As December approaches, people start to get excited in anticipation of the forthcoming Christmas celebrations. Christmas is a religious festival celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. It is one of those celebrations that has crossed national, cultural, and ethnic boundaries and evolved into a holiday that encompasses a lot of diversity. Look at these five unusual Christmas celebrations around the globe.
Gavle Goat of Sweden
Since 1966, a huge Yule Goat has been constructed in the middle of Gavle’s Castle Square. Its roots are in Scandinavian pagan customs, and Yule, a festival honouring the Winter Solstice, uses it as a significant emblem. Its significance evolved over time, and it is now regarded as a significant symbol of Sweden’s Christmas celebrations.
Ukraine’s Spider Webs
Ukrainian trees would prefer to be covered in cobwebs rather than glistening lights. This custom is based on a local myth that says a widow and her children, who were unable to support themselves, couldn’t afford to decorate the tree they had grown from a pine cone. On Christmas morning, they noticed their tree was coated in cobwebs that had become golden and silver due to the sunshine.
Venezuelan Miso de Gallo
Venezuelan Christians attend the ‘Miso de Gallo’ midnight service on Christmas. People roller skate to go to churches. The custom dates back to the 1960s, is being practised in Venezuela today. In fact, it is so well-liked that police are frequently called in to prevent traffic from blocking the pathways of roller-skaters travelling to the mass.
Norway’s Broom Hiding
The practise of hiding brooms in homes for Christmas is incredibly common in this Nordic nation. It has its origins in the age-old myth that on Christmas day, evil spirits start wandering the area in search of brooms to ride on.
Finland’s Christmas Saunas
In freezing Finland, people hold the belief that each sauna has its own “sauna elf,” whom everyone is obliged to respect. Another place associated with purity is the sauna. For the holiday season, saunas are decorated with candles, lanterns, and fragrances. Before returning home for a nice meal, families frequently take a communal bath in one of these saunas.