Faith Sindick| Reporter
In Scotland we have a vast range of Christmas traditions from giving and receiving gifts, kissing under the mistletoe to believing in Santa for us then to discover he doesn’t even exist! We, as a country, have created these traditions that go back decades (yes, even before the time of our parents!)Though around the world, different customs have also been established. Some slightly odd yet certainly unique, emphasising that Christmas is a time of celebration, happiness and appreciation for what we have.
1. Greece
In the great land of Aristotle and Plato, Greece has a Christmas tradition of burning old shoes as good luck for the coming year. The Greeks also wrap Basil around a cross and sprinkle holy water around the house as this is said to scare off goblins called ‘Killantzaroi’.
2.Brazil
Brazilians believe the legend that on Christmas Day animals get the power to speak so instead of putting Christmas presents into a stocking, children’s presents are put in their parents shoes (imagine having your presents put into your dad’s smelly shoes!).
3. Czech Republic
In the Czech Republic, people are told not to eat anything on Christmas Eve until they get a special dinner. The people believe if they do so, they will be able to see the mysterious and mythical ‘golden pig’.
4. Poland
During the highly anticipated 12 course dinner on Christmas Eve, the Polish put an iron underneath the Christmas Dinner table as they believe this makes everyone have strong legs – they are certainly going to need strong legs to hold them up after a 12 course meal!
5. Venezuela
On Christmas Day in Caracas, the capital roads are closed off so that the local residents can roller skate to morning mass. They tie pieces of string to their windows so that if they oversleep people who are skating by will tug on the string to wake them up.
6. Serbia
Serbians actually get their Christmas presents two Sundays before Christmas, but have an unusual way of receiving their presents – the children tie up their mothers and to earn their freedom, they must give the children presents as a form of ransom. This is repeated the following Sunday to the Father.
7. Italy
The good witch of the Mediterranean ‘La Befana’ gives presents to all the good children on January 6th on a broomstick instead of a sleigh. Although, if you have been bad, you’d best expecting some coal.
8. Netherlands
Whilst the Santa Claus that we are all familiar with lives in the North Pole, the Sinterklaas of Holland is believe he soaks up the sun, besiding in sunny Spain with his helper Black Peter. Sinterklaas delivers presents around the world via steamboat- far more luxurious than old Nick’s way of travel!
9. India
In the sub-continent, Christians decorate Mango trees instead of normal Christmas trees and the leaves are used to brighten up their homes – talk about a ‘sweet Christmas’.
10. Scandinavia
In Scandinavia, gnomes are the present givers. In Norway they are called ‘Nisse’ and in Sweden, it’s Tomte. These heroic gnomes believed to protect barns and hand out the presents. On Christmas, the children leave a bowl of porridge out for them.
