Author Archives: muncheri@usc.edu

Norse Mythology

We also have the story of the kraken. Ships going down at sea, was not uncommon. A lot of the Norse mythology is trying to use different creatures in order to explain different things. Mostly with nature, the power of nature. The kraken was an explanation of how ships went down. The ships go down because there’s a giant sea creature. It’s very similar to pirates of the Caribbean. They very much popularized   the idea of the kraken. And pirates too for that matter. I mean it’s interesting to think about whether my family was part of the Vikings that were raided… or the ones who raided.

Other things that’s very Norweigan is the idea of gnomes and elves. My mom has a ton of different dolls she puts out for different occasions. Some of them are really creepy. I would get nightmares from them.

 

  1. Were they like voodoo dolls?

Similar I guess, but not really. It’s just that there incredibly creepy. They also have giant heads. I don’t know why.

My Thoughts

            Dolls are often used in horror movies as vessels for demons. They honestly are incredibly frightening. So the fact that they put out many different kinds for different occasions is in my mind, a living nightmare. But I suppose each one has significance and a meaning. The kraken is an interesting concept. It almost reminds me of the story of the Lochness Monster. They’re both incredibly large creatures that terrorize ships at sea. I suppose Moby Dick could be added to that list, even though it was clear he was a whale, he’s still a large creature that terrorized a ship.

 

Norwegian Christmas

Well…all of my mom’s side of the family is Norwegian. Norway and Scandinavian traditions are actually quite dark. SO for example, one of the traditions we always do, is my mom always like to say the tradition of Santa Claus in the Norwegian manner. It’s very different… I don’t really remember it. But Santa looks very different in like his look and his style. I think he wears elk boots. My mom has a pair of elk boots she likes to put on display. We also have a Norwegian accordion. So that’s always fun to play around Christmas time. I’ve attempted to play it but I’m not really that good. But every year we play it and dance to polka.

 

  1. Do you ever play the accordion for any other occasions?

Not really, it’s just a Christmas thing.

  1. Are the boots for human feet, made of elk fur, or are they for elk hooves?

I think they’re human boots. They kind of look like elf boots in that they’re pointed at the toe.

My Thoughts

Every culture has different traditions for Christmas.   American traditions really idealize Santa Claus in the red suit and the white beard. But the reason for that is actually the Coca Cola Company. They were the ones who dressed Santa as that.   Many other cultures might dress him very differently. Also, elk v. reindeer, is there really a massive difference there? I’m intrigued that polka is the type of music they listen to and dance to around Christmas time

Story of Christmas Eve (as told by Caitlin)

We don’t really do this anymore, because my brother and I grew up. But when we were little kids we would go to church for Christmas. We were too little to go to midnight mass. We would put out milk and cookies for Santa and the Christkindle, which is the Christ child who we were told brings us our gifts. But because we grew up in Liechtenstein we knew both about Santa and the Christkindle. And also carrots and water for the reindeer. We would put them just outside the door of the patio. We would go into my parents room and my mom would read us this story she would read every Christmas eve. It was called I believe “One Wintery Night,” it was one of those cute books that was hand drawn. We would be cuddled up on her bed and my mom would be reading the stories to my brother and me. Notice how my dad wasn’t there haha. Mom would tell us he was working. All of a sudden we would here one of the bells on the Christmas tree ring. That meant Santa had come. And we run downstairs and the presents would be there and we were so excited. We would open the window and yell “Thank you Santa and Chirstkindle.” Now as an adult I realize it was my dad the whole time.

  1. Were you ever suspicious that it was your dad?

Not when we were kids. I guess we really believed my dad was working that late on Christmas Eve.

My Thoughts:

It’s interesting how family traditions can be blended from more than one place. For example Santa, a quite American tradition and Christkindle, a tradition from Liechtenstein. It’s cute how these kids were so excited that Santa had come. I personally believe in educating kids to reality sooner rather than later, but I suppose I can see the merit in letting them believe in the magic of Christmas.

Der Funka (Der Funken)

Its like a way of bringing in the new year. I know Lichtenstein, Switzerland celebrate it. I’m not sure about Austria or Germany but for sure we do. Basically around New Years, after Christmas time, you put your dead Christmas trees on the curb and the boy scouts will come pick them up… Every town has there own one. And the boy scouts take the trees and build enormous towers out of them… They are sometimes as tall as a five story or four story building. It depends on how many they get. They stack em all up and as a tradition of the new year, the burn it. At the very top is a witch figure. It’s like a puppet or a doll and they stuff it with fireworks. When the fire reaches the top, the witch figure explodes because of the fireworks. It’s a big deal the whole town comes out. You can get this food called Funkaküachli, which is basically funka cakes and you can get bratwurst and sausages and rolls and hot chocolate and different teas. It’s cold out in a big open field. If the tower falls down, that means you’re gonna have a long winter but if it stays standing, spring is near by. It’s like a closing ceremony for winter where you bring in the new year starting with spring.

 

My Thoughts:

This is basically a foreign version of Groundhog Day. It’s literally celebrated for the same purpose, just with different determining factors. It’s interesting how much pomp and circumstance goes into this where as in America, there isn’t really a ton of hype around Groundhog Day unless it’s in Pennsylvania with Punxsutawney Phil.

St. Martins Day

It’s the catholic holiday of light. If you were in kindergarten, you would make lanterns and at the night, you would parade around the town with them. You’re parents would come with you, and the whole town did it. Every school did it. The song we would sing goes as follows:

 

In German

Ich geh mit meine Laterne, und meine Laterne mit mir.

Da oben leuchten die Sterne, da unten leucten wir.

Mein Licht ist schön, könnt ihr es sehn?

Labimmel labemmel labum.

Mein Licht ist schön, könnt ihr es sehn?

Labimmel labemmel labum.

 

In English

I go with my lantern, and my lantern goes with me.

Up there shine/glow the stars, down her we shine/glow.

My light is pretty, can you all see it?

Labimmel labemmel labum.

My light is pretty, can you all see it?

Labimmel labemmel labum.

 

 

My Thoughts:

This reminds me of a Halloween parade like the kinds we used to have in elementary school. Everyone would dress up and we would walk around the field for everyone to see our cool new costumes. It also is reminiscent of caroling in Christmas time with a candle in hand.