GETTING INTO THE SPIRIT

GETTING INTO THE SPIRIT

Holiday season is upon us! Christmas trees are spotted on car roofs and streets are filled with Christmas shoppers. It is an exciting time of year and there’s no better way to fully immerse yourself in the festivities than talking Christmas traditions.

Traditions vary widely in cultures around the world. However unique they are, what they do have in common is how enjoyable and special they make this time of year.

Christmas in Austria is packed with Christmas markets, food stalls and fun activities. What many people don’t know is that there’s a much sinister side to the season that doesn’t stray too far from the Halloween period. Krampus, derived from the German word Krampen, meaning claw, is a counterpart to our very own Saint Nicholas. A fearsome horned creature that had been suppressed by the Catholic Church and only recently come to light around the rest of the world, thanks to the popularity of Krampus in film. It is said that at the eve of his feast day Krampus will seize hold of children who have misbehaved.

A popular event in Austria, Germany and other European countries is the Krampus run. This family event consists of a vote for the best dressed Krampus and the capture of children who run through the street in hopes they don’t get whisked off. Children in the area who are known to be good may be given candy to ward off evil, but the naughty children must be vigilant, for the best dressed Krampus might just snatch them up. It’s an event that’s been going on for 500 years and attracts many tourists every year. The story of Krampus won’t be forgotten any time soon.

Stories of an evil being lurking around on the lead up to Christmas isn’t unusual. There is a vast amount of horror stories throughout different countries worldwide that are part of their culture.

Christmas festivities start in Iceland around the 12th December. Children must beware the Christmas Troll, Gryla, who has an appetite for children. Once a year, when the yule season begins, Gryla emerges from her cave and hunts for naughty children to cook in her cauldron for her yearly Christmas stew. Gryla doesn’t live alone. Previously having eaten two husbands, she lives with her thirteen children. Every year, thirteen days before Christmas, they wreak havoc on the town living up to their prankster reputation.

It has become a tradition for all children to put a boot outside their house a few days before Christmas. On receiving a boot full of candy, they know that Gryla will pass them. You’ve only got to hope you don’t receive a potato in your boot because she will be coming for you this Christmas.

Let’s be honest, it’s a great story to tell the children to keep you stress free this Christmas.

Not all traditions are doom and gloom. Ukraine share a wonderful tradition of cobweb decorations for their Christmas trees. It began with an old wives’ tale about a poor woman who grew a Christmas tree from a single pinecone. With Christmas approaching she realised that she couldn’t afford decorations for her Christmas tree. Through the children’s cries, the spiders in her house felt pity on the family. By Christmas morning the spiders had spun beautiful patterns on the tree making it just as special as anyone else’s. It is said hanging a web will bring luck, more so if you find a spider hanging from your tree Christmas morning.

Japan’s celebration of Kentucky Fried chicken isn’t a far cry from our own turkey dinner! With KFC already being one of the biggest food chains in Japan, it has only recently become a popular tradition for families to feast on a KFC at Christmas. With queues on the day stretching around the block, ordering takes place a few months in advance. Originally beginning with a Christmas advertisement for a Barrel of chicken to be sold on Christmas day, it gained such a popular response that it has been on going every year since 1974. In Japan only small percentage of people are Christian, making Christmas not a recognised holiday. Therefore, celebrating the world event differently still gives an opportunity for a family reunion and for companies to market commercial goods associated with Christmas.

Whether you celebrate it as the birthday of Jesus or just a day to catch up with family, exchange gifts, play games or eat turkey, come the end of December, you can’t ignore that Christmas is all around.