These 12 Ancient Superstitions From Different Parts Of The World Let Us Glimpse At Where Our Christmas Traditions Came From
Christmas season is supposed to be a joyous occasion, coming together with family to celebrate the baby Jesus and enjoy each other’s company, share gifts and get festively plump on all the lovely food treats available.
That’s how it largely is these days anyway, but over the centuries, Christmas has grown in many different ways depending on the location you’re celebrating in. Many of the Christmas traditions we have today are deeply rooted in ancient beliefs, many of which are based on superstition.
Nowadays, we’re less likely to let our superstitions dictate what we do, but that’s not to say some of these Christmas superstitions haven’t carried on through the ages.Here, we take a look at 12 of our favourite weird and creepy
Christmas superstitions from around the world, contemplating how they’ve manifested themselves in today’s celebrations.
More info: doorsonlineuk.co.uk
Czechia/Czech Republic
Image credits: www.doorsonlineuk.co.uk
While many in western Europe favour meat or poultry as the traditional centrepiece of their Christmas dinner, in Eastern Europe, carp is more commonly served.
America
Image credits: www.doorsonlineuk.co.uk
There are a few Christmas superstitions that relate to marriage and finding the love of your life, but this one wins out for us.
Greece
Image credits: www.doorsonlineuk.co.uk
It seems that Greek people might have a thing for shoes at Christmas. They also believe that it’s a bad idea to give shoes as a gift during the festive period, otherwise you risk that person walking out of your life in the future.
Guatemala
Image credits: www.doorsonlineuk.co.uk
It’s always nice to have a clean and tidy house in preparation for the festive period, but in Guatemala, cleanliness really is next to Godliness. Locals believe that the devil and other evil spirits live in the dark, dirty corners of your home.
The ritual is called ‘La Quema del Diablo’ (or the ‘Burning of the Devil’), an effigy of the devil is placed on top of the rubbish pile and set alight.
England
Image credits: www.doorsonlineuk.co.uk
At one point in time, if you join an English family on the last Sunday before Advent, you’d probably be expected to help prepare the Christmas pudding. However, superstition dictates that there’s a very particular way of doing it though.
Philippines
Image credits: www.doorsonlineuk.co.uk
Christmas in the Philippines isn’t as big a deal as it is in other parts of the world, but there is still a sizable Christian population, and with that comes many traditions and superstitions that have been passed down through the generations.
Poland
Image credits: www.doorsonlineuk.co.uk
This superstition isn’t completely unique to Poland though. A number of European countries believe that babies born will turn into werewolves it seems. One has to wonder what happened on continental Europe for this superstition to take such a hold…
Latvia
Image credits: www.doorsonlineuk.co.uk
Fun Fact: The word Yule itself means wheel, the wheel being a pagan symbol for the sun.
Portugal
Image credits: www.doorsonlineuk.co.uk
Family is a big deal in Portuguese tradition and even more so over the festive period.
Serbia
Image credits: www.doorsonlineuk.co.uk
This one might just be our favourite. In Serbian Christmas traditions, the twelve days of Christmas were previously called the “unbaptized days” and they were considered a time when demonic forces of all kinds were believed to be more active and dangerous than usual.
Ukraine
Ever wondered where tinsel came from? Why do we decorate our Christmas trees in this glittery, fluffy-looking stuff? Turns out it might be Ukraine.
Spain
If you’re buying a gift for someone you don’t really like, then this Christmas superstition might work in your favour. However, if you’re buying for someone you love, it’s probably best to avoid anything with sharp edges.
19Kviews
Share on Facebook
I was once mistaken for the old hog in the american tradition. As for what I was doing in the the hog pen.? They're great company, and after thanks giving I'm sick of the family!
I'm Polish and I've never heard of the illustrated superstition, neither do my Polish friends from across the country. It isn't common in Poland.
I am Polish, I know ton of christmas superstition but the one above i just pure imagination. You want fun superstition in Poland? 1. Always put an extra plate for an unexpected guest during christmas EVE dinner, 2. On the christmas table during dinner three should be twelve dishes, and You have to try every one od them - do You will not miss anything on the upcoming year. 3 carp scales from Czech as well.
Load More Replies...
Many cultures have a tradition of not giving knives or blades as a gift. A common way to get around this is for the gift receiver to give a small coin to the gift giver. This way the blades have been bought, not gifted.
In Finland we haver this saying that says if you stay quiet in Christmas eve sauna the summer will be mosquito free
"Christmas in the Philippines isn’t as big a deal as it is in other parts of the world..." My dude, Filipinos start Christmas in September.
The date of the English tradition is incorrect. It is the last Sunday before Advent that Christmas puddings are traditionally made. This gives a month for the flavours to develop. There's even a name for it, Stir Up Sunday. This year (2022) it was the 20th of November.
It does say the last Sunday before Advent :)
Load More Replies...
Imagine al the poor kids whose family and community treated them like a half human because they were born near Christmas. Two of my cousins were born on the 23rd, they are just the worst peopl.... hang on...
Sorry, but they are fine (at least according to this tradition). Christmas Day is the first Day of Christmas, and the count continues from then on into January.
Load More Replies...
I´m portuguese and I´ve never heard of this tradition - it´s quite creepy.
I have lived in the Appalachian Mountains my entire life, except when I was in college, and I have never heard of this myth/tradition. Granted, they are a long mountain range, but my family is from all over them, and have been here for a long time, and I cannot remember hearing any of them mention anything like this.
I was born on the 7th day of Christmas so where are my half demon or werewolf powers damnit!
I’m from Latvia and I never heard about our ancient god ,,Mithras” although I know a lot about our mythology. And ,,Yule” in Latvian means ,,a log” not a ,,wheel”. They are basically pushing a tree trunk around the neighbourhood to gather all bad things that happened this year to burn it and start the new year fresh. And some scientists thinks that this trunk is a metophor for male phallus that helps to wake up the sun (as the sun in my country represents female). 😉
Czechia is MIDDLE Europe. Prague is located more to the west than Vienna actually. Please acknowledge that. Thanks.
Christmas not a big deal in the Philippines?? They only start decorating in September and celebrate til Christmas day. Also, 80% of the population is Catholic. No one does Christmas like the Philippines!! Where are you getting these facts? The back of a cereal box? Hopefully anyone reading Bored Panda doesn't take any of these articles as factual.
I was once mistaken for the old hog in the american tradition. As for what I was doing in the the hog pen.? They're great company, and after thanks giving I'm sick of the family!
I'm Polish and I've never heard of the illustrated superstition, neither do my Polish friends from across the country. It isn't common in Poland.
I am Polish, I know ton of christmas superstition but the one above i just pure imagination. You want fun superstition in Poland? 1. Always put an extra plate for an unexpected guest during christmas EVE dinner, 2. On the christmas table during dinner three should be twelve dishes, and You have to try every one od them - do You will not miss anything on the upcoming year. 3 carp scales from Czech as well.
Load More Replies... Many cultures have a tradition of not giving knives or blades as a gift. A common way to get around this is for the gift receiver to give a small coin to the gift giver. This way the blades have been bought, not gifted.
In Finland we haver this saying that says if you stay quiet in Christmas eve sauna the summer will be mosquito free
"Christmas in the Philippines isn’t as big a deal as it is in other parts of the world..." My dude, Filipinos start Christmas in September.
The date of the English tradition is incorrect. It is the last Sunday before Advent that Christmas puddings are traditionally made. This gives a month for the flavours to develop. There's even a name for it, Stir Up Sunday. This year (2022) it was the 20th of November.
It does say the last Sunday before Advent :)
Load More Replies... Imagine al the poor kids whose family and community treated them like a half human because they were born near Christmas. Two of my cousins were born on the 23rd, they are just the worst peopl.... hang on...
Sorry, but they are fine (at least according to this tradition). Christmas Day is the first Day of Christmas, and the count continues from then on into January.
Load More Replies... I´m portuguese and I´ve never heard of this tradition - it´s quite creepy.
I have lived in the Appalachian Mountains my entire life, except when I was in college, and I have never heard of this myth/tradition. Granted, they are a long mountain range, but my family is from all over them, and have been here for a long time, and I cannot remember hearing any of them mention anything like this.
I was born on the 7th day of Christmas so where are my half demon or werewolf powers damnit!
I’m from Latvia and I never heard about our ancient god ,,Mithras” although I know a lot about our mythology. And ,,Yule” in Latvian means ,,a log” not a ,,wheel”. They are basically pushing a tree trunk around the neighbourhood to gather all bad things that happened this year to burn it and start the new year fresh. And some scientists thinks that this trunk is a metophor for male phallus that helps to wake up the sun (as the sun in my country represents female). 😉
Czechia is MIDDLE Europe. Prague is located more to the west than Vienna actually. Please acknowledge that. Thanks.
Christmas not a big deal in the Philippines?? They only start decorating in September and celebrate til Christmas day. Also, 80% of the population is Catholic. No one does Christmas like the Philippines!! Where are you getting these facts? The back of a cereal box? Hopefully anyone reading Bored Panda doesn't take any of these articles as factual.
106
33