7 Strange Christmas Traditions in the World
If you ever thought that your family's Christmas customs were small, weird, you are not alone! There are strange myths and traditions around Christmas, and what you do on Christmas day can be very different, depending on where you live. Here are seven strange Christmas customs from around the world.
1.Iceland
Iceland has its fair share of fantastic Christmas fairy tales, from cat-eating cats to Grýla the troll, but one in particular, the Yule Lads, holds a place in the hearts of all Icelandic children. In the past, they were considered the sons of the mountain troll, which oppressed farmers and the general public. But over time, the Yule Lads became very kind, in the same way that Santa Claus is portrayed today, as magical, to fill the void, which brings happiness. On the night before December 12 the children
all over Iceland they would put one of their shoes on the window, and then lie down on the bed with a smile… Thirteen Yule Lads would be down one by one the night before Christmas. Depending on whether the children were good or bad, the Yule Lads left sweets and presents, or rotten potatoes in their shoes. Although the potato-ey shoes really bothered some children, the Icelandic Folk Customs branch had to intervene. and they do not encourage parents to give such great gifts, as the Yule Lads seemed to love some children more than others. A campaign to raise awareness among parents, through the media and kindergartens, in hopes of narrowing the gap between rich and poor families. The entertainment spirit of the Yule Lads remains strong and vibrant today, perhaps because, today, much like Santa Clause, there is a grim picture of the morose mountain troll ancestors of their 1700s.
2.Cuba
Every year in the Cuban city of Remedios, a change takes place. When Christmas arrives, the city splits in two, and preparations for the Parandas festival begin. There is a long-standing tradition of competition between the two neighboring areas of the city; San Salvador, represented by a rooster, and El Carmen, represented by the Hawks. The two sides of the city are preparing for a year-long campaign for the… theme of the best Christmas festivities. This is not your typical friendly competition.
between you and your neighbor to see who has the most Christmas lights, this is a never-ending war going back centuries. Residents do not carefully decorate their houses with the themes and colors of their region, but each carry their own explosive and floating exhibits that will be presented in a grand exhibition. Stunning costumes and dance moves to the extensive music orchestra, accompanied by festivities. You can imagine being in "Carnival," except that there are Christmas decorations everywhere instead of Samba dancers. The festival began in the 18th century when a priest from the Grand Cathedral of Remedios sent children to gather people for Christmas mass. The children would have pots, pans and spoons, and they would run around town making noise And singing songs to attract people and lead them to a party. In time, this grew into a spectacular street party we see today. While this is by no means a “strange” tradition, it has extraordinary power, even in comparison with the scorching heat of Christmas celebrations in Britain and the United States. These festivals are so complex and contagious that neighboring Cuban villages carry their own versions with their competing districts every year. I'm sure you've had Christmas artists knocking on your door and singing songs in front of you.
3.Mummers
This bizarre custom is actually one of the most diverse in Europe, but in Latvia, it is well-established and widely accepted. Latvian “smiles”, made by “mummers” are just like traditional Christmas carols, but there are twists and turns. Mummers dress like all kinds of creatures from wolves, goats, beetles, bears, and other amazing surreal costumes. They are often welcomed in the home as it is believed that they cast out evil spirits by their costumes, dancing and singing.
These days, it is a tradition of good food festivals and company rather than superstition. In case you notice the words of any for mummers, then they should take off their mask immediately. Mothers often change their words and ways to avoid being seen when they are mothers, sometimes taking on strange and unusual people. Finally, there is much fun singing, food and dancing, which adds to the atmosphere of the Festive Center, which stays fun during the Christmas season.
4. Latvia
Latvia is not the only country in which the Christmas tradition has developed that results in food and drink for players. Something similar, but with a wackier twist, occurs in the valleys in southern Wales. Mari Lwyd is an indigenous culture that takes over place for Christmas. The original meaning of the word “Mari Lwyd” is still debated. Some people think it means "Gray Mare," which refers to the horse's head, and "lwyd", a common word meaning gray. Some believe that it did translate “Holy Mary,” a prominent figure in Wales Catholicism. Whatever the case, it is obvious when it comes to your village. Groups of men and women, usually dressed in elaborate costumes such as Punch and Judy, carried Mari Lwyd, a sling on a stick, in a frock pan, through town - while playing music. From house to house they would come to your house, sing a song, and ask you to come into the house. It is normal to sing again and if you choose, you refuse to enter with excuses.
This will continue again and again until the army gives up, moves to the next house, or the householder runs out of excuses, and is forced to let them in. Once inside, the army plays, with Mari Lwyd. chase adults and children alike, breaking the jaws of a leader who makes himself uncontrollable. Mari Lwyd is not the only problem in the team, as Punch will use his poker to put out the fire if the homeowner does not stop him, before they enter the house. Food and drink were to be provided for the army as a thank-you for their service and the return of its blessing. The earliest records of this strange practice go back to the 19th century, but the true origin is not clear. Many think that Mari Lwyd is her main character pre-Christian, pagan customs, involving some animals with hats. Either way, it is intended as a concept of celebration, but at the same time, it is one of the unknown Christmas traditions out there. There is no such thing as merry Christmas as a skull.
5.Venezuela
Christmas in Venezuela is the most important time of the year in the Catholic world. But in the capital city of Caracas, they take you to a new and exciting level ng on a holy morning morning Mass. Something that seems to have evolved automatically, the custom of roller skating in the church during the weeks leading up to Christmas. From the 16th to the 24th of December, most roads are closed until 8am so skaters can reach the crowd safely. During this time, you will see streets full of people skating with their families. Because children often fall asleep early in the morning, they have devised a clever way of getting up early. Some children tie a rope around their big toe and hang it from their bedroom window. Passing roller skaters will pull the strings to wake the kids. Personally, I prefer to use a watch to get up in the morning, but I think pulling your big toe in bed is also a viable option, if you are a sleepy person!
6.Catalonia
Do you remember when you hit a log with a stick while singing a song, to make it come out with a new shiny bike? No? That is what children across Catalonia will be doing this Christmas. It sounds strange, but it is actually a very common tradition with many followers in Catalonia. It focuses on decorating and caring for Tio de Nadal, "Christmas Log." Wood is actually very attractive when fully decorated, with painted faces, hats and blankets, some versions with small supporting legs. Leading up to Christmas, it is customary to give "Tio" a small meal to eat and cover him with a blanket to keep him comfortable and warm. The more Tio is cared for, the better the gifts he has to give, I say “provide” but I really mean the opposite.
Each family has a slightly different version of the tradition, but usually, on Christmas day they put Tio in the middle of the fire and beat him with sticks to make them "wild" gifts. No, really. There are actually some very popular songs that are also sung during the logging event, to free themselves with gifts. Parents often send children outside and ask them to pray for good gifts while beating the log, as a good way to sniff presents under Tio's coat while they are not looking. Even the way Tio is supposed to produce gifts is a little ... weird, it's easy to see the beauty of a little wooden guy. The lyrics of the songs are also very interesting
to say the least.
7.Ukraine
You probably decorate your Christmas tree with lights, tinsel and baubles, but in Ukraine you can find something unexpected surrounded by a tree. It is not uncommon for locals to decorate their trees with artificial fabrics and even decorative spiders. It may seem like a few months before Halloween, but there is actually a reason for the creepy-crawly shenanigans. The story goes that a poor but industrious widow lived in a small hut with her children. One happy day, the pine cone fell to the ground and took root, giving children the opportunity to have a Christmas tree in winter. The children took care of the tree, helping it to grow, but when Christmas came, the poor family had no money to decorate it, so they slept the night before Christmas with sad hearts.
When they woke up on Christmas day, they were surprised to find a tree covered with spider mites, and as they opened the windows to see clearly, the sunlight hit the moss, making them silver and gold. Needless to say, the family never lived in poverty, or at least ... that is a myth. This myth is widely believed as the origin of the tinsel on Christmas trees, representing the gold and silver of the spider's spider web. It is amazing to see how many different ways people celebrate Christmas, worldwide. Some may be more hospitable than others, but they are all based on the same Christmas spirit.
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