| Christmas season is something that is enjoyed in | | | | wedding preparations and move out of her |
| almost all parts of the world and each country has | | | | parent’s house! |
| their own set of traditions; some are very similar while | | | | If you feel that the shoe tossing tradition is interesting, |
| others are unique. Then there are some that are | | | | you will find the food tossing tradition quite intriguing. |
| downright strange. | | | | Now if you like a clean home especially at this festive |
| Aside from the country and culture specific traditions, | | | | time of year then you wouldn’t want to adopt this |
| there is also the set of family or personal traditions. A | | | | tradition. All members of the family sit down for the |
| really different Christmas tradition is a very Old | | | | Christmas Eve dinner. The head of the family takes a |
| Norwegian one. It was an old belief that on the eve of | | | | good sized spoonful of a special traditional Christmas |
| Christmas witches and bad spirits would come about | | | | dish made from bread poppy seed filling and water. |
| the towns looking for brooms on which to ride. So all | | | | This is called Loksa. Then, he will throw this hefty |
| the villagers would hide their brooms where they | | | | spoonful of Loksa up to the ceiling while everyone |
| believed they couldn’t be found. Today’s | | | | watches to see how much of this gooey mixture has |
| modern age also sees vestiges of this custom. The | | | | stuck to the ceiling. Now this is very important because |
| men of the house gallantly go outdoors to fire off a | | | | the more that is stuck on the ceiling the better the |
| shotgun; threatening and scaring off the witches. | | | | crops will be. This is a tradition that is followed |
| In the Czech Republic, young ladies who dream of | | | | throughout Slovakia and the Ukraine. It provides great |
| marriage have a very unusual Christmas tradition. On | | | | family amusement except possibly for the women |
| Christmas Eve, these hoping to be brides, will stand | | | | who have to clean up the mess. |
| with their back to the house. Next they will throw one | | | | In many countries the people attend mass either |
| of their shoes over their shoulder towards the door. | | | | Christmas eve or Christmas day. This is also true in |
| Now if the shoe lands with the heels towards the door, | | | | Caracas Venezuela with one exception; everybody |
| then unfortunately she will remain unmarried for | | | | roller skates to the mass. It is such a big traditional |
| another year. On the other hand if the toe of the shoe | | | | event that all the roads within the city are closed to |
| points towards the door, she is believed to marry | | | | car traffic. It’s a great alternative to ice skating |
| before the next Christmas. She will begin making her | | | | because the climate is just too warm for snow or ice. |