Christmas Traditions Around Europe

Wed, 14 Dec 2011

Has the sobering financial year had an impact on the diverse traditions and exciting variations of Christmas celebrations?

In Europe alone, there are widely different traditions when it comes to Christmas the build-up to the holiday. On 6 December, Belgians celebrate Sinterklaas. A holiday intended for children, they are encouraged to send lists up the chimney, leave a carrot for the donkey and something sweet for Saint Nicolas. In return, little chocolates often appear in their shoes in the morning Nowadays, however, many Belgian children get a bit more spoiled and receive bigger gifts in addition to the symbolic chocolates. The evening usually hosts a family meal, but Sinterklaas does not replace Christmas. De Kerstman for the Flemish or le Père Noël in the francophone community comes on 25 December, giving presents before another family meal is served, this time including a type of breakfast sweet bread in the shape of the baby Jesus.

For the Finnish, Father Christmas lives in the Northern part of the country - Korvatunturi. It is here that children send their letters. On Christmas Eve a traditional meal of rice porridge and a sweet soup made from dried fruits is served, with the next day’s main event being the midday broadcast of the Christmas Peace Declaration on the radio.

Southern France is home to the tradition of keeping a log burning from Christmas Eve until New Year's Day, associated with the end of the year and originating from a farmers’ superstition that keeping a piece of the log will help provide a fruitful harvest the following year. Many French homes also set up a nativity scene, stemming back to the country’s religious past.

The carolling common in the UK characterised by carol singers going door to door or a church-based carol service gives Christmas a special build up and has even been adopted in other countries. In centuries long gone, Europeans sung carols but these were not intended for Christmas and were a part of Winter Solstice celebrations. These olden rituals have been revamped and thanks to the British influence have expanded their influence. Today, the service of Nine Lessons and Carols from King's College in Cambridge is broadcast live on Christmas Eve, a tradition dating back to the end of WWI. After working up an appetite singing, many different traditional foods appear on Christmas table - mince pies, Christmas cake and Christmas pudding.

Germany, which has long been fond of the fairytale, reflects this national love with enchanting gingerbread houses and small dolls made of fruit, both of which are traditional Christmas toys. Spiced cakes and handmade decorations serve as ornaments for the tree and presents for close ones. For some Germans Christkind - or Christ child – comes on Christmas eve, bringing with him gifts and often a sidekick referred to as Ru-Klas, Knecht, Pelznickle, or Rupprecht.

The rich national traditions of the Germans are alluring to international tourists, who swarm to the country’s magical Christmas markets. A longstanding tradition, the markets usually sell unique handicraft and can be found in smaller villages as well as large cities. The fairytale holds true with plentiful supplies gingerbread biscuits called Lebkuchen, as well as mulled wine, which has also taken hold in Austria, Beligum, the Netherlands and the UK).

Further South, Spain’s Christmas is musical and filled with dance. After midnight mass and Christmas dinner, dancers perform a specific Christmas dance called the Jota with the accompaniment of with guitars and castanets. At home, many children can be found dacning around the nativity scene.

Christmas still remains as religiously-orientated holiday in Spain and the cow is honoured as the stable animal that kept baby Jesus warm and like in Italy, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception begins on 8 December, honouring the Virgin Mary.

Beyond Europe…

A number of American traditions were brought from Europe, but even within the country traditions vary greatly, and often depend on the varying weather conditions. Santa Claus arrives by boat in Hawaii and the festive dinner on the Christmas Day is eaten outdoors, while in Alaska, carollers carry a pole with a star atop it as they go door to door.

Despite a little less chill, Christmas Down Under certainly has no less of the cheer. With temperatures ranging from between 25 and 40 degrees, celebrations are often outside. Carols by Candlelight began in Melbourne and has taken place annually since 1937. The event today features outdoor concerts in most Australian cities with people joining together to sing and light candles. To decorate homes, Australians father bunches of a native tree – the Christmas Bush. The plant has little green leaves and cream-coloured flowers, which turn red during the summer, just in time for Christmas.

Austerity side-effects

Although Germany has seen a rise in holiday shoppers and sales have risen by almost 5%, the situation is far from joyful on other shopping streets across Europe. Prudent spending, however, is a tough choice, but not one that necessarily has to be. The commercialisation of Christmas has created a sense of feeling hard hit among consumers when spending is limited, yet such an association strays from the traditions associated with the holiday. The expectation to spend more at this time of year pays little tribute to the real reason for celebrating Christmas. Even with religious beliefs aside, it is also a time for family and friends. Presents are a tradition all across Europe, but these are symbolic and hardly have to represent a collection of top brands. Gifts exchanged between close friends and given to children should be enough.

The brimming bags of gadgets and overpriced products are more the result of commercial pressure than tradition. It is not that long ago that children were gleeful to find little chocolates and a mandarin orange in a shoe or under their pillow. It is the commercial hype and marketing that are leading the trickery whereby consumers could choose not to give in to excessive buying, but instead they feel forced by empty pockets. This sense of ‘consumer guilt’ does not cease despite the economic situation worldwide as individuals have become so conditioned to spending beyond their means during the holiday season and not doing so seems fundamentally wrong.

The bleak outlook on the doorstep of the New Year cannot be changed in the space of two weeks and consumers should instead try to make the most of what they have. Festivities that return to more traditional and less costly celebrations could be the answer – one which does not sacrifice the magic of the season.

Sombre Scrooge

This year the glow is dimmer and the merriment in many of Europe’s cities is decidedly absent. The plentiful array of bright lights and colour has been considerably toned down, marking the struggle to finance the displays. The inevitable belt-tightening that can be seen and felt across Europe is hitting home particularly hard around Christmastime, yet the merriment can be recreated in the company of good friends and loved ones. At a minimal cost, the holiday season can still be filled with all of the things that have made it special for generations, austerity or not.

by Anouska Munden