Day 18 - Holiday traditions

[Liv]

Hey everyone,

The other day we were having a conversation about traditions with our friend @Sergi from the Spanish speaking Community and he mentioned that in Catalonia they have a rather peculiar Christmas tradition.

Apart from the classic nativity scene, Catalans also put on display a figurine of a shepherd - the “caganer” - taking a poop. According to Sergi, the object is a children’s favorite and has been popularised with amusing versions of celebrities in place of the shepherd. Very festive 😂

This had us thinking that there are probably several other fun traditions from different cultures that are popular on a variety of holidays. I’m sure some families share their own unique festive traditions as well.

Do you have any fun or peculiar traditions that you keep alive during the holidays? 

We’d love to hear about them. 👀

Happy Holidays!

Liv

[Emiel1]

In the eastern part of the Netherlands playing the "Midwinterhorn", from start of Advent, is a typical tradition around Christmas. The low and melancholic tone of a single horn reaches over the fields the next village, where another horn player reacts on it.

More:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midwinter_horn

[J-Renato0]

Hello @Emiel1 

It is just out of curiousity! It has not to do with Christmas.  In Brazil this type of instrument is still in use to transmit messages in rural areas, where they preserve traditions that come from old and past times. Usually it is the cowboys and farmers that know it. There are several types of sounds such us to let the workers know that the meal is ready or to gather catlle among others uses.

I don´t know if you can see the video there:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQrSRHXiCWw&t=275s

[Emiel1]

@J-Renato0 

It is interresting to notice similar horns are used elsewhere in the world.

Yes, i could see the video, the instrument is more used like a trumpet and indeed suitable for sending signals.

Another variant is the large "alphorn", which actually is a musical instrument and can be played together.