Legend says animals can speak on Christmas Eve but not to listen for them because it is unlucky to hear them
Some cattle ranchers believe that if the first person to cross the threshold on Christmas eve is female, only heifers will be born on the ranch for the next year. however, if it is a male, many male calves will be born
Feeding a sprig of mistletoe to the first calf-bearing cow of the new year ensures future fertility for both
Some British believe that ivy leaves fed to each cow after milking and before noon on Christmas morning will force the devil away from the herd and keeper for the next 12 months
If the stars are bright on Christmas Eve, hens will lay well the next year
In Sweden, its believed that trolls travel freely through countryside from dusk on Christmas eve to dawn on Christmas morning. its common practice to stay indoor during those hours, in Sweden.
Greece and Poland considers it unlucky to be born on Christmas eve and Christmas day because the roaming monsters - kallikantzaroi (Greece) and werewolves (Poland) can capture the newborn's spirit for their own devices
It is customary, in Greece, to burn all old shoes to ward off misfortune in the new year
Ghost refuse to come out of hiding on Christmas day, babies born then are said to be forever free of ghostly troubles
Refusing mincemeat pie on Christmas brings bad luck in the next year
You will lose a friend before next Christmas, if you don't eat plum pudding during the holiday season
Eat an apple at midnight on Christmas Eve for ensuring good health
Leave a loaf of bread on the table, after Christmas Eve, to guarantee plenty of bread for the household in the coming year
Christmas cakes must remain uncut until December 24, and one piece left uneaten until after Christmas day to ensure good fortune
In Germany, it's customary to eat greasy pancakes on the winter solstice and leave some on the table to feed the winter hag so that she doesn't "hunt you down, slice open your belly, and take the cakes right out"
When giving clothing for a gift, don't wash or iron or it will press in bad luck and wash away good
Make sure all fires in your home burn throughout Yuletide season in order to be free of evil spirits
Some Scandinavian families place all their shoes side by side on Christmas Eve to bring harmony in the home
If you have holes in your stocking, hanging them upside down on the hearth before bed on Christmas Eve is said to have them repaired by St. Nick
Place a cherry tree branch in water two weeks before Christmas. if the branch blossoms by Christmas Day you'll have good luck in the new year.
If you fix a hole in your roof between Christmas and New Year's Day it will reappear
You'll have bad luck if you bring holly into your home before Christmas Eve, and triple bad luck if it's removed before January 6th
Mistletoe has to stay hung in place for one year to ensure good luck and when replaced, the old one should be burned
Burn evergreen and decorations of evergreens to ensure good luck
There is an ancient German custom that states that things with wheels, especially spinning ones- may not be used from 5 days before the solstice until six days after it or else the sun causes all fleece and fiber to tangle beyond repair
In Germany, girls play a holiday game, seemingly similar to duck-duck-goose, where the first player to be touched by the blindfolded goose will be first to marry of the participants.
In England on Christmas Eve, its customary for unmarried girls to knock on the hen house door... if a rooster crows in response, she'll be married within 12 months
In Northern Europe, some girls arrange three buckets of water in their bedroom, pin three sprigs of holly to their nightgowns before sleeping and are awakened by three shouts and three chuckles. an apparition of their future husbands will appear and if the buckets are rearranged - the marriage proposal wont have any issues ; If they aren't - they may not be a willing partner
In Poland, it is believed that grinding poppy seed on Christmas Eve will ensure a quick marriage for unmarried women
Tossing twelve sage leaves on Christmas Eve winds will make the image of your future lover materialize
If the night sky on Christmas Eve is clear and starry, summer harvest will be abundant
The 12 days of Christmas tells the weather for each following months. ex: first day of Christmas = snowy ; January = snowy
Easter will be cold if it doesn't snow on Christmas
if Christmas Day is breezy there will be good luck for the new year
