This afternoon one of my friends started talking about Ded Moroz and Ukrainian tree traditions and anyway my mind is blown.
My Jewish Family Always Had a Christmas Tree — But Not for Christmas
I had no idea about ANY of this.
We just had Santa/Saint Nicholas, and another one…Black Piet, I think? Not the weird Dutch blackface one, but just a second Santa Claus figure who followed along dressed in black robes (not red) and had the job of handing out the coal to the bad kids (presumably so that Santa wouldn’t have to get his hands dirty, literally or metaphorically).
(Side note: Stardew Valley has made me see coal as a good present.)
I’m not sure if this was just my family’s adaptation of Krampus or what. But anyway, just wanted to share!
Emilybook 