Rare traditions to live these holidays
CATALONIA: CAGANERS AND CAGA TÓ
To speak of Christmas in Catalonia is to speak of the caganers, the popular Nativity figurines representing public figures with their pants down and squatting to defecate. Nobody is spared here: from Cristiano Ronaldo to King Felipe VI or President Obama. Perhaps less well known is another tradition that drives children crazy: the one from Caga Tió, Known as “the log that poops”. It is a trunk decorated with googly eyes, a wide smile and a red hat that has a habit of defecating baubles on Christmas Eve. Tradition says that you have to feed him sweets during the two weeks prior to Christmas Eve and cover him with a blanket so that he does not get cold. When the night of December 24 arrives, the children beat him with sticks while they sing a traditional song so that he gradually releases his rich gifts.
The friendly Caganers
UKRAINE: SPIDER WEBS FOR GOOD LUCK
The Ukrainians have customarily decorate their Christmas trees with spider webs , symbol of good luck. Everything comes from a legend that tells the story of a widow and her children who lived in a shack. They were so poor that at Christmas they could only afford to have a small tree, without any decorations. During Christmas Eve, the spiders wove their webs on the tree and when it dawned and the sun's rays illuminated it, the cloth turned into gold and silver, bringing luck and fortune to the family.
NETHERLANDS: RECORD BONFIRES
In the village of Scheveningen They have been competing since the 90s to make the best bonfire in The Hague for Christmas. They usually build two: one on the north beach and one on the south beach made by the Duindorp district. In 2014, the one they built on Scheveningen beach was so big that it entered the Guinness Book of Records. Built with 30,000 pallets, the bonfire reached 15 meters in height . How will this year be?
The Scheveningen Bonfire
NORWAY: GOODBYE TO BROOMS
With the arrival of Christmas, Norwegians have a habit of hiding all their brooms. It is not that they refuse to sweep during the holidays, but rather they put them away to prevent wicked witches and evil spirits who visit the houses on Christmas Eve fly out with them. Another custom is to leave a bowl full of oat flakes for the Nisse, a little gnome who protects and brings good luck families on Christmas night.
GERMANY: MONSTERS AND PICKLES
German children who misbehave during the year can now run away! Krampus, the demon himself, will go after them. During December 5, people dress up as terrible monsters that chase with a stick the little ones who have been more than just naughty . This tradition (which is really scary) is also celebrated in Austria and in the towns of Tyrol.
Another curious tradition that is lived in Germany is that of the Christmas pickle: families hide a pickle on the Christmas tree , it is usually a glass ornament that is barely visible to the naked eye as it is green like the tree. The idea is that it is hidden so that the children of the family will look for it on Christmas morning. Whoever sees it first receives an extra gift and good luck for the coming year.
Have you misbehaved?
CZECH REPUBLIC: FOR DINNER, A GOOD TENT
When Christmas comes, Czechs don't go out to the markets to buy turkey, lamb or shrimp. They prefer fish. And it is that the star dish that cannot be missing in every Czech Christmas table is Carp . From the first days of December, l he city is filled with numerous aquariums and large vats filled with live carp , mostly caught in the ponds of South Bohemia. It is usually the children who choose the carp that will be cooked at Christmas (the traditional thing is to serve carp milanesa with potato salad or carp soup). Sometimes, the children get so attached to them (they give them names and everything...) that some of them are saved and return to the river. It is curious to see how the Czechs fill their bathtubs with these fish while waiting for the arrival of Christmas Eve.
JAPAN: PASSION FOR FRIED CHICKEN
The Japanese celebrate Christmas by eating fried chicken. Yes yes, and not just any chicken, it has to be the one from the chain Kentucky Fried Chicken . Since an advertising campaign in 1974 made this food fashionable with the slogan "Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii!" ("At Christmas, Kentucky!"), there is no Christmas in Japan without the long lines in the establishments of the American chain in search of its Christmas Party Barrels (the Christmas menu). In some places you have to reserve a table two months in advance. An important detail if you are in Japan and want to congratulate someone on the holidays: don't do it with a red card! Look for another color, the red ones are used only to offer condolences.
Fried chicken returns for Christmas
IRELAND: WOMEN'S CHRISTMAS
It is celebrated on January 6 and is known as Nollaig na mBan. This ancient tradition mandates that the women of the house take the day off to go out with her friends and have fun after some Christmas parties in which they have worried that everything would turn out perfect. It's your little reward. While, the men are the ones who have to stay at home collecting all the Christmas decorations and taking care of the housework for the whole family.
CARACAS, TO MASS ON SKATES
Christmas is synonymous with skates in Caracas. And it is that Venezuelans do not hesitate to take out their skates during the marches organized by the capital during the holidays. The most traditional: the Christmas Mass. On the morning of December 25, traffic on the streets is cut off to allow children and adults to skate to church. It is a whole tradition in which he also gets up very early.
ITALY: LENTILS AND WITCHES
The best way for Italians to say goodbye to the year is with a good plate of lentils. Here no grapes, these legumes are responsible for giving enough energy to endure a whole night of partying. In addition, they bring luck to the new year. A few days later, on January 5, the children wait like crazy for the arrival of the befana the christmas witch She is a good witch who brings sweets and treats to the little ones during the night of January 5. In places like Urbania , celebrate festivals dedicated to this Christmas character. And in some cities like Rome and Naples they celebrate the popular Notte di Capodanno , where old junk is thrown away to start the year off right.
La Befana, the good witch of Christmas
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