The country that hides brooms for Christmas is Norway, where it is a tradition on Christmas Eve to hide all brooms to prevent witches and evil spirits from stealing them to ride. This age-old custom comes from Norwegian folklore, where people believed these spirits would come out on this night, and hiding the brooms would foil their nefarious plans.
Norwegians believe that Christmas Eve coincides with the arrival of evil spirits and witches. Logically, therefore, households will hide all their brooms before they go to sleep. Well, obviously.
Since legend asserts that witches and evil spirits come out on Christmas eve, Norwegians will hide all the brooms and mops in the house so that spectral troublemakers cannot use them for transportation or other nefarious business.
The European Country Where Everyone Hides Their Brooms on Christmas Eve
What country uses shoes instead of stockings for Christmas?
Portugal: “We do not have stockings on Christmas, only wrapped presents under the tree. But when our daughter was born, we adopted this tradition.” Romania: “We leave the children's shoes near the main entrance of the house, for Moș Nicolae to put gifts in.”
The Miter represents Saint Nicholas the Bishop (Sinterklaas) and the wood shoe represents the Dutch children. A sweet treat in the shoe is for all the good children!
Which country waits for a witch on a broomstick on January 6th as a holiday tradition?
La Befana is a beloved figure in Italian folklore. She's an old woman — often depicted as a friendly witch — who flies on a broomstick during the night between January 5th and 6th, bringing gifts to children.
Which country is known for the tradition of hiding a pickle ornament on the Christmas tree for children to find?
The Christmas pickle is an American Christmas tradition. A decoration in the shape of a pickle is hidden on a Christmas tree, with the finder receiving either a reward or good fortune for the next year. There are a number of different origin stories attributed to the tradition, including one originating in Germany.
Traditionally called a “besom” and often handmade from the branch of a tree, the broom is not considered to be a core ritual tool in Wicca, but it is often used to purify the ritual space before casting the sacred circle.
One of the most fun customs in Norway is utepils, which is the practice of drinking beer outside in the sun on the first sunny day of the year. 'Ute' means outdoors and 'pils' means lager, creating an enjoyable recreational activity that brings everyone together to enjoy a drink in the warming weather.
The Norwegians take superstition to a new level on Christmas eve. It's said that on the day before Christmas, people across the country should hide their brooms in their closets, as evil spirits and witches awake on this night and will take them to ride across the country if they are not hidden.
Countries in which Christmas is not a formal public holiday include Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bhutan, Cambodia, China (excepting Hong Kong and Macau), the Comoros, Iran, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Laos, Libya, the Maldives, Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Qatar, the Sahrawi Republic, ...
Krampus, in central European popular legend, a half-goat, half-demon monster that punishes misbehaving children at Christmastime. He is the devilish companion of St. Nicholas.
What country did hanging stockings at Christmas come from?
Saint Nicholas had an earlier merging with the Grandmother cult in Bari, Italy, where the grandmother would put gifts in stockings. This merged Saint Nicholas would later travel north and merge with the Odin cults.
Regardless, the custom has evolved over the centuries for Dutch children. Instead of leaving treats for Odin's eight-legged horse, they now set out carrots for Father Christmas' normally legged horse in return for gifts, much like the American version.
Each year, something peculiar happens on the eve of December 5: Children across Germany each leave a single boot outside their doorsteps, which is then magically filled overnight with chocolate and sweets. Sometimes, there's even a little bit of money.
What do Dutch children use instead of Christmas stockings?
Just as many American and British children do on Christmas Eve, kids often place shoes or stockings out on the eve of Saint Nicholas Day. In the Netherlands, for example, kids put out clogs filled with hay and carrots for the horses of their St. Nicholas character, Sinterklaas.
Which country on the night before Christmas do children leave out their shoes in preparation for a visit from the 13 Yule Lads?
To give the Yule Lads somewhere to leave them a present, it's tradition for Icelandic children to place a shoe on one of their windowsills. So if you visit Iceland in the run-up to Christmas, this should explain the sight of any shoes in the windows.
What do the French have instead of Christmas stockings?
Children do not hang stockings but rather leave their shoes and slippers by the fireplace. If they have been good, Père Noël will leave treats in their shoes or slippers. Nowadays, he often also leaves piles of presents under the tree.
The Scots word besom shares much of its early history with an English cousin of the same name which typically designated a broom or other domestic tool for sweeping.
Each broom is handmade by an Amish craftsman, giving you a unique and durable broom that's made to work well. A sustainable choice! The bristles are made of natural corn straw. Sturdy hardwood handle feels comfortable in your hand.
