At BMT we’re fascinated by property and homes, and this doesn’t stop at Christmas time.
Considering Christmas is traditionally a time for families with many gatherings taking place in the family home, properties are often central to Christmas celebrations worldwide.
In Australia it’s not uncommon to deck our houses out with fairy lights, decorate the interior and have the family around for a huge lunch on Christmas Day. But what else do people do in their homes at Christmas?
To get into the festive spirit, we wanted to take a look at some of the more quirky and fun things you might find in properties around the world at Christmas time.
Here are five of our favourite property related Christmas traditions.
Norway – porridge and broomsticks
In Norwegian folk law, small gnomes known as ‘Nisse’ are said to protect a home’s farm and its animals. It is therefore tradition on Christmas Eve to leave a bowl of porridge in the barn for the Nisse, so it continues to protect the farm in the new year.
Inside the house on Christmas Eve, Norwegians will hide all their brooms away, as legend has it that evil witches will come and steal them on this night if there are any left out.
Guatemala – burning the evil out of houses
Guatemalans probably have the cleanest houses out of everyone come Christmas time, as their tradition is to carry out a full house clean in December.
In lots of neighbourhoods, the dirt, dust and unwanted belongings from each house are collected and put into a large, communal pile. A devil statue is placed on top of this pile and the whole thing is burnt, as they believe bad omens and spirits will be burnt away with the devil. This is known as Quema del Diablo (burning of the devil) and takes place on the 7th of December each year.
Guatemalans do this to eliminate any bad spirits from their homes, ready for a prosperous start to the New Year.
Bulgaria – where carols are sung to houses
On Christmas Eve in this eastern European nation you will find Koledari (carol singers) doing the rounds singing their carols, but not just to people – to their houses too! Traditionally starting after midnight, they will sing a special house song when they reach a residence, to praise the house, wish it well and rid it of any evil spirits.
Having the Koeldari visit your house is said to be incredibly good luck. The head of the house will then give the carollers food as thanks.
Greenland – shining stars and rotting carcasses
If one country is going to get into the Christmas spirit, you can be sure it’s those in Santa’s rumoured home country, Greenland. Because it is so far north in the Arctic Circle, Greenland gets very little light in the festive period and over winter in general. As such, locals traditionally put illuminated stars in the windows of their houses and public buildings to bring some light to an otherwise very dark place.
It’s also tradition on Christmas Eve for men to serve the women of the house food and coffee. Such treats you will find in people’s homes at Christmas include the delicacy ‘Kiviak’, which is an auk’s raw flesh that has been buried in a seal skin for months until it has decomposed. And here we were thinking Santa enjoyed cookies and milk!
Switzerland – advent calendar houses
During the advent period, some Swiss villages turn their homes into real life advent calendars, with the houses that are part of the advent calendar decorating a special advent window. When it’s your house’s particular day of advent, you hold a party for all the villagers that evening, complete with food, mulled wine and music.
For those of you spending Christmas in your holiday home, don’t forget that these types of investment properties can bring you Christmas gifts in the form of depreciation deductions. Learn more here.