We all understand that Jesus was
not born on December 25th. Most
of our celebrations of Christmas are simply traditions that we have acquired
and pass down. Some of our traditions
seem to have nothing to do with the worship of Christ at all, but they are for
the most part harmless and fun. I hope
you have a joyful Christmas and that your traditions fill your heart, home, and
church with the warmth of our Lord’s love.
And the next time you think your
Christmas traditions are strange consider these:
Christmas
log
The
bizarre Catalonian tradition of caga tió (or "defecating
log" in English) involves creating a character out of a small log -
often complete with a grinning face and hat, and a hold drilled through it –
which sits on the dining room table during the fortnight leading up to
Christmas. It has to be fed every day with fruit, nuts and sweets, and then –
on Christmas Eve – the entire family beats the log with sticks, while singing
traditional songs, forcing the log to excrete its treats.
Festive
fiend
St
Nicholas's evil accomplice in Austrian tradition, Krampus is a
demon-like creature that punishes bad children. Men dressed as Krampus roam the
streets during the festive period, frightening the little ones. Nothing tells of the Joy of Christmas like
terrorizing children.
Christmas
Caracas
In
Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, it is customary to travel to early morning
church services during the festival period on roller skates – roads are even
cleared to provide Christmas worshippers with a safe passage. You might even get a cast for Christmas.
Wicked
Christmas
Norwegians believe that Christmas Eve
coincides with the arrival of evil spirits and witches. Logically, therefore,
households will hide all their brooms before they go to sleep. You would hate to have a witch go cruising on
your broom.
Goat
to it
A
tradition popular in Scandinavia is that of the Christmas goat (Julebukk
in Norway or Julbock in Sweden). You can find straw goats on or near
the Christmas tree or even a gigantic straw goat in the town square. The custom has origins in the worship of
Thor, who rode in a chariot pulled by a pair of goats.
I’d
rather have Ham.
Christmas
cuisine in Greenland doesn't quite compete with a Christmas Ham. Mattak
– raw whale skin with a little blubber – is one festive delicacy, as is kiviak,
which is made by wrapping a small arctic bird in seal skin, burying it for
several months and eating its decomposed flesh.
Taking
the plunge
It's
difficult to understand how diving into a freezing body of water on Christmas
Day ever caught on, but it has become an annual custom in Britain.
Brave Londoners leap into the Serpentine on Hyde Park or
Brighton beach, in Ireland revelers head for the chilly Irish Sea, and in
France there's an annual dip in Nice.
Here in Florida swimming on Christmas day might happen if accompanied by
warm weather.
The
ghost of Christmas past
During
"consoda", the traditional Christmas feast in Portugal,
families will sometimes set extra places at the dining table for deceased
relatives. It is thought that the practice will ensure good fortunes for the
household.
Black
Peter
In
the Netherlands, Zwarte Piet - or "Black Peter" - is a
mischievous assistant to Father Christmas. He will appear at festive parades and is
tasked with amusing children and scattering sweets. As those who dress up as Zwarte Piet usually
cover their face in blacking and wear a curly Afro wig, the tradition has
become a controversial one, with some claiming it to be racist.
Night
of the Radishes
Every
December 23 in the Mexican city of Oaxaca, thousands of residents flock
to the main plaza to see an exhibition of sculptures cut from radishes. Themes
usually include nativity scenes. In my
opinion, this is a much better use of a radish than doing something disgusting
like eating them.
Please
drop me a note and let me know about your Christmas traditions, warm, witty or
weird.
In the
Cause of Christ
Charlie
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