Bizarre Christmas Traditions

Bizarre Christmas Traditions It may be just a rumour but it is popular folklore, Christmas in Germany has a strange tradition of using pickles. When German households furnish their Christmas trees, history quotes they use a glass bauble that looks like a pickle and hang it as the last item on the Christmas tree! This is then put on the tree well out of sight of the little ones who first thing in the morning rush down who attempt to discover where it's been hidden on the Christmas tree by the adults. Whether this Christmas custom ever took place remains clouded in mystery despite there being hundreds of tales being spoken of it! It still remains one of the most unusual customs we've learned about even if it's not true

However, it's time to crown Spain, Italy and Portugal with the 'Most Bizarre Christmas Tradition' award. Do you know that the Italians, the Portuguese and the Spanish have an additional figure in the Nativity Play that we know and appreciate so much? Let me welcome you to the Caganer. Joining the shepherds along with Joseph, Mary and the little Jesus, is the Caganer a tiny statue of a man, which you can find placed in the corner of the nativity play inconspicuously. Why is this figure inconspicuously placed that no person can look at him although he is so significant? Coming initially from from Catalonia, the Caganer statue represents a man in the process of (how can I say this without sounding rude) taking a poo. Although this is an extremely unusual custom there are no records of it going back further than the seventeenth century. It is still unknown as to why a figure of a man taking a poo has any meaning to Christmas. However, maybe God is seeking to use the Caganer as a means to show himself and call to us every time he deems it is necessary and show that whatever gender or race we are, in the end we are all the same. It has of course developed into a fun game for the children! When Christmas starts it's well known that we should keep the young children busy and we search for ways to entertain them. Even though we may perhaps feel the custom is a little strange, it seems the legend is a little closer to home than we first believed! Behold the pooping Santa! Would you believe me if I stated this is the Caganer brought up to todays perception of the past! Candy literally tumbles out of Santa's behind if you squeeze it carefully. Santa is wearing his traditional red-colored clothing and to get things going 15 grams of candy are provided. All you need to do is fill him up with sweets and tap him on the back to get your reward! Should Santa suffer from a bout of constipation a little shake tends to get everything out! Should you be searching for a more traditional Christmas item could we offer the humble Christmas cracker? They have been a tradition in the Uk for over two hundred years and a Christmas turkey dinner won't be complete without having Christmas crackers. These days they've grown to be more sophisticated and gone are the days of cheap crackers to be superceded by higher end luxury Christmas crackers. Bizarre Christmas Traditions

Changing Holiday Traditions

Kay called yesterday. Stressed about the impending holiday season, she complained, "I'm planning that darn Christmas Eve dinner." She is experiencing this once welcomed tradition as a dreaded event. "Can you change traditions?" She asked.

The tradition began when her mother married. Since her husband's family gathered on Christmas Day, she created the Christmas Eve dinner as a special way to celebrate with her family. Over the years, as children married and moved away, the value of the event grew into the highlight of the year! When her mother died, Kay happily took over the tradition and enjoyed preparing the celebration for many years.

Christmas Cookies

Today, Kay's children and grandchildren gather at this traditional event. The difference is that they all live nearby and see one another weekly. The original meaning of the Christmas Eve dinner changed. It no longer represents drawing people together one day a year with anticipation and excitement. Now it is one more chore, a sign that the tradition needs updating.

A newly recovering alcoholic client called me in a panic a few years back. She was concerned about relapsing over mounting holiday stress. The biggest upset was that she would not be able to finish making handmade ornaments, which had become a tradition. She started late due to time in treatment.

"What's really important about them?" I asked. After thinking a minute she said, "They show each person how much I really care about them." Tears welled up as she realized that relapsing would send the opposite message. Then, the light went on! "I sent the ornaments to avoid seeing them." With this awareness, she changed the tradition. She enclosed a poem in gift boxes inviting each person to select a special time to be together with her in the next year for a meal, shopping, etc. Over the years, this has become a welcomed tradition.

This is true in the workplace too. I remember the annual cookie exchange. Each person would bring their best cookie to exchange and everyone went home with a fabulous assortment of traditional homemade favorites. One year we realized that most of us exchanged the local bakery's cookies. The meaning of the tradition had changed. It was time for a new tradition, one that enhanced our working relationship without making unnecessary demands upon it.

As this holiday season approaches filled with past traditions and rituals, take time to reevaluate the meaning of your traditions. Are they still providing the original meaning? Is a tradition creating more stress than value? Is there another way to convey meaning that would be simpler or more effective? If it's significant, maintain it. If it has lost its purpose or meaning, create a new one.

Talking about meaningless traditions reminds me of a story about a young newlywed making the traditional family roast for the first time. As she is about to cut the ends off the roast she asks, "Mother, why are the ends cut off the roast?" Her mother replied, "That's how my mother taught me to do it."

Becoming more curious, she called her grandmother with the same query. "Why is it important to cut the ends off the roast?" Her grandmother said, "That's what my mother did."

More intent than ever, she approached her great grandmother at the nursing home, "Grandma, why do you cut the ends off the roast before cooking?" The elderly woman answered slowly, "Well dear, the pan I had was just a little too small for the roast, so I cut off the ends to make it fit."

Traditions are born of historical choices. We feel bound to keep up the fondly remembered act, even though its meaning has long gone.

When there's too much too do with too little time; it is vital to scrutinize every activity in terms of the value it adds to your life. Time-honored traditions are no exception.

Traditions, rituals and ceremonies add beauty and meaning to our lives. They provide depth to our experiences. However, a tradition without meaning can be counterproductive. It can inspire resentment, anger and frustration at its unreasonable demand for compliance.

One way to fulfill your quest for meaning, joy and peace this holiday season is to evaluate and create meaningful and simple traditions that are easy to maintain and truly serve their purpose.

May you have a happy, meaningful holiday season!

© Aila Accad

Changing Holiday Traditions

Aila Accad, RN, MSN is an award-winning speaker, bestselling author and certified life coach, who specializes in quick ways to release stress and empower your life. A health innovator and futurist, member of the National Speakers Association, she is a popular keynote speaker and radio and television guest. Her bestselling book "34 Instant Stress-Busters, Quick tips to de-stress fast with no extra time or money" is available at http://www.stressbustersbook.com Sign up for De-Stress Tips & News at http://www.ailaspeaks.com and receive a gift, "Ten Instant Stress Busters" e-book.