Christmas Traditions Worth Seeing Rather Than Reading About

Each household tends to have its own Christmas traditions. But so too do many countries have their own Christmas traditions. Inspired by folklore, the local climate, and just plain fun, this article looks at some of the most common Christmas traditions in Iceland, Spain, South Africa, and Germany, and, of course, suggests luxury stays nearby through YOLO Travel.

The Mischievous Yule Lads of Iceland

A story that was banned from being told by parents in 1746 has survived to this very day, although with a more light-hearted twist. As the story goes, in the days leading up to Christmas, 13 troll boys, or the Yule Lads, come down from the mountains one by one. Known for their boisterous nature, Door Slammer and Pot Scraper (two of the troll brothers) cause a bit of trouble in families’ homes. If children misbehave or don’t go to bed on time before Christmas, the Yule Lads will sneakily give them a potato as punishment!

However, these Yule Lads do seem to have a soft spot for the children. Children leave their shoes in their bedroom window 13 days before Christmas to receive little presents from the Yule Lads. Of course, only if the child has been well-behaved throughout the year, otherwise, a rotten potato they will find!

To make sure the Yule Lads pay you a visit (and bring a few sweet treats or presents), consider staying in a luxury hotel in Iceland, not far from the mountains, and bring a few sweet treats or presents to leave on the window ledge.

Tio de Nadal, The “Pooping” Christmas Log – Spain

Much like a Piñata, the Catalonian Christmas tradition is to decorate a log with a face and personality. This Tio, or log, gets fed nuts, seeds, potato peels, veggie scraps, cookies, and more. Feeding the log traditionally starts on December 8, and on Christmas Day, or Christmas Eve, the log begins to feel cold and requires a blanket. The blanket comforts the log enough to poop, then the log gets tapped with sticks while the children sing songs to encourage the log to poop. The log “poops” out little treats and presents, but sometimes needs a few rounds of singsong and encouragement.

YOLO Travel can help you create your dream holiday, start new Christmas traditions, or partake in age-old Christmas traditions, such as the Tió de Natal.

Picnicking in South Africa

South Africa experiences a summer Christmas. Think time spent outdoors, safari, poolside fun, and of course, a braai and picnic. Although a South African picnic doesn’t necessarily have folklore origins, it is still very much rooted in the local culture of a “kuier” or a hang-out.

A typical South African charcuterie board may consist of biltong, braai meat, a local cheese and wine selection, seasonal fruits, and a few mince pies (mince in this case is a raisin jam, not minced meat. We promise it’s delicious). To round off the picnic, South Africans might have a couple of koeksisters (a syrup-soaked pastry), malva pudding with Ultramel custard, or a lovely, layered trifle.

Luxury hotels in South Africa can cater to your craving for an authentic South African picnic, wherever and whenever you please. Simply contact YOLO Travel to book your sunny South African holiday.

Schrottwichteln, A White Elephant Gift Exchange in Germany

Schrottwichteln directly translates to “junk Secret Santa”. Often practised in offices, schools, or other social events, people wrap up and bring along an unwanted gift or item from their house to pass on to someone else. The goal really is to be funny, but you never know, as the saying goes, “one man’s trash is another’s treasure.” This is a great conversation-starter and way to bond with strangers or simply joke around with family.