The Odd Origins Behind Popular Christmas Traditions
Popular Christmas traditions aren’t always what they seem. Some of the innocent customs that scores of us invite into our homes have surprisingly sinister origins. From Christmas caroling to the story of The Nutcracker, here are the twisted traditions that come with a side helping of dark history. So next time you lay out a plate of milk and cookies for Santa, spare a thought for the backstory that brought the practice to life.
Yule log
Who doesn't look forward to a generous slice of chocolatey goodness come Christmas? And for those who're scratching their heads — modern-day yule logs are a delicious festive dessert decorated to look like a real-life fallen tree. Though much more delicious than a real log, this sweet treat is actually based on a Medieval tradition. People burned logs that were decorated with pinecones, holly, and ivy for one eerie reason.
Warding off bad juju
Burning the yule log was traditionally thought to bring good luck as well as ward away bad energy. There was more to the process than just burning some wood in the hearth, though. After the log burned down to just ash, people would gather the remaining ashes. These were prized for their protection against aging and also lightning attacks. Handy!
Christmas caroling
Being treated to songs from a group of festive singers is the modern version of a much more aggressive tradition. Now, not everyone may look forward to getting up off the couch to endure a doorstop rendition of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas", but you can thank your lucky stars that modern-day carolers have moved on from their 17th-century counterparts. Carolers, or "wassailers," weren’t welcome guests in the 1600s.
Give us the goods
Instead of sharing a cute song, 17th-century carolers would demand that the unsuspecting homeowners who came to the door gave them fancy food and liquor. If they weren’t satisfied with the gifts they were given, they would threaten the residents with property destruction and other violent acts. Had nobody told them that trick or treating is only acceptable on October 31st?
