In Belgium, there are two traditional gift bringers for the Christmas season: Père Noël and Saint-Nicolas. Saint-Nicolas corresponds to Santa Claus and brings gifts to children on December 6, while Père Noël puts surprises under the tree at Christmas.
The Christmas period ends on January 6th with the Feast of the Kings in Belgium, when children dress up as the three wise men and go from house to house while singing Christmas carols, and in return they also receive gifts, usually treats and cash.
The Dutch Santa Claus, Sinterklaas, in mid-November on a steamship arrives in the Netherlands with his companions, the Black Peters. The Sinterklaas parade is a big holiday for the Dutch every year.
The children put their shoes in front of the fireplace or the garden door,
And Sinterklaas rides his white horse named Amerigo over the houses at night and places sweets and other gifts in the shoes at the beginning of December.
According to the customs, gifts are given in the Netherlands at this time, children no longer receive presents at Christmas.
It is interesting that in Iceland it is not Santa Claus or Jesus Christ who brings the presents to the children, but the 13 Jólasveinar, that is, the Christmas feasts. They are the characters of Icelandic folklore, and in the 13 days before Christmas they put surprises in children’s shoes. Bad kids, however, don’t get gifts, they just get rotting potatoes.
In Italy, the two main figures of the holidays are Befana and Santa Claus. According to tradition, Befana is a good witch who gave accommodation to the Three Kings when they were on their way to the unborn Jesus. The wise men asked the ugly old woman if she wanted to go with them to the Baby Jesus, but she said no, but since then she visits the children every year and brings them small gifts.
According to the legend, Befana can change her appearance, and several habits are connected to her personality.
In the city of Gradó, for example, every year on January 6, Italians can witness the landing of ugly sea witches. According to tradition, witches arrive in glass boats to take away naughty children.
Meanwhile, in the city of Bolzano, on the same day, more than four hundred devils dressed in costumes parade through the streets. The procession is led by Saint Nicholas, who protects the children from the horrors that follow.
This custom arose from the legend that the villages of the surrounding valleys were regularly looted by boys with such masks, who were taken over by the devil, did many bad things, and were only saved thanks to the intervention of St. Nicholas, who defeated the evil one.
The British green-clad Santa Claus is an almost forgotten figure, whose history goes back even earlier than the legend of St. Nicholas.
Various stories and legends mention pagan winter holidays, in which the green-clad Santa Claus was an important figure, symbolizing the arrival of spring with his long, green, hooded cloak and wreath made of holly, mistletoe and ivy.
Another custom in England in the 1600s was cider offering (Wassailing). People prepared a hot, cider-based drink in large bowls and then walked from house to house offering it to each other. According to tradition, cider was used because it scared off harmful spirits and woke up the apple trees in time.
According to folk customs, in Denmark, elves who steal children’s gifts are not scared away, but rather “chow down”. To prevent surprises, they prepare rice pudding and porridge for the elves. In Norway, according to Christmas superstitions, it is not the gifts that should be protected, but the brooms, they are hidden on Christmas Eve, because according to the beliefs, evil and naughty witches come out to steal the brooms for a little flying.
Cover image: Illustration (Photo: AFP)
Source: magyarnemzet.hu
