2006-12-23 23:27:30 · 15 answers · asked by gates29 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
I don't really know why we and other Scandinavian countries do that. But you bet we do! 24th, 25th and 26th December are all public holidays, but there are no specific customs or traditions or festivities on the 25th and 26th of December, except for a very early morning mass in churches on Christmas Day. The big day is Christmas Eve. It's not just that the kids get their presents on that day. In most families the celebrations start in the morning and go on until late night.
My own theory is that the pre-Christian, pagan customs and beliefs connected with Yule were so strong for so long in Scandinavia. When Christianity took over, the pagan beliefs slowly changed into playful traditions and harmless family festivities. Those were not deemed suitable for the solemn Christmas Day when we were supposed to celebrate the miracle of Christ being born, not to amuse ourselves with orgies of eating, dancing and merrymaking in general. Especially since the merrymaking had pagan roots.
As a matter of fact, it was long believed that the night between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day was very dangerous, a battleground where the powers of darkness ran amuck when threatened by the coming triumph of the newborn Christ. Trolls roamed the countryside, animals could speak, the souls of the deceased came back to celebrate a Mass of the Dead on the church yard or in the church just before the Christian mass took place some hours later. Christmas Day was indeed a very Christian day, and the old pagan Yule rites, too strong to be suppressed but not so strong that they couldn't be transformed into merry traditions, simply had to be celebrated on the preceeding day.
2006-12-25 07:48:01 · answer #1 · answered by AskAsk 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sweden At Christmas
2016-10-18 02:47:58 · answer #2 · answered by banach 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm from Sweden and I just spend the whole day celebrating Christmas. I don't actually know why we celebrate it on the 24th rather than the 25th, we just do. We spend the day with family and friends, eat our Christmas ham and Santa (Tomten) comes to visit and give everyone gifts. The 25th doesn't really mean anything special unless you're religious then you go to church very early in the morning. I'm going to the movies tomorrow...
2006-12-24 05:48:44 · answer #3 · answered by nettski2002 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Most of the Scandinavian countries do and a lot of mainland Europe.
Here in the United Kingdom, the Royal Family open their Christmas presents on Christmas Eve, a tradition started by Queen Alexandra, herself Danish.
2006-12-23 23:35:30 · answer #4 · answered by Raymo 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would say Janary 6th Little Christmas. Some places won't take Christmas trees and trimmings down until then. We get rid of our stuff the day after because theres no longer any money to be made.
2016-05-23 03:39:24 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They don't, it's just that the kids get their presents then, In Germany and Holland they get the presents on the 6th Dec. Christmas Day is the 25th December, no matter which branch of the Christian religion you follow. It's just the present giving date that is different.
2006-12-24 00:18:18 · answer #6 · answered by mike-from-spain 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A lot of European countries celebrate on Dec 24 instead of 25th. Every country also has different traditions revolving around Saint Nick.... in some countries he only comes on Dec 5, in some he comes Dec 24 or 25 only, and in some places he comes on both days. Almost every country has a different idea of where he comes FROM, too... the French think Saint Nick flies in from Turkey, and the Flemish people believe Saint Nikolaus comes from Spain. (Turkey???!!! Spain???!!!! Don't ask me why!!)
They think our beliefs are weird, too....
2006-12-23 23:39:55 · answer #7 · answered by Rebecca A 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Oh no, just having all pressies bought. Very efficient shoppers, the Swedes.
A wickedly Merry, joyous, and Happy Christmas to you and everyone!
Charles "That Cheeky Lad"
2006-12-24 09:21:58 · answer #8 · answered by Charles-CeeJay_UK_ USA/CheekyLad 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They dont...
If you live in the Uk It might just seem like thatas the times are diffrent
im probley compleatly wrong but im only a teenager
2006-12-24 03:06:37 · answer #9 · answered by kayytea_h 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I didn't know they did that. They celebrate it for two whole weeks in Poland! My wife's mother is Polish.
2006-12-23 23:34:29 · answer #10 · answered by Me in Canada eh 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋