Tag: traditions
12 royal Christmas traditions revealed by expert who says everyone must follow specific etiquette rules
THESE are the 12 royal Christmas traditions every royal must follow, according to a royal expert.
The Royal Family are preparing for their first Christmas without the Queen – but nothing is expected to majorly change.
King Charles and Camilla will still follow Royal family Christmas traditions[/caption]
The Royal Family traditionally go to church in Sandringham at Christmas[/caption]
The Firm will be heading back to Sandringham for the festivities this year.
The Norfolk estate is expected to have much more of a family feel compared to Windsor.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams revealed the 12 traditions the family will be following, even in the absence the Queen.
From etiquette rules to tree decorating, this is everything we know about the Royals’ Christmas plans.
Arriving at Sandringham
Richard told The Sun Online the family arrive at Sandringham on Christmas Eve.
Members will arrive in order of seniority.
Richard said: “The royals usually arrive the day before Christmas and they arrive in order of seniority.
“The least important members arrive first.”
Decorating of the tree
After everyone has arrived at the estate the day before Christmas, they will gather and decorate.
In traditions that date back centuries, the family will finish hanging decorations on the Christmas trees together.
Christmas presents
On Christmas Eve, the family will exchange joke gifts.
Richard said: “The presents are laid out in the red drawing room at Sandringham and these are joke gifts.
“The Royal’s don’t give each other expensive presents.
“It’s a joke or cheap present – what do you give to the family who has everything.
“On Diana’s first Christmas, she didn’t know that they gave cheap joke gifts so she gave expensive presents and felt awkward.
“It’s Harry giving the Queen a bath hat [and] Kate giving Harry a grow-your-own girlfriend kit, it’s fun.”
Formal black tie dinner
On Christmas Eve night, the Royal’s will have a formal black tie dinner.
Everyone is invited and must dress up.
The chefs will cook a huge dinner to wrap up the day before Christmas.
Visit to church
On Christmas morning, for those in the family who want to, they can attend St Mary’s Church on the grounds.
This will be a private, intimate gathering without cameras or spectators.
A public church visit
Senior members of the Royal Family have a duty to attend church in a public display.
Cameras will capture the family walking to church for a service.
Christmas lunch
The family will then return from church to a traditional Christmas dinner.
It will include three courses.
A royal expert recently took to TikTok revealing bizarre etiquette rules for the lunch.
They include a salt and pepper ritual, how to hold glasses and a cue for everyone to stop eating.
Christmas walks
The Family will then walk off their huge Christmas lunch.
They carry out a private walk around the grounds of Sandringham so the kids can get some fresh air and play.
The King’s message
After their stroll, the entire family traditionally gather to watch the King’s Christmas message.
The pre-recorded address to the nation was filmed on Tuesday, it is understood.
It will be broadcast at 3pm on BBC One.
Afternoon tea
A light afternoon tea will then be put on for the Firm.
As the day comes draws to a close, the adults can relax while the children play with their gifts.
Evening buffet
The festive day will come to an end with an evening buffet.
With a few nibbles the family will wind down and have quality time together.
Games
While enjoying the evening buffet, it’s understood the family will play games.
Although it’s not certain which they play, Richard said it is likely they play charades.
SINTERKLAAS, ZWARTE PIET, & KRAMPUS: Old World Christmas Traditions
In Europe, the traditional Christmas holidays are a bit different than here in North America. Have you ever heard of Zwarte Piet ‘Black Pete’ and Krampus? I’ve collected a few creepy tidbits.
“Well, this happened a while ago. It started on Christmas Eve, I was walking with a cousin on the cold streets to our house, and on the way, I looked up and saw the Zwarte Piet on the roofs of the huge houses. My cousin also raised his head and saw the same thing, but there was something wrong with this Piet, he didn’t look ‘normal’ as we normally see. His skin was black but it was darker than the darkness of night itself. His eyes were bright blood red, and he had a long demon tail. Of course, he had normal things that the Zwarte Piet would wear as the same garment, for example, the weird chains. Zwarte Piet looked at us and got scared, quickly jumping to the other roof, and just disappearing. My cousin and I were shocked and not believing what we saw.
What is Zwarte Piet?: Sinterklaas, the figure who inspired the famous Santa Claus, is very famous in Europe, with his festival being celebrated since the Middle Ages. But in Holland, the good old man has a helper who has been causing controversy for a while. Zwarte Piet, literally ‘Black Pete,’ is portrayed as a black man with full, red lips whose job it is to help wrap presents for children who have been good and punish those who have behaved badly. During Dutch celebrations, many citizens dress like Piet, painting their faces black and putting on curly wigs, a racist practice that has generated much criticism, especially for a country struggling with its colonialist and slavery past.
I don’t know what exactly that was we saw, my friends have theories about it.
First theory: Zwarte Piet is a real mystical being and not just a simple Christmas children’s tale.
Second theory: this is not a real piet but some spirit that has taken on a Zwarte Piet form.” QE
The name “Krampus” is derived from the old German expression for claw,’ referring to the menacing appearance of the creature. Depending on the area where the celebrations are taking place, the creature’s name and appearance can vary slightly. Unlike our tradition of Santa delivering presents in the wee hours of the morning of December 25th, the European Saint Nicolas visits children on December 6th, which commemorates the original real-life saint’s day. According to the customs, Krampus tags along with Saint Nicolas or precedes him on December 5th to deliver punishments to bad children on this day. The practice dates back several thousands of years ago when supposed witches or troublemakers would don sinister costumes and run around the streets to scare the townspeople. Later, the pagan religions observed the approach of the harsh winter season in a similar manner with actors dressed in creepy costumes. Drawing from this influence, Krampus costumes today can range from a scary-looking old man mask to a horrific devil-like creature covered in dark fur, bearing a long-fanged grimacing mask and animalistic eyes. They wield an assortment of fear-inducing noise-makers, such as heavy chains, whips, and loud, clanging bells, as well as a basket meant to carry away naughty children.
Take a look at a few vintage images. It may give you a better perspective:
Krampus Through Time
2000 BCE – Enkidu appears in the Epic of Gilgamesh, the earliest known appearance of a ‘Wild Man’ in literature.
600 BCE – In the book of Daniel in the Old Testament, King Nebuchadnezzar is punished by God for his pride when he is turned into a hairy beast.
217 BCE – Saturnalia is introduced as a winter celebration in Rome, marked by gift giving, wild parties, and a reversal of the normal social roles of slave and master.
4th Century CE – Due to Roman influence, many Germanic tribes, such as the Goths and Vandals, convert to Christianity; their pagan traditions survive in small villages in the Alps where the Church cannot penetrate.
1250 CE – King’s Mirror, a Norwegian text, features a Wild Man character who is described as being covered in hair.
17th Century CE – ‘Knecht Rupert’ appears as a figure in a Nuremberg Christmas procession.
1810 CE – The Brothers Grimm began publishing stories of Germanic folktales, marking a resurgence in Germanic pagan folklore.
Early 19th Century CE – Holiday postcards from Austria, Germany, and other parts of Europe feature holiday greetings from Krampus and other companions of St. Nicholas.
Early 19th Century CE – Germanic and Dutch immigrants to the US popularize ‘Pelznickel’ traditions in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and as far west as Indiana.
2004 CE – Blab! Magazine curator Monte Beauchamp publishes Devil In Design, a collection of vintage Krampus postcards from the turn of the 19th century. This book marks an increase in Krampus’ popularity in the English-speaking world.
2004 CE – An Adult Swim show The Venture Brothers features Krampus during a Christmas special.
2007 CE – The American television show Supernatural features an evil Krampus character.
2009 CE – American satirist Stephen Colbert is visited by Krampus on his television show The Colbert Report.
2013 CE – ‘Grimm: Twelve Days of Krampus’ – aired 12/6/2013 – A DARK JUSTICE DESCENDS ON PORTLAND AS THE CHRISTMAS SEASON BEGINS — After a string of delinquent teens go missing, an old Wesen tale of an evil Santa who brings more than just a lump of coal may be the prime suspect. The investigation intensifies as Nick (David Giuntoli) and Hank (Russell Hornsby) take things a little too far. Meanwhile, Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell) enlists Juliet (Bitsie Tulloch) to surprise Rosalee (Bree Turner) for their first Christmas together with unintended results. Elsewhere, Captain Renard’s (Sasha Roiz) tour of Europe brings him closer to tracking down Adalind (Claire Coffee). Reggie Lee also stars.
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Pokemon Scarlet & Violet hands-on: Lessons from Legends & Returning Traditions make this a fascinating, revolutionary new entry
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet are the follow-up to Sword and Shield, the first entry in a new generation. But in learning lessons from Legends Arceus, a fantastic new take on the series emerges.
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, the flagship games of a new Pokemon generation, find themselves in an interesting spot. A new Pokemon generation is always time for introspection, consideration, and gentle evolution – but earlier this year, a mere Pokemon spin-off tipped expectation of what the series can be upside down. The question that Scarlet & Violet face is easily asked, but challenging to answer: what does the next evolution of Pokemon look like, with all the tradition-disrupting ideas that Legends Arceus put forth taken into account?
That question is an interesting invitation for the Pokemon series to evolve, and Scarlet and Violet do appear to have a firm, full-throated answer. In how it cherry-picks ideas from Legends, from Sword and Shield, from series tradition and also yes, anew out of thin air, it’s arguably the most significant generational Pokemon reset in the history of the series. And that’s exciting.