The Everything Family Christmas Book (52 page)

An additional observance, or day off, at this time of year is Boxing Day, held on December 26. The name is taken from the old custom of opening the alms boxes in church the day after Christmas to give money to the needy. The idea expanded to servants and tradesmen, who expected to be tipped for the year’s service.

Wales

Carol singing, or
eisteddfodde,
in Wales has become an art form. Nowhere in the world are Christmas carols more carefully crafted and lovingly sung. Many churches retain a carol-singing service known as Plygain at Christmas. Once a Christmas-morning service that began as early as 3:00 a.m., it now tends to be an evening service.

The Christmas season is also the time for the Mari Lwyd, or Grey Mare, to appear. This odd creature is represented by a man wearing a sheet and carrying a horse’s skull or imitation horse’s head. The creature dances around in public and tries to bite people with the horse’s jaws. If he manages to bite you, you must give him money!

Pulling (making) taffy, which is a chewy toffee candy, is one way to spend the day; in Wales, taffy is as much a part of Christmas fare as candy canes are in America.

Ireland

Christmas in Ireland takes on quite a religious tone, although decorations and gift giving (and shopping) are popular, too. Lit candles (often replaced now with electric lights) are left in the windows on Christmas Eve to light the Holy Family’s way, with church services attended on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.

Father Christmas is the gift giver here, with presents traditionally given out on Christmas morning, followed by a big holiday meal later in the day. For a treat, three special puddings are made during this season: one for Christmas, one for New Year’s, and one for Twelfth Night, the latter of which is also known as Little Christmas.

On the day after Christmas (St. Stephen’s Day), many once engaged in “hunting the wren.” This old tradition called for the killing of a wren to symbolize the death of the old year and the birth of the new. The dead wren was carried by the hunters from house to house, singing carols. The homeowner would give the hunters some goodies for their troubles, and they would give a feather for good luck in return. Areas that still observe this custom today use a fake stuffed wren, and money collected usually goes to charity.

Scotland

With Christmas celebrations banned after the sixteenth-century Reformation in Scotland, December 25 remained a regular working day until 1958, when it was finally declared a public holiday. Today, it has largely caught up with European traditions of gift giving and decorating, although it retains some of its own special superstitions—including the idea that the home’s fire needs to be kept burning on Christmas Eve to keep mischievous elves from coming down the chimney and causing bad luck.

The Scots also celebrate Hogmanay, or New Year’s Eve, as a major event, often gathering together friends and family to celebrate the coming of the new year. Cities such as Edinburgh host huge public celebrations.

Germany

Germany, perhaps more than any other country, has influenced the way Christmas is celebrated around the world. The tradition of the Christmas tree began in Germany, after all, and most modern families there would consider it unthinkable to pass the holiday without one. Advent wreaths and calendars (which mark the countdown to Christmas Day) make their appearance at the end of November. Germany is also one of the countries in which children leave a shoe out on the eve of St. Nicholas’s Day (December 6) to be filled with candy.

There are more gifts after Mass or church on Christmas Eve. That’s when the Christkind, or Kris Kringle—not to be confused with St. Nicholas or Santa Claus—brings the gifts. At first, the Christkind was meant to be the Baby Jesus; later the name came to stand for a more angelic figure that embodies the spirit of the Christ Child. The Christkind wears a flowing white robe, a white veil, and gold wings, often entering by an open window and ringing a bell when gifts have been left.

Austria

St. Nicholas’s Day opens the Christmas season in Austria as well, when the saint arrives with the devil (St. Nicholas often appears with a darker companion who deals with the children on the “misbehaving” list). Both figures test the children, and the good ones receive presents.

One of Austria’s most important contributions to the celebration of Christmas is a song sung by church choirs and carolers around the world: “Silent Night.” On Christmas Eve, 1818, organist Franz Gruber composed the music to accompany Josef Mohr’s poem. The carol was Gruber’s only published musical work.

The Nativity scene is displayed around the family tree, which is often decorated with small toys and candy as well as ornaments. There are processions known as “Showing the Christ Child,” and Nativity plays are also performed; similar to the Spanish posadas, they dramatize the Holy Family’s journey. On Christmas Eve, many enjoy music from the
Turmblasen,
a brass band that plays carols from church steeples or building towers.

Switzerland

Switzerland is populated by four distinct groups of people, all of whom tend to follow their own traditions: French, German, Italian, and Romansh. Regardless of nationality, however, manger scenes and trees are common themes, and on December 6, the Chlausjagen Festival, or Feast of St. Nicholas, is often celebrated.

In some parts of Switzerland, great care is taken to emphasize the holiday’s religious significance before its festive side. Presents are brought by the Chriskindli: The angelic figure arrives to the sound of bells. In fact, churches in Switzerland are famous for their bells—bell-ringing competitions are held in some areas, such as Valais, on Christmas Eve.

Holland

Of all the countries in the world that celebrate St. Nicholas’s Day, Holland is the one in which the saint can truly be said to reign supreme. Arriving by steamer on the last Saturday in November, he’s greeted by huge crowds of people, including dignitaries. After parading through the streets in full bishop’s regalia, Nicholas and his companion, Black Peter, take up residence in a hotel and begin preparations for St. Nicholas’s Eve. In the time between his arrival and the holiday, St. Nicholas visits schools, hospitals, and shopping malls. The presents he leaves in children’s shoes on St. Nicholas’s Eve are disguised and come with catchy poems; Black Peter leaves switches for misbehaving children.

For Christmas, there are church services and much eating and merriment. Boiled chestnuts are among the popular snacks. The houses are decorated with holly and pine, and there are Christmas trees. December 26, also a legal holiday, is referred to as Second Christmas, but is usually an opportunity for resting up from the previous day’s activities. One nice feature of this day is the abundance of music that can be heard from a variety of choirs, radio broadcasts, and other performances.

Denmark

In Denmark, Santa is not alone. A mysterious creature lurks about during the Christmas season: the mischievous Julnisse. Dressed in gray with a red bonnet, red socks, and white clogs, the elf-like Julnisse hides in farmhouse lofts or barnyards. Unless appeased with a treat, he may play tricks; but if properly taken care of, he’ll watch over the family’s animals for the upcoming year. The figure is quite popular and is often featured on collector’s plates made specially for Christmas.

The tradition of collecting such plates began years ago, when rich families would give their servants plates of goodies for the Christmas holiday. The servants set aside the plates, which they considered far better than their everyday dishes. The custom caught on, and now the Christmas plate—with or without a Julnisse—is a popular collectible.

Food is a major element of the Danish celebration, including the Christmas meal—which often features roast goose or turkey, red cabbage, potatoes, and pastry. One custom (common to other Scandinavian countries as well) involves hiding an almond in the rice pudding. The child who receives the portion with the almond gets a prize.

Norway

Norwegians, like other Scandinavian peoples, believe in sharing Christmas with the animals. On Christmas Eve day, a sheaf of grain, or “Bird Tree,” is hung out in the yard so that the birds may feast, too.

By four o’clock on Christmas eve, all work has ceased; all are dressed in their best clothes to begin the festivities; and other Scandinavian customs are observed. The rice pudding is eaten, and whoever finds the magic almond is given a treat. Of course, some rice pudding must also be given to the barnyard elf to ensure he’ll protect the animals and not pull pranks.

For the children, there is Julesvenn to bring gifts on Christmas Eve. Between Christmas and the season’s end on January 13, there are many parties for children and adults, including the Julebukk, a Halloween-like celebration named after Thor’s goat. Children wear costumes and knock on neighbors’ doors asking for treats.

Sweden

Although St. Lucia’s Day on December 13 is observed in other Scandinavian countries, it is celebrated on a grand scale in Sweden. St. Lucia, who was martyred in A.D. 304 for being a Christian, is important to the Swedes because, legend says, she brought food to Sweden during a time of famine. In the wee hours of December 13, thousands of young girls in white robes, acting the part of St. Lucia, serve pastry and coffee to their parents while they are in bed. Special buns are made with an “X” on them to symbolize Christ. There is also an official St. Lucia parade in Stockholm.

On Christmas Eve day, the family gathers in the kitchen for a ritual known
as doppa i grytan
(“dipping in the kettle”). A kettle is filled with drippings—corned beef, pork, and sausage—each person dips a piece of dark bread in the kettle until it is soaked through, then eats it. This ritual is meant to remind each family member of those who are less fortunate, and to encourage thankfulness.

Because King Knut had once declared that Christmas should be celebrated for twenty days, the season doesn’t officially end until January 13, Saint Knut’s Day. (King Knut IV ruled from 1080–1086 and is honored as a saint for his virtue and generosity.) The days between Christmas and Saint Knut’s Day are filled with parties for children and adults.

The Swedish also have the Scandinavian tradition of rice pudding with the hidden almond, only here the finder of the almond is destined to be married within a year. And like other Scandinavians, the Swedes have their gnome, known as Jultomten, who must be appeased, and who puts presents under the tree on Christmas Eve, accompanied by poems.