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MORE UNIQUE CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

12/23/2022

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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!

Every country has their own traditions related to their religious celebrations. Following are a few with unique Christmas traditions. Many traditions are centuries old, but some new ideas catch on quickly and become new traditions within a few years or decades.
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REPUBLIC OF CATALONIA 
“Feliz Navidad” - [Spanish]
“Bon Nadal" - [Occitan and Catalan]
                       “Felibres Nadal” - [Aranese]

Catalonia was part of Spain but the 2006 Statute of Autonomy adopted by the Spanish government gave Catalonia the status of a semi-independent, self-governing Republic, but always under the laws of Spain. There are two Christmas traditions that are unique to Catalonia and the Aragon region.

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● Tió de Nadal [The Christmas Log] 
One of the most important Christmas traditions in Catalan culture is the Tió de Nadal  [Christmas Log], also known as simply Tió or Tronca. 
The tradition dates back many centuries to the time when logs were burned in the fireplace to give light, shelter and warmth. The tradition of placing a log in your house to burn during the holidays somehow evolved into Tió de Nadal.
​

The contemporary Tió is a hollow wooden log with eyes, nose, and mouth painted ​on one end. He wears a red barretita, a traditional 19th century hat worn by men. It also has two or four stick legs and a big smile. Starting on the 8th of December, the day of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Catalonian kids place the Tió in the house, cover it with a blanket and give it something to eat it every night during the month.

The whole point of this process is to make Tió  warm, feed it and basically take good care of it until Christmas day. The parents usually replace the Tió for a bigger one from time to time making it look like it is growing. On Christmas day, the fully grown Tió is then placed in the center of the room, and children gather around it, singing songs and hitting the log with sticks. If they “do good job”, they get their presents.

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● The Cagener [The Pooper]
A somewhat disrespectful tradition in Catalan Christmas culture is the Pooper.  Basically a figurine to be hidden somewhere in the  nativity scenes, the Caganer is a figure of a Catalan man, wearing traditional Catalan clothes, squatting with his trousers around his ankles and taking a poop.


◄Typical small figurine for nativity scene
Image source: pinterest.com/301881981267185779/

​However, these figurines have become very popular and you can find a replica of almost anyone you can think of, including Donald Trump and Queen Elizabeth. There are also full scale or larger statues put up in malls and other public places.
​

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COLUMBIA
“Feliz Navidad” [Spanish]

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​● Día de las Velitas
In Colombia, Día de las Velitas [Day of the Little Candles] initiates the Christmas celebrations on December 7. The streets, houses, and other buildings are decorated with lanterns and candles to begin the festive season. 
                    
Image Source: soycolombiano.com/dia-de-las-velitas

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COSTA RICA
“Feliz Navidad” [Spanish]


Costa Ricans hit the beach in December and celebrate Christmas with exuberance. Bright lights and festive music fill the air as the country becomes even more vibrant. At the center of the celebrations are the traditional nativity scenes called “Portals.” Small toys and fruit are commonly laid in front of Portals as a small offering
.

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● Festival of Lights
The highlight is the Festival of Lights in the form of a parade with dancers, bands, and floats, all glowing with lights.

​​◄ Image Source: costaricantimes.com/costa-rica-christmas

​

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CZECH REPUBLIC
“Veselé Vánoce" [Czech]



● The Shoe Toss
Feeling lonely this Christmas? Czech women use this Christmas ritual to see what lies in store for their love life in the coming year. .Standing with their backs to their front doors, unmarried ladies toss their shoes over their shoulders. If one lands with its toe pointing towards the door, the woman will supposedly get married within the next 12 months.

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● Finding a Star in an Apple  
A typical household scent at this time of year comes from the baking of štrůdl, strudel, a home-made cake consisting of apples and cinnamon. With all those apples around, it is tradition, upon finding a star at the center of an apple, to believe you will have good health in the coming year.


Image Credit: Pixabay, author: 743976.
Image Source: discoverwalks.com/czech-christmas-traditions

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FRANCE
“Joyeux Noel!” ​
[French]


​● Nativity Scenes
The French go "Creche Crazy," and are wild about Nativity scenes. You find them everywhere. In addition to the usual figures, all sort of other people [called Santons] are present, such as the baker, the street sweeper, the butcher, street vendors, and so on.

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Crèche filled with figures Americans cannot recognize! The santons of Provence include not only the Holy Family, the Magi and the shepherds, but the whole village who has come to worship the Baby Jesus!
Image Source: confessionsofaplateaddict.blogspot.com/french-nativity-sceneor
● Shoes on the Harth
On Christmas eve, children put their shoes on the hearth for Santa to fill.

● Le Réveillon  / 
 New Year's Eve
In addition to the Christmas Eve banquet called Le Réveillon, the French traditionally have 13 desserts to symbolize Christ and the 12 apostles at the last supper.
​
​

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 GERMANY
“Frohe Weihnachten!” 
[German]
“Froehliche Weihnachten!”

● Advent
Advent, which starts four Sundays before Christmas, is the beginning of the holiday season for Germans. An Advent Calendar is used as a countdown to December 25. It is often a
: wreath of fir tree branches with four advent candles or a fir branch decorated with 24 decorated bags or boxes hung from it, each marked with the day and holding a small present. The Advent calendar tradition supposedly dates back to the 1850s. 

● Shoes outside
German children leave a shoe outside the house on December 5th which is then filled with sweets overnight. Naughty children awake to find a tree branch in the shoe instead!

● Hiding A pickle
It's a very old Christmas Eve tradition in Germany to hide a pickle (of the ornament variety) in the branches of the Christmas tree. In the morning, the child who finds it first gets a special gift from Santa, while the first adult traditionally gets good luck for the coming year.

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ICELAND
“Gleðileg jól!”  [Icelandic]

Christmas in Iceland is known as "Yule" or "Jól" and originated as the ancient winter solstice celebrations which were absorbed into early Christian tradition. Yule includes New Year through Epiphany.

● Jólakötturinn, The Yule Cat
Children in Iceland are warned that if they don’t finish their work on time or don’t behave, they will be stalked by Jólakötturinn, the enormous Yule Cat, who eats children [and sometimes adults] who don’t receive any new clothes before Christmas night.

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​This legend has its roots in a time in the middle ages when Iceland had established itself as a producer of wool cloth. First, it was common for households to have a large furry cat [probably to control rodents]. Second, everyone needed warm clothing due to the weather. Third, wool production was vital to the economy and everyone in the household had to work hard to make the wool cloth.         Image Credit: PBC
                                                                                        Image Source: boredpanda.com/icelandic-legend-yule-cat

Christmas gifts during this period were sparse and usually consisted of a piece of wool clothing, and even that was possible only if everyone completed the work on time. Hence, the legend was born and has carried on through the centuries.
Jólakötturinn is not a nice kitty!

● The 13 Yule Lads
The 13 Yule Lads are the sons of Grýla, half ogre and half troll. And she is very bad news. Grýla and her family live high in the mountains with a huge furry cat. [You guessed it… the Yule Cat!] Around Christmas time, when the food supply is running low, she sends her 13 lads down the mountain and into town to look for children who misbehave.

The first lad leaves twelve days before Christmas, and each day another lad goes down to the town, until on Christmas day all thirteen have arrived. The first lad then returns up the mountain with bags of misbehaving children. Each day, one of the brothers returns home until on January 6, they have all arrived with their bags of naughty children. [Presumably, the ogress and the cat have also been hunting during this time.]
​
Then Grýla takes the children out of the bags and cooks them alive in a huge caldron, making a stew. The family eats the stew for the rest of the cold season.

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​The tale got so scary that in 1746 the Icelandic government stepped in and parents were officially banned from frightening their children with tales of the Yule Lads and their gruesome family.

Today Grýla and the 13 Yule Lads have been reinvented as mischievous benevolent Christmas icons.


Imag Sourcee: meer.com/en/thirteen-yule-lads
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ISLE OF MAN
“Merry Christmas”

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The languages spoken on the Isle of Man are English and Manx English. Manx English [also called Anglo Manx] differs widely from any other dialect of English. However, Manx English is in decline, so most people would Merry Christmas.  
                                                                               Location map – Isle on Man  ►

                                                                           Image Credit: Cnbrb  [Public Domain]
                                    Image Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?

● Hunting the Wren
Originally Hunting the Wren was quite a blood thirsty Christmas ritual, where gangs would scour the countryside looking for the tiny "sacred" birds to trap and kill it as a sacrifice, before it was plucked and buried in the local church with much pomp and ceremony. The feathers were spread around for good luck. 


In 2022 it is a more humane activity. Instead of hunting the wren by beating the bushes, people go around in groups making noise with sticks and singing. The wren is represented by an artificial bird which is the centerpiece for a "bush" which consists of two wooden hoops placed on top of a pole, covered with ribbons and evergreens. The pole is carried from house to house. The theory as to why the wren is targeted for 'revenge' is that it's the reincarnation of an enchantress who lured Manx men to their deaths. The good luck feathers have been replaced by ribbons.

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● Eating Raw Whale Skin With Blubber And Moldy Birds
Sounds totally yucky, but this moldy birds isn't some dead turkey that's been left in the trash to decay. Moldy bird is a great delicacy in Green-land called Kiviak, and it is the centerpiece of the Christmas feast.

Image Source: travelfoodatlas.com/kiviak-greenland-inuit-delicacy

Kiviak is made with a small bird called an auk which has been preserved in the hollowed-out body of a seal, buried for several months, and then eaten once it's decomposed. Still sounds yucky, but what do I know. 

Another treat on the menu is mattak, made from the skin and blubber of a whale and usually eaten raw, although sometimes it is deep-fried and munched on with soy sauce.
Suaasat  is a barbecued caribou soup includes berries and apples with a crisp topping making for the sweet part of the feast.
​


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IRELAND
“Nollaig Shona
” [Galic]

Ireland celebrates Christmas in the same way people in the UK and US do, but still have some of their own traditions.

● Meat Pie and Guinness
On Christmas, instead of leaving out milk and cookies for Santa, its tradition to leave out meat pie and a glass of Guinness. 


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● A Morning Swim
​Dublin celebrates Christmas morning with a swim in the sea. The 40 Foot in Sandycove near Dublin is the area where hundreds of brave swimmers dive into the freezing waters all for the sake of charity.


Image Source: globalexperiences.com/christmas-around-world

● Women’s Christmas
Holidays celebrations come to an end on January 6, called Little Christmas or Women’s Christmas. Men take over the household duties for the day, while women go out with their friends and family to celebrate. On the same day, the tree is taken down, and the decorations are put back into storage.

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MEXICO
“Feliz Navidad” 
[Spanish]


● The Night of the Radishes / Noche de Rábanos
On December 23, The Night of the Radishes, an annual Christmas time event, is held in the city of Oaxaca, not far from Mexico City. Here artists display statues and scenes carved out of radishes and compete for prizes. The carvings may be anywhere in size from a small figurine to nativity scenes of all sizes, to figures and scenes bigger than life. .

Part of the fun is being able to watch craftsmen at their work, showing the skill needed for such carvings. The contest now attracts more than 100 competitors and thousands of visitors.

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Credit for Images: Getty Images
Sources of Images: theculturetrip.com/mexico/festival-of-radishes/
The tradition of holding an yearly radish carving competition dates back to 1897 when Oaxaca City’s mayor, Francisco Vasconcelos, decided to make the contest part of that year’s Christmas market, which sold traditional flowers, herbs and ingredients for holiday dishes as well as decorations for the home. Because radishes had always been integral to Oaxaca’s Christmas cuisine as both an essential ingredient and a decorative garnish, the radish contest was seen as a fun way to promote local agriculture. Everyone loves it.
​​
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NEW ZEALAND
“Meri Kirihimete!"
[Maori]

Even though Christmas comes in the summer in the southern hemisphere, the European traditions of the Christmas trees, snow, and Santa Claus, are familiar but have local twists. The native Maori have influenced some of the Christmas traditions. Notice how the gingerbread cookies mimic Maori Haka dancers with fierce expressions.

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Image Source: postkiwi.com/2007/gingerbread-haka/        Image source: thinglink.com/1098832104315158529
Haka is a Māori war dance that was traditionally saved for the battlefield. The action-packed dance is a display of strength and pride, which includes powerful stomps of the feet, wide eyes and the well-known tongue poking.
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NORWAY
“God jul”
[Norwegian]



​While Norway is predominantly a Christian country, Christmas wasn’t celebrated here until about the 10th and 11th centuries. Before then, people celebrated yuletide in the middle of the winter, and drank beer in honor of the Norse gods, waiting for the warmer weather to return.
● Advent
Advent is a preparation period before December 25 which starts four Sundays before Christmas.  On the first Sunday before Christmas, people light the first purple candle which represents hope. On the second Sunday of Advent people light the first and the second purple candles, which represent love and peace. On the third Sunday of Advent, people light the first and second purple candles and then the pink candles. These represent joy. On the fourth Sunday, the first three candles and the fourth white candle are lit, representing Jesus Christ, the light of the world.


● The Nisse
A nisse [nisser = plural] is a mythological creature from Scandinavian folklore, similar to a garden gnome or a goblin. According to tradition, they are present in farmhouses where they act as guardians of those living there and even occasionally help with house chores. 

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They were believed to be the ‘soul’ of the first person living in the property, and are described as small creatures resembling old men with long beards and red conical caps. Today, they have been assimilated into Christian culture in Scandinavia and appear in Christmas tales, decorations, and cards. Santa Claus, known in Norwegian as Julenisse, is himself a sort of nisse.

Image Source: target.com/s/norwegian+gnomes
● Lille Juaften
December 23, Norwegians celebrate Lille Julaften, or Little Christmas Eve, a time when the family comes together to clean and decorate the house and tree. Ornaments include heart-shaped Christmas baskets filled with goodies, paper chains, and On Norwegian flags, pepperkakehus, or gingerbread houses, which Norwegians refrain from eating before the end of the Christmas season. 
Julaften [Christmas Eve] is the main day of celebration for Norwegians.
​

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RUSSIA
“с Рождеством” [Russian]
"S rozhdyestvom Hristovym” [Congratulations of the birth                                                                                 of Christ!​]
The Soviet Union suppressed the practice of Religion in Russia. Since it was banned, Christian people didn’t partake of the religious part of Christmas -- or did so secretly in their homes -- but they ingeniously incorporated many of the traditions into New Year’s celebrations.

Today, Christmas in Russia is most widely celebrated on January 7 because the Russian Orthodox Church adheres to the Julian calendar, which is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar. Preceding the Russian Orthodox Christmas, New Year's Day is on January 1 and is often considered the more important holiday.

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● Ded Moroz / Father Frost
The Russian Santa Claus is named Ded Moroz, or Father Frost. On New Year's Eve, he places presents for children under the New Year tree [as opposed to a Christmas tree].

He is accompanied by Snegurochka, a snow maiden said to be his granddaughter. He carries a staff; dons a red, blue, silver, or gold coat lined with white fur; and wears valenki, traditional felt boots made of wool. Unlike Santa, Ded Moroz is tall and thin—and instead of traveling via sleigh, he gets around Russia by taking a troika, a vehicle led by three horses.


                               Typical depiction of Father Frost and granddaughter
               Image Source: shutterstock.com/search/father-frost?c3apidt=



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SLOVAKIA
“Veselé Vianoce”
[Slovakian]


​● Loksa Pudding Tells Fortunes

In Slovakia and parts of Ukraine it is traditional to have pudding at Christmas. So far nothing unusual. However, the dessert is said to have guessing skills. The oldest member of the family throws the Loksa pudding onto the ceiling with a spoon; the more it sticks, the happier it will be for the family in the next year

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REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
"Geseënde Kersfees" [Afrikaans]
"UKhisimusi omuhle" [Zulu]

​“Krismesi emnandi” [Xhosa]
                                               "
Le be le keresemese e monate" [Sotho]

 Similar to New Zealand and Australia, Christmas is a summer holiday in South Africa. Most of the Christmas traditions are based on Dutch and British heritage from the time the area was settled in beginning in the mid-sixteen hundreds.

The Republic of South Africa has population of 55 million inhabitants of diverse cultures, religions, origins, and languages, of which Bantu-speaking people number 35 million. Only some are originally from that area; others have come from other regions. Some of the major ethnic South Africans include Zulu, Basotho, Venda, Xhosa.


● Picnics and Bar-B-Que
Some people start the morning with a church service, while others get straight to opening their Christmas presents. After the morning of activities, friends and families gather together for a Christmas lunch or dinner, followed by some backyard games like cricket, or a well-earned nap!

● Santa’s sleigh is drawn by Giraffes, not reindeer.

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Image Source:                                                                                                       Image Credit: Dan Cross,Durban     interaksyon.philstar.com/christmas/        Source of Images: ▲ sapeople.com/christmas-in-cape-town  ▲
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​● Crispy Caterpillars
Rather than pass around the cheese board on Christmas Day, South Africans choose to snack on caterpillars from the Emperor moth.


                             Image Source: dailymail.co.uk/Deep-fried-caterpillars

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SPAIN
“Feliz Navidad”  [Spanish]

● National Lottery
The Christmas celebrations begin on the 22nd of December with Spain’s National Christmas Lottery which has been held every year since 1812. The winning numbers, which are contested for by millions, are sung by children in a televised performance.

● The Three Kings
In Spain Christmas has nothing to do with Santa Claus. Instead it is the Three Kings or the Three Wise Men (Reyes Magos - Melchior, Baltazar and Gaspar) who bring the presents to well-behaved children at Christmas time. On the night of January 5th you’ll likely see massive Three Kings parades through towns and cities as families and friends get together to mark the occasion.

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SWEDEN
“God Jul" [Swedish]



● Festival of St. Lucia
In Sweden the Christmas festivities start with the St. Lucia ceremony on December 13, the Winter Solstice on the old Julian calendar.               
Image Source: lehighvalleylive.com/lucia_fest

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The youngest girl in each family dresses in white with a red sash and wears a crown of evergreens with tall candles attached to it. Small children now use battery candles, but real ones are used after about 12-years-old.

Originally Catholic, St. Lucia was a young saint from Italy who became convicted for illegal witchcraft. In Sweden, she is celebrated in December in the form of young girls dressing up as her and singing to an audience at schools, work places, and nursing homes.

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UKRAINE
"З Різдвом” [Ukrainian]
​


Ukrainians actually have two Christmases. One on December, 25, which is Catholic Christmas, and another one is on January, 7, which is Orthodox Christmas.
 

● Decorating With Spider Webs
The Ukranian custom of adorning the Christmas tree with a fake spider and web is believed to bring good luck and stems from an old tale. According to ancient folklore, there once was a widow living in her cramped, cold hut with her children. One day, a pinecone dropped from the tree outside and took root. The children, excited by the prospect of a tree for Christmas, tended the seedling and made plans about how they would decorate the tree. Poverty was a way of life for the small family, and when Christmas approached, the widow knew that they would not be able to decorate the tree. The children and the widow accepted their fate and went to bed on Christmas Eve, the tiny tree branches bare.

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The household’s spiders heard the children’s sobs and spun intricate webs on the tree. On Christmas morning, the children cried, “Mother, mother wake up and see the tree. It is beautiful!” She rose to find that during the night a spider had spun its web around the fragile branches. As the rays of the sun crept along the floor and silently climbed the tree, the glow touched the threads of the web turning each one into silver and gold, and, as the story goes, from that day forward the widow never wanted for anything. The Ukranian custom of adorning the Christmas tree with a fake
   
Image Source:                   spider and web is believed to bring good luck.
  ssjosephandcabriniparish.weconnect.com/                                 

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VENEZUELA
“Feliz Navidad”  
[Spanish]


Some traiitions are centuries old, others take hold very quick.
​● Roller Skating To Church
In the capital city there is a popular tradition involving large number of people roller skating to the early morning church services throughout the Christmas period. The city even closes the roads off specially to allow for the unconventional commute.

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.According to Hispanic Culture Online, children are put to bed earlier than normal the night before to give them enough strength to wake up and attend the Mass. Afterwards, those who attended apparently all go out, eat tostados and drink coffee.

Image Credit: Getty Images
Image Source:
thesun.co.uk/christmas-traditions

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WALES
​​​​​​​​​​
“Nadolig Llawen” [Welsh]


● Mari Lwyd / Y Fari Lwyd
The ancient custom of Mari Lwyd is used to mark the passing of the darkest days of midwinter.The Mari Lwyd is a wassailing folk custom from South Wales which entails the use of an eponymous hobby horse made from a horse's skull mounted on a pole and carried by an individual hidden under a sackcloth.

This tradition was first recorded in writing in 1800, described as a Christmas tradition performed by groups of men who would accompany the horse on its travels around the local area. The makeup of such groups varied, but all typically included an individual to carry the horse, a leader, and individuals dressed as stock characters such as Punch and Judy.

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The men would carry the Mari Lwyd to local houses, where they would request entry through song. The householders would be expected to deny them entry, again through song, and the two sides would continue their responses to one another in this manner. If the householders eventually relented, the team would be permitted entry and given
 
Image Source: marilwyd.wordpress.com/2016/            food and drink.

Look around. The world has so many interesting things to offer.
"MERRRY CHRISTMAS" from SAN DIEGO, CA, USA

JUST SAYIN'! 
Sources:
https://www.smallworldfs.com/en/blog/hispanic-christmas-traditions#:~:text=For%20Spanish%20speaking%20countries%20Christmas%20is%20especially%20important,Colombia%20they%20all%20celebrate%20Christmas%20with%20different%20traditions.
https://www.globalexperiences.com/blog/christmas-around-world
https://www.countryliving.com/entertaining/g4933/christmas-traditions-around-the-world/
https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/1960812/christmas-traditions-strangest-world/
https://theculturetrip.com/europe/norway/articles/how-to-celebrate-christmas-in-norway/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mari_Lwyd
https://marilwyd.wordpress.com/2016/05/18/welcome/comment-page-1/
https://clrn.org/lifestyle/the-8-strangest-christmas-traditions-in-the-world/#:~:text=The%20strangest%20Christmas%20customs%20in%20the%20world%201,probably%20especially%20scared%20of%20cats.%20...%20More%20items
https://www.expatica.com/fr/lifestyle/holidays/christmas-in-france-871680/#:~:text=Christmas%20in%20France%3A%20a%20guide%20to%20French%20Christmas,...%208%208.%20Table%20decoration%20...%20More%20items
https://www.tripsavvy.com/russia-christmas-traditions-1502306#:~:text=Christmas%20Traditions%20in%20Russia%201%20Russian%20Christmas%20Religious,Christmastide%20...%205%20Christmas%20Gifts%20From%20Russia%20
Photos and more
http://www.soycolombiano.com/dia-de-las-velitas-tradicion-en-colombia/
https://www.costaricantimes.com/watching-the-costa-rica-christmas-festival-of-lights/58200
https://www.discoverwalks.com/blog/10-czech-christmas-traditions-that-you-will-love/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalonia
https://staybarcelonaapartments.com/blog/catalan-christmas-traditions-barcelona/
https://widowcranky.com/2017/12/15/el-caganer-catalan-tradition/
https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/events/2010/12/lucia_fest_at_muhlenberg_colle.html
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2019/05/20/the-haka-new-zealands-fearsome-dance-of-war/
http://www.thinglink.com/scene/1098832104315158529
https://interaksyon.philstar.com/trends-spotlights/2018/12/25/141150/look-christmas-day-celebrations-around-the-world/
https://www.globalexperiences.com/blog/christmas-around-world
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manx_English
https://isleofmanhotels.com/hunt-the-wren-ancient-manx-tradition-celebrated/
https://www.transceltic.com/blog/isle-of-man-annual-hunt-wren-performed-torrential-rain
https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/mexico/articles/a-uniquely-oaxacan-festival-night-of-the-radishes/
https://www.renestance.com/blog/meet-the-santons-a-french-traditional-nativity-scene/
https://confessionsofaplateaddict.blogspot.com/2008/12/my-french-nativity-sceneorsantons-de.html
https://ssjosephandcabriniparish.weconnect.com/blog/view/trivia-ukrainian-christmas-tree-ornament
https://travelfoodatlas.com/kiviak-bizarre-greenland-inuit-delicacy
https://www.target.com/s/norwegian+gnomes?ref=tgt_adv
https://christmasgenius.com/christmas-in-greenland-xmas-traditions/#:~:text=Other%20Greenlandic%20traditional%20Christmas%20activities%20that%20people%20maximize,Ice-fishing%202%20Dog-sled%20races%203%20Greenland%20cultural%20
https://vidviday.ua/blog/en/ukraine-traditions-holidays/#:~:text=Ukrainian%20Christmas%20traditions%20Ukrainians%20actually%20have%20two%20Christmases.,follow%20regularly%20are%20Christmas%20dinner%25
 

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SCARY CHRISTMAS STORIES

12/16/2022

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Christmas is a joyous time when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The season is for love and sharing, gratitude, traditional foods, enjoying time with our families, and general good will to all.
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In recent years, we have gone a bit overboard with presents for children [some very expensive ones] whether or not they have been well behaved during the year. I doubt that very many will find a lump of coal or a potato in their Christmas stocking.
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But it hasn’t been that long ago that not every Christmas story was about giving and receiving gifts, laughing elves, prancing reindeer or even penny-pincher Scrooge..

In fact, some old world Christmas stories are very scary
                                                    and have been used to scare children into  behaving. 


SCARY CHRISTMAS STORIES FROM ICELAND

JÓLAKÖTTURINN, THE YULE CAT
Children in Iceland are warned that if they don’t finish their work on time or don’t behave, they will be stalked by Jólakötturinn, the enormous Yule Cat, who eats children [and sometimes adults] who don’t receive any new clothes before Christmas night.

Clothes? A big cat? That doesn’t sound too scary. “Besides,” you ask, “How could a cat eat a child?”

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Jólakötturinn, the Yule Cat - Image Credit: PBS
Image Source: boredpanda.com/icelandic-legend-yule-cat
Well, Jólakötturinn is bigger than your house, so it’s not a problem. And it’s said, he eats only once a year at Christmas time. On Christmas night he roams the countryside and towns and peeks through the windows searching for anyone who hasn’t received new clothes for Christmas. Then he stalks those he finds, captures, and eats them. He is not a friendly kitty.

This legend has its roots in a time in the middle ages when Iceland had established itself as a producer of wool cloth. First, it was common for households to have a large furry cat [probably to control rodents]. Second, everyone needed warm clothing due to the weather. Third, wool production was vital to the economy and everyone in the household had to work hard to make the wool production successful.

Christmas gifts during this period were sparse and usually consisted of a piece of wool clothing, and even that was possible only if everyone completed the work on time. Hence, the legend was born and has carried on through the centuries.
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The threat waned in modern time although the people of Iceland traditionally still gift clothing on the fifth day of Christmas to appease the Yule Cat.

The fame of the Jólakötturinn was renewed in the 1930s when poet Jóhannes úr Kötlum, who wrote of the enormous Christmas Cat, “People know not where he came from / Nor to what place he went.” Written references to this legend date to the 18th century; before that it was passed by word of mouth.

THE THIRTEEN YULE LADS
The 13 Yule Lads are troll brothers from Icelandic folklore who were troublemakers and committed obnoxious or evil mayhem every night during the time they were in the town. Their pranks weren't totally evil, but they came from vary evil family. They were the sons of Grýla and her troll husband, 
Leppalúði.

Grýla, often depicted as an evil witch, is very bad news. Half troll and half ogre, she is a gross, massive giant. Being a creature of legend, her description varies, but she has horns, a huge nose, cloven feet, and at least fifteen tails, each of which holds 100 bags with 20 children in each. Spoiler Alert! 
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                   Grýla the witch                                                                      Grýla the troll 
​Image Source: pinterest.es/pin/138133913548763043/            Image Source: mentalfloss.com/gryla-christmas
​                                                                                                                                -troll-iceland#
Grýla and her family live high in the mountains with a huge furry cat. [You guessed it… the Yule Cat!] Around Christmas time, when the food supply was running low, she sent her 13 lads down the mountain and into town to look for children who misbehave.

The first lad, Stekkjastaur the Sheep Cote Clod, leaves twelve days before Christmas December 12, and each day another lad goes down to the town, until
the 13th lad, Kertasmikir the Candle Beggar, arrives on Christmas day. The first lad then returns up the mountain with bags of misbehaving children. Each day, one of the brothers returns home until on January 6, they have all arrived with their bags of naughty children. [Presumably, the ogress and the cat have also been hunting during this time.]
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            Stekkjastaur the Sheep Cote Clod,                             Kertasmikir the Candle Beggar
           
Image Source: icelandwonder.com/the-13-yule-lads/

Then Grýla takes the children out of the bags and cooks them alive in a huge caldron, making a stew. The family eats the stew for the rest of the cold season.
 
Yuk! What an awful thing to tell children!

The tale got so scary that in 1746 the Icelandic government stepped in and parents were officially banned from frightening their children with tales of the Yule Lads and their gruesome family.


Since then the lads have gotten their act together and, in recent times, they are just mischievous creatures pulling harmless pranks, such a slamming door, eating all the yogurt in town, and other annoying but harmless antics. They go around visiting the children and bringing gifts and goodies to eat..

Even Grýla has been modified and is now presented as a witch who protects mistreated children.  She's now depicted in statues and Christmas installations all over Iceland, but in many cases, she retains at least a little of her scary vibe.


THE EUROPEAN TRADITION
Another category of Scary Christmas Stories actually predates the birth of Christ ‒ apparently even then parents had to invent monsters to intimidate their children into good behavior  ‒ but the original legend was subsumed by the Christian culture sometime in the middle ages, at least in the territories once held by the Holy Roman Empire and the other cultures affected by Roman occupancy. [Remember, the Holy Roman Empire is not the same as the Ancient Roman Empire -- which took in a much greater territory -- but Germany, Italy, and much of central Europe.]
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The general gist of the legend is that a companion accompanied Saint Nicholas throughout the territory when he made his Christmas rounds. These companions consist of related characters stemming from the original legend but bearing different names.

They act as a foil to the benevolent Saint Nickolas who brings gift to good children, while the companion’s purpose is to punish naughty children. The name of the character varies depending on what part of the territory you are in and some are darker and more malicious than others.                                                                              
The Holy Roman Empire
                                                                                             Image Source: shutterstock.com/holy-roman-empire

SCARY STORIES FROM THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE

KRAMPUS
Krampus [whose name comes “krampen” the Germanic root for "claw"] is one of the oldest and darkest companions of Saint Nicholas. Before Christianity spread, Krampus was thought to have been part of pagan rituals for the winter solstice. According to legend, he is son of the Norse god of the underworld, Hel.
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Krampus                                                                                           Krampus
Image Source ranker.com/terrifying-christmas-figures/             Image Source:
terrorhousemag.com/krampus/
He is described as a demon-like beast, half goat and half man, with horns, black or brown hair all over its body, one foot and one cloven hoof, and a long pointed tongue. He carried a bundle of birch sticks. He often has chains all over his body which he drags along with him to find naughty children. Some parts of the legend claim that Saint Nicholas keeps him chained up except at Christmas time.

While St. Nicholas was out rewarding nice children by leaving presents, Krampus was beating the naughty ones with his birch branches. In some cases, he is said to drag them off to his lair and beat them again or eat them.

While originally a pagan legend, with the spread of Christianity, Krampus became associated with Christmas and Saint Nicholas despite efforts by the Catholic Church to squelch the connection. He became popular in the 18th and 19th centuries and people sent Krampus Christmas Cards like those below.

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Image Source:                                                                        Source of center and right images:
thevintagenews.com/krampus-christmas-devil                       snapfish.com/Christmas/Cards

In some locations in Europe, Krampus’ popularity is discouraged. Krampus celebrations are encourage in other countries. In the 1930s, Austria banned Krampus for being so terrifying he frightened the children. Today, a toned-down version of Krampus is part of the popular Christmas markets in Austrian urban centers. In these more tourist-friendly interpretations, Krampus is more humorous than fearsome.

KNECHT RUPRECHT
In parts of Germany, the anti-St. Nick is Knech Ruprecht and, according to some references, is also known as Farmhand Rupert or Servant Robert [no explanation of where that came from].

He looks like a cross between a shepherd and a wild man with a long beard wearing a hooded brown cloak and carrying a big stick. And he just might have horns. There are stories about how Knech and St. Nick got together. One is that Knech was a rescued by St. Nicholas as foundling and was raised by him.

The most interesting myth is that one day, when Saint Nicholas arrived at an Inn, he found that the innkeeper had killed three boys and stuffed their bodies into a pickling barrel. St. Nick brought the boys back to life and punished the innkeeper by making him work beside him as Knecht Ruprecht for eternity.  https://germangirlinamerica.com/who-is-knecht-ruprecht/

In Germany, Saint Nicholas comes around on December 5 and brings treats, and on Christmas Eve, the Christkind brings presents. On December 5, Knecht’s duty was to go around asking kids if they could pray. If they could, they got treats of fruit, candy, and gingerbread. Those who couldn’t, he beat with a bag of ashes so they would remember the reason for the celebration is the baby Jesus, not presents.

A variation on the theme is that Knecht and St. Nicholas went house to house together, and there checked in a big book whether or not the devil had written anything about the child. Then the child would have to recite h/her prayers for Knetcht. Those they knew their prayers got goodies from St. Nicholas. The children who didn’t, got a lump of coal or a switching from Knetcht, or worse, put in his sack and carried away.

There was a time when some parents actually acted this out and had someone come to the door dressed as Knecht and then carry the child away in a bag. Dark times!
 
BELSNICKEL
The companion Belsnickel  [also known as Belschnickel, Pelznickel, Bell Sniggle and a variety of other names] is, according to folklore, a crotchety, fur-clad figure in Southwestern Germany. He made it across the pond with the Dutch immigrants and continues to exist in the Pennsylvania Dutch and Brazilian-German communities.

On a scale ranging from Santa Claus as we know him today as the kindest and the child-eating Krampus as the worst, Belsnickel falls in the mid-range. Not too good but also not too bad.
               
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                        Source of Images: christmasisawesomeandsoshouldyou.blogspot.com/belsnickel

He resembles Santa in looks and in some communities he is thought to be Saint Nicholas himself rather than a companion, despite his ragged furs cloak, dirty clothes, and mean demeanor. He is a more recent myth based on the older servant of St. Nicholas, none other than Knecht Ruprecht. He also carries switches to beat naughty children.

Unlike Krampus and Knecht, Belsnickel does not accompany Saint Nicholas but instead visits children by himself and combines both the threatening and the benign aspects which in other traditions are divided between the Saint Nicholas and the companion figure. Even though he may be scary and his function is not specifically punishing bad behavior. If the children have been obedient, he gives them treats as rewards, and he is loved and feared in equal parts by children. As long as you behave, he is like the traditional Santa Claus.

THE PERCHTEN / PERCHTA THE WITCH
The Perchten is described as a dual-gendered spirit who appears during the 12 day of Christmas [December 25 thru January 5]. The female part if called Schonperchten [Beautiful Perchten] and on the other we have the male and aptly named Schiachperchten [Ugly Perchten]. The images are, presumably, the male part of the spirit because they certainly aren’t beautiful.

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                The Perchten                                                                   Perchten Festival - Austria
   Image Source: fotocommunity.de/photo/perchten           Image Credit: Dominic Ebenbichler/Reuters]
                                                                                                  Image Source: avax.news/pictures/114374
Consistent with other versions of the legend, Schoneperchten gives treats to the good people of the world, while the Schiachperchten punishes the bad.

The terrifying part of this character is that, when it passes by you, you can never be sure which part of the spirit you will be facing.

However, when it comes to folklore, nothing is simple and the characters seem to merge and weave in and out of various myths and legends. According to Otherworldlyoracle.com/ the Perchten are either evil spirits or were originally the spirits that drove away the evil ones. It’s a custom in Alpine regions for men to dress as Krampus-looking monsters and mimic the Perchten by parading through the streets and driving away Christmas ghosts.

The spirit or spirits seem to be derived from an older belief, that of the greatly loved Germanic goddess Berchta [also called Perchta and other names] who was the leader of the Perchten and the goddess who protected babies, children, and women. Some historians believe she was worshiped by ancient Alpine celtic tribes before the time of the Germanic tribes.

As happened with many mythological creatures and ancient beliefs, Berchta, gift-giver, guide and protector of babes, domestic goddess of spinning and women, was nearly stomped out when the Church rose to power. One of the Church’s major tools of conversion was fear. Soon Berchta/Pertcha became an ugly, crooked-nosed, belly-slitting witch [whose consorts were the dreaded demons, the perchten] who captured children and ate them.
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It didn’t take long before Perchta was turned into competition with Krampus as the worst Christmas demon around.

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The Goddess Berchta [Perchta]                                                        The Demonized Perchta -  Image Source:
 Image Source: bing.com/images/search?view=Berchta                 theloreyouknow.tumblr.com/perchta

PARTIAL LIST OF NAMES BY LOCATION

Dark and threatening companions include:
Knecht Rupecht in Germany
Krampus in Austria
Parkeji in Slovania
Friuli in Croatia,
Krampusz] in Hungary
Klaubauf  in Bavaria
Pelzebock; Befana; Pelznickel; Belzeniggl; Belsnickel in the Palatinate [and also Pennsylvania, due to Pennsylvania Dutch influence]
Schmutzli in Switzerland
Rumpelklas; Bellzebub; Hans Muff; Drapp; and Buzebergt  in Augsburg.

 
Less malicious companions include:
Zwarte Piet or Black Pete in Netherlands and Flanders - 
Schmutzli in Swiss folklore - [schmutz meaning dirt]
čert [Devil] and anděl [Angel] in Czech Republic
Rubbels  in part of France and German-speaking Lorraine and Hanstrapp
Père Fouettard in Northern and Eastern France [Father Slapper]


Let's be grateful for plain old Santa Claus!
JUST SAYIN’ !
□
Sources:
https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/1960812/christmas-traditions-strangest-world/
https://mountainmanliving.com/2021/12/16/jolakotturinn-the-icelandic-christmas-cat/
https://www.pinterest.es/pin/138133913548763043/
https://www.iceland.is/the-big-picture/news/celebrating-christmas-with-13-trolls/7916
https://terrorhousemag.com/krampus/
https://www.ranker.com/list/the-10-most-terrifying-christmas-figures/molly-mahan
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Krampus
https://blog.redbubble.com/2012/12/the-history-of-the-krampus-card/
https://mysteriawords.blogspot.com/2016/12/the-folklore-of-krampus.html
https://germangirlinamerica.com/who-is-knecht-ruprecht/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/748301294321457364/
https://www.pretty-attitude.com/blogs/news/55347845-the-story-of-knecht-ruprecht
https://christmasisawesomeandsoshouldyou.blogspot.com/2013/12/10-belsnickel.html
http://avax.news/pictures/114374
https://theloreyouknow.tumblr.com/post/168479058960/meet-frau-perchta-or-if-youre-on-friendly
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/568050/gryla-christmas-troll-iceland#:~:text=Gr%C3%BDla%20isn%27t%20a%20standalone%20figure%20in%20Icelandic%20folklore%2C,supposedly%20visit%20on%20the%2013%20days%20of%20Christmas.
https://www.grunge.com/282226/the-untold-truth-of-christmas-witches/#:~:text=The%20creepy%20tales%20got%20so%20bad%20that%2C%20in,Christmas%20justice%20to%20Italian%20children%20Eleonora%20Gianinetto%2FWikimedia%20Commons
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/meet-the-thirteen-yule-lads-icelands-own-mischievous-santa-clauses-180948162/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Companions_of_Saint_Nicholas#:~:text=The%20companions%20of%20Saint%20Nicholas%20are%20a%20group,gift-bringer%2C%20threatening%20to%20thrash%20or%20abduct%20disobedient%20children.
https://www.thevintagenews.com/2016/12/04/the-story-of-krampus-the-horrific-christmas-devil-santas-horned-helper/?chrome=1&A1c=1
https://otherworldlyoracle.com/berchta-goddess-women-children-perchten/#:~:text=The%20Perchten%20are%20either%20evil%20spirits%20or%20were,through%20the%20streets%20and%20driving%20away%20Christmas%20ghosts.
https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=cST82gno&id=E96C3F514A8A58363001B850A84269C9C7B7602E&thid
 

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ODD AND UNUSUAL EVENTS WHICH ARE STRANGE, MYSTERIOUS, OR JUST PLAIN WEIRD

12/9/2022

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Isn’t it annoying when something weird happens and experts some up with an explanation that sounds plausible, but it could be something else… and you’re never going to know for sure?

Strange and mysterious events happen every day, many of which we hear about on the news, most we don’t. Can these just be random events? Coincidences?

Many times scientists or psychologists can explain them. Often strange and mysterious events are natural phenomenon which our science hasn’t caught up with yet. Think about how many things were unexplained during the Middle Ages. Then, people turned to magic rather than science to attempt to understand. Humans always want to understand, and making up things is better than nothing.

Today, we are still in the dark about many things, but the basis of science has put into place a foundation upon which we, at least, can built plausible theories. In the mean time, it’s fun to read about unusual unexplained things. Some are just goofy, although unexplained – probably because no one wanted to do the work. Others are more serious. Prepare to be annoyed.


THINGS THAT GO SQUEEK IN THE NIGHT
Some events are just goofy, mildly unusual, or fairly easy to understand.

● Dog Turns Into Llama
In 1982, a man woke up to find that his dog had been replaced by a llama.

● Crocodile in England
In 1985, residents of Alnwick, England, were startled when a 20-foot-long crocodile was found swimming in their local river. If you come to Alnwick Prison Gardens, you can meet the statue of an ill tempered policeman who tragically lost his first true love to a crocodile on their honeymoon. 

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Unable to forget the memories, he entered a semi-catatonic state and never came out of it. However, another source implies he had a second wife, which throws the catatonic state into question. [My guess: this is a PR "myth" inspired by the 1985 incident, if there really was one, to promote tourism to the Prison Gardens.]
◄ Constable Croc
Image Source:
alnwickgarden.com/constable-croc/

● Unusual Birth
In 1992, an Oregon woman gave birth to twins - one was normal, and the other had two heads. [This is an easy one. Triplets, and two of the fetuses didn’t separate. It was probably twins and one single fetus.]

● Don’t’ Throw Bicycles in the Canal!
The last time the City of Manchester, England, provided bicycles for rent, the authorities literally had to tell people not to throw rental bikes in a canal. [No explanation needed. People are inconsiderate and stupid a lot of the time.]

● Dancer Entertains Lion

In the Bronx (New York City) a woman jumped into the lion enclosure, and danced. She even tossed money to the lion. [Sounds like drugs or mental illness to me.]

​● London’s First Escalator to Underground
When the first escalator in the London Underground was put into service in 1911, the public had doubts about its safety. It is a long way down in a relatively snug space. 
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As the story goes, to reassure the people, the Underground’s one-legged employee William “Bumper” Harris was enlisted to ride up and down. The apparent message was that if a one-legged man could do it, anyone could. Other sources indicate there are doubts about whether or not Bumper actually existed, but he is commemorated with a small figurine in the       
   
First London Escalator - ▲ Image source:         London Transport Museum.
   
greatwesternstar.com/post/the-first-escalator                          Peter Freuchen - ▼ Image Source:
                                                                                                          cracked.com/image-pictofact-7399-weird-world

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● Arctic Explorer Burried by Avalanch
Peter Freuchen, an Arctic explorer, miraculously did not die when he was buried by an avalanche in 1929. Most folks in this situation wouldn’t make it out, but Freuchen found a crude but successful way to save himself from death. He made a sort of dagger out of his own frozen feces and used it to dig himself out of the snow. He lost several of his fingers, but he made it out alive. 


● Inuit Village Disappears
“A small Inuit village in Canada was known by fur trappers who would pass through it occasionally. But in 1930, something weird happened; a fur trapper named Joe Labelle entered the island's premises and didn't find a single person there. In fact, 7 sled dogs were found dead from starvation in a grave that looked like it was man-made. A search was conducted to find the missing people, but not a single body was found.”
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boredpanda.com/mysterious-unexplained-stories-history                                                                              
● The Porpoise Grave
On a very small island in the English Channel, a team of archaeologists working there found what they believed to be a 14th-century grave. Upon excavation, they were stunned to find the remains of a porpoise instead of a human. No one knows why the body of an aquatic creature was placed in the grave in the 14th or any other century..
 
● The Ghost Ship
This photo was taken by Jason Asselin as he was filming a music video on Lake Superior. This strange shimmering silhouette which resembled a large ship stayed in sight of the film makers for half an hour, then disappeared. 
▼ Jason never found out what it was. 

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Image Credit: Jason Asselin                                         
Source of Images: boredomtherapy.com/unsolved-mysteries


● Teleportation in Russia
This was believed to be a case of teleportation by those who witnessed the event 
▲ in 2012. If you look closely, you can see a figure in a white overcoat standing directly behind the large truck. Apparently, the person had suddenly appeared out of nowhere, leading people to believe they teleported from another location.

THINGS THAT GO BIG BOOM IN THE NIGHT
Some of these so-called mysterious events are serious disasters, at least for the people involved.

● Spontaneous Human Combustion
The case of Mary Reeser has never been completely explained. In 1951, Mary Reeser’s landlord notified the police after she discovered the doorknob of one of her tenants was burning hot. When police entered the St. Petersburg, Florida, apartment, they found a pile of ashes, the remains of a chair in which Mary Reeser had been sitting. Her backbone, part of her left foot (still wearing a slipper) and her skull which had shrunken “to the size of a teacup” [according to those present] were all that was left of her.
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   Image Source: boredomtherapy.com/unsolved-mysteries                    Image Source: 
                                                                                                                        
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Reeser
The shrinkage was unusual enough to be noted by official investigators although shrinking of the skull is not a regular feature of alleged cases of spontaneous human combustion, which was the suspected cause of the fire.

Florida officials sent a formal letter to the FBI. "We request any information or theories that could explain how a human body could be so destroyed and the fire confined to such a small area and so little damage done to the structure of the building and the furniture in the room not even scorched or damaged by smoke." [en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Reeser]

The ultimate conclusions was that Mary had had been incinerated by the wick effect. She used sleeping pills and was also a smoker. Also, the floor was concrete and there was nothing near the chair. The FBI hypothesized that she fell unconscious while smoking and set fire to her nightclothes. They indicated that once a body starts to burn there is enough fat to keep the fire going, sometimes resulting in almost complete combustion of the body.

● Dyatlov Pass Incident 
Between the 1st and 2nd of February, 1959, a group of 9 seasoned hikers disappeared in the Ural Mountains of Russia. [There had been 10 to begin with but, at one point, one of them became ill and left the group to return home.]

The night of February 1, this experienced trekking group from the Ural Polytechnic Institute set up their camp on the eastern slope of Kholat Syakh Mountain. During the night, something happened that caused these nine hikers to free themselves from their tent by cutting it open and fleeing from their camp inadequately dressed for the heavy snowfall and sub-zero temperatures.
​

A short time after their disappearance, a massive search party was organized. The searchers eventually found the bodies of all nine of the hikers.

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       Image Credit: Unnamed members of Russian search party 1959
      Image Source:
santafeghostandhistorytours.com/
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The Dyatlov Pass Hiking Group
Yuri Doroshenko left the group before the incident and save his life.

Image Source: exonews.org/tag/dyatlov-pass-incident/
At the time, Soviet authorities determined that six of them had died from hypothermia and three killed by physical trauma. One victim had major skull damage, two had severe chest trauma, and another had a small crack in the skull. Four of the bodies were found lying in running water in a creek, and three of these four had damaged soft tissue of the head and face. Two of the bodies had missing eyes, one had a missing tongue, and one had missing eyebrows. Several had suffered skull fractures. High level of radioactivity was found on their clothing and several seemed to be sunburnt.

Of course, there were a number of theories proposed about how this had happened. One was that an incident such as infrasound ‒ sound waves with frequencies below the lower limit of human audibility ‒ an infrequent natural phenomenon which causes acute panic attacks. Another theory proposed that the deceased were killed accidently by parachutes mines detonated by the Russian Military.

Speculation included animal attacks, hypothermia, an avalanche, katabatic winds, or several of these possibilities combined. However, the official investigation concluded that a "compelling natural force" had caused the deaths. Not much of an answer.

Fifty years later, in 2019, the Russians reopened the investigation. In the resulting 2020 report, the investigators concluded that the hikers’ deaths were due to an avalanche. According to Wikipedia, “Survivors of the avalanche had been forced to suddenly leave their camp in low-visibility conditions with inadequate clothing, and had died of hypothermia. Andrey Kuryakov, deputy head of the regional prosecutor's office, said: ‘It was a heroic struggle. There was no panic. But they had no chance to save themselves under the circumstances.’"(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyatlov_Pass_incident)

Scientists from the top two Universities in Europe suggested in 2021 that a type of avalanche known as slab avalanche could explain some of the trekkers' injuries. When stronger snow overlies weaker snow, it is called a slab. Or as Karl Birkeland puts it, “A slab is when you have something sitting on top of nothing.”
[ffden-2.phys.uaf.edu/212_fall2003.web.dir/Sarah_Schlichting/Slab.html]

A slab avalanche occurs when the weak layer lies lower down in a snowpack, with other layers of compressed snow on top. When the avalanche is triggered, the weak layer breaks off, pulling all the layers on top of it down the slope. These layers tumble and fall in a giant block, and move very quickly.

A mountain pass in the area was later named "Dyatlov Pass" in memory of the group, even though the incident happened almost a mile away. A prominent rock outcrop, located closer to the campsite, now serves as a memorial to the group.

● The Kentucky Meat Shower
This incident occurred over a very short period of time ‒ only several minutes between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. on March 3, 1876 ‒ when a woman named Mrs. Crouch was making soap on her porch in Olympia Springs, Kentucky.

Chunks of red meat measuring approximately 2 by 2 inches, with at least one being 4 by 4 inches, fell from the sky in a 100-by-50-yard area. The meat looked gristly, according to Mrs. Crouch. The exact type of meat was never identified, although according to the first report in Scientific American, two men who tasted it judged it to be lamb or deer. Several reports suggested it was beef, lamb, deer, bear, horse, or even human.
Picture
​In an article written for the Sanitarian, Leopold Brandeis identified the meat as Nostoc, microscopic single-celled organisms that contain no nucleus (a cyanobacteria). Nostoc are some of the oldest living organisms on earth, first appearing 3.5 billion years ago. His theory that the substance was Nostoc was based on the fact that Nostoc expands into a clear jelly-like mass when rain falls on it. Actually, there was no rain immediately before or after the meant shower.
◄ Actual samples collected from the meat shower

        Image Credit: Scientific American  
        Image Source: allthatsinteresting.com/kentucky-meat-shower


In an article written for the Sanitarian, Leopold Brandeis identified the meat as Nostoc, microscopic single-celled organisms that contain no nucleus (a cyanobacteria). Nostoc are some of the oldest living organisms on earth, first appearing 3.5 billion years ago. His theory that the substance was Nostoc was based on the fact that Nostoc expands into a clear jelly-like mass when rain falls on it. Actually, there was no rain immediately before or after the meat shower.                            Nostoc blooming on the ground, a possible explanation for the meat shower.
                                                                                                                              Image Credit: Wikipedia Commons
                                                                                 Image Source: allthatsinteresting.com/kentucky-meat-shower


Picture
​He sent samples to the Newark Scientific Association where two samples were re-identified as lung tissue from either a horse or a human infant, three as muscle, and two as cartilage.

The favored theory was that the substance was vomited up by vultures. These bird will vomit as part of making a quick escape and also as a defensive method when threatened. The flattened, dry appearance of the meat chunks as the result of pressure. Nine days later, on March 12, 1876, a similar incident occurred in London. This material was described as red "corpuscles" with a "vegetable" appearance. The phenomenon was reported by Scientific American, The New York Times, and several other publications at the time.

● Dog Suicides at the Overtoun Bridge
The Overtoun Bridge in Dumbarton, Scotland, was constructed in 1895. Ever since the bridge was built the locals believe it to be a place of paranormal activity. There are various stories about strange things that have happened there, but the most puzzling is that of the dog suicides.

In the 1950s and 1960s, rumors were again stirred up when it was realized that dogs had started leaping to their deaths from the top of the Overtoun Bridge. Since that first notice, as many as 50 dogs been recorded as having plunged to death from the bridge. Alarmed, the locals called in a canine psychologist, a veterinarian behavioral specialist, and even a psychic were called upon to shed some light on this gruesome trend, but none of them had any answers.

The behavior specialist, Stan Rawlinson’s conclusion was because dogs have no decision making ability, suicide was not possible. He backed that up with information about dog eyesight, saying dogs can’t gauge where the edge of the bridge is. The people didn’t like that answer.

​
Picture
      Overtoun Bridge, Dumbarton, Scotland
      Image Source: ststworld.com/overtoun-bridge/

After more investigation Researchers found that dogs were jumping off the bridge on a clear day from the exact same spot and all the dogs belonged to the long snouted breeds (dolichocephalic) such as German Shepherd, Scottish Terrier, Doberman, etc.

Dr. David Sands, animal behaviorist, suggested that the particular odor of certain small animals, particularly minks, under the bridge, lured the canines to pursue the animals by jumping off the bridge. However, no such animals were ever found under the bridge.

To date, approximately 600 canines have tried to leap to their deaths. Those that succeed fall fifty feet onto a jagged rocky surface below. Eyewitnesses also say that if a dog ails in its first attempt, it returns to the edge to jump for the second time.
 
In 2022, it is now against the law to walk dog on bridges in southern Scotland.


JUST SAYIN’!
□
Sources:
Dyatlov Pass Incident
https://www.santafeghostandhistorytours.com/DYATLOV-PASS-PICTURES-DEATHS.html
https://exonews.org/tag/dyatlov-pass-incident/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyatlov_Pass_incident
https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=W4Cgft3Y&id=74
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/avalanche

Goofy, mildly unusual, or fairly easy to understand
https://www.cracked.com/image-pictofact-7399-weird-world-12-bizarre-events-that-shouldnt-have-happened-but-did
https://boredomtherapy.com/s/unsolved-mysteries-in-history?as=799&bdk=0
https://unbelievable-facts.com/2017/08/mysterious-unexplained-events.html
https://boredomtherapy.com/s/unsolved-mysteries-in-history?as=799&bdk=0
https://www.boredpanda.com/mysterious-unexplained-stories-history/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky_meat_shower
https://www.factinate.com/things/42-facts-historys-bizarre-events/https:/www.factinate.com/things/42-facts-historys-bizarre-events/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_who_disappeared_mysteriously:_1990%E2%80%93present#:~:text=Since%20the%201970s%2C%20many%20individuals%20around%20the%20world,and%20dates%20of%20their%20deaths%20remain%20a%20mystery.
https://www.livescience.com/11345-top-ten-unexplained-phenomena.html#:~:text=Top%2010%20Unexplained%20Phenomena%20The%20Taos%20Hum.%20Some,beasts%20called...%20Intuition.%20Whether%20we%20call%20it%20

Kentucky Meat Shower
https://theturfgrassgroup.com/turf-care/nostoc-a-green-jelly-growing-on-your-lawn/
https://allthatsinteresting.com/kentucky-meat-shower
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky_meat_shower
https://www.boredpanda.com/mysterious-unexplained-stories-history/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic
​

Dog Suicides
https://meaww.com/a-mysterious-bridge-in-scotland-where-600-dogs-have-jumped-off
https://allthatsinteresting.com/overtoun-bridge
https://boredomtherapy.com/s/unsolved-mysteries-in-history?as=799&bdk=0
https://www.ststworld.com/overtoun-bridge/
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    Author R. Ann Siracusa

    Novelist, retired architect and urban planner, world traveler, quilter, owl collector, devoted wife-mother-grandmother, great-grandmother, and, according to some, wild-assed liberal.

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