Airline bemuses Nova Scotians with claims of Christmas ‘belsnickeling’ tradition

A Toronto-based airline says it hopes it has helped belsnickeling to become a wider Christmas tradition in Nova Scotia.

Porter Airlines bemused social media users with an article in its in-flight magazine that said belsnickeling is a popular tradition in the province.

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The article said belsnickeling was introduced by German immigrants in the 1750s, and involves people going to neighbours’ houses in Santa costumes, jangling chains and bells. Cake and hot drinks are also involved.

But the idea was met with surprise and some mockery from many Nova Scotians who said they’d never heard of it – even as a few lonely voices suggested it was a real thing, or at least used to be, in certain parts of the province.

“Could the Nova Scotian who fed this hilarious lie to Porter please show yourself,” one Twitter user, (at)emilydawnlove, wrote in a post that got about 850 likes.

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Porter says it understands the tradition may not be common across all of Nova Scotia, but has ties to Lunenburg and the wider South Shore.

“We felt it was an interesting bit of history to share with our readers,” spokesman Brad Cicero said in a statement.

“We’re glad we were able to bring more attention to this provincial lore, and maybe with all of the online interest, belsnickeling will become a wider spread holiday tradition in the years to come?”

The tradition does have strong presence elsewhere, including in Halifax, Pennsylvania, which will host the 16th annual “Belsnickel/Christmas Parade” on Dec. 1.