The animal symbols of Christmas around the world are different for every country. Here are just a few – some of which may surprise you.
In Western Australia, there are no reindeer to pull Santa’s sleigh, so the hill kangaroo, which is specially adapted to withstand dehydration, are traditionally portrayed on their Christmas cards pulling Santa’s sleigh. In the Great Barrier Reef, many years ago, Australians feasted on turtles for Christmas as female sea turtles hauled themselves ashore on Christmas Eve to lay their eggs. Now, of course, they still arrive at Christmas but rather than eat them, people come to see them. In our traditional Christian Christmas story, the Three Wise Men travelled from the east to visit Jesus. It’s not surprising that they chose camels for their journey. This ancient species, often called ‘ships of the desert’ can travel long distances without the need for water. This is due to their unique oval red blood cells which enable it to store water in its bloodstream. They can drink 100 litres of water in 10 minutes.
In this country the robin is a traditional symbol of Christmas. The male bird chooses his mate at Christmas and his song and red breast are strongest and most attractive at this time of year. In Scandinavia however, their Xmas decorations feature a Yule Goat made of straw, symbolising a pagan tradition whereby the God of the fertile sun and the harvest, Devac, was represented by a white goat.
In some parts of Africa, the Emperor Moth lays its eggs at the beginning of November on the leaves of the mopane tree. By Christmas, it’s harvest time as they grow from 6mm to 100mm in length and weigh 15 grams. They are eaten and enjoyed by humans and animals. In England the turkey arrived in the 16th century, when a Yorkshireman acquired 6 turkeys from American Indians on his travels. It was enjoyed by Henry VIII but it was actually Edward VII in the 19th century who made eating turkey fashionable at Christmas. Mexico seems an unlikely place to find turkeys, but that is where they originate from and their fossils have been found from 10 million years ago
It is a fact that, although Oliver Cromwell banned Christmas in 1657, it is still the major Christian festival of the year. Whatever animal symbols or gastronomic traditions different countries follow; it is a time of celebration. So, I hope that as you eat, drink and make merry, remember, not everyone is dreaming of a white Christmas.
