{"id":28933,"date":"2018-12-10T09:00:47","date_gmt":"2018-12-10T09:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thevoiceoflondon.co.uk\/?p=28933"},"modified":"2018-12-10T09:00:47","modified_gmt":"2018-12-10T09:00:47","slug":"christmas-around-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/christmas-around-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Cookies, scary masks and generous cats: what’s your Christmas like?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Image: Pixabay<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Christmas is celebrated differently around the world. How do your friends and family celebrate the most wonderful time of the year?<\/b><\/p>\n

Many of us have grown up with the idea of Christmas with decorating the Christmas tree, hanging up stockings, and leaving cookies and milk for Santa, who comes down the fireplace and leaves you presents. The worldwide idea of celebrating the holiday is coming to the tree with presents on Christmas morning and opening them with your family. <\/span><\/p>\n

However, Christmas has different kinds celebrations around the world, ranging from familial to national traditions. For example, Santa is not celebrated in <\/span>Austria<\/span><\/a> at all; in fact, he is quite the opposite of a jolly plump man with a huge beard and wearing red clothes. In Austria, Santa\u2019s evil accomplice Krampus goes out in search of naughty children. This has led to the yearly Krampus Parade, where people wear terrifying masks to scare children and adults with pranks.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Image: Pixabay<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

In <\/span>Iceland<\/span><\/a>, the legend goes as it is. The huge Yule Cat is supposedly found in the countryside during Christmas season, and rewards hardworking farmers with a new set of clothes. However, it eats up those who don\u2019t work hard enough! The legend gave birth to the tradition of friends and families gifting each other new clothes every Christmas.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Image: Courtesy of Alexandra via Pixabay<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n

Apart from the different traditions around the world, people in the UK have their own unique ways of celebrating this festive season. Matthew from Heckmondwike says that his family does not have the trend of decorating a tree for Christmas. \u201cOur Christmas morning has been pretty much the same since I was little. We always wait for everyone to wake up before going down. There\u2019s always a pile of presents for each of us in the same place, then we open them together. Then my mum cooks the meal for about 10 of us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Image: Pixabay<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n

Meanwhile, Sarah from Nottingham mentions, \u201cMy family is not big on decorating trees so we always buy one that has already been decorated. The highlight of my Christmas for me is my dad\u2019s plum cake. While my mum cooks all of the other food, he is in charge of the cake, which is absolutely delicious. I\u2019m drooling just thinking about it right now!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Image: Courtesy of Katja S. Verhoeven via Pixabay<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n

Voice of London also asked how people say Merry Christmas in different languages. Here\u2019s a video showing the beautiful diversity of this beautiful season.<\/span><\/p>\n

[youtube https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=vjhbsT_NuiA]<\/p>\n

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Do you celebrate Christmas? If yes, then comment below to tell us about how you say it in your language and what your traditions are!<\/p>\n

\u2014 Shruti Tangirala (@shrutiT27) December 9, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

Featured image: Pixabay<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Words and video: Shruti Tangirala | Subbing: Claire Chung<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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