More Bizarre Ways Europe Celebrates Christmas

If you’ve read our first article, you already know that not every European country decks the halls with boughs of holly or tons of Christmas lights. The Christmas traditions across Europe are as varied as the landscapes they’re set in.

We were very curious to learn more about some of the most unusual European Christmas traditions so we asked some of our colleagues what is, in their opinion, the oddest Xmas custom in their country.

So forget about the fat Santa or the red-nosed reindeer and get ready for some really strange Holiday cheer.

Serbia

Every year, on Christmas Eve an oak tree is chopped down by the man of the house and burnt that evening while prayers are said asking for the new year ahead to bestow happiness and health.

The next important step in the celebration is the Christmas Day lunch, which is the highlight of the day where the family breaks a special homemade loaf of bread with a coin inside, called the ‘cesnica’ as a symbol of prosperity.

Although many families are now ordering the Christmas cesnica from the local bakery, the baker will still make it with the obligatory coin. After the dining is over, walnuts are tossed in the four corners of the room.

Romania

On Christmas Eve, groups of children will go door to door holding a large lit star and singing certain songs in exchange for money and treats. It’s an omen of bad luck if you’re not visited by these carolers.

In December, Romanians living in rural areas celebrate the coming of Christmas by stabbing and burning a pig. Yes, as grim as it may sound, this is one of the most awaited moments. If you’re the host, your neighbours will help you hold the swine down while you swiftly cut its throat in your yard and proceed with burning it on top of a straw fire.

The next step is bringing out large quantities of ‘tzuika’ (a traditional plum alcoholic drink) and drinking while chewing on burnt pieces of pigskin. The children usually get the ‘finest’ delicacies, which are the late pig’s burnt ears.

Czech Republic

On a softer side, in the Czech Republic baby Jesus delivers gifts to children and announces them when he has placed the final one by ringing a bell.

One cheerful and popular custom around Christmas dinner tables is predicting what the new year might bring. The prediction is made by cutting an apple crossway. If a star appears in the core, the year will be a good one, if a cross appears, it means death. Wow…that escalated quickly…must put quite a dampener on the party.

Hungary

Christmas in Hungary has always been a marathon, starting on December 5 with the coming of Mikulás, the Hungarian version of Father Christmas.

Children in Hungary get a good deal on Christmas as they get gifts from Mikulás on December 5 and baby Jesus brings them even more on Christmas Eve.

In order to get the presents, kids have to clean their boots and arrange them out the window sill. By the next morning, they will get gifts inside the boots, depending on whether they were good or bad.

Russia

Forget Father Christmas in Russia and the Eastern Slavic countries. During the Soviet era celebrating Christmas was discouraged and eventually incorporated into the New Year’s events up until 1935. It is apparently, from this point that the Ded Moroz grew in popularity.

Ded Moroz is the one to bring gifts in December, and he does it in style. He’s dumped the magic reindeer for three dashing white horses and he has a glamorous blonde assistant ‘Snegurochka ‘, along for the ride. Looks like Ded Moroz is not doing too bad.

Bulgaria

‘Koleduvane’ is a traditional Bulgarian custom that takes place on Christmas Eve (from midnight till dawn, to be exact). So forget about sleeping as ‘koleduvane’ involves young men banging on the doors of neighbouring houses, wishing all health, wealth and happiness – as loud as they can.

Poland

Food plays a very important role when it comes to Christmas traditions and Poland makes no exception. A traditional Christmas meal – the Wigilia – is enjoyed on December 24 after a full day of fasting. Carp is the favourite main dish of the Christmas Eve meal across Poland.

We’re used to children gazing at the sky hoping to catch a glimpse of Santa and his sleigh, but in Poland, they’re looking for the first star. It is only after the first star appears that their day of fasting ends. As you may have guessed, a cloudy sky doesn’t help the hungry tummies.

We’ve taken a look at how some countries keep calm during the craziness that is the holiday season, and how some other countries do it…well…differently. Follow us for even more strange European Christmas traditions. If you missed the first article, you can read it here.

Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments.