-JOHN KIM (editor)
1974 was the year when KFC launched a marketing campaign for Christmas in Japan. Over the last four decades, fried chicken became synonymous with Christmas, and eating KFC on this day became widely practiced custom.
The idea of Christmas in every country is almost identical. It’s on the same date, red and green, Santa and Rudolf and Christmas carol. But how people celebrate around the world is different.
The rich diversity of APU students allows us to peek into how people from other countries celebrate Christmas. This time, we asked several students from various countries. As, the theme of this month’s issue is Christmas, I would like to share some of those answers. Credit to people in parenthesis, the one who answered or wrote the paragraph.
Christmas around the world: Indonesia
Even though it’s only 10 percent of the population, 20 million people celebrate Christmas in Indonesia. They go to church on Christmas Eve, and on Christmas, they have a big family gathering. Younger kids get presents. (Nadia Ilona)
Christmas around the world: Australia
Usually, for Australian families, the main event is a big family lunch – sometimes with close friends as well. People all bring homemade food to a family member’s house, and we’ll have a big barbecue with like, ham, pork, lamb and prawns (shrimps) as well as different kinds of salads and sides. Gift-giving is a big thing, and so usually there’s lots of that as well. Quite often there will be more than one party in a day that people go to but generally speaking, lunch is the big one with the extended family. (Samantha Gillespie)
Christmas around the world: Vietnam
In Vietnam, there’s no Yasumi for Christmas, but there are a lot of illuminations, so people will go out at night to watch and take pics. Small children in Vietnam also get presents too. (Ta Hong Ngoc and Tran Uyen)
Christmas around the world: Rwanda
In Rwanda they are many Christians, so Christmas is a public holiday. Usually, people go to church and then after they spend time with family and eat good food. When I was young, they also used to buy us new clothes for Christmas, so I think it’s a big thing for children as well. (Uwineza Celio)
Christmas around the world: Philipines
In the Philippines, it’s more about Family & Religious values & morals! We celebrate it with our families like a mini-reunion with games, lots of talking and eating. We have this religion stuff called “Simbang Gabi”. It is a devotional nine-day series of Masses practiced by Filipino Catholics and Aglipayans in the Philippines in anticipation of Christmas. (Leigh Takeda)
Christmas around the world: Canada
Totally different!! Although it isn’t religious, people usually have many parties and dinner with family and sometimes friends. Usually, it lasts for 2 weeks. Family coming from far even sleep with the family for 2-3 consecutive days. (Antony Normand)
Christmas around the world: Sri Lanka
The majority of Sri Lankans are Buddhists, the Christian population is only about 7 %. So we, as non-Christians, don’t really celebrate Christmas, but we make Christmas trees for fun and go to parties of our Christian friends. For Christian people, as far as I know, they go to church for midnight mass, and on 25th December they visit relatives and friends or prepare lunch/dinner for people who visit them. However, it’s a national holiday, shopping malls and roads are decorated, and we feel festiveness regardless of the religion. Some people use this season for their charity works too. That’s the general idea from the viewpoint of a non-Christian. (Thilini Rajapaksh)
Christmas around the world: Ecuador
In my country, and in all Latin America, no one cares about 25th December. We celebrate on Christmas Eve, 24th night. Family dinner and open presents at 00:00 am on the 25th. (Daniel Rosero)
Christmas around the world: Norway
In Norway, we celebrate on Christmas eve the 24th. Usually, a good breakfast with family, and later in the evening, we have a big dinner made of pork belly. Norwegians call this pinnekjøtt, then we exchange gifts. The following 1st and 2nd Christmas day are spent with family just eating nice dinners. (Mark Ian Hovden)
Christmas around the world: Korea
Lastly, in Korea, Christmas is a day for the religious family to celebrate, but also it is a day for young couples to be extra romantic. While many relatively deprived single guys and girls are having their hatred/jealousy-filled moment at all the couples encountering, young couples are enjoying this lovely holiday with decorations and promotions from all over the place. Single people sometimes make a joke about how they are going to spend this Christmas with Kevin again(from the movie Home Alone). But, let’s not judge their lame jokes as they are victims of couple-focused marketing in Korea.
How do you spend the New Year in your country? Let us know by commenting or sending us a message!
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