Three Strange European Christmas Traditions

Every family has it's own personal christmas traditions. Whether it's finding somewhere to hide Granny's ghastly, cement-like christmas cake, the ritualistic unpacking of antique, heirloom decorations or watching that special Christmas film before bed on December 24th, everyone has their own special festive ritual. Around the world Christmas is celebrated in all manner of ways, from the twee to the downright odd yet the sentiment of family and togetherness remains the same.

Although the spirit of Christmas is strikingly similar wherever it is celebrated, the traditions that surround it vary wildly. It is easy to assume that wherever Christmas is celebrated, holly, mistletoe and stockings follow. Nothing could be further from the truth. In celebration of this, happiest of holidays, I have gathered three of the most unusual festive traditions the world has to offer. Enjoy.

La Befana - Italy
La Befana is an Italian folkloric character similar to the UK's 'Santa Claus' with one major difference, she's female. Her exact origins are uncertain, some believe that her name derives from the festival of Epiphany which became 'Befana' in Rome. Others see her as an evolution of 'Strenia' - a pagan deity who presided over new years gifts.

Traditionally, Befana visits all of Italy's children on the eve of January 6th and she fills their socks with sweets and presents if they have been good, coal if they've been bad. In modern Italy coal has been replaced with black sugar candy.

La Befana is usually portrayed as an old woman wearing a black shawl, covered in soot (she enters homes through the chimney) and carrying or riding a broomstick. She also carries a hamper or sack full of presents and sweets and is usually depicted smiling.

Christian legend says that La Befana was approached by the 'three wise men' just a few days before Christ's birth. They asked her for directions to his now famous manger but she did not know, instead she provided the wise men with shelter for the night.

Impressed with La Befana's hospitality the wise men invited her on their journey to find the infant Christ but she declined, saying she had too much housework to do. After a while La Befana grew curious and had a change of heart. The old woman set out to find the wise men and Christ.

She never found them and to this day she wanders, searching for Christ, she leaves her gifts and sweeps floors wherever she goes.

Mari Lwyd - Wales
The Mari Lwyd is a Welsh new years celebration which has been speculated to derive from an ancient ritual for the Celtic god, Rhiannon.

The Mari Lwyd ceremony consists of a horse's skull affixed to the end of a wooden pole; sheets are attached to the base of the skull thus concealing the pole and the person carrying the Mari Lwyd.

The eyes of the skull are filled with brightly-coloured objects, often bottle caps and coloured ribbons are fixed to the skull. The jaw of the skull is often sprung or hinged so the Mari Lwyd's operator can snap it's jaws at passers by.

If you are 'given the bite' (snapped at) by the Mari Lwyd you are expected to pay a cash fine.

In recent years the Mari Lwyd has come to represent the resurgence of interest in Welsh folk culture. Councils are now helping to organise bigger and better Mari Lwyds and the ceremony surround the ancient tradition is once again gaining popularity.

Krampuslauf - Austria, Bavaria and Switzerland
Krampuslauf is the night scary, devil-lke creatures called 'Krampus' carry cow bells, clanking chains and rods through the streets of alpine regions scaring children and adults.

Traditionally, young men dress as the Krampus and are accompanied by 'Nikolaus', (the local equivalent of Santa). The Krampuslauf typically occurs in the first two weeks of December, December 5 being the favoured date.

In rural areas the Krampuslauf traditions sometimes include giving those unfortunate enough to be caught by the Krampus a light birching. The Krampus monsters are often linked to legends of succubus and incubus, the nocturnal, sexually predatory demons.

The modern costume typically used on Krampuslauf consists of red wooden masks, black sheep's skin and horns. The masks are typically hand-carved and many people enjoy Krampuslauf competitions, competing for titles such as 'best costume' and 'most scary'.

The word Krampus has its origins in the old German word 'Krampen' which means, 'Claw'. Many believe Krampuslauf to be a pre-christian festival, drawing on pagan influences which have survived due to the isolated nature of the Alpine region.

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