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The Christmas season is just around the corner: But what about the Norwegian marzipan pork, who or what is “The Fat One” from Spain, and how does the candy cane get its shape?
As different as different languages and countries are, their Christmas traditions are just as different.
The most beautiful, funniest and most bizarre - compiled by language experts from all over the world for the Babbel language learning app - are presented here.
1. Italy - La Befana
The witch Befana
Source: Getty Images / New Vision Technologies Inc
Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Ded Moroz, Sinterklaas, St. Nicholas - who doesn't know the happy old man who generously distributes gifts at Christmas time?
But in Italy comes La Befana, a witch who rewards good children with sweets and punishes naughty children with dark coal.
On the night of January 5th to 6th, she rides a broom through the chimney and into the house.
The Christmas spirit lasts until the New Year, because Befana (Italian: from "Epifania") visits the houses on the night of Epiphany - the feast of the three kings.
She is usually not received with biscuits and milk, but with a glass of wine and regional delicacies.
2. Portugal - Consoada
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Consoada - this is the name of the traditional Christmas meal that is served in Portugal on Christmas Eve.
The main course consists of cod, broccoli or kale and boiled eggs and potatoes along with a garlic vinaigrette.
For dessert there is usually a sweet dessert from the region.
The custom of the Consoada dates back to a time when people fasted the entire day on December 24th and came home after midnight mass, the Misa de Gallo, and served a “comforting” meal.
This is where the name comes from, which goes back to the Latin word consolare: to comfort.
It is a tradition that the plate is not completely eaten out of respect for the dead who might want to attend the festival.
Gifts are exchanged after the meal.
3. Netherlands - Decemberzegels
The current Christmas stamps
Source: via postnl.nl
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Even in times of e-mails, Facetime calls and WhatsApp messages, the traditional Christmas card is still very popular for many people.
However, this can quickly become an expensive undertaking if you send a postcard from Europe to the USA, for example.
That is why there are special stamps in the Netherlands between November 4th and January 3rd: the Decemberzegels.
During this time, you only need one of these stamps for a postcard weighing up to 50 grams if the Christmas greeting is sent by post within the Netherlands.
For a postcard to any other part of the world you need a maximum of two Christmas postage stamps.
Traditionally, colorful pictures of the Christmas festival are shown on the December zegels.
4. Spain - El Gordo
Spanish Christmas Lottery
Source: Getty Images / Pablo Blazquez Dominguez
Translated directly from Spanish, el gordo means fat.
This does not mean a lavish Christmas roast or a fat Santa Claus figure.
El Gordo is the traditional Christmas lottery, the Loteria de Navidad.
It always takes place in Spain on December 22nd.
Almost 75 percent of the Spanish population play along every year.
This makes the Christmas lottery one of the largest and most popular lotteries around the world.
With a total profit of over two billion euros, the big, big main prize in the seven-figure range is among the many small winners.
5. France - Gui et houx
Mistletoe and holly
Source: Getty Images / Hulton Archive
In France, gui et houx (mistletoe and the holly wild ilex) grow mainly in Brittany and Normandy.
For some, the kiss under the mistletoe is the epitome of a romantic expression of love.
The French usually give away the mistletoe with its white berries as a good luck charm (porte bonheur) for New Years.
The winter-proof Ilex, on the other hand, is a traditional Christmas decoration because of its bright color: the berries are poisonous, but because of their rich, red color they represent life and love.
The green, prickly leaves are symbolically intended to keep away evil thoughts and deeds and stand for hope.
6. Sweden - July calendar
The TV studio of the Christmas calendar television series for children
Source: pa / TT NYHETSBYR / Janerik Henriksson / TT
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Everyone knows the classic Advent calendar as an ornate calendar with 24 chocolate surprises.
In Sweden and the rest of the Nordic countries, on the other hand, the Yule calendar is a real TV and radio event: Starting with “Titteliture”, the first Swedish TV Advent calendar in the 1960s, the Yule calendar is still a fun pre-Christmas tradition today.
From December 1st to Christmas Eve Tomte - a Christmas elf - opens a new door every day and presents a surprise on TV or radio.
This can be a guest or a riddle, for example.
7. Denmark - calendar lys
Numbered calendar candles from IB Laursen
Source: via nordliebe.com
The Danish word hygge should meanwhile be familiar to everyone - it stands for a cozy, pleasant or calm atmosphere.
The Danish calendar lys are a Christmas appearance of the word hygge: a total of 24 numbered, festively designed candles.
Traditionally, they are lit for breakfast every morning until Christmas Eve.
This ensures a "hyggelige" atmosphere and provides brightness in the dark season.
8. Norway - Marsipangris
Anyone who finds the almond gets the marzipan pig
Source: pa / imageBROKER / Jan Walter
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Marzipan - you love it or you hate it.
In any case, the creamy almond candy is extremely popular in Norway.
Around 45 million tons of marzipan are eaten there every year, and the marzipan pig, marsipangris, has been an integral part of Norwegian Christmas culture since 1915.
Every year families make rice pudding, risgrot, and hide an almond in the bulk.
Anyone who finds them eating will receive a lucky charm as a reward: the marzipan pig.
9. Poland - Szopka
Crib competition in Krakow: the tradition goes back to 1937
Source: pa / NurPhoto / Beata Zawrzel
Around 87 percent of the Polish population is Roman Catholic.
The nativity
scene
s
zopka bozonarodzeniowa or also
szopki krakowskie (Krakow Christmas cribs) - the Christian symbol of the birth of Jesus Christ - therefore plays a very special role in Poland: since the late 1930s there has been a “crib competition” every year in the first week of December.
The most beautiful and bizarre crib creations are presented on Kraków's market square.
The most beautiful works - regardless of whether they are architecturally sophisticated or artistically unusual - will find their way into the permanent exhibition of the Polish History Museum in the Krzysztofory Palace.
This unique tradition was even included in the Unesco Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2018.
10. Germany - candy canes
Traditionally, the candy cane is white with red stripes
Source: Getty Images / Yulia Reznikov
The German Christmas or Christkindl market has become a cultural export hit thanks to its origins and long tradition.
In addition to colorful stalls and a large Christmas tree, live choirs are often part of the basic equipment of the annual Christmas market.
An old German folklore says that some of the choir leaders were very frustrated because noisy children disrupted the singing.
So they asked the candy sellers to give the children cute sticks to suck on to keep them busy while the choir performed.
So candy canes - also known worldwide as candy canes - are often sold at German Christmas markets.
The candy cane has its traditional shape from the shepherd's staff.
The shape should remind the children of the shepherds who visited the baby Jesus.