Touching Traditions: How Christmas is Celebrated in Different Countries? 0 7

CANADA

In Canada, the celebration of Christmas cannot be imagined without the cheerful tradition known as the “Ugly Christmas Sweater.” This amusing practice has spread to some European countries as well.

It all started with relatives giving handmade knitted sweaters featuring images of reindeer, snowmen, and other characters for Christmas. Such a gift was to be worn at the celebration, regardless of the jokes from those around.

This ritual became so popular that by the 1980s, the production of such sweaters reached mass scale. Many began to buy and wear them seriously, delighting those around them. In 2001, the first party dedicated to “ugly” sweaters took place in Vancouver.

NORWAY

According to some beliefs, it is just before Christmas that evil spirits, witches, and other dark entities become active, and it seems that Norway has plenty of them — just think of the famous forest trolls. All the monsters that have remained in their primordial form descend from the mountains to seize the souls of ordinary people.

So what do Norwegians do to avoid encounters with sorcerers and witches? It’s quite simple. The best protection against evil is considered to be… the absence of brooms. Therefore, on Christmas Eve, you will not find a single broom in Norway.

Interestingly, this magical method seems to really work — there has been no recorded case of a witch attacking a person in Norway.

SWEDEN

The symbol of Swedish Christmas has become a goat, which is made of straw every year and placed in town squares. This tradition has roots in Scandinavian mythology.

Interestingly, this symbol has many opponents who try to destroy it every year by any means possible — burning it, breaking it, or simply stealing it. At the same time, the rest of the residents of Sweden take pride in this unique symbol of Christmas.