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SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | DECEMBER 2025 9 By, Karen Range, Resident Many Christmas traditions in the U.S. revolve around Santa Claus, that robust fellow in red, who delivers presents to good girls and boys via his sleigh and reindeer. But there are some interesting traditions in other countries. If you want to know what a goat, a witch and 13 mountain brothers have to do with Christmas, read on. Netherlands: Sinterklaas, like Santa Claus, wears red and white and has a long white beard. Unlike jolly Santa, though, Sinterklaas is thin, serious, and stately and he rides a white horse. On Dec. 5, the holiday also called Sinterklaas, children in the Netherlands leave their shoes out with a carrot or drawing for the horse and nd gis in them the next day. Iceland: Children in Iceland also leave their shoes out, anticipating a visit from one of 13 Yule Lads. e Yule Lads are a group of brothers who descend from the mountains to visit children during the Christmas season. Each night from Dec. 12 to Dec. 24, a Yule Lad will visit, leaving small gis in the children's shoes. If a child has been naughty, a rotten potato, not coal, may be le instead of a gi. Sweden: e Julbock or Yule Goat is associated with the pagan festival of Yule, which is celebrated in the late winter months. A popular theory is that the Yule Goat is connected to the Norse god or, who rode the sky in a chariot drawn by two goats. Traditional stories say that Christmas elves would ride the Yule Goat door-to-door to deliver gis to sleeping children. Over time, the gi- giving role was passed on to the Swedish Santa, Jultomten, but Yule Goat decorations are still popular and Gavle, Sweden, even erects a giant Yule Goat made of straw. Switzerland: e Swiss Santa, or Samichlaus, is an iconic symbol of Christmas. Like Santa Claus, Samichlaus wears red and has a large white beard. Unlike Santa, Samichlaus lives in the forests or in the Swiss mountains and travels by foot or with a donkey. Samichlaus is known to deliver presents on Dec. 24 and 25, but the main gi giver is Christkind or the Christ-child. Christkind is described as a sprite-like child, usually depicted with blond hair and angelic wings Swiss parents tell their children that Christkind must come and go without being spotted, or there will be no presents. Italy: At Christmas time, children in Italy eagerly await a visit, not from Santa, but from La Befana, "e Italian Christmas Witch." La Befana, though a witch, is amiable and friendly. She rides around on a broomstick and carries a sack full of candies and gis. On the morning of Epiphany, January 6th, La Befana delivers gis to well-behaved children and coal to those who have strayed from the path of kindness. e name La Befana originates from the Greek word Epifania, the Italian name for the religious festival of the Epiphany. However you choose to celebrate, enjoy your traditions. Merry Christmas! By Suzette Strauss, Club President THANK YOU to all our friends at SDV who made our 2025 Art & Cra Faire a huge success! We had many new vendors, as well as so many returning ones. I hosted the Welcome Table, and enjoyed seeing all the happy shoppers leaving with their arms and bags full. We couldn't do it without you, thanks again! Christmas Traditions Community Craft Fair