With Christmas only two weeks away, I figured it was a good time to discuss some of the superstitions surrounding the holiday. As a result, if you’ve ever wondered why we hang mistletoe, where this Krampus guy came from, or why some people feel it is necessary to give gifts to carolers, then you’ve come to the right place.
9. Mistletoe: It is bad luck to refuse a kiss from anyone that has asked you for a kiss while you’re standing under mistletoe.
Origin: There is some question as to exactly when the association between mistletoe and kissing first appeared, but there is no question that mistletoe has been associated with fertility since ancient times. In fact, the Ancient Celts believed that mistletoe could be used in a number of rituals to cure infertility and strengthen the body. This belief stood the test of time quite well, as the idea that mistletoe could somehow make people healthier was extremely popular throughout the Middle Ages. However, it wasn’t until the mid-1800s (long after people started to use mistletoe to decorate their homes) that the working class of England started to use mistletoe in an interesting game.
You see, kissing games like spin the bottle are not actually a new thing. They have been around for quite some time, but the way that society views these games has changed drastically over the years. Originally, kissing games were seen as an acceptable form of courtship or, in other words, a way for two people to get to know each other a little better without getting themselves into too much trouble. As a result, these games were typically viewed as harmless fun, and many people believed that they might even help young people find their future spouses. Kissing games were extremely popular during the Victorian period, which took place from 1837 to 1901, and it should, therefore, come as no great surprise that a plant that had long been associated with fertility, vitality, and all of the other things that go with those attributes, would become the perfect excuse for a kissing game.
10. Krampus: While Santa brings gifts to children who have been good around Christmas time, Krampus comes to punish children who have not been very nice.
Origin: Krampus has been growing in popularity very quickly in the United States and the world as a whole. In fact, Krampus has appeared in artwork, cartoons, comic books, movies, video games, television shows, and a whole lot more. However, even though Krampus is suddenly becoming a mainstream phenomenon, the legend of Krampus has actually been around since at least the 1600s and creatures like Krampus can be traced all the way back to ancient times. Enkidu in the Epic of Giglamesh, the beast that King Nebuchadnezzar becomes in the Book of Daniel, the Devil himself in virtually every depiction, and a number of other similar figures that resemble beasts or wild men have regularly been used as a means of frightening people into behaving in a certain manner.
Krampus is, of course, no different, as this hairy, devil-like beast with horns and hoofs originally started as a counterpart to St. Nicholas who would deal with all of the children that didn’t deserve gifts. The people of Austria, Italy, Germany, and many other alpine nations regularly told their children to behave or Krampus would steal them away in the night and commit no end of horrible acts to them. These stories were eventually incorporated into widespread parades and celebrations that carry on to this day. These celebrations, known as krampusnacht or Krampus Night, take place on December 5th (the day before the Feast of Saint Nicholas) and feature people dressed up as devils, wild men, and all manner of evil creature. Yet, even though these celebrations and the legends of Krampus began centuries ago, Krampus is becoming ever more popular as more and more people disenfranchised by the over commercialization of Christmas look for alternatives to some of the more traditional celebrations.
11. Carolers and Gifts: It is bad luck to let a caroler or a group of carolers leave without first offering them a gift.
Origin: Christmas caroling has existed in one form or another since the time of the Roman Empire, but the tradition of giving gifts to carolers didn’t actually appear until the mid-1800s. During the reign of Queen Victoria (also known as the Victorian period), it became a common practice for small groups of people to go wassailing by singing or, in other words, go door-to-door singing in order to spread good cheer and wish their neighbors well (wassailing has existed for millennia, but singing wassailers weren’t very common until the 1800s.)
However, some of the neighbors that these carolers sung to felt that they had to give the carolers something to reward their kindness. As a result, many neighbors began to share some of their food, drink, or money with the carolers as a way to pay for their songs, and this eventually became a tradition. In fact, the song “Here We Come-A-Wassailing” is actually about this tradition and the carolers’ hope that they may receive a gift in exchange for their good wishes. The idea that it is bad luck to let a caroler leave without a gift is ultimately based on this tradition, and it is very similar to the idea of stiffing a bellhop, a valet, or another similar individual who might consider you to be a cheapskate.
Want to learn more about superstitions and their origins? Check back next week for the final part of 13 Superstitions and Their Origins!
Photo credit: ekelly89 via Foter.com / CC BY
Works Consulted
“Christmas Superstitions.” Superstitions Online. Superstitions Online, 13 Dec. 2009. Web. 10 Dec. 2015.
Cooper, James. “The History of Christmas Carols.” whychristmas?com. James Cooper, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2015.
“Who’s Krampus? The XMAS Devil.” Krampus.com. Krampus.com, 2013. Web. 10 Dec. 2015.
Oloffson, Kristi. “Christmas Caroling.” Time Magazine. Time Inc., 21 Dec. 2009. Web. 10 Dec. 2015.
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Wikipedia contributors. “Krampus.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 9 Dec. 2015. Web. 10 Dec. 2015.
Wikipedia contributors. “Mistletoe.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 4 Dec. 2015. Web. 10 Dec. 2015.
Wikipedia contributors. “Ritual of oak and mistletoe.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 24 Aug. 2015. Web. 10 Dec. 2015.
Wikipedia contributors. “Victorian era.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 9 Dec. 2015. Web. 10 Dec. 2015.