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11.12. EAN National Societies – Christmas Traditions – Part 1

December 11, 2018

 

Did you know that 47 European National Neurological Societies are full institutional members of EAN? Each society is represented by one delegate to the EAN Assembly of Delegates and has one representative in each EAN Scientific Panel.
If you are Member of any one of these national neurological societies, you are automatically member of EAN and have access to various benefits.

 

Click on the images below and activate information by clicking on “i” in the bottom right, to learn about our member countries’ diverse and unique holiday traditions.

 

Christmas was not celebrated in Norway until 1000 or 1000 AC. Before people celebrated jul in the middle of winter: it marked the end of the harvest and represented a way of looking forward to spring. In Scandinavia, many Christmas traditions are marked by the pre-Christian word jul. For thousands of years, these nations have celebrated winter and summer solstices, which are also known as Christmas and Midsummer Night (23/24 June).Norway’s most famous Christmas tradition is the large Christmas tree it gives to the UK every year. This tree represents a ‘thank you’ for the help that the people of the United Kingdom have to Norway during World War II.
While the Christmas story is the same in every country, Christmas Eve is celebrated very differently from country to country. This also applies to who brings the gifts: Santa, Baby Jesus, Saint Nicolaus or Father Frost. In Albania, Nikolaos of Myria brings the presents on Christmas Eve. He is the original Saint Nicolaus who inspired the Nicolaus Day tradition on the 6th of December in many European countries.
Armenian’s celebrate Christmas on January 6th, as opposed to many central European countries, who celebrate in December. This difference in dates is believed to date back to the time when Christianity was introduced to Europe and the church sought to override a pagan feast dedicated to the birth of the Sun on the 25th of December. Thus, the church designated December 25th as the official date of Christmas, and January 6th (previously Christmas) as the feast of Epiphany. As in Armenia there were no such pagan practices, and the Armenian Church was not a satellite of the Roman Church, Armenians continue to celebrate Christmas in January.
While the Christmas story is the same in every country, Christmas Eve is celebrated very differently from country to country. This also applies to who brings the gifts: Santa, Baby Jesus, Saint Nicolaus or Father Frost. In Albania, Nikolaos of Myria brings the presents on Christmas Eve. He is the original Saint Nicolaus who inspired the Nicolaus Day tradition on the 6th of December in many European countries. 2018 marks the 200th anniversary of the world-famous song silent-night, which originated in Austria in 1818.
Azerbaijan has a mostly Muslim population, so Christmas is only celebrated by a few and not recognized as an official holiday. The few who celebrate it usually do so because they have ancestors or relatives wo cherish the tradition. Christmas trees however are customary, albeit they mark the new year. Also presents are handed over on New Year’s Eve by the Azerbaijani Santa, Shakhta Babah. Celebrating the New Year with traditional Christmas decorations is rooted in the ban of religion during the USSR. Christmas was banned in 1928 and in 1935 its traditions re-instated in the form of secular New Year celebrations.
About one third of Belarusians celebrate Christmas on the 25th (Catholics and Protestants) and another third (Orthodox) celebrate on the 7th of January. The holiday that unites them all is New Year’s Eve: it is a family holiday, that is celebrated with gifts and Christmas trees.
During December, the streets are decorated for Christmas, creating a beautiful atmosphere. Belgium is particularly famous for its Christmas crafts and cuisine, that attract visitors from all over the globe each year. Belgium has three official languages: Flemish-Dutch, French and German and each of them has their own Christmas traditions.
About half of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s population is Muslim, 30% are Orthodox and 15% are Catholic. Therefore, some celebrate in December, some in January and others not at all. Nonetheless, Sarajevo has a lively Holiday market. Instead of Santa, Grandfather Frost brings the presents.
In Bulgaria, Christmas is celebrated on the 25th od December. Although many Eastern European countries celebrate on the 7th of January, following the Julian Calendar, the Bulgarian Orthodox church uses the Gregorian Calendar. For many Bulgarians, the preparations for Christmas start with Advent, which lasts 40 days and starts November 15th.
Most people in Croatia are catholics, so Advent is an important time for them. It is tradition, to have an Advent wreath with four candles, that symbolizes endlessness. The candles symbolize different parts of history and life: First candle (purple): creation – hope Second Candle (purple): embodiment - peaceThird Candle (pink): redemption - joyFourth Candle (purple): ending - love
For many Cypriots, Christmas time is preceded by a time of fasting. The festive season starts at the 6th of December, the Feast of Saint Nicholas, and lasts through January 6th, the Feast of Epiphany. The presents are exchanged on New Year’s Day. The evening before, a cake, called Vasilopitta (above), is placed together with wine under the Christmas tree, because Ai-Vasilis, who brings the presents, is exhausted and needs nourishment. In the morning the cake is cut, and the family Member who finds the hidden coin in her or his piece, will be the lucky one of the year.
The main day of celebration is the evening of the 24th of December. People gather at home to enjoy a traditional Christmas meal, typically made up of fish soup and fried carp with potato salad. Presents are exchanged after dinner. When a little bell rings, the children will know that Little Jesus (Ježíšek) has brought the presents.
The Danish Christmas begins with the Advent wreath. It has four candles and each one is lit on every of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas Eve. Another tradition is the calendar candle: it has 24 markings. Traditionally, the candle is lit every day in December as a soothing factor in a hectic month. It is often the children’s duty to blow it out before it burns down too far for the next date.
The Estonian word for Christmas is jõulud and of ancient Scandinavian origin and comes from the word jul, which has no connection to Christianity.  Scandinavia and Estonia form the only part of Europe where the birth of Christ is marked by the pre-Christian word jul. For thousands of years, these nations have celebrated winter and summer solstices, which are also known as Christmas and Midsummer Night (23/24 June).
The modern Santa Clause is said to live in Lapland, Finland, north of the Arctic Circle. People from all over the world sent letter so him in Finland and there is even a large theme park called Christmas Land.
In France, Christmas is celebrated with a large Christmas feast, called “”. It usually takes place on Christmas eve or in the early hours of Christmas morning, after midnight mass. Typical foods include Turkey stuffed with chestnuts, goose, oysters and foie gras.
In Georgia, Christmas is also celebrated on the 7th of January. On Christmas day, many people attend Alilo, a parade in the streets. They are dressed in special costumes to celebrate Christmas and often carry Georgian flags. Some also dress as characters from the Christmas story. Children are often given sweets.
In Germany, Christmas markets open in the beginning of December. They are a popular destination for friends and family to gather and do their Christmas shopping. Advent calendars and wreaths are also an important part of German Christmas traditions.
While Christmas trees are common in Greece, a more traditional decoration is a small wooden bowl with a piece of wire suspended across it. A spring of basil is wrapped around a wooden cross and hangs from the wire. There is fresh water in the bowl to keep the basil alive. Once per day, a family Member dips the cross and basil into some holy water and sprinkles every room to keep the bad spirits, kallikantzaroi, away.
Hungarians spend Christmas evening decorating the tree. Sometimes the children are not included in this activity and when they enter the room it’s a big surprise and they are told angels decorated the tree. When they hear a bell ringing, they know that Baby Jesus, Jézuska, has brought the presents and they may enter the room.After family dinner, many people go to the midnight mass.
Like in the other Scandinavian countries, Christmas is called Yule or Jól in Iceland. On Christmas eve, celebrations start at 6pm, which is thought to be rooted in an old Icelandic tradition according to which a new day started at 6pm and not at midnight. In the last, all TV programmes stopped between 5pm and 10pm.
Ireland shares many Christmas traditions with the UK and US, but also have a few of their own. The lighting of thick, tall candles on the sill of large windows after sunset on Christmas Eve is an old Irish custom. The candles are left to burn all night to provide a welcoming light for Mary and Joseph.
Israel is a predominately Jewish country, so although the Christmas story took place there, it is not widely celebrated. The largest Christian population is in the town of Nazareth (where Jesus grew up). Nazareth has a lot of Christmas decorations and there is also a Christmas Eve parade as well as fireworks at midnight
Nativity cribs are an important Italian custom and the city of Naples is world famous for its cribs and crib making. Cribs are usually put out on the 8th of December, but the figure of Baby Jesus is not put into the crib until the evening of the 24th of December.

Contact EAN Headoffice today and gain access to eBrain, the European Journal of Neurology or benefit from a reduced fee at the Oslo congress! Find out more here.

 

Meet with colleagues from around the world in Oslo and register for #EAN2019! Use XMAS10 at checkout for a 10% discount off the registration fee – valid until 24.12.2018.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11.12. EAN National Societies – Christmas Traditions – Part 1 was last modified: December 10th, 2018 by Editor
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