Which country do you think has the best Christmas tradition? [Day 11]

Hannah_Alumni

Through all these debate posts, I've learnt a few new things about Christmas Traditions from other countries. 

It sent me down the internet rabbit hole and I found what I think is the best Christmas tradition! 

Iceland has this tradition called 'Jolabokaflod' which means Christmas Book Flood. During World War 2, paper was one of the few things not rationed in Iceland. It's because of this, people gave books as Christmas gifts. 

It is now tradition to give and receive books on Christmas Eve (as well as a cup of hot chocolate!) and cosy up in the evening to read your new book. I think it is the ideal way to spend Christmas Eve and something I may try to implement in my house.

So over to you; Which country do you think has the best Christmas tradition?

66Mustang

I can't remember if it was Christmas or some other holiday, and I can't remember what country either, somewhere Scandinavian I think.

So all in all a bit of a poor anecdote.

But from the little I remember, there is a country where the tradition is that the last family member to wake up in the morning gets carried to the nearest body of water and thrown in.

Hannah_Alumni

@66Mustang I'll be googling for that one later! That's hilarious... thinking in my family... my poor grandma

Albus_Scope

I'm a big fan of Germany's Krampusnacht, or Krampus night.

Krampus is St Nicks counterpart and punishes the naughty children, whilst St Nicholas focuses on rewarding the good kids. On Krampusnacht, children leave a boot outside their bedroom door. The next day, they’ll find either a reward for being good, or a rod, which means they’ve been bad. Though in lore, Krampus eats naughty children. 

They also have Krampuslauf, or Krampus run.  an evening where people dress up as Krampus and chase others through the streets. It looks great fun. 

Though the Christian church have repeatedly tried to ban and remove any talk of Krampus as he looks like a devil.