Weird and Wonderful Christmas Traditions

Christmas time is all about traditions. For many of us the turkey, stockings, carols and the tree are all comforting and deeply familiar elements of the festive season. But throughout history there’s been an abundance of traditions the world over. Some have come and gone or formed the basis for many of the things we do today in the UK and beyond. From the sinister to the bizarre, Christmas actually has a history of being a rather strange time of year.

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The Krampus, Austria and Europe

During the Christmas season, Austrian children prepare for a visit from St Nicholas with gifts for them on the 6^th of December. But if they’ve been bad, it’s the Krampus they’ll face instead on the day before, the 5^th of December. The Krampus is a terrifying half-goat half-demon who, according to the myth, beats the bad children with sticks. If they’re really bad he spirits them away in his sack forever – sounds fair.

Today in Austria there are Krampus Festivals and parades on the 5^th and 6^th of December and sometimes you can find Krampus parades in other parts of Europe too. They’re lively, exciting and incredibly popular, well worth a visit for an altogether different kind of Christmas experience. You’ll be relieved to hear no children are taken away in sacks.

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The Witch La Befana, Italy

On the Epiphany, 6^th January, the witch La Befana comes down the chimney to deliver gifts and sweets to the children and lumps of coal to the ones who have misbehaved. She’s depicted as elderly and ugly but always smiling and she’s a popular image in Italy during the Christmas season. 

The story of La Befana is older than Babbo Natale (Father Christmas), she originates in the 13^th century. It’s a big part of an Italian Christmas and a national holiday. La Befana symbolises the years end; she flies on a broomstick which sweeps away the past year and makes ready for new beginnings.

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3.The Ashen Faggot, UK

The Ashen Faggot is a UK West Country Christmas tradition. A faggot – a bundle of sticks – was bound up with nine green lengths of ash bands from the same tree, then burnt in the hearth on Christmas Eve. Whilst the faggot burned, a group would make merry – drinking, dancing and singing Dunster carols. In recent years it’s been delightfully revived here and there in the West Country.

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KFC Christmas Dinner, Japan

That’s right, Christmas day in Japan is all about Colonel Saunders and his finger-licking Kentucky Fried Chicken. A comparatively recent tradition borne from a combination of tiny ovens in Japanese homes and clever marketing by KFC and now prolifically enjoyed by many. I could actually get on board with a take-away, I detest cleaning up after Christmas dinner!

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Hiding String Beans in your Christmas Cake, Europe

Twelfth Night, the 12^th and final night of Christmas was a time for games and celebration. One such game involved baking a cake and hiding something in it like a string bean or a coin. Whoever discovered the item in their cake on Twelfth Night would lead the evening’s fun and festivities.

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The Feast of the Ass, France

On the 14^th of January in Twelfth century France, they celebrated the feast of the ass or donkey. This marked the baby Jesus’ flight into Egypt with Mary and Joseph. During the celebrations a donkey would be led through the streets to a local church service. The donkey would stand at the church’s alter for the duration of the service and the villagers or town’s people would mimic the donkey’s bray in a-call-and-response with the priest. After all the braying there would be raucous parties. They eventually grew so wild and out of hand they were banned. More's the pity.

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Christmas Day and Boxing Day Sea Swim, UK

For the past 100 years or more, up and down the country, British people have taken to a dip in the icy cold sea on Christmas Day and Boxing day for a communal swim. It’s still very much a popular tradition with often hundreds to sometimes thousands in attendance swimming and spectating. There’s fancy dress, fundraising and a brilliant convivial atmosphere. Historically it seems to have begun as no more than an opportunity for communities to do something a bit bonkers together during Christmas. I think it’s charming and I’m happy to watch from the comfort of my car or a nice warm café.