Quote from Angela on December 8, 2020, 2:06 pm

We thought it would be fun to explore exactly how the rest of our magical world celebrate Christmas!

1. Iceland

Iceland actually celebrate the festive season for a whole thirteen nights (known as The Thirteen Boys tradition). They fear the local mountain ogress 'Gryla' who comes down from the sloping hills just once a year to eat her favourite dish - children!

Also here the communities acknowledge the folklore 'Yule Lad' where you must leave your shoes at the front door. Come the morning there will either be gifts next to your shoes if you have been good of course, or rotten potatoes if you failed to make the list!

2. Ukraine

Baubles? Nope. Tinsel? Nope. Stars? No sir. Here in the Ukraine they cover their Christmas trees in spider web and decorative golden and jewelled 8 legged creepy crawlies. Here they pay hommage to the tale of a poor lady who had lots of children yet no money to decorate her tree. However once the morning sunshine dawned it revealed her tree to be beautifully covered in glistening dewy spider webs!

3. Philippines

Each year every saturday prior to Christmas the city of San Fernando go all out celebrating their amazingly colourful and flamboyant Lantern Festival, the crowds are lost in a sea of magical nightlight lanterns and enjoy local authentic street foods, attracting visitors from all over, with some lanterns being as large as 10 metres tall!

4. Sweden

Here the communities honour their folklore of The Gavle Yule Goat. They erect large straw statues of goats. The Yule Goat helps Santa deliver all those presents each festive season.

5. Russia

The Russian folks love their Babouschka folklore! Babouschka dolls are placed in windows and homes. This tradition is based on a tale of a lady who did not give a gift for the Baby Jesus. Older ladies in the communities eg grandmas dress up as Babouschka and set about distributing all sorts of wonderful presents to local children. Their message is to encourage 'giving' and 'repentance'.

6. Norway

Here the people hide their broomsticks believing the decades old tale that witches will set upon the towns in search of brooms so they can ride the starry skies!  Also acknowledged is 'Nisse the Guardian Gnome' who, as folklore has it, hides in barns but when he emerges you better make sure there is a nice bowl of porridge with lots of butter on top waiting for him or else he will tie the tails of your local cows together!

7. Colombia

Celebrated on December 7th, the eve of the Immaculate Conception. Its all aboit the 'candle lights'! The streets are aglow bathed in wonderful candlelight. It is difficult to find a home or park that is not strewn with candles and they often enjoy competitions for best candlelit decorated home and venue.

8. Venezuela

Its time to get your roller skates on! Yes you heard that right! Not so tradition but certainly original! The capital city of Caracas thought it would be fun to shake Christmas up a little so from 16th through to 24th December expect many traffic lanes closed due to those who choose to rollerskate to families homes and churches! 

9. Canada

Nathan Phillips Square Light Show and Festivals! Toronto is the place to be! Canadians believe Canada to be the hometown of Santa Claus! Toronto go crazy, with almost a million in attendance. Giant christmas trees, LED light shows and of course you get natural snow!

We hope you enjoyed this article. Feel free to add any more traditions you know of around our wonderful world!

Seasons Greetings from all at Boise City Ghost Hunters!

Photographs sourced at GOOGLE.COM