Wednesday, 18 December 2024
Wednesday, 18 December 2024
The countdown to Christmas has begun. This is the season of joy, and togetherness, a time when streets light up and homes are filled with festive cheer.
Christmas is celebrated in many unique ways across the globe.
The Telegraph Online spoke to a few Indians living in different parts of the world to know more about the Christmas traditions in their adopted homes.
Rovaniemi, Finland: the home of Santa Claus
Ravi Ranjan, an entrepreneur from Jharkhand, has been celebrating Christmas in Rovaniemi, the official village of Santa Claus in Finland, for the past two years.
“Rovaniemi is a small town situated in Lapland part of Finland. This is the only place in the world where you visit the Santa Clause village and meet Santa Clause and take pictures with him and get your personal Christmas wish,” he said
Finnish families cherish their unique traditions for Christmas.
“In the Nordic countries, the most important Christmas celebration takes place on Christmas Eve,” Ranjan explained.
“Finnish traditions include the Christmas sauna and the preparation of Christmas dinner. The highlight of the evening comes when Santa knocks on the door and asks, ‘Are there any well-behaved children here?’ Naturally, every home contains only good children and they all receive presents,” he said.
“While many countries start decorating trees as soon as December rolls around, Finnish families often wait until Christmas Eve morning. This tradition harks back to times when fresh-cut spruce trees were brought directly from the forest. The act of decorating becomes a shared family activity, with ornaments that are often handmade or passed down through generations. The scent of fresh pine fills the home, adding to the cozy festive atmosphere,” he added.
Cardiff, Wales: nostalgia and community
Yamini Lalotra, 26, a dentist from Jammu who lives in Cardiff, United Kingdom, shared a unique Welsh tradition called Noson Gyflaith, or Toffee Evening.
It is an old Welsh custom where families gather to make "taffy" (toffee) as part of their holiday celebrations.
“This tradition involves boiling sugar, butter, and other ingredients to create sticky toffee, which is then pulled and shaped by hand while everyone enjoys storytelling, singing, and laughter,” Yamini said.
This custom showcases the communal spirit of olden days.
“Another modern tradition in Cardiff is the annual Winter Wonderland event, where the city center transforms with an ice rink, Christmas markets, fairground rides, and festive light displays. The city also holds a Carols for Christmas by Candlelight event in Cardiff Castle, combining the beauty of traditional carols with the magical backdrop of an iconic historic site,” Yamini said.
“I find these traditions heartwarming and reflective of a strong sense of community and cultural heritage. The Noson Gyflaith especially highlights the value of gathering with loved ones to celebrate, which is universal yet uniquely expressed in Wales. The blend of historic and modern elements, like Christmas markets and carols in a castle, adds a magical charm. Christmas celebrations in India, while joyful, are quite different, reflecting the diversity of its culture. In India, Christmas often includes Midnight Mass in churches, decorating homes with colorful stars and lights, preparing special sweets like kalkals and plum cakes, and celebrating with family and friends,” she added.
In France, Christmas is for family
Jhinnan Frank Choudhury, an English professor in Paris who is originally from Kolkata, feels Christmas in France is an intimate, family-focused celebration.
“When I first came to France, the first difference that struck me about Christmas celebrations here is that unlike in India, people here do not spend this time going out, partying or for picnic,” she said.
“This is a time for family. Generally, that is what French people do. Those who live far away from their families, usually go home to celebrate Christmas with them. The religious people go to church for Christmas Mass but that remains very private.
“Families usually cook a traditional meal that people eat sitting at the table all together,” she added. “The main dish is almost always cooked at home, not catered from outside. I made a gingerbread house with my family a few years ago on Christmas Day.”
In Seremban, Malaysia, Christmas is a visual, culinary feast
Michelle Shalani Ramaiah, an entrepreneur working in Malaysia’s Seremban who is originally from Madurai, spoke about the country’s Christmas decorations.
“In Malaysia, malls go all out to create an immersive Christmas experience unlike anything seen in India,” she said.
“While Christmas decorations in Indian malls are often modest, with simple Christmas trees and lights, Malaysian malls transform into dazzling festive hubs. Gigantic, elaborately designed Christmas trees often reach the mall ceilings, adorned with intricate ornaments, ribbons, and twinkling lights. Interactive displays like Santa's workshops, snowy landscapes, and life-sized reindeer are common, allowing visitors to engage and take photos. The attention to detail and scale of the decorations reflect Malaysia's emphasis on making Christmas a shared and visually captivating celebration,” she said.
The culinary scene in the country is equally captivating, blending western favorites with local twists.
“While Indian Christmas menus often focus on traditional dishes like plum cakes, biryani, and homemade sweets, Malaysian festivities offer a global-local fusion. Alongside classic western dishes like roast turkey and log cakes, local delicacies such as spicy beef rendang, satay skewers, and nasi lemak take centrestage. This blend of cuisines adds a distinctly Malaysian flavour to Christmas, making festive meals both familiar and refreshingly different,” she added.
Tokyo, Japan: Where Christmas is about romance
Meghalee Goswami, a senior software engineer from Kolkata working with Apple in Tokyo, described Christmas in Japan as dreamy and romantic.
“In Tokyo, Christmas feels like stepping into a dream. The city sparkles with breathtaking illuminations, from the magical Shibuya Blue Cave to the elegant Roppongi Hills lights,” she said.
“Unlike the West, it’s less about family and more about romance, couples, exchanging gifts, sharing strawberry-topped Christmas cakes, and enjoying candlelit dinners. There’s even a quirky tradition of feasting on KFC, with fried chicken pre-ordered weeks in advance!
“Strolling through festive markets at Yebisu Garden Place or browsing anime-themed Christmas displays, you can’t help but feel the city’s unique blend of western charm and Japanese creativity,” she said
Snowboarding at Japan’s pristine resorts is also quite common in the country
“I personally also love going snowboarding as Christmas approaches,” Meghalee said. “Snowboarding in Japan at Christmas is magical, with perfect powder at resorts like Niseko and Hakuba. Festive lights, cozy lodges, and relaxing hot springs add to the charm, making it a thrilling yet heartwarming way to celebrate the season.”
Toronto, Canada: Christmas lights and parades
Nidhi Nagori, a social media content creator from West Bengal who lives in Toronto, said the highlights of Christmas in Canada are the dazzling light displays and Santa parades.
“In Canada the unique thing about the X-mas season is the different Christmas markets. I personally love watching the lights and participating in Santa parades in different parts of the city. The Christmas markets have special holiday themed restaurants, game centers, shopping outlets, gigantic christmas trees and more,” she said
Families drive around to admire holiday-themed decorations and enjoy Christmas markets.
“There are also multiple santa parades all over Greater Toronto Area where we take our little one and join many other families as we welcome Santa and his brigade into town,” she added
Sydney, Australia: Sun, sand and barbecues
Bikram Roy, an IT professional from Kolkata who lives in Sydney, loves the sunny Australian twist to Christmas.
“Celebrating Christmas in Australia is a unique and lively experience, as it falls right in the heart of summer,” he explained.
“One of the quintessential Aussie traditions is heading to the beaches, where families and friends gather to soak up the sun, swim and relax by the ocean. Outdoor barbecues are a staple of the festivities, with sizzling sausages, fresh seafood, and vibrant salads. To cool off, Aussies enjoy a refreshing "cold one" — often a beer — adding a laid-back charm to the celebrations.
“And of course, no Australian Christmas is complete without the enthusiastic chant of ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi!’ echoing through gatherings, bringing a sense of camaraderie and festive cheer,” he said
“On a large scale, there are retail discounts offered throughout the month leading up to Christmas but the famous Black Friday and Boxing Day sales are worth mentioning. I have seen people queue up outside retail giants from midnight to take advantage of the irresistible shopping deals,” he added.
