When we think of Christmas traditions, we often picture Christmas trees, stockings, festive lights, and Santa Claus. But in Norway, one of the most intriguing and eerie traditions takes place on Christmas Eve—people hide their brooms to protect them from witches and evil spirits.
This peculiar custom has been passed down for centuries and is rooted in old Scandinavian folklore. According to Norwegian legend, witches and other supernatural beings become especially active on the night of December 24th. They are believed to roam the skies in search of brooms to steal, using them to fly around and cause mischief.
(Image: Freepick)
The Origins of the Tradition
This superstition dates back to a time when Norwegians believed that witches and malevolent spirits were particularly powerful during special times of the year—especially during religious holidays. Christmas Eve, being one of the holiest nights of the year, was thought to be a time when witches would emerge from hiding to create chaos.
People believed that if a witch got hold of a broom, she could use it to fly into the night and spread bad luck. To prevent this from happening, families would hide their brooms in the safest place possible, such as behind locked doors, under furniture, or even in secret compartments within their homes. Some also placed crosses or other religious symbols on their brooms to ward off evil spirits.
Other Protective Measures
In addition to hiding brooms, Norwegians had other ways to protect their homes from supernatural threats on Christmas Eve:
🔹 Firing Guns or Making Loud Noises: Some families would shoot their rifles into the air or bang pots and pans to scare away witches and spirits lurking nearby.
🔹 Lighting Candles Throughout the House: Candles were believed to keep the darkness and evil spirits at bay, ensuring a peaceful Christmas Eve.
🔹 Drawing Symbols on Doors: Some people would carve or paint protective symbols on their doors to prevent unwanted supernatural visitors.
(Font: ACIS Educational Tours )
A Tradition That Still Lives On
Although belief in witches has faded over the centuries, many Norwegian families still follow the tradition of hiding their brooms on Christmas Eve—not out of fear, but as a fun and quirky part of their holiday celebrations. Parents often tell their children the old stories about witches looking for brooms, turning it into an exciting tale that adds to the magic of Christmas Eve.
Even though modern Norway is deeply secular and technologically advanced, folk traditions remain an important part of Norwegian culture. Whether or not witches are truly out there searching for brooms, the custom of hiding them is a beloved piece of Norway’s Christmas heritage—one that continues to add a little bit of mystery to the holiday season.
So, if you ever find yourself in Norway during Christmas, don’t be surprised if you don’t see any brooms lying around. They’ve been carefully hidden—just in case! 😉🎅✨
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