Superstitions related to the Christmas holiday
Selon certaines croyances issues des fêtes païennes, de nombreuses superstitions seraient associées à la fête de Christmas. Quelques-unes d’entre elles seraient synonymes de malheur et d’événements dramatiques, tandis que d’autres apporteraient la chance. À en juger par ces superstitions, le Père Noël ne serait pas le seul à circuler dans la nuit du 24 au 25 décembre.
Apparently, ghosts dread the 25th of December terribly, and for this reason, they prefer to hide somewhere. However, at midnight sharp, some choose to leave their doors ajar, to allow ghosts and spirits to leave the premises.
It is also said that misfortune befalls families who travel to attend Midnight Mass but do not attend. Those who lose their way pay the price by being swallowed up in the swamps. Those who do attend should not leave the church during the consecration, otherwise they witness the procession of the dead through the village.
Whoever digs a hole in a cemetery at midnight will find a fortune in gold. Whoever finds a hazel tree will see a golden branch grow from it. If they are lucky enough to cut it down between the strokes of midnight, they will be rich forever. Woe to those who fail, however, for they will join the dead.
Si une mère donne birth à un enfant le jour de Noël, celui-ci jouira d’un avenir des plus prometteurs. En outre, l’enfant sera épargné de la noyade et de la pendaison, et toute sa vie durant, il bénéficiera de chance et connaîtra le bonheur.
