2. 1. AUSTRIA – The bad demon1. AUSTRIA – The bad demon
KrampusKrampus
We may not be bothering with family situation ofWe may not be bothering with family situation of
Santa Claus, by the way in Austria the twinSanta Claus, by the way in Austria the twin
brother of Santa Claus is the same famous withbrother of Santa Claus is the same famous with
him. He is calling Krampus and he is exactlyhim. He is calling Krampus and he is exactly
the opposite from our suit and favorite Santa forthe opposite from our suit and favorite Santa for
kids and grown-ups, because he is a demonkids and grown-ups, because he is a demon
who is watching the kids and punish every kidwho is watching the kids and punish every kid
was bad the previous year, take them with him inwas bad the previous year, take them with him in
the depth of earththe depth of earth
4. 2.Norway- witches - cleaners
Can our own folklore haveCan our own folklore have
learned that Christmas ... we accept visits from glearned that Christmas ... we accept visits from g
oblins, but in Norway have a more dark legend.oblins, but in Norway have a more dark legend.
According to him, every Christmas eve witchesAccording to him, every Christmas eve witches
and other evil spirits, looking fand other evil spirits, looking fοοrr thethe
courtyards of houses cleaners, whocourtyards of houses cleaners, who
steal and use to fly. So itsteal and use to fly. So it
is tradition Norwegians hide brooms thatis tradition Norwegians hide brooms that
evening to evil spirits can not approachevening to evil spirits can not approach
the housethe house
6. 3.Italy - Befana, as we3.Italy - Befana, as we
say ... Santa Claussay ... Santa Claus
Santa these days has a leading role at every part ofSanta these days has a leading role at every part of
earthearth,, but in Italy they prefer celebratebut in Italy they prefer celebrate a topic mytha topic myth,, whowho
isnisn’’t any else than the old witcht any else than the old witch,, BEFANABEFANA.. In the call ofIn the call of
herher might leave the impression of a poor creature, might leave the impression of a poor creature,
but Befana does the same job as his favourite santa, hebut Befana does the same job as his favourite santa, he
is committed to distributing gifts to the children of theis committed to distributing gifts to the children of the
country. According to legends, the eve he meets threecountry. According to legends, the eve he meets three
magicians, who request guidance on the stall that wouldmagicians, who request guidance on the stall that would
lead them to Jesus. She may not know, but they hostlead them to Jesus. She may not know, but they host
and invite her to followand invite her to follow
them. Good Witch refused, but later she regretted herthem. Good Witch refused, but later she regretted her
decision, so she wanders herself in order to finddecision, so she wanders herself in order to find
the baby Jesus and the wise magicians.the baby Jesus and the wise magicians.
8. 4.Makedonia - The Christoxyl4.Makedonia - The Christoxyl
oo
The tradition of the regionsThe tradition of the regions
of Macedonia wants theirof Macedonia wants their
household houses looking fields on Christmashousehold houses looking fields on Christmas
Eve in order toEve in order to
find more thick and solid wood olive or pine, theyfind more thick and solid wood olive or pine, they
call Christoxylo. . This wood is burned slowly incall Christoxylo. . This wood is burned slowly in
the fireplace - setthe fireplace - set
by each residue old stachtis- every day of theby each residue old stachtis- every day of the
holidays, and should last until the day ofholidays, and should last until the day of
Epiphany. The wood is burned, according toEpiphany. The wood is burned, according to
custom, the little Jesus warms thecustom, the little Jesus warms the
frozen manger.frozen manger.
10. 5. Netherlands5. Netherlands
- helper Zwarte Piet- helper Zwarte Piet
Zwarte piet or otherwiseZwarte piet or otherwise
Black Peter, said the popular festive splurge Holland.Black Peter, said the popular festive splurge Holland.
This bantam the trolls, passing his time digging inThis bantam the trolls, passing his time digging in
mines (hence the black colour), up and down with easemines (hence the black colour), up and down with ease
the chimneys of houses, after the smoke and embers nothe chimneys of houses, after the smoke and embers no
longer bother him.longer bother him.
According to traditions, his hobby is to monitor children,According to traditions, his hobby is to monitor children,
giving then a reference to Santa Claus aboutgiving then a reference to Santa Claus about
what was good and what not, but also to accompany himwhat was good and what not, but also to accompany him
in the sharing of gifts. Bad Boys, insteadin the sharing of gifts. Bad Boys, instead
of gifts find the Black Stone a sock filled with ... coals.of gifts find the Black Stone a sock filled with ... coals.
