The holiday season is full of customs that range from heartwarming to wonderfully strange. Across the globe, people celebrate in ways that reflect their culture, imagination and sense of festive fun. Here in York Durham Headwaters, we love discovering traditions that inspire both joy and curiosity.
We’ve collected bright and cheerful traditions for the Nice List, and others that carry a dash of shadow and folklore for the Naughty List. All of them offer a fresh way to bring a little extra magic to your celebrations.
Stories for the Naughty List
These darker tales add a dramatic edge to the holiday season. They are perfect for grown-ups who enjoy a touch of folklore with their festivities.
Grýla
The story of Grýla hails from Icelandic folklore and is definitely not a cheerful Christmas figure for the littles. She is said to be a monstrous, troll-like beast who lives in the wilderness. She is greedy and hideous, and demands charity from those who are unlucky enough to encounter her—especially charity in the form of naughty children that she can devour as a tasty little snack. In medieval times, children were reminded to behave at Christmastime if they did not want to be Grýla’s next meal. While she still appears as an Icelandic Christmas tradition, in these modern times the more beastly and frightening aspects of her character are toned down for the wee ones, and she is more prominently remembered as the mother of the Yule Lads.
In the spirit of good fun, we’ve got a way you can pay homage to the days of old when the name Grýla struck fear into the hearts of medieval Icelanders. Instead of the succulent, tasty flesh of naughty Icelandic children, laden your festive table with a meat course straight from the farm that is a little more familiar to our palates here in North America. The inspiration for your feast will certainly be a conversation starter!
Farms for Local Meats
- Heatherlea Farm Shoppe, Caledon
- King Cole Ducks, Whitchurch-Stouffville
- Gallery on the Farm, Hampton
- The Meat Merchant, Whitchurch-Stouffville
- 4th Line Cattle Co., Hillsburgh
- Herrington’s Quality Butchers, Port Perry
Speaking of a conversation starter, did you know that Brent Herrington of Herrington’s Quality Butchers competed with Team Canada in the World Butcher’s Challenge?
The Yule Cat
Keeping with fearsome Icelandic traditions, the story of the Yule Cat is closely tied with those of Grýla and the Yule Lads. This huge and vicious cat is the cherished pet of Grýla. During the Christmas season, it lurks in the woods and eats those unfortunate people who did not receive new clothing before Christmas Eve. In other, less frightening versions of the story, the Yule Cat only eats the food of those who didn’t receive new clothes. In either case, the spectre of the ferocious feline was used as both a threat and an incentive for farm workers to finish processing the wool collected during the autumn season before Christmas.
Those who finished in time got their new, trendy threads, and those who didn’t… well, let’s just say they were probably thinking of taking up running lest the Yule Cat pick up the scent of their old, tattered rags.
While spinning one’s own wool is more of a niche hobby these days, we love the idea of warm, woolen clothing during the wintertime… with or without the threat of an evil, mythical cat hanging over our heads. We’ve got some fabulous places here in YDH where you can purchase your very own woolen goods for the long, dark nights of a cold, Canadian winter.
Shop Hand-Made
- Goodwood Mercantile, Goodwood
- Pretty Thingz, Unionville
- Rare Threads Fibre Design at Alton Mill Arts Centre, Caledon
- Metropolis Mercantile + Café, Newmarket
Krampus
You’ve probably heard of this frightening figure which originates from Central and Eastern European folkloric tradition. A horned anthropomorphic figure, he is celebrated in modern popular culture, and has even broken into Hollywood with his own movies. The counterpart to the benevolent and loving Saint Nicholas, Krampus visits children during the night of December 5th (known as Krampusnacht). Where Santa Claus rewards “nice” children with gifts, Krampus punishes “naughty” children with… birch rods! Of course, all children are nice these days, so Krampus doesn’t have much work to do.
In honour of the fearsome beast in his heyday, there are newer traditions like the Krampuslauf (Krampus Run), a parade in which marchers dress as Krampus and scare onlookers with their antics. There are also Krampus-themed greeting cards called Krampuskarten.
This season, consider paying homage to Krampus with your own tradition. Krampus is half-goat, so what better way is there to remember the dread he once inspired than to visit a farm with actual goats? It’s not a bad idea to remember what cute, curious creatures they really are. Farms across YDH are hosting wonderful holiday events this season that are fun for the whole family. Bring the kids to see the animals. For those “too littles” in your party, maybe keep the Krampus-honouring theme a secret for the “big people.” Here are a few great places to check out.
Farm Markets
- Pingles Farm Market, Hampton
- Maple Grove Farm, Mulmur
- Downey’s Farm Market, Caledon
- Brooks Farms, Mount Albert
- Willow Tree Farm, Port Perry
Traditions for the Nice List
These bright and joyful customs celebrate kindness, light and good fortune. They also include ideas for how to enjoy each one right here in York Durham Headwaters.
The Christmas Pickle
This German-American tradition is thought to have originated in the nineteenth century. A pickle-shaped decoration is hidden on the Christmas tree amongst all the other decorations. On Christmas morning, the first person to find the pickle will receive either a reward, an extra present from Santa Claus, or the promise of good fortune for the next year. This tradition is big in Berrien Springs, Michigan, which claims to be the Christmas Pickle capital of the world. In fact, from 1992 until 2005 they held a Pickle Festival and parade, and after a 16-year hiatus, the tradition was revived in 2021.
You don’t have to go to Michigan to enjoy the pickle-themed festivities, though. You can recreate this quirky tradition at home by finding a unique or meaningful ornament of your choosing and following in the Christmas Pickle’s footsteps. There are lots of adorable shops throughout YDH where you can find one-of-a-kind ornaments that your family will love hunting for on your tree every year. Here are a few to get you started.
Boutique Shops
- Redefined Finds, Stouffville
- The Lemonade Stand, Uxbridge
- Granny Taught Us How, Mulmur
- Cottage and Crown, Schomberg
- Markets by Dream Day, Bowmanville
- That Place on Queen, Port Perry
Feast of Santa Lucia
This feast day observed in the Christian faith on December 13th commemorates Lucia of Syracuse. According to legend, she brough food and aid to persecuted Christians hiding in the Roman catacombs in the 4th century BCE. So that she could carry as much food as possible, she wore a candlelit wreath on her head to light the way through the dark catacombs. Today, the Feast of Santa Lucia is celebrated worldwide as a festival of light, most prominently in Scandinavia, Italy and the Caribbean island nation of Saint Lucia.
Almost every tradition and faith around the world celebrates light as a symbol of joy, good fortune or a coming event. You can celebrate the season with your own festival of light with one of our many YDH tree-lighting and Christmas lights experiences.
Christmas Events
- Orangeville’s Merry and Bright Tree Lighting and Christmas Lights in the Park (all season long)
- Uxbridge’s Fantasy of Lights (all season long)
- Sutton’s Santa Claus Parade of Lights
- Schomberg’s A Main Street Christmas
- Erin’s Window Wonderland and tree lighting
Fried Chicken Dinner
Did you know that Christmas and the fried chicken restaurant KFC are deeply intertwined in Japan? It’s true! Since 1974, this favourite Japanese tradition sees families placing orders for buckets of deep-fried drumsticks and breasts as early as November, and waiting in large lines to pick them up on Christmas Day so that the feast can be enjoyed around the table. Where did this tradition come from, you might ask? The answer is one man named Takeshi Okawara, who was the manager of the first KFC in Japan. Allegedly, he overheard an expat saying that they missed eating turkey for Christmas, and that chicken was the next best thing. A marketing campaign ensued to help boost Okawara’s KFC sales around the holidays, and the tradition stuck.
Who doesn’t love a meal of steaming-hot fried chicken when it’s cold outside? Here in YDH, KFC is not your only option. Try one of these delicious small-town alternatives for what we’re sure will be your first annual Japanese-inspired Fried Chicken Dinner during the holiday season.
Restaurants with Fried Chicken
- Butchie’s Restaurant, Whitby
- Church’s Texas Chicken at Market at 70 King, Oshawa
- Caledon Hills Brewing Co.’s Chicken Schnitzel Sandwich, Caledon
- Pig + Chick Korean Restaurant, Unionville
- Electric Piggy Asian Restaurant, Markham
Roller Skating to Christmas Mass
This Venezuelan tradition is known as “las patinatas,” and began in the 1950s. Today, it is a beloved Venezuelan tradition tied to Catholicism where, from December 16th to 24th, people will roller skate all night before making their way to church for an early morning Mass. Most roads are closed overnight during this time, and people will come wearing festive clothing. There are tons of treats and hot chocolate available, and many children will receive roller skates, roller blades or skateboards as gifts so that they can partake in the uniquely Venezuelan merriment.
Of course, Venezuela is still quite warm at this time of year, so you’re forgiven for thinking that you can’t possibly recreate this tradition here in the cold climes of York Durham Headwaters. SUSO Skate Co. at the Oshawa Centre, however, makes it possible with their pop-up location’s indoor roller skating. SUSO’s mission is to transform underused and empty spaces, creating a beginner-friendly environment for people of all ages to enjoy a safe environment in which to get rolling. Get your festive groove on to some iconic holiday tracks on Christmas Eve with the Reindeer Rollout. You may not be skating until dawn, but you’ll be sleeping soundly when Santa arrives after a night out on your wheels.
The Yule Lads
While there is not technically a tradition here to recreate, we think the tale of the Yule Lads is a fun addition to your holiday bedtime stories for the kids. Hailing from Icelandic folklore, the Yule Lads are a group of 13 mischievous brothers who delight in pranking the local community.
One by one they come to town during the last 13 nights before Yule, leaving small gifts in shoes that children place on the windowsill. If the child has been naughty that year, it’s not coal that the Yule Lads leave… it’s a rotten potato!
There are some variations of the tale of the Yule Lads based on region and age, and in modern times, these figures have come to take on a more benevolent role, rather than troll-like figures who harassed the good people of the community as they were originally said to do. Each one has his own name, story and distinct personality, too. This season, keep the spirit of the Yule Lads alive with your wee ones. Count down to Christmas by having them place one of their shoes on their windowsills before bedtime, and delight in watching them find out what the Yule Lads have left them in the morning.
Which Yuletide Traditions Will You Try?
From cheerful pickles and candlelit wreaths to fearsome trolls and giant winter cats, holiday customs around the world offer endless inspiration. Whether you lean toward the Nice List or enjoy a playful nod to the Naughty, there is a tradition here that can add wonder, humour or adventure to your celebrations. Enjoy exploring these festive ideas and making them part of your own seasonal story.
Updated: