CONVERGENCE NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2016

Travel
UNITED STATES
Apart from the classic milk and
cookies for Santa, Americans have
also created a boozy Christmas
tradition called ‘The Running of
Santas’. Each event sees scores of
people dressed as Santa taking part
in a large bar crawl while towns and
cities often decorated the streets with
lights to celebrate Christmas. One of
the most famous Christmas street
lights in the US are at the Rockerfeller
Center in New York where there is a
huge Christmas tree with a public ice
skating rink in front of it for Christmas
and the New Year.
On the THIRD DAY of Christmas my
true love sent to me,
three French hens,
two turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree.
JAPAN
Traditional Christmas dinner in Japan
is Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). It is
so popular and marketed that you
would need to make a reservation at
KFC on Christmas Day throughout
the country for a finger lickin’ meal.
Winner winner, chicken dinner! Also,
white Christmas cards are sent to
friends and family. Red cards are
avoided due to its association with
funeral announcements.
On the FIFTH DAY of Christmas my
true love sent to me,
five golden rings,
four calling birds,
three French hens,
two turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree.
BRAZIL
In Brazil, Santa Claus is called Papai
Noel. Favourite holiday foods include
chicken, turkey, ham, pork, rice and
fresh and dried fruits. Sometimes
children leave a sock near a window.
If Papai Noel finds your sock, he’ll
exchange it for a present!
On the SEVENTH DAY of Christmas
my true love sent to me,
seven swans-a-swimming,
six geese-a-laying,
five golden rings,
four calling birds,
three French hens,
two turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree.
INDIA
Christmas may not come across as a
big celebration in the country
because after all, there’s only around
30 million Christians! One of the
largest Indian Christian communities
is in Mumbai while the smallest state,
Goa has a significant population. Goa
has plenty of Western customs due
to its historical connections with
Portugal. Catholics form the majority
on the island with people singing
carols from door to door for about a
week before Christmas. However,
instead of having traditional
Christmas trees, do not be surprised
if you see a decorated banana or
mango tree.
On the FOURTH DAY of Christmas
my true love sent to me,
four calling birds,
three French hens,
two turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree.
NEW ZEALAND
Whether it’s lunch or dinner, New
Zealanders love a good barbeque
meal during the holidays because
it’s more about the sun, sand and
barbeques over a snowy white
Christmas. However, some New
Zealanders celebrate the event
twice, again around the middle
of June (when it is winter in the
country) to get a winter feel of the
celebration. Also, rather than using
the traditional conifer trees, the
Kiwi folks use Pohutukawa trees for
Christmas celebrations. The tree with
its crimson flower has become an
established part of the New Zealand
Christmas tradition.
On the SIXTH DAY of Christmas my
true love sent to me,
six geese-a-laying,
five golden rings,
four calling birds,
three French hens,
two turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree.
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