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Children opening presents in East London, Eastern
Cape, South Africa.
(Photo by Mariechen Puchert/youthjournalism.org)
Sandy beaches and Xhosa customs
By Mariechen Puchert in EAST LONDON, Eastern Cape, South Africa
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As a country with 11 official languages and citizens from all
walks of life, South Africa can hardly be described in a
sentence.
It would be even more difficult to describe Christmas and the
festive season in this country with several cultures, traditions
and religions.
South Africa is in the Southern hemisphere, and thus Christmas
occurs in the very heat of summer. It coincides with the summer
holidays of scholars and students.
During the festive season, it becomes an imperative for South
Africans to visit the beach.
As a small child, I equated Christmas with the salty sea smell
and sunburn, and only later realized that the song “White
Christmas” refers to snow and is not quite the remnant of
Apartheid South Africa I thought it to be.
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Traditions rule in Irish Yule
By Marese Heffernan in LIMERICK, Ireland
– Imagine having to arrive at the church 45 minutes early to
make sure you get a seat for Mass. The idea is unheard of at any
other time of year, maybe even in any other place, but that’s
Christmas in Ireland.
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Santa in Ermelo, Gelderland, Netherlands
Photo by Caroline Nelissen/youthjournalism.org)
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When Mom's the minister on Christmas
By Luke Pearson in HASTINGS-ON-HUDSON, New York, U.S.A. –
When most people think of Christmas, they automatically think
about Santa Claus, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and presents.
People in our modern era have lost touch with the real meaning
of Christmas. But my family is not like other families during
the Christmas season because my mother is a minister for Grace
Episcopal Church.
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A table motif made from wood shavings and Popsicle sticks in
Olongapo City, Philippines.
(Photo by Eroll Yabut/youthjournalism.org)
Filipinos blend cultures for festive
Christmas
By Eroll Yabut in CASTILLEJOS, Zambales, Philippines –
The Philippines – a country sunken in the ocean of crises,
poverty and controversies; who would ever think something
unexpected hides behind the gloomy shadows of my country’s
image?
Terrorism, political scandals, graft and corruption, economic
catastrophes, and poverty are the present condition of the
Philippines. For the coming holiday season, a bold question
stands before me: What will Christmas in the Philippines be?
To other countries, it may be a yard full of snow, a table full
of food, a tree above a bunch of gifts and a time of happiness
and joy, but what will it be in my own country?
I am truly blessed to have a family with an average financial
condition. Yes, there are hundreds or even thousands of
millionaires in the Philippines, but what about the rest of the
population? Every year the rate of unemployment increases, as
the birth rate also increases, making more mouths to feed, less
jobs for money, and less money for food.
Now it may sound like Christmas in the Philippines is the worst
and gloomiest Christmas in the world. But I’m going to tell you
a freaky fact I know: It’s not! In fact, it may even be the
happiest and most festive around the world.
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Hot drinks and cool crafts
By Katie Grosser in
MESCHEDE, Calle, Germany – There are some traditions you
can’t get around. If you happen to spend part of Advent in
Germany, going to a “Weihnachtsmarkt” is simply a must.
Christmas markets date back to the Middle Ages, but are still
vastly popular in many parts of Europe today.
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Dreaming of a snowy Christmas in the
Netherlands
By Caroline Nelissen in ERMELO, Gelderland,
Netherlands --
I’ve always loved snow, though I must admit it’s much more fun
to watch it from a nicely heated room than to actually plow your
way through it.
Indoctrinated by the perfect Christmas card images of little
wooden houses and pine trees that are heavy with a thick blanket
of blinding white snow, I’ve always thought of snow as something
that makes for the perfect Christmas atmosphere. Every year I
hope it will be a white Christmas, but here in the Netherlands,
romantic Christmas snow more often than not remains a distant
dream.
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