Here at The Business Creative, we love to create magical moments that stand out as everlasting memories!
Although we’re only halfway through the year, as a creative experience design agency, we started work on Christmas months ago-ho ho.
In order to ignite the magical mindset, we asked a few friends what Christmas means to them:
❝ Relaxed time with loved ones. Putting up the Christmas tree. Fairy lights and lighting candles. Watching a favourite Christmas film at home or at the cinema. Getting together with friends. Being with children and keeping the spirit of Christmas alive ❞
We have some longstanding traditions in the UK, such as kissing under the mistletoe, Christmas pudding, a nap after a plentiful Christmas dinner, pulling crackers, and singing carols on Christmas Eve. Advent calendars are still a popular way to mark the passing of days until Father Christmas arrives!
We thought it would be interesting to take a look at Christmas around the world and see how other countries like to celebrate the festive season.
In Ukraine, children visit relatives and neighbours, sing traditional songs and get treats. It’s usual for people to go to church on Christmas Eve and then enjoy a festive table!
It’s hard to remember a time without the Christmas markets arriving in our UK towns and cities, where people gather to enjoy food and drink and shop for gifts. These markets originated in Germany and date back to medieval times. The Christmas tree tradition also originated in Germany in the 16th century. Unlike in the UK, presents are exchanged on Christmas Eve.
Christmas in Italy is a religious holiday when many Italians set up elaborate nativity scenes in their homes or churches. Traditional foods like sweet bread and nougat are eaten. In some regions, La Befana, a kind witch, brings gifts to children.
In Mexico, the Christmas season is known as Las Posadas, which re-enacts Mary and Joseph’s search for a place to stay. People go from house to house, singing and asking for shelter until they reach their destination. Piñatas are common, and traditional foods are eaten, like tamales and spiced fruit punch.
It’s hard to imagine a warm, sunny Christmas, but in Australia, Christmas falls during the summer season. Many Australians celebrate outdoors with barbecues, beach trips, and picnics. Decorations often include native flowers, and instead of a traditional roast dinner, seafood, cold meats, and pavlova are on the Christmas menu.
Christmas is not a national or religious holiday in Japan but it is celebrated in a unique way. The streets are adorned with Christmas lights and decorations and Kentucky Fried Chicken has become a popular Christmas meal in Japan!
These are just a few examples of how Christmas is celebrated in different parts of the world. It’s fascinating to learn about the unique ways people celebrate and mark this occasion.
If you fancy doing Christmas differently, talk to us. We’d love to get festive with you!
