European Christmas Traditions (and little known facts about the holiday)
Italy
La Befana: According to legend, the Three Wise Men stopped by her hut to ask
directions to Bethlehem and they also invited her to join them on their journey.
She refused, and later a shepherd asked her to come with him to visit the Christ
Child. Again she refused and when night came, she saw a great light in the sky.
La Befana thought perhaps she should have gone with the Three Wise Men, so she gathered
some toys that had belonged to her own children and ran to find the kings and
the shepherd. But la Befana could not find them or the stable with Jesus. To this day, she is still on a
quest to find the Christ Child. And each year, since she cannot find him, she
leaves gifts for well behaved Italian children and pieces of coal (nowadays called
carbone dolce, a rock candy that looks remarkably like coal) for the bad ones.
Austria
Many “American” Christmas elements have come from Europe. The song, “Silent Night”
or “Stille Nacht” was composed in Austria in 1818.
Germany
*The Advent or Christmas calendar is a German tradition that has become increasingly popular in the U.S.
*Even some American Christmas words come from German. Kris Kringle comes from
Christkindl (“Christ Child”). Incidentally, it is the Christkindl who brings gifts on Christmas Eve in Germany, not Santa!
*The first appearance of a Tannenbaum (Christmas tree) was in 1605 in Strasbourg in Alsace, then part of Germany.
A chronicler wrote (in old German): “Auff Weihenachten richtett man Dahnnenbäum
zu Strasburg in den Stuben auff..." (“At Christmas they set up Christmas trees
in Strasbourg in their rooms...”).
France
*In 1962, a law was passed decreeing that all letters written to Santa would
be responded to with a postcard.
*French children put their shoes in front of the fireplace, in the hopes that
Père Noël will fill them with gifts. Candy, fruit, nuts, and small toys will also be hung
on the tree overnight. There's also Père Fouettard who gives out spankings to bad children.
*Some popular French holiday desserts:
La bûche de Noël (Yule log): A log-shaped cake made of chocolate and chestnuts. This represents
a wood log burned from Christmas Eve to New Year's Day in the Périgord, which
is a vestige from a pagan Gaulish celebration.
Le pain calendeau: A tradition in southern France, it is a Christmas loaf, part of which is given
to a poor person.
La Galette des Rois: A round cake often filled with almond cream, which is cut into pieces and distributed.
Whoever finds la fève, a charm hidden inside, is King or Queen.
Greece
Some cultures have Christmas elves; the Greeks have mischievous and even dangerous
spirits called the Kallikantzari who prey upon people during the twelve days of Christmas. They are believed
to wear wooden or iron boots (to kick people) although some people insist that
they are hooved. Still others see in them the forms of wolves or even monkeys.
These creatures are believed to come from the center of the earth and enter into
people's house through their chimneys. These spirits will extinguish fires, braid
horses' tails, and sour the milk. To ward off these undesirable creatures, the
hearth is kept burning day and night throughout the twelve days of Christmas.
Czech Republic
The Christmas tree is lit on Christmas Eve following a big meal. Holiday food
includes fish soup, salads, vegetables, potatoes, eggs, and carp. This is topped
off with a special Christmas cake laden with currents and almonds. According to
tradition, there must be an even number of people seated at the table. After dinner,
a bell will ring as a signal that the Christ Child has visited the home and has
placed gifts under the tree.
Spain
Named Hogueras (bonfires), this tradition originated long before Christmas itself. It is the
observance of the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year and the beginning
of winter. People jump over fires as a symbolic protection against illness. This
fire-jumping can be seen primarily in Granada and Jaen.
Holland
According to legend, Saint Nicholas gives presents to children on St. Nicholas
Eve, December 5, which they open on December 6, St. Nicholas Day. Wearing a red
robe, he arrives on a boat from Spain and rides down the streets on a white horse.
His servant, Swarte Piet (Black Pete), accompanies him. Saint Nicholas goes down the chimney of each
house and leaves gifts in shoes that the children have put by the fireplace.
