The peoples of Europe: history, characteristics, traditions, customs, culture, languages, religions, way of life. Getting to know the cultural traditions of European countries

As a result of the research, it was found that at this time 87 peoples live on the territory of modern Europe, of which 33 are the main nation for their states, 54 are an ethnic minority in the countries where they live, their number is 106 million people.

In total, about 827 million people live in Europe, this figure is steadily growing every year due to emigrants from the countries of the Middle East and large numbers of people coming here to work and study from all over our planet. The most numerous European nations are considered to be the Russian nation (130 million people), German (82 million), French (65 million), British (58 million), Italian (59 million), Spanish (46 million), Polish (47 million), Ukrainian (45 million). Also living in Europe are such Jewish groups as Karaites, Ashkenazis, Rominiots, Mizrahim, Sephardim, their total number is about 2 million people, Gypsies - 5 million people, Yenish (“white gypsies”) - 2.5 thousand people.

Despite the fact that the countries of Europe have a variegated ethnic composition, it can be said that they, in principle, have followed a single path of historical development and their traditions and customs were formed in a single cultural space. Most countries were created from the ruins of the once great Roman Empire, stretching from the possessions of the Germanic tribes in the west, to the borders in the east where the Gauls lived, from the shores of Britain in the north and the southern borders in North Africa.

Culture and traditions of the peoples of Northern Europe

According to the UN, the countries of Northern Europe include such states as Great Britain, Ireland, Iceland, Denmark, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Norway, Finland, and Sweden. The most numerous peoples living in these countries and making up more than 90% of the population are the British, Irish, Danes, Swedes, Norwegians and Finns. The majority of the peoples of Northern Europe are representatives of the northern group of the Caucasoid race. These are people with fair skin and hair, their eyes are most often gray or blue. Religion - Protestantism. Residents of the Northern European region belong to two language groups: Indo-European and Uralic (Finno-Ugric and Germanic group)

(English primary school students)

The British live in a country called Great Britain or, as it is also called Foggy Albion, their culture and traditions have a long history. They are considered to be a little prim, reserved and cold-blooded, but in fact they are very friendly and easy-going, they just value their personal space very much and for them kisses and hugs when meeting, like the French, for example, are unacceptable. They have great respect for sports (football, golf, cricket, tennis), sacredly honor the “Five O Clock” (five to six o’clock in the evening - time to drink traditional English tea, preferably with milk), prefer oatmeal for breakfast and the saying “my home is mine.” fortress” is just about the “desperate” homebodies that they are. The British are very conservative and do not really welcome change, so they have great respect for the reigning Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the royal family.

(Irishman with his toy)

The Irish are known to the general public for their red hair and beard, emerald green as their national color, the celebration of St. Patrick's Day, the belief in the mythical wish-granting leprechaun, the fiery temper and the mesmerizing beauty of Irish folk dances performed to the jig, reel and hornpipe.

(Prince Federick and Princess Mary, Denmark)

The Danes are distinguished by their special hospitality and loyalty to ancient customs and traditions. The main feature of their mentality is the ability to distance themselves from external problems and worries and completely immerse themselves in the comfort and peace of home. They are distinguished from other northern peoples, who have a calm and melancholy disposition, by their great temperament. They value freedom and individual rights like no other. One of the most popular holidays is St. Hans' Day (we have Ivan Kupala), and the popular Viking Festival is held annually on the island of Zealand.

(Birthday buffet)

By nature, Swedes are generally reserved, silent people, very law-abiding, modest, thrifty and reserved people. They also love nature very much and are distinguished by their hospitality and tolerance. Most of their customs are associated with the change of seasons: in winter they meet Saint Lucy, in summer they celebrate Midsommar (the pagan solstice holiday) in the open air.

(Representative of the indigenous Sami in Norway)

The ancestors of the Norwegians were brave and proud Vikings, whose hard life was completely devoted to the struggle for survival in the harsh conditions of the northern climate and surrounded by other wild tribes. That is why the Norwegian culture is imbued with the spirit of a healthy lifestyle; they welcome sports in nature, value hard work, honesty, simplicity in everyday life and decency in human relations. Their favorite holidays are Christmas, St. Canute's Day, and Summer Solstice.

(Finns and their pride - the reindeer)

Finns have very conservative views and highly respect their traditions and customs; they are considered very reserved, completely devoid of emotions and very slow, and for them silence and thoroughness are a sign of aristocracy and good taste. They are very polite, correct and value punctuality, love nature and dogs, fishing, skiing and steaming in Finnish saunas, where they restore physical and moral strength.

Culture and traditions of the peoples of Western Europe

In the countries of Western Europe, the most numerous nationalities living here are Germans, French, Italians and Spaniards.

(In a French cafe)

The French are distinguished by restraint and polite treatment, they are very well-mannered and the rules of etiquette are not an empty phrase for them. Being late is a norm of life for them; the French are great gourmets and connoisseurs of good wines, which even children drink there.

(Germans at the festival)

The Germans are particularly punctual, neat and pedantic; they rarely express emotions and feelings violently in public, but deep down they are very sentimental and romantic. Most Germans are devout Catholics and celebrate the holiday of First Communion, which is very important to them. Germany is famous for its beer festivals, such as the Munich Oktoberfest, where tourists drink millions of gallons of the famous beer and eat thousands of fried sausages every year.

Italians and restraint are two incompatible concepts, they are emotional, cheerful and open, they adore stormy love passions, ardent courtship, serenades under the windows and magnificent wedding celebrations (matrimogno in Italian). Italians profess Catholicism, almost every town and village has its own patron saint, and houses are required to have a crucifix.

(Spain's lively street buffet)

Native Spaniards constantly talk loudly and quickly, gesticulate and show violent emotions. They have a hot temperament, there are “many” of them everywhere, they are noisy, friendly and open to communication. Their culture is permeated with feelings and emotions, dances and music are passionate and sensual. The Spaniards love to take a walk, relax during the summer two-hour siesta, cheer for the bullfighters at the bullfight, and indulge in tomatoes at the annual Battle of the Tomatoes at the Tomatina festival. The Spaniards are very religious and their religious holidays are celebrated with great pomp and pomp.

Culture and traditions of the peoples of Eastern Europe

The ancestors of the Eastern Slavs live in Eastern Europe; the most numerous ethnic groups are Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians.

The Russian people are distinguished by their breadth and depth of soul, generosity, hospitality and respect for their native culture, which has centuries-old roots. Its holidays, customs and traditions are closely connected with both Orthodoxy and paganism. Its main holidays are Christmas, Epiphany, Maslenitsa, Easter, Trinity, Ivan Kupala, Intercession, etc.

(Ukrainian boy with girl)

Ukrainians value family values, honor and respect the customs and traditions of their ancestors, which are very colorful and vibrant, believe in the meaning and power of amulets (specially made objects that protect against evil spirits) and use them in various areas of their lives. They are a hardworking people with a distinctive culture; their customs are a mixture of Orthodoxy and paganism, which makes them very interesting and colorful.

Belarusians are a hospitable and open nation, loving their unique nature and respecting their traditions; a polite attitude towards people and respect for elders are important to them. In the traditions and customs of the Belarusians, like all descendants of the Eastern Slavs, there is a mixture of Orthodoxy and Christianity, the most famous of them are Kalyady, Dedy, Dozhinki, Gukanne Viasny.

Culture and traditions of the peoples of Central Europe

The peoples living in Central Europe include Poles, Czechs, Hungarians, Slovaks, Moldovans, Romanians, Serbs, Croats, etc.

(Poles on a national holiday)

Poles are very religious and conservative, but at the same time they are open to communication and hospitable. They are distinguished by a cheerful disposition, friendliness and have their own point of view on any issue. All age categories of Poles visit the church every day and honor the Virgin Mary above all else. Religious holidays are celebrated with special scope and solemnity.

(Festival of the Five Petal Rose in the Czech Republic)

Czechs are hospitable and friendly, they are always friendly, smiling and polite, they honor their traditions and customs, preserve and love folklore, and love national dances and music. The national Czech drink is beer; many traditions and rituals are dedicated to it.

(Hungarian dances)

The character of Hungarians is distinguished by a significant amount of practicality and love of life, combined with deep spirituality and romantic impulses. They are very fond of dancing and music, organize lush folk festivals and fairs with rich souvenirs, and carefully preserve their traditions, customs and holidays (Christmas, Easter, St. Stephen's Day and Hungarian Revolution Day).

Talking about modern sexual norms is not so interesting - the world is engulfed in globalization, the boundaries between nations are blurred thanks to the Internet and the work of localization translators.

Fewer and fewer young people are learning about sex from their parents, preferring to trust what they see in porn and read on online forums.

But if we go back to a time when there was neither the Internet nor television, and knowledge about sex and everything connected with it was passed on from mouth to mouth, we can discover a whole world of strange rituals, shocking myths and rituals incomprehensible to modern people .

Hello Europe!

Source: iStock

Let's start with our territory - Eastern Europe.

Different sources attribute different countries to this geographical zone, but the most common designation speaks of the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Slovakia, Romania, Russia, Poland, Moldova, Hungary, Bulgaria, Belarus.

Also very often Serbia, Albania, Slovenia and Montenegro are added to this list.

Source: 35photo.ru

But let’s put an end to the geographical confusion and recall that the Slavic settlements were considered the most numerous in Eastern Europe.

Initially, the Slavs were disparate pagan tribes, which were later united into Kievan Rus. Only after accepting Christianity was she able to take her rightful place on the world political stage.

Sexual traditions of the Slavs

Source: liveinternet.ru

The new religion dictated its own rules to the inhabitants of Kievan Rus: from holidays to the abolition of previous sexual traditions.

Thus, Christian missionaries were amazed at the dissolute life of the people of Kievan Rus. We have reached records from the 6th century by the Byzantine historian Mauritius the Strategist, who was outraged by the traditions of the Kupala holiday, which is now known as Ivan Kupala.

Source: GIPHY

On this day, many unrelated girls and boys indulged in free sexual and even group (!) pleasures on river shallows and lakes. Similar orgies occurred during other pre-Christian holidays.

In those days, no one thought about maintaining virginity before marriage, and the familiar word “fornication” had a completely different meaning, which was preserved in the Russian “wander” and the Ukrainian “blukati”.

Prodigal Slavic girls

Source: blogspot.com

“Fornication” did not have any negative connotations; it meant a search, namely the selection of a suitable partner to start a family.

And in the best traditions of pre-Christian Rus', the search was conducted in a rather frank, “lascivious” manner. Naturally, for dogmatic Mauritius, all this seemed unacceptable.

Times were changing, and already in 953, Princess Olga took the first steps in the fight against “sexual barbarism”; she introduced compensation for the lack of virginity of a young bride.

Source: GIPHY

If it turned out that a man married an “unclean” woman, he had to pay a kind of tax to the state for her. True, history is silent about methods of testing the virginity of brides.

14 years later, Prince Svyatoslav of Kiev, following his mother, introduced a new decree prohibiting girls from losing their virginity to the Magi.

Now this seems wild, but before their wedding night, many brides went to the sages in order to feel more confident and protected during sex with their husbands.

Source: mensby.com

It is worth noting that similar traditions were widespread throughout the rest of the world, this was especially reflected in the history of Greece and Ancient Rome.

The Slavic people had difficulty accepting all the innovations, but by the 14th-15th centuries they considered the classic “fornication” to be something immoral and outdated. Of course, there were no more orgies and group sex on Ivan Kupala.

Christianity left behind only the most acceptable remnants of paganism. For example, the cheerful traditions of Maslenitsa and jumping over the fire on Ivan Kupala have survived to this day.

Balkan erotic epic

This is the name of the sensational work of the Yugoslav performance artist Marina Abramović. In it, the author talks about traditions familiar to Serbia and the Balkans, which now resemble the ravings of a madman.

We will not post the video material here, but we will list all the most interesting and shocking traditions of the peoples of the Balkans.

Source: realist.online

“With the help of eroticism, man tries to make himself equal to the gods. In Balkan folklore, men and women try to preserve indestructible energy through the use of eroticism. They believed that erotic energy was something inhuman that could only come to a person from higher powers.”

Marina Abramovich

1. In the case when a horse or bull looked weak and could not cope with the work given to them, the man put his hand into his pants, rubbed his crotch and touched the animal. It was believed that this would help cure fatigue.

2. Balkan women had their own recipe for a fidelity potion. To prepare it, it was necessary to take a small fish, which had previously spent a day in a woman’s vagina, grind it into powder and mix it with coffee. If a man drinks this “drink,” he will never leave his beloved.

3. If a woman had problems during childbirth, the husband took out his penis and crossed his wife's breasts with it. It was believed that this would make the birth of a child much easier

4. To increase the fertility of the earth, and with it the improvement of the harvest, a man dug a hole in the ground and masturbated with its help. In addition to the Balkans, this tradition is found in many other nations of the world, including African ones.

Source: Balcan Erotic Epic (2006)

5. To distract the enemy during the battle, the Balkan girls undressed and behaved as openly as possible towards the enemy soldiers.

6. Now, to protect against the evil eye, we use red thread or cover the child’s face in the photo. In ancient times, things were done “a little” differently in the Balkans.

When the son left his home and entered adulthood, the mother ran her hand over her crotch and stroked her son’s face, believing that this would protect him from the evil eye.

Source: Balcan Erotic Epic (2006)

7. The tradition of treating diseases with the help of bees survived in the Balkans until the 19th century. But local residents didn’t just plant a bee on a sore spot. They sat bare bottom on a whole piece of evidence, often not limiting themselves to just one or two.

8. To protect himself from impotence, before the wedding, a man went to a bridge, made three holes in it and copulated with each one, saying, “As I insert into the hole of this bridge, I will insert it into my wife in the same way.” Almost all men firmly believed in the effectiveness of this method

We are all equal in our past

They try to make the wedding magnificent, but elegant, without vulgarities and unnecessary fuss. Many European wedding traditions are adopted by other countries to make the celebration just as elegant and stylish.

Many beautiful wedding traditions were borrowed from European countries. For people in England, Germany, France, Spain and other countries, marriage is a reverent and romantic event, which is intertwined with many customs and memorable moments.

The essence of the rituals

Peoples with a rich history have accumulated a whole storehouse of different traditions, signs and superstitions, some of which relate specifically to weddings. Whatever the culture of the country, marriage has a special role, and since ancient times there have been special procedures for its preparation and conduct.

Many of the wedding traditions in Europe were forgotten, others were modified, and only a small part has survived to this day in its original state. With the advent of Christianity, the isolated features of peoples began to be forgotten, and general patterns began to appear in the customs of different cultures. This does not mean that people lost their individuality - they only interpreted the same faith.

Now even those wedding rituals in Europe that have been preserved from ancient times can rarely be seen at holidays. Conservative Europeans, too, began to give preference to holding the celebration.

Old customs can be found only in cases where the bride and groom want to pay tribute to their ancestors, and even then such rituals are only a formality and do not carry any sacred meaning.

Most often, the observance of wedding traditions can be found if the future newlyweds decide to organize their wedding in a specific style. For example, French, and are popular.

Which ones exist and where?

Among all European countries, the richest in customs related to marriage are England, Greece, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Ireland and Sweden. Most often, stylized weddings are organized in accordance with these concepts.

In England, for example, a bride must wear four mandatory things to her wedding - something new (the dress itself, underwear), something old (family jewelry, shoes), something borrowed from a friend or relative (clutch, bracelet) and something blue (garter, hairpin). It is believed that in this case the girl will attract good luck and favor from higher powers. According to another English tradition, a little girl from among those invited to the wedding walks ahead of the bride and strews her path with rose petals.

In Greece, there is a wonderful custom of presenting gifts to guests, and they are purchased with money from the groom’s family. Another wedding tradition in Europe is the wedding, which takes place on Sunday, and on Friday they bake bread, showering flour on everyone who wants to receive a little happiness and good luck. Children invited to the celebration are given a special role - they are allowed to jump on the newlyweds’ bed so that they have many strong and healthy children.

In Germany, there is a wonderful custom: when newlyweds get married, they drink a glass of wine together. The groom drinks first, then the bride, after which she throws the glass behind her. If it breaks, the spouses will have a long and happy life. According to another tradition, any of the male guests may try to “steal” the hero of the occasion during the banquet. If he succeeds, he will have as many as three dances with the bride.

Wedding planner

In order to create an unusual and bright atmosphere at a wedding, in addition to external similarity with the style, you can also adopt some wedding traditions of European countries.

Elena Sokolova

Reader

Most European traditions are aimed at bringing happiness, good luck, financial well-being and healthy children into the married life of young people.

Karina

Many Italian customs are observed to this day. For example, the custom of carrying the bride over the threshold of the family home in his arms originated in this country. The Italians also came up with the name for the honeymoon - back in Ancient Rome, newlyweds drank honey for 30 days after the wedding to make their life together sweet and enjoyable.

Interesting! An Italian groom asks his beloved's hand from her mother, not her father. If you are planning a European wedding, you can follow the tradition.

In Spain, despite the ardent nature of its inhabitants, young people who decided to get married were treated strictly. After the engagement, the bride and groom were under constant surveillance; the most they were allowed was to hold hands, and then not in public.

The Spaniards created their own male and female communities, one might say, according to their interests. Then such groups intersected with each other, and the girls could meet the boys, and the main criterion for choosing the second half on both sides was thriftiness.

The Irish are used to celebrating weddings on a royal scale. It is noteworthy that matchmaking in most cases takes place in early January, as lovers try to get married before Maslenitsa. Then Lent begins, and according to the laws of this country it is impossible to have a wedding.

An interesting tradition in Ireland is the “Aitin Gander” ritual. On the appointed day, the groom comes to the house of the bride's parents, where the young man is treated to baked goose. Everyone who is involved in organizing the wedding is invited to the party, right down to the priest, and everyone together discusses pressing issues in preparing the celebration.

Sweden has fairly loose wedding traditions. Girls and boys met at dances on weekends, after which the latter accompanied their chosen ones home and did not hesitate to stay overnight. Because of this, weddings often took place when the bride was already pregnant, or even after the birth of the child. It is interesting that society did not condemn this, but, on the contrary, supported it, because it served as proof that the girl was healthy and capable of giving her husband heirs.

Interesting! Find out what they are. This could be a nightmare...

Other countries

There are no less interesting and funny traditions in other European countries. If desired, such customs can be observed at your own wedding in order to surprise the guests and make the celebration individual.

For example, there are the following traditions associated with marriage.

Such customs do not bring anything bad, so if you want to bring them to life, you can safely experiment.

Intersections with Russian customs

In every culture, a wedding will acquire new details and customs borrowed from other peoples. The most striking confirmation of this is that it is believed that the unmarried girl who catches him will be the next to marry.

Previously, there was no such tradition in Rus', although it was similar in meaning. All the girls who had not yet started a family danced around the newlywed, and she closed her eyes and spun in the opposite direction. Whoever she points to when she stops will be the one she will marry next. And by the way, Russian girls never gave the bouquet to anyone, keeping it in the family for good luck.

Interestingly, in many European countries and in Russia there is a similar The parents of the newlyweds bring fire from their home to help the newlyweds light their own. In the modern interpretation, the hearth is replaced with ordinary candles, since not everyone even has a fireplace.

If a European wedding is being organized, traditions and customs make it possible to make the celebration elegant and romantic. Many couples strive to plan their wedding in the Western style, avoiding vulgar ransoms, vulgar competitions and other inappropriate events. Such customs will not only diversify the celebration, but also make it memorable for guests.

It’s always interesting to discover something new, draw ideas, and learn from experience. We invite you to learn some children's customs and “tricks” of European countries.

The creators of the concept are a store for children MushRoom. otherchildren bring from Europe not only children’s wardrobe items, but also interesting facts, knowledge and invaluable experience. Today we will learn about the traditions and customs associated with children in different countries.

1. Denmark. The dummy tree.

B 192 0 year, the Danes came up with a ritual for saying goodbye to babies with a pacifier. So that children do not feel sad and part with the pacifier painlessly, parents often organize a real celebration of growing up: a trip to the zoo, a picnic, and attractions. At the end of the holiday, the “little adult” solemnly says goodbye to the “baby” accessory, hanging it on a special “sucker tree”. Sometimes this is accompanied by a touching note: “Dear pacifier, thank you for serving me so well, but I’m already a big boy/girl, and now the tree will take care of you.”

And at night the pacifier fairy comes and, instead of a voluntarily given pacifier, brings the baby a gift under the pillow.A very sweet and tender ritual, without any theft of the notorious pacifier by dogs, cats and other animals.

2. Germany. Schultüte

German first-graders go to school not with the usual bouquet for the teacher, but with the so-called “first-grader bag.” This tradition appeared in Germany in the 19th century, and until now the beginning of the school year is impossible set without schoolchildren joyfully carrying their cone-shaped gifts.

It is believed that a long and responsible educational journey awaits the baby, and parents want to sweeten this event a little for the child.

Previously, the “first-grader’s bag” was filled exclusively with sweets, but now parents collect as gifts everything that their child will like: sweets, school supplies, toys and other little things pleasant for children. First-graders ceremoniously take pictures with their Schultüte, and then open them in class or at home. The main thing is not to overdo it so that the gift does not weigh more than the baby :)

3. France. Doudou

For French children, their introduction to the world begins with mom, dad and “doudou.” This is a soft scarf with a toy head. This exists in many countries of the world, but it is the French who pay special attention to the “dood”. When baby When a baby is born, a personal handkerchief toy is immediately placed in his hand. It is believed that there is only one dudu for life, so parents buy several at once in case of loss. From birth, the baby sucks and fiddles with his cloth, which helps him in subsequent adaptation periods. Without “dudu” they may not even be accepted into the garden.

Educators are confident that without it, the child may be less able to tolerate homesickness. You can often find grown-up children carrying around worn-out handkerchief toys with them everywhere, as their personal symbol of home and warmth. And sometimes replacing an unsightly old “dudu” with a new one, exactly the same, turns into a difficult task for parents.

4. Italy. Battesimo.

Italians are temperamental and expressive, as well as superstitious and very respectful of traditions. There is a special attitude in Italy towards children's religious rites. One of the most important is the christening of babies. It is customary to baptize children in all Catholic churches. countries, but it is the Italians who turn this event into a real holiday for all generations of the family: solemn, beautiful, memorable.

Christening in Italy is a small (and sometimes large) wedding.

Italians have a cult of family, so all relatives gather to congratulate the baby. In many families, there is a tradition of passing on the outfit for the baptism of a newborn by inheritance. This is a relic that is kept by the older generation and presented to the little Italian on the day of baptism. A long shirt and cap are solemnly decorated with the hero of the occasion and then he goes back to wait for the addition of the family. All guests receive traditional Italian bonboriere (bags with sweets and a small souvenir) - an attribute of many holidays since the times of ancient Rome. The christening ceremony ends with a family banquet, where the newly minted Catholic receives gifts from the whole family.

One of the distinctive features of European kindergartens is that the group goes outside the garden. On public transport and on the streets on weekdays you can see preschool children heading to the park , museum, zoo, to an exhibition accompanied by teachers.

It looks like this: children walk in pairs, holding a hand, often they are dressed in bright “identification” vests or hold on to a common rope, one teacher leads the column, the second brings up the rear. Such “outings” are included in the preschool education program and are aimed at broadening the horizons of children. Such events are facilitated by numerous educational programs specially created by scientific and exhibition organizations for the little ones. Even a simple walk to a city park turns into a small educational journey: children are taught in practice about the rules of conduct for pedestrians and transport passengers, and are taught to behave in an orderly and attentive manner on the city streets.

The lights of Advent (the start of preparations for Christmas) are lit in the West, South and North on December 4, the day of the Great Martyr Barbara. Believers say that Varvarushka blesses them for fasting, repentance and preparation for a joyful event - the Birth of Jesus Christ. I wonder what special thing they prepare for Christmas there? I'll go and find out!

Christmas in Austria

Austria is unique in that people here do not know about Santa Claus, Father Frost, and other “New Year’s and Christmas Fathers.” From birth, children are taught that the Holy Child Christ himself puts gifts under the tree for them. From heaven he sees every child and writes down all his good and evil deeds. And at the end of the year, around Christmas, he compares the lists. And depending on the quantitative predominance of good deeds, it bestows gifts on the earthly child.

By the way, the fact that the gifts have “arrived” from heaven under the tree is announced by a bell hanging at the very bottom of the Christmas tree. Its melodic, silvery ringing is the most long-awaited event for Austrian children on Christmas Eve!

Also, Christmas in Austria is the only day when the mountaineers go down to the valley. Throughout their procession they sing Christmas carols. Amazing sight!

By the way, Austrians can be proud that their country is the ancestor of the world-famous Christmas song “Silent Night”. It was written in the early 19th century (December 24, 1818) by the priest Joseph More. Since then, this anthem has been translated into 44 languages.

The hospitable Austrians treated me to their traditional Christmas dishes: fried carp, chocolate and apricot cake. What a fabulous dish!

Christmas in the UK

The first thing that catches your eye when you come to the UK on the eve of the Christmas holidays is the happy eyes of children. The reason for such fun is the opportunity to participate in preparations for the holiday as a full member of the family. Christmas Advent is the time when parents and grandparents consult with their children about everything: menus, cards, gifts, etc.

And characteristically, you know what? That children thoroughly know the history of Christmas in their country. For example, even the smallest child will tell you without hesitation that the British invented the first Christmas card in 1840. And it is from their country that the tradition comes from sending them to their family and friends, congratulating them on the bright holidays.

And now the British never cease to amaze both their relatives and the whole of Europe with their extraordinary, very beautiful Christmas cards.

And in the UK they prepare an incredibly delicious pudding in honor of Christmas. Christmas pudding must contain 13 ingredients, of which one is intended for Jesus and the rest for His 12 disciples. Just before baking, a silver coin is placed in the dough, which, according to legend, attracts good luck and prosperity to the family.

The most popular Christmas gift in Britain is the poinsettia. The red and white petals of this plant symbolize the purity of the blood of Christ.

Christmas in Ireland

The New Year and Christmas cycle of holidays starts in Ireland, as well as throughout Catholic Europe, on December 6th. But the residents of the country themselves really feel the approach of a great holiday only when the streets of the city begin to shine with millions of garland lights, and shop windows become illustrations of the Biblical story.

Irish Father Christmas is a little different from his counterparts in other countries. He wears a green caftan and a red royal coat.

He is also a magician of unique power. Little Irishmen leave letters with wishes for him in the fireplace and believe that these letters rise up the chimney into the sky and fly to Grandfather's house. And he just collects them in a basket on the porch! Dikmi: The Irish are very pious and hospitable. And therefore, in all houses, on Christmas night, thick candles are lit on the windowsills. Local residents say that this is necessary in order to show Joseph and Mary that they are welcome here and ready to receive them for the night.

Christmas in France

The French are a nation that always and everywhere tries to show off its originality. And even when preparing for Christmas, to the traditions that have existed from time immemorial, they try to add something new every year. For example, in 2013, France practically abandoned traditional Christmas trees. Instead, artistic compositions from plants appear in houses, which play the role of a ritual tree.

Although, even in this country of eternal change, there is one unbreakable Christmas tradition: for every Christmas, the French prepare a Buc de Nol cake, which means “Christmas Entrance,” in the form of a log.

I was interested in the tradition of Southern France: here it is customary to keep the fire in the fireplace continuously, from Christmas to New Year. Anyone who strictly follows the ritual in his home will have all sorts of God's blessings in the coming year. And right there, in Southern France, they bake a kind of ritual bread, inside which 12 beans are placed. Anyone who gets at least one bean in a piece of pie during Christmas dinner will certainly meet their happiness!

Christmas in Portugal

Christmas traditions in Southern European countries are somewhat different from those in Western Europe. For example, I remember Portugal for the fact that here it is customary to invite “the souls of deceased ancestors” to the second half of the Christmas meal. They also leave crumbs on the fireplace after dinner. Residents of the country are confident that if they perform such a good deed on the holy night of Christmas for their ancestors, they will repay them with a good harvest next fall.

And one more very interesting fact. Children in Portugal do not receive gifts for Christmas. Here they are usually given as gifts on January 5, Epiphany Eve. This is to continue the tradition started by the three wise men who brought gifts for the baby Jesus. On the evening of January 4, children put carrots and straw in their shoes to attract the horses of the three wise men, who they believe have many gifts with them, to their home. And so it is, because the next morning with great delight the children collect “gifts” at the doorstep: candy, fruit, sweet bread, and other goodies.

Christmas in Italy

Italy also became a treasure trove of unique Christmas traditions for me, which I admit, by the end of my trip I even began to write down! Imagine, Italy is probably the only country in which children write love letters to their parents, and not Christmas wish lists for Santa Claus!

And one more interesting custom. In Italy, the Christmas meal does not begin until the children come into the house and sing a special prayer - “Novena”. For this they are presented with sweets, nuts and fruits in every possible way.

Street children's Christmas theaters are also widely popular in Italy. Children walk through the streets, sing songs, pretending to be shepherds, and for this they are given small coins, with which (at the end of the street) they can buy gifts.

Although, the parents themselves give gifts to their children, as in Portugal, not on Christmas Eve, but on the eve of Epiphany night. They convey their gifts through the evil witch Befana, who is probably still looking for the cradle of the newborn Christ child.

Christmas in Norway

The traditions of Northern Europe basically repeat the main Christmas ceremony of the West and South. Although, the peoples close to Santa’s residence also have their own unique customs, which give their Christmas specialness and uniqueness.

For example, Christmas Eve in Norway is a working day. The solemn church liturgy begins here at about 5 pm and lasts until Christmas morning. As a rule, it is customary to invite guests and relatives here just in time for breakfast. The traditional holiday table in Norway consists of fried pork legs, lamb ribs, and cod.

Also, on Christmas Day, Norwegians always feed the mischievous gnome Nisse, who on the holy day is in a hurry to irritate the pets in the barn. To prevent him from causing mischief, a large bowl of rice porridge, generously sprinkled with roasted almonds, is placed in the barn.

In honor of Christmas, little Norwegians receive gifts for good behavior throughout the year. Moreover, personally from Yulenissen (Father Frost). In Norway, the New Year's wizard does not sneak into the house through the chimney and does not leave gifts under the tree. He comes to look the guys in the eyes!

Unfortunately, as I said goodbye to Norway, I had to say goodbye to the great miracle - European Christmas. My winter vacation has come to an end! But! Crossing the border of my native country, I promised myself that I would definitely return here again! And I’ll tell you next year about my new Christmas discoveries!