a popular addition to large nativity scenes, and children are often tasked with finding him. In a similar vein, bizarrely, children also beat a log, called the Caga ti� - pooping log - which will poop out candy and nuts.

Wherever you travel in Europe you are likely to come across strange and often ancient Christmas traditions, so be sure to chat with locals and get a true sense of the beliefs of the place you are visiting. The diversity of the celebrations to be found in different countries are a sure antidote for the homogeneous sameness of the modern commercially packaged Christmas.

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