It鈥檚 the most wonderful time of the year and one thing鈥檚 for sure: we all have our own very special ways of celebrating. While it鈥檚 likely that Christmas will be quite different in 2020, that doesn鈥檛 mean we can鈥檛 find ways to uphold our traditional celebrations. Here at Sandberg, we love to learn about each other鈥檚 cultures, so this Christmas we鈥檙e taking the opportunity to find out more about how we each unwind over the festive period.
1. Rockin鈥 around the Christmas tree ?
A much-loved staple of Christmas in Norway centres around the Christmas tree, or juletre in Norwegian. Families gather to hold hands and sing traditional carols, all while circling the decorated pine. It鈥檚 a favourite tradition of Norwegian Translator William, who explains: 鈥淭raditionalists in Norway will not decorate the tree until 23 December, or 鈥榣ittle Christmas eve鈥, in readiness for the actual Christmas eve (julaften) on the twenty-fourth. Across Scandinavia, this is the big day of the feast, when presents are opened. The revolving procession and hand-linked singing of Silent Night and other classics therefore marks a grand and special opening of the twelve days of Christmas.鈥
In years gone by, a more public expression of this tradition has been a common sight up and down the country. Communities host Christmas tree parties for locals to celebrate together, often forming several rings, one outside the other, around a large public tree. While this practice may not be possible this year, William hopes 鈥渢hat it may be in for a revival after the current pandemic, when people realise how valuable it is to hold another person鈥檚 hand and join in the joyful singing of silly ditties and solemn carols.鈥
2. Feasting in odd numbers ?
The night before Christmas (Badni vecher) is very important in Bulgaria, as it is when the main festivities take place. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the time when the whole family unites and prepares the holiday dinner,鈥 explains Business Administration Advisor, Radostina. 鈥淭here are seven or nine dishes, but they have to be meatless. We prepare a traditional bread with a coin hidden inside before the bread is baked. It鈥檚 believed that the person who gets the chunk with the coin will be the richest in the coming year.鈥 It鈥檚 not clear where the importance of the odd number of dishes originates from, but it鈥檚 said to bring good luck.
3. Taking the (polar) plunge ?鈥嶁檧锔
There鈥檚 nothing like wading into ice-cold water to shake off that festive over-indulgence, and it is a tradition that continues to grow in popularity around UK shores. Buoyed by the yuletide spirit, thousands take to the sea each year, braving water temperatures that average a biting 6鈥10 掳C. 鈥淎 Christmas Day, Boxing Day (26 December) or New Year鈥檚 Day swim is becoming a new tradition for me,鈥 says Production Manager and keen swimmer, 础尘测听(pictured right). 鈥淭he day usually depends on my location and how much mulled wine was consumed the night before!鈥
A New Year鈥檚 Day dip is also a favourite ritual of Swedish Translator Lena, who now lives in the UK. 鈥淚t is something I do every New Year if I am spending it in Malm枚, where I go with a friend to a kallbadhus [a type of bathing house with direct access to the sea], which we have loads of around Sweden. This is one of the things I most miss in the UK, and I鈥檓 now being forced to learn how to swim in the sea without having a sauna before or after!鈥
4. Decorating with candles ?
Many of us will soon be adding some sparkle to our homes and trees with fairy lights, but for some of our Nordic colleagues, using real candles on their tree is still the way to go. Finnish Account Linguist Aino, explains: 鈥淢y family, to the horror of my English husband, still use real candles on the Christmas tree. My parents鈥 house is wooden, but over all these decades, there have been no accidents…!鈥
It is a family custom that is also close to translator William鈥檚 heart. In his house they use candle holders passed down from his grandmother. 鈥淓very Christmas Eve, we turn off all the lights, so all you can see is the real candles on the tree,鈥 he says. 鈥淚t makes for a magical atmosphere.鈥
5. Stepping into the new year ?
New Year鈥檚 Eve brings with it a whole host of global traditions and celebrations, and just one of those practised by some of our UK colleagues is the ritual of 鈥渇irst footing鈥. This is an ancient Gaelic custom which places great importance on the first person to cross the threshold of your house at the beginning of the new year, often bearing gifts for the household and receiving food and drink in return. It is thought that this tradition dates back to the time of the Viking invasions and it is for this reason that it鈥檚 considered very unlucky for a fair- or red-haired person to be the first footer!
鈥淢y dad insists on first footing at New Year,鈥 says English Account Linguist Mary-Anna. 鈥淣owadays he leaves and comes back in, although when he lived in Glasgow he used to either first foot all of the neighbours or essentially do a party crawl and first foot all of his friends… A very efficient way to get a few free drinks!鈥
And no British New Year鈥檚 Eve party would be complete without a rendition of Auld Lang Syne, written by famous Scots poet Robert Burns. 鈥淎t midnight on New Year鈥檚 Eve we always gather with the family or neighbours in a circle (sometimes in the middle of the road), cross and hold hands, and sing Auld Lang Syne,鈥 says HR Advisor Melissa. 鈥淭hen we open the front and back doors to let the old year out the front door, and the new year in through the back.鈥
6. Watching a Christmas classic ?
And finally, for some of us, curling up on the sofa in front our favourite festive film is about as Christmassy as it gets. Cue blankets, hot chocolate… a crackling fire if we鈥檙e lucky! And while many may opt for a heartfelt drama or a cheesy rom-com to get them in the Christmas mood, for Norwegians, the main draw of their favourite holiday movie might have less to do with the film itself, and more to do with the questionable voiceover. Norwegian Account Linguist Ingrid, explains: 鈥淥ne of my very favourite Christmas traditions is watching the film (Three Wishes for Cinderella) at 11am on Christmas Eve. It鈥檚 dubbed into Norwegian with just one man doing all the voices. If that sounds ridiculous, that鈥檚 because it is! But I and a good chunk of the Norwegian population watch it and make the same jokes about it every single year.鈥
Hopefully we have introduced you to some new festive traditions, one or two of which you might even want to try out yourselves. However you choose to celebrate this year, we at Sandberg wish you a safe and happy festive season and a prosperous new year to come!
