• Christmas In..How Christmas Is Celebrated Around The World

  • By: Quiet.Please
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Christmas In..How Christmas Is Celebrated Around The World

By: Quiet.Please
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  • Christmas In Iceland: A Magical Winter Wonderland When you think of Christmas, you likely imagine stockings hung by the fireplace, carolers singing songs of joy, and families gathering together to feast on hearty dishes and exchange gifts under the tree. But Christmas traditions look different all around the world, each culture adding its own magical flare. And nowhere does the holiday feel more magical than in Iceland. With its Nordic charms and winter wonderland landscapes, Christmas in Iceland feels like stepping into a fairytale. From 13 mischievous yuletide lads to playful elf folklore to the efficient but friendly Yule Cat who eats anyone without new clothes for Christmas, Icelandic holiday traditions have an air of mystery and whimsy found nowhere else. Add in long nights filled with dazzling northern lights displays, and you have all the makings for a picture postcard Christmas. Preparations Begin Early While most countries start gearing up for Christmas just after Thanksgiving, Icelanders begin anticipating the merry festivities long before. As early as November, twinkling lights and glittery decor shine throughout Reykjavik. The country embraces over-the-top Yule décor with a fervent passion. In town squares across the land, you’ll find massive Christmas trees glowing with thousands of bulbs as carolers sing traditional Icelandic Christmas songs on street corners. Festive wreaths made of fresh evergreen boughs adorn front doors, often accompanied by electric candle arches lining walkways with their warm, welcoming glow. The homes themselves sport enough flashing lights to be seen from space, each family competing to outdo their neighbor’s display. For such a reserved culture the rest of the year, Icelanders have zero restraint when it comes to Christmas cheer. The 13 Mischievous Jólasveinar Of course, no Icelandic Christmas would be complete without paying homage to the 13 Yule Lads. Brought to you by the numbers 13 and 52, these mischievous troll-like creatures are the sons of two ogres, Grýla and Leppalúði. Living in the Icelandic mountains the rest of the year, they only come out in December to have some yuletide fun. Beginning December 12th, Icelanders leave out shoes for the holiday tricksters who arrive one per night. Well-behaved children awake to small gifts left by the trolls, while the ill-mannered find only potatoes in their shoes to teach them proper manners. The Yule Lads show their playful sides by doing things like slamming doors, stealing leftovers, peeping through windows, and generally running amuck. During the day, they return to the mountains to join their ogre mother, Grýla, who ventures down at Christmastime to snatch up misbehaving children and boil them alive for her stew. Cheery holiday stuff indeed! Names like Door-Slammer, Window-Peeper, Meat-Hook, and Candle-Stealer give you an idea of their modus operandi. But they always make sure to arrive promptly on Christmas Eve with Iceland’s version of Santa Claus, Jólakötturinn, or Yule Cat, to finish stuffing shoes with presents. Regifting Night Speaking of Yule Cat, he serves a unique purpose in Iceland. Legend says he prowls the snowy nights before Christmas, ready to gobble up anyone who doesn’t have at least one new piece of clothing to wear for the big day. As terrifying as that sounds, it stems from a long tradition of regifting clothing right before Christmas. On December 23rd, Icelanders celebrate Þvörutungur Dagur, or Regifting Day. Instead of boxing up cast-offs for donation centers, people swap lightly-used clothing and other items with friends and family. Not only does it stem back to a time when poverty ran high in remote regions of Iceland, but it holds significance to the tradition of Yule Cat. No one wants to end up as his holiday dinner! So the day offers the perfect chance to pick up a “new” sweater from grandma or swap your old coat for your neighbor’s so you have something new to meet the requirement. The playfully dark folklore makes this quirky custom far more fun. Christmas Eve Begins with Giant Yule Lads When Christmas Eve finally arrives, the Yule Lads conclude their hijinks. Families start the evening attending church services together decked out in their fanciest Christmas clothing. Far from the quiet reflection you’d expect, these gatherings take on a celebratory tone with joyful singing and smiling attendees. Afterward, a giant effigy of a Christmas lad holding a massive torch lights the way to outdoor concerts and Christmas village markets. Locals serving up sweet treats like chocolate-dipped marshmallows and fried dough balls welcome visitors amid a party atmosphere while a bonfire crackles nearby. Does it get any more Christmas perfect than that? As evening sets in, families make their way home to feast together on scrumptious holiday favorites. They set extra places at the table for departed loved ones before sitting down to bond overstuffed turkey or rack of lamb...
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Episodes
  • Christmas In...Germany and Austria

    Christmas In...Germany and Austria
    Dec 17 2023
    A Tale of Two Christmases: Holiday Traditions in Germany and Austria Close your eyes and picture the quintessential Christmas scene. For many, images of evergreen trees glittering with baubles, houses trimmed in tiny white lights, and stockings hung with care likely come to mind. Carols ringing through the brisk air, the spiced scent of gingerbread baking, and perhaps even visions of sugar plums dance through imaginations. Yet Christmas unfolds quite differently depending on where you call home. And for those with German or Austrian roots, it’s a magical season filled with beloved traditions centuries in the making. From outdoor markets aglow with the Christmas spirit to quaint mountain villages that look like they leaped off a holiday postcard, Christmas in Deutschland buzzes with enchantment. Preparations Underway After St. Martin’s Day While Christmas décor springs up the day after Thanksgiving back in the States, Germans and Austrians embrace a slightly more gradual lead-up. The holiday season officially commences on St. Martin’s Day, November 11th. On this evening, children walk the streets carrying handmade paper lanterns as neighbors gather to welcome the coming weeks of winter traditions and cheer. The following Sunday, the first advent wreath candle gets lit over Sunday dinner, counting down the four weeks leading up to Christmas Eve. Each week another candle joins the first amid folk songs and festive sweets. Before long, the outdoor Christmas markets unique to Germany and Austria raise their wooden gates, signaling the start of magical Weihnachtsmarkts filled with nostalgic treasures and Yuletide indulgences. As December dawns, snow-capped Alpine landscapes provide an even more glorious backdrop for getting into the Christmas spirit Austrian style. From Krampus to Angels: Beloved Christmas Characters While American kids know all about Santa and his trusty elves, children in Deutschland and Österreich grow up enchanted by an entirely different cast of Christmas characters. On December 5th, Germans set boots out by the door for St. Nicholas to fill with tiny gifts and treats overnight. But far from the jolly man in red, their Nikolaus dons bishop robes and a towering miter hat as he goes about his gift-giving accompanied not by helpful elves but the devilish Krampus. This fearsome horned creature recalls a sinister goat demon from ages past who unleashes his wrath upon naughty children. So while good German girls and boys were awake to candy, fruit, and small toys, the ill-behaved find onlycharcoal or sticks left behind by Krampus as a frightening reminder to mend their ways. Just as American kids line up to sit on Santa’s lap and relay their wish lists, young ones in Germany and Austria share their hopes and dreams with Christkindl, or “Christ Child.” Often the oldest daughter of the family dresses up as this angelic being with golden curls and a sparkling crown to hear Christmas wishes. So between St. Nicholas, Krampus, and Christkindl, children certainly have no shortage of mystique and magic surrounding the countdown to Christmas! The Sweet Smell of Christmas Can you imagine Christmas without thenostalgic scents wafting through home during the holidays? From freshly-cut pine needles accenting banisters to cinnamon potpourri nestled in festive bowls, aromas have a way ofkindling treasured memories. Smells conjure up cozy scenes of chestnuts roasting or whip cream sweetening peppermint hot cocoa. But for those celebrating Weihnachten, the delicious fragrances of holiday baking hold the key to theirChristmastime sentimentality. And Germans have practically raised cookie-baking to anartform! They bake up dozens of varieties from thin lebkuchen embossed with charming scenes to spritz cookies piped through intricate presses. You’ll find vanilla kipferl, jam thumbprints, chocolate coconut macaroons, rich florentiner lace cookies, and hazelnutty mazzeralla stacked up on vintage plates. Other old-world specialties include stollen studded with candied fruit, dense leckerkuchen bars sticky with honey, intricate springerle flavored with anise, and perfumed pfeffernuse kissed with exotic spices. Through the month of December, homes fill with the nostalgia-inducing scents of German confections baking in the oven. The Austrians can give their German counterparts a run for their money when it comes to Christmas sweets as well. Buying boxes of holiday treats at the supermarkt simply won’t cut it for Austrian Omas passing down generations of recipes. Tender zimtsterne get their flavor from a dash of cinnamon while crisp muzsterne bring a doubly nutty component with ground hazelnuts or almonds stirred right into the dough. They coat vanilla kipferl cookies in velvety chocolate ganache or candied nuts. And the melt-in-your mouth goodness of chocolate-smothered kokosbusserl translates to “little coconut kisses.” From chewy gingerbread sweetened with honey to the elegant linzer tart ...
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    11 mins
  • Christmas In...Iceland

    Christmas In...Iceland
    Dec 17 2023
    Christmas In Iceland: A Magical Winter Wonderland When you think of Christmas, you likely imagine stockings hung by the fireplace, carolers singing songs of joy, and families gathering together to feast on hearty dishes and exchange gifts under the tree. But Christmas traditions look different all around the world, each culture adding its own magical flare. And nowhere does the holiday feel more magical than in Iceland. With its Nordic charms and winter wonderland landscapes, Christmas in Iceland feels like stepping into a fairytale. From 13 mischievous yuletide lads to playful elf folklore to the efficient but friendly Yule Cat who eats anyone without new clothes for Christmas, Icelandic holiday traditions have an air of mystery and whimsy found nowhere else. Add in long nights filled with dazzling northern lights displays, and you have all the makings for a picture postcard Christmas. Preparations Begin Early While most countries start gearing up for Christmas just after Thanksgiving, Icelanders begin anticipating the merry festivities long before. As early as November, twinkling lights and glittery decor shine throughout Reykjavik. The country embraces over-the-top Yule décor with a fervent passion. In town squares across the land, you’ll find massive Christmas trees glowing with thousands of bulbs as carolers sing traditional Icelandic Christmas songs on street corners. Festive wreaths made of fresh evergreen boughs adorn front doors, often accompanied by electric candle arches lining walkways with their warm, welcoming glow. The homes themselves sport enough flashing lights to be seen from space, each family competing to outdo their neighbor’s display. For such a reserved culture the rest of the year, Icelanders have zero restraint when it comes to Christmas cheer. The 13 Mischievous Jólasveinar Of course, no Icelandic Christmas would be complete without paying homage to the 13 Yule Lads. Brought to you by the numbers 13 and 52, these mischievous troll-like creatures are the sons of two ogres, Grýla and Leppalúði. Living in the Icelandic mountains the rest of the year, they only come out in December to have some yuletide fun. Beginning December 12th, Icelanders leave out shoes for the holiday tricksters who arrive one per night. Well-behaved children awake to small gifts left by the trolls, while the ill-mannered find only potatoes in their shoes to teach them proper manners. The Yule Lads show their playful sides by doing things like slamming doors, stealing leftovers, peeping through windows, and generally running amuck. During the day, they return to the mountains to join their ogre mother, Grýla, who ventures down at Christmastime to snatch up misbehaving children and boil them alive for her stew. Cheery holiday stuff indeed! Names like Door-Slammer, Window-Peeper, Meat-Hook, and Candle-Stealer give you an idea of their modus operandi. But they always make sure to arrive promptly on Christmas Eve with Iceland’s version of Santa Claus, Jólakötturinn, or Yule Cat, to finish stuffing shoes with presents. Regifting Night Speaking of Yule Cat, he serves a unique purpose in Iceland. Legend says he prowls the snowy nights before Christmas, ready to gobble up anyone who doesn’t have at least one new piece of clothing to wear for the big day. As terrifying as that sounds, it stems from a long tradition of regifting clothing right before Christmas. On December 23rd, Icelanders celebrate Þvörutungur Dagur, or Regifting Day. Instead of boxing up cast-offs for donation centers, people swap lightly-used clothing and other items with friends and family. Not only does it stem back to a time when poverty ran high in remote regions of Iceland, but it holds significance to the tradition of Yule Cat. No one wants to end up as his holiday dinner! So the day offers the perfect chance to pick up a “new” sweater from grandma or swap your old coat for your neighbor’s so you have something new to meet the requirement. The playfully dark folklore makes this quirky custom far more fun. Christmas Eve Begins with Giant Yule Lads When Christmas Eve finally arrives, the Yule Lads conclude their hijinks. Families start the evening attending church services together decked out in their fanciest Christmas clothing. Far from the quiet reflection you’d expect, these gatherings take on a celebratory tone with joyful singing and smiling attendees. Afterward, a giant effigy of a Christmas lad holding a massive torch lights the way to outdoor concerts and Christmas village markets. Locals serving up sweet treats like chocolate-dipped marshmallows and fried dough balls welcome visitors amid a party atmosphere while a bonfire crackles nearby. Does it get any more Christmas perfect than that? As evening sets in, families make their way home to feast together on scrumptious holiday favorites. They set extra places at the table for departed loved ones before sitting down to bond overstuffed turkey or rack of lamb...
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    10 mins

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