Community Talks! Vol. 1, ep. 34.
If you live in any of the Nordic countries or have ever spent the holidays here, there is a good chance that you at least once have taken part in the Christmas tradition of watching “Kalle Anka och hans vänner” as it is called in Swedish, or as it is more well known as in English, From All of Us to All of You. The Disney show where various snippets from different old movies are shown, and the characters wishes you a merry Christmas at the end.
Why this has become a tradition specifically in the northern parts of Europe is hard to say. Regardless of why the tradition stuck it is often remembered with a glimpse in the eye. But also, with dread of that one family member always joking about how nifty the paint for the chessboard in the Santa’s workshop is.
Another Swedish tradition, even though it’s a little bit less common, around Christmas is playing BingoLotto on “uppesittarkvällen” (23/12). Where it is reported that around 2.6 million people tuned in to watch the draft in 2020. My guess is not that a fourth of Sweden’s population (rough approximation) are gambling addicts, but rather that the concept is the same as when watching the cartoons. The reason we gather around the TV and watch these things is to have a reason to get together for a while in the stress of celebrating the holidays, to not have to think about the food that needs to be prepared or the table that has to be set.
There is no wrong way of celebrating a holiday as long as you do it in your own special, or non-special, way. It would not be an all too farfetched idea to guess that for every group of people celebrating something, there is at least one special tradition that they, and only they, keep close to their heart. However strange the tradition might seem to others; it is their way of having something that brings them all together.
I myself often think it’s fun to create new weird ways of mixing up the celebrations, without disrespecting the status quo so this year I pitched to my older brother that we should begin every Christmas morning with a game of kubb. This might seem like a strange and weird thing to many, but that is exactly the point, to have a weird tradition that (I would guess) is totally unique and ours.
After confessing this little kubb secret and knowing that there are inriverians from all around the globe, I would like to ask all you:
What are the first traditions that comes to your mind when you think about how you celebrate the holidays? (The weirder the better)
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Kubb on Christmas, that sounds a bit, hmm, crazy?? But also kind of tempting. Might have to try 🤔
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@... that's the whole point! And you really should! Imagine just how cozy it'll be to go inside and have a warm cup of coffe/tea/chocolate with the Christmas-breakfast afterwards!
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Mariana Cañavera H. haha you haven't missed that much, it's basically just a big lottery :)
Wow! 9 days of celebration sounds amazing, lots of time to spend with family and friends!1 -
I knew about the Christmas tradition of watching “Kalle Anka och hans vänner”, but I didn't know about the BingoLotto. Seems like I have to really experience the Swedish Christmas traditions.
Though, as I'm spending Christmas in my home country, Colombia, I will share with you one tradition we have here that's called "Novenas". The Novenas start 9 days before Christmas, and every day we gather together with friends and family until the 24th. The novena consists of prayers to Joseph, Mary, and the little baby Jesus, in addition to daily reflections and meditations. Also, we sing Christmas carols (villancicos), and eat some buñuelos (a fried cheesy dough fritter) with natilla (custard-like dessert).
The fun part nowadays is also that after the novena we end up the night with a party, so can you imagine 9 days of partying? 🤭🎉
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