Celebrate Christmas traditions around the world
As people gear up for Christmas around the world, each family has its own customs they incorporate to make the winter months feel magic. In the United Kingdom, we kiss people underneath the mistletoe as it’s seen to be a symbol of life. But in other European countries, they each have their own Christmas traditions. Discover European Christmas traditions and fly to all the destinations from London Luton Airport.
Spain – Tió de Nadal
What says Christmas more than a ‘poop log’? This Christmas custom 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 chilly weather!
The Tió de Nadal has ancient roots linked to pagan celebrations around the winter solstice. Families across Spain’s Catalonia region have been putting up the ‘poop log’ for centuries, but the jolly decorations you’ll see now gained popularity in the 1970s. Visit cities across Catalonia including Barcelona, Reus, and Girona.
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Poland – Christmas Spider
What’s got eight legs and plenty of festive cheer? The Christmas spider! This Polish Christmas tradition may not be everyone would wish to find in their Christmas tree, but it’s considered exceptionally good luck in Poland! Festive arachnids are said to be 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. If you’re visiting Poland’s capital city Warsaw for a European Christmas market, why not buy a spider Christmas tree ornament?
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Germany – Advent Calendars
Lots of people will count the cold, December days to Christmas with an advent calendar. Whether it’s a chocolate advent calendar or a more extravagant choice, they’re ideal for kids (and big kids alike!) But did you know advent calendars started in Germany? Families would mark the days leading up to 25th December by tallying chalk lines on a wall. And if you’re going to German cities like Berlin, soak up the Christmas atmosphere at Charlottenburg Palace.
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Serbia – The badjnak tree
Serbia follows the Julian calendar instead of the Georgian calendar like in the UK. With different dates, Serbia celebrates Christmas on 7th January. One of Serbia’s many practices is the badnjak tree, where the father typically gets a small oak tree to bring to the family home. When he arrives, he’s doused in wheat and corn kernels. As Serbia continues the Christmas celebrations once they’re over across much of Europe, why not book a trip to Belgrade to enjoy the January festivities?
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The Netherlands – Treats for Sinterklaas’ Horse
Instead of Santa Claus visiting the family home on Christmas Eve, it’s Sinterklaas. And Sinterklaas doesn’t arrive on a sleigh. 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! This Dutch Christmas tradition is rooted from the Middle Ages, coinciding with the bishop Saint Nicholas’s name day on 6th December. We’d recommend visiting Amsterdam for its light festivals in December too.
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Italy – La Befana
Some European countries celebrate Epiphany with Father Christmas-like characters. Instead, Italy has La Befana, the holiday witch. Flying into family homes on her broomstick, La Befana is said to pop presents into stockings; treats for the good children, and coal for the naughty kids. Want to try some of these treats? Head to Milan for authentic panettone bread, or Rome for a crunchy biscotti snack.
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Iceland – Shoes for The Yule Lads
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 expected that Icelandic children will 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.
There’s 13 Yule Lads in total, with each staying around for 13 days. See all 13 arrive daily from 12th – 24th December, before they start leaving from 25th December – 6th January. Will you spot the ‘Spoon Licker,’ ‘Pot Scraper’ or ‘Bowl Licker when you’re in Reykjavik?
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Norway – Porridge for Nisse
If you’ve been to a house in Norway at Christmastime, you’ll know of the ‘house elf’ or Nisse. A cherished festive figure, 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. Make sure you don’t annoy a nisse elf if you’re going to Tromso during the holidays.
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Czech Republic – Golden Pig
The Golden Pig from the Czech Republic is sure to bring you Christmas luck. But if you want to see it, then you’ll need to fast or not eat 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.
If you’re staying in Prague, you may spot a soda commercial that features the story of the Golden Pig. It’s so popular that’s it a staple of Czech Christmas television for over a decade.
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Austria – Krampus
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. Krampus is said to go with Saint Nicholas on the night of 5th December. So, if you’re staying in Innsbruck, Salzburg or Vienna just before Christmas, make sure you keep an eye out.
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