Have yourself a scary little Christmas - Steve Cardownie

Covid-19 has put a damper on festive celebrations throughout the world and many of the various traditions have been put on hold this year but will no doubt resurface when it is safe to do so. A quick trawl of what is on offer throws up some surprising and, in some cases, downright scary, events which are more likely to induce nightmare rather than sweet dreams.

Many of the usual festivities have been put on hold this year

Take Austria for example where the evil accomplice of St Nicholas, Krampus, (who would give Freddie Kruger a run for his money) roams the streets looking for children who have mis-behaved. During the month of December people dressed in ghoulish costumes and hellish face masks wander throughout, scaring anyone who is unfortunate enough to cross their path, The annual Krampus parade through the streets of Vienna attracts huge crowds of spectators from home and abroad.

Belfana the witch visits Italian children on the eve of January 5 where she fills stockings with sweets and presents, entering through the chimney, just like Santa Claus, (alternative methods deployed if a chimney is unavailable) and is left treats by the children, usually wine and delicacies. So if you are in Italy around that time look out for an inebriated witch skiting over the rooftops on her broomstick.

In Sweden, families gather around the television at 3pm on Christmas Day to watch Donald Duck episodes after the tradition started in the 1960s when Disney cartoons were aired on one of the only two channels that existed at that time on Christmas Day. It is estimated that up to 40 per cent of Sweden’s population still tune in to watch.

Not for the faint hearted, nor vegetarians for that matter, is the tradition of eating caterpillars as a Christmas dish which prevails in South Africa where the Pine Tree Emperor Moth, or Christmas caterpillar tempts the tastebuds. Covered in festive hues it is supposed to bring good luck in the coming year to all who consume them- it also brings a new dimension to the “leg or breast” question.

Children in The Netherlands place their shoes by the fire in the days leading up to Christmas in the hope that “Sinterklaas” will fill them with treats and little gifts. Carrots are left in the shoes so that “Sinterklaas” can feed his trusty four-legged friend Amerigo, his white horse (or grey for pedants) who accompanies him on his rounds.

In the Venezuelan capital of Caracas droves of citizens travel to Mass on Christmas morning by roller skate and some streets are closed off from 8am that day to make it safer for the congregation to get to church. Children in particular eagerly await the morning so that they can roller skate with their friends and families to their local place of worship.

In 1974 in Japan, the fast food franchise Kentucky Fried Chicken embarked upon a hugely successful festive marketing campaign “kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii ( Kentucky for Christmas to you and me) and families throughout the country still make heir way to their local KFC for a special Christmas Eve meal. It is KFC’s biggest sales day of the year and all the indications are that it will continue to be so for many a year.

Have a good one but play safe!