The trees, the lights, the gifts… Christmas is made up of little traditions known throughout the world. From Santa Claus to the Nutcracker, its imagery finds its way into our homes every December. However, not all the customs celebrated at this time of year are equally popular.
Some of them are vestiges of a very ancient cultural heritage and are celebrated locally, far from the better-known international festivities. Today we’re going to tell you about five of these traditions, each one more peculiar than the last, so you can discover them before Christmas Eve and enjoy them with your favorite Cuban minis cigars.
Krampus (Germany)
Krampus is a creature from German folklore who acts as the grim counterpart to the kind St. Nicholas. Legend has it that on the night of December 5 to 6 (known as Krampusnacht), Krampus walks the streets with chains and bells to punish children who have misbehaved and take them away with him.
Over time, this peculiar tradition has evolved into street parades in which neighbors dress up as Krampus, providing a touch of terror and irreverence to the Christmas imagery.
The Night of the Radishes (Mexico)
The Night of the Radishes is celebrated every December 23 in the city of Oaxaca de Juárez. It consists of a contest and exhibition in which horticulturists and artisans carve radishes (and sometimes also everlasting flowers or totomoxtle), transforming them into sculptural figures representing religious, popular, or traditional scenes.
Although its roots date back to the Christmas market, its first official edition as an event date back to 1897. For a few hours, the city’s main square is filled with stalls displaying their works, while thousands of people flock to see them, celebrating the ingenuity and cultural identity of Oaxaca.
The Mari Lwyd (Wales)
Mari Lwyd is a tradition in southern Wales that is celebrated between Christmas and Epiphany. Like the Krampus parades, it adds a spooky touch to the festivities, as it involves carrying a “ghost mare” through the streets.
It is a horse skull mounted on a pole and decorated with ribbons and fabrics, behind which a person is hidden. When they arrive at a house, the group sings songs or wassails and starts a rhyming contest (known as pwnco) with the inhabitants. But here’s the twist: if Mari and her companions manage to enter a house, they are believed to bring good luck to those who live there.
Hide Your Brooms (Norway)
In Norway, there is an old superstition that on Christmas Eve, witches and evil spirits come out of hiding to gather. To do this, they steal any brooms they find along the way so they can fly through the sky on them.
In the past, to prevent these robberies, Norwegian families began hiding their brooms around the house before going to sleep, thus ensuring a peaceful and safe night. Today, the custom of hiding the broom on Christmas Eve is still maintained, a peculiar and charming Christmas tradition.
Burning the Devil (Guatemala)
In Guatemala, we can also find curious customs for celebrating Christmas. An example of this is the burning of the Devil, a practice that takes place at the beginning of December. It consists of cleaning houses and streets, burning trash, old objects, and figures of the devil to expel bad energy and prepare the home for Christmas.
This symbolic ritual represents spiritual purification and the victory of good over evil. It originated in colonial times, when local beliefs were combined with Christian beliefs.
All these celebrations, although little known to the public, are examples of a long cultural heritage that brings authenticity to the Christmas season. At the end of the day, everyone has their own traditions at this time of year. For us, it’s not just the tree and the exchange of gifts, but also toasting with family and friends, accompanied by some iconic Cuban mini cigars.
