European Christmas Traditions

Tió de Nadal – Spain

What says Christmas more than a ‘poop log’?! This Christmas tradition sees families ‘feed’ the festive ornament from 8 December until Christmas Eve when it eventually ‘poops presents’. It’s even given a little hat and scarf to keep it warm in the cold weather! Originally a custom in Spain's Catalonia region, it’s now popular across the country.

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Christmas Spider – Poland

Maybe not what everyone would wish to find in their Christmas tree but it’s considered very good luck in Poland! There are several tales about Christmas spiders and all point to the arachnids being symbols of goodness and prosperity. Some say a family brought a tree into their home for the festive season but they couldn’t afford to decorate it, then overnight a spider weaved cobwebs all over it that turned into sparkling tinsel.

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Shoes for The Yule Lads – Iceland

The Yule Lads are creatures from Icelandic folklore – think Christmas elves with a troll twist. They’re known as mischievous gift-givers who watch over children’s behaviour. It’s tradition for Icelandic children to put a shoe on their windowsill (often with a tasty offering of laufabrauð) which the Yule Lads will leave a gift in if the child’s been good, or a potato if they’ve been naughty!

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Porridge for Nisse – Norway

A cherished festive figure, all homes in Norway are believed to have a ‘house elf’ or Nisse. In years gone by they were thought to help around the farm or house, so at Christmas time, families treat their Nisse to a bowl of porridge, or risengrød. If not well-fed, the Nisse is said to get up to all sorts of mischief!

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Treats for Sinterklaas’ Horse – The Netherlands

Instead of Santa Claus, The Netherlands has Sinterklaas who wears Bishop’s clothing and rides a horse. He arrives by ship to the country in mid-November and each day from then until 5 December (Pakjesavond), children leave their shoes by the fire filled with treats for Sinterklaas’ horse. On Pakjesavond, families get a knock at the door and a bag full of presents is delivered for the children!

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Kissing Under Mistletoe – United Kingdom

Dating back thousands of years, it was the Victorians who whole-heartedly adopted the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe and it’s one that’s stuck! The custom doesn’t have a clear origin but a common theme is that mistletoe is seen as a symbol of life – it is evergreen when the trees it grows on die away for winter. So next time you meet someone under the mistletoe, it might be lucky to share a quick kiss…

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Golden Pig – Czech Republic

Another Christmas legend centred on bringing you luck is the Czech Republic’s Golden Pig. An important part of festive celebrations on Christmas Eve is fasting or not eating meat for meals (snacks excluded, phew!) so that you may have a chance of seeing a Golden Pig in the evening. If you catch a glimpse, it’s thought to bring you great prosperity.

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Krampus – Austria

Watch out for the mythical horned figure in early December! Krampus is said to join Saint Nicholas as he hands gifts to children. But instead of presents, Krampus gives naughty children birch rods.

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