Candles, Elves, and Saunas: Quirky Christmas Traditions Revealed!
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Candles, Elves, and Saunas: Quirky Christmas Traditions Revealed!
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About this listen
Welcome to "Christmas Around the World: Weekly Traditions," a podcast where we explore the diverse and fascinating ways people celebrate the holiday season across the globe. I'm your host, and I'm excited to share these stories with you.
Imagine dancing around a Christmas tree adorned with real candles, or leaving a bowl of sweet porridge for mythical house elves. In Denmark, families do just that. They dance around the tree, holding hands and singing Christmas songs before opening presents. And, yes, they believe in appeasing those friendly elves, known as nisser, with a treat of risengrød. But the festivities start much earlier, on the first Friday of November, with J-Day, a holiday created by the Danish beer company Tuborg.
Let's move to Ethiopia, where Christmas is celebrated in January and is deeply rooted in religious tradition. The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church observes a 43-day fast, known as Tsome Nebiyat, leading up to Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day, people dress in white to attend mass, and in rural areas, they play a field hockey-like game called Ye Genna Chewata, which legend says originated from shepherds celebrating the news of Jesus' birth.
Now, let's talk about Finland, where Christmas traditions are both solemn and joyful. About 75% of Finnish families visit cemeteries on Christmas Eve to place candles on the graves of their loved ones. Another beloved tradition is the Christmas sauna, or joulusauna, where families bathe together before enjoying Christmas dinner. And, don't forget to leave some treats for the sauna elf, or saunatonttu, who is believed to reside in every sauna.
Before we wrap up, I'd love to hear from you. What's your favorite holiday tradition? Share it with us on our social media channels or leave a comment on our podcast page. And, if you're feeling adventurous, try incorporating one of these global traditions into your own holiday celebrations.
Thank you for joining me on this journey around the world. Don't forget to subscribe to our podcast and leave a review. We'll see you next week with more festive stories from around the globe. Happy holidays!
[Target audience: Families and individuals interested in cultural traditions and holiday celebrations.]
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