Forget mince pies and mistletoe, Brits have revealed they’re keen to try it out Christmas traditions different from those they usually observe at home.
This is according to an easyJet survey of 2,000 people in which 90 per cent of respondents said they were keen to experience an alternative festive tradition and 80 per cent said they would like to travel abroad to do one. try.
The poll produced a ranking of the 20 alternative Christmas traditions that Britons would most like to try during December and the festive season.
What they are keen on include traditions that include flaming fireballs, ‘ghost saunas’ and medieval markets.
Sophie Dekkers, from easyJet Chief Commercial Officer, said: ‘We hope this list helps inspire seasoned travelers and first-timers alike to explore more of the places they love or visit a new destination and experience its unique customs first-hand.’
Scroll down for the full list. Which one would you most like to experience?
1. St Lucia Candlelight Parade at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark – 29 percent
The Christmas candlelight procession at Tivoli Gardens (above) is the no.1 alternative European festive tradition for Brits
First up is a candlelight procession in Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, which sees the 174-year-old theme park illuminated by thousands of fairy lights and tree lights.
2. Christmas ‘ghost sauna’ to connect with departed ancestors, Finland – 19 percent
On Christmas Eve, it is traditional for Finnish residents to have a sauna session to connect with departed ancestors.
Afterwards, they celebrate outside while their ancestral wraiths take their place in the sauna.
3. Fireball swinging, Stonehaven, Scotland – 18 percent
Dramatic: In Stonehaven, the new year is ushered in with flaming balls being waved around. The ritual is third in a list of 20 quirky European Christmas traditions Brits want to experience the most
In Stonehaven, the new year is welcomed by midnight bells ringing and dozens of people waving flaming balls around their heads as they parade down the main street.
Fireworks complete the fiery celebration.
4. Province Medieval Market, France – 18 percent
The medieval market (fourth) in Provins puts a historical twist on Christmas
A special medieval Christmas market in Provins, near Paris, puts a unique historical twist on traditional festivals, with jugglers, fire eaters and dancing to medieval music.
5. St Nicholas Day Parade, Küssnacht village, Switzerland – 17 percent
A parade of 1,400 boys and men wearing bells and dressed in traditional shepherd’s outfits walks through the town of Küssnacht on the shores of Lake Lucerne on December 5, the eve of St.
The St Nicholas Day Parade (fifth) in the village of Küssnacht in Switzerland sees major bishops’ mitres displayed
They are followed by others with large bishops’ miters, headdresses of cardboard and colored tissue paper lit from within by candles. The effect is a parade of stained glass windows.
6. Krampus Night, Austria – 13 percent
In Austrian folklore, Krampus is a creature that punishes naughty children just before Christmas. On December 5, it is customary for people dressed as Krampus to parade through the streets.
7. Morcote bell ringers, Switzerland – 13 percent
The bells of the church of Santa Maria del Sasso in Switzerland are rung by hand in the nine days before Christmas (seventh)
During the nine days before Christmas and on Christmas Eve, the people of the village of Morcote, on the shores of Lake Lugano, meet at night in the bell tower of the Church of Santa Maria del Sasso to eat and drink. One by one, all those present get up, climb a ladder to the church bells and ring them by hand.
8. The Yule Lads, Iceland – 12 percent
Thirteen mischievous troll-like characters visit children in the 13 days before Christmas, leaving gifts or rotting potatoes in shoes, depending on how well they’ve behaved that year.
9. Bananas in Braga, Portugal – 12 percent
The ‘Bananeiro’ is a Christmas tradition that takes place in the historic center of the Portuguese city of Braga at Casa das Bananas, a wine shop that used to serve as a banana warehouse. The owner gave his customers bananas to help settle their stomachs. Today, crowds gather at the shop on Rua do Souto on Christmas Eve to drink muscat wine, eat a banana and chat with friends and strangers.
10. Christmas Pickle, Germany – 11 percent
Christmas trees in Germany include a unique decoration – a pickled cucumber hidden deep in the branches on Christmas Eve. The first child to spot it receives a gift.
11. Perchten, Austria and Bavaria – 11 percent
Perchten is a pagan festival in Austria and Bavaria in which people dress up as beasts and devils in extraordinary costumes to scare away the evil spirits of winter by making them look ugly. The festival is linked to the ‘Christmas Witch’ Frau Perchta, who is said to roam the countryside during the 12 days of Christmas, rewarding the good and punishing the bad.
12. St Lucia Day, Sweden – 11 percent
Choir members wear candles in their hair for the celebration of Lucia in Sweden (12th)
The annual celebration of Lucia in Sweden, celebrated on December 13, involves girls and boys dressed in white full-length gowns singing songs together and wearing candles in their hair. Saffron buns are eaten as part of the experience.
13. Broom Hiding, Norway – 10 percent
According to Norwegian folklore, witches come to houses on Christmas Eve to scare people and steal brooms to ride. So it is a Christmas Eve tradition to hide brooms and mops to prevent this from happening.
14. La Befana, Italy – 10 percent
On January 6, the Epiphany, old witch La Befana delivers Santa-style gifts to children.
15. Il Rogo del Vecchione, Bologna, Italy – 10 percent
On New Year’s Eve in Bologna, an effigy is burned in the Piazza Maggiore to symbolize the end of the old year and the beginning of the new. The depiction is based on the year’s most notable events.
16. J-Day, Demark – nine per hundred
A modern tradition dating back to 1990, J-Dag, or J-Day, is the day when Tuborg Brewery’s Julebryg – Christmas beer – is released. The beer, a strong pilsner, becomes available on the first Friday of November, with its launch kicking off the Christmas season for Danes.
17. Kallikantzaroi, Greece – nine percent
Kallikantzaroi are mischievous goblins who turn up to cause trouble during the 12 days of Christmas. The Greeks keep them at bay by lighting fires in their hearths – to prevent them from climbing down the chimneys – placing colanders on thresholds (believe the unintelligent goblins will get confused if they try to count the holes) and holly and hanging garlic.
18. Shoe Throw, Czech Republic – eight percent
In the Czech Republic, single women throw a shoe over their shoulder and out the front door. The shoe is then inspected – if it lands with its toe pointing in the direction of the door, it means they are getting married in the coming year.
19. Caga Tió, Catalonia, Spain – seven percent
Caga Tió is a Catalan tradition where a wooden log is ‘lined’ with a painted face in the run up to Christmas and then beaten with sticks to ‘poop’ presents on Christmas Eve.
20. Mari Lwyd, Wales – six percent
A tradition where a horse’s skull, decorated and mounted on a pole, is carried from door to door. Contestants engage in a rhyming battle with the housemates.
On Christmas Eve, it is traditional for Finnish residents to have a sauna session to connect with deceased ancestors (second in the ranking)
