Traditions

Say hello to Belsnickel: Santa’s sinister counterpart

NEW DELHI: With the Christmas season upon us, the anticipation of Santa Claus’s arrival fills the air. However, amid the eagerness for the jolly old man in the red suit, a not-so-friendly figure hides in the shadows—Belsnickel. This German counterpart to Santa Claus emerges from the folklore of the Palatinate region in southwestern Germany, known […]

St. Lucia’s Day: Swedish festival with lights, crowns, and tradition celebrated before Christmas

NEW DELHI: St. Lucia’s Day, a significant December festival in parts of the Nordics, is celebrated on December 13, historically coinciding with the Winter Solstice in the old Julian calendar. Folklore associates this date with a perilous long night plagued by evil spirits, emphasising the importance of staying awake. This vigil was facilitated by eating, […]