by Géraldine & Carrie (Dec 4, 2004)

All countries in the world celebrate Christmas or another celebration. It depends on religion.
So Christmas is not the same everywhere because not all people have the same culture.

In fact in New Zealand, it's different than in France. Instead of going to the mountains to go sking, they go to the beach under the sun because it's summer !! So they dont' know in reality the most famous man at Christmas : the snowman.

The weather is different because they are in the Southern hemisphere : seasons are inverted. So they eat Christmas dinner outside, on the beach under an umbrella for example... Nice, isn't it ?!

The dinner isn't really different. They mostly eat turkey with some vegetables as potatoes, tomatoes, peas.... and some salad. The desert is different because they eat some fruits as kiwifruit, water melon, or strawsberries... The main desert and the most typical desert is called "Pavalova" in honor of the Russian dancer Pavlova who had toured Australia and New Zealand in the 1930's. 

A cook has invented this sublime cake. It's like the traditional French yule log ("bûche de Noël"). It's a maxi-meringa covered with cream and kiwi. They also eat a lot of chocolate, ice cream and cakes.

We could think that New Zealand's Santa Claus wears a beautiful Hawaian shirt and shorts but he does not !

Even if it doesn't snow at Christmas time, Santa Claus wears the same clothes as in France and all over the world, that is to say a red coat, a red woolly hat, a long beard and a big stomach... He arrives in New Zealand with his sledge but on the beach and not on the snow.

Christmas trees are the same as in France.

 It’s not a palm tree but a pine tree. 

Unlike in France, the people of New Zealand decorate their houses with a lot of lights!

They give presents on the the 25th December, and on the 26th December to poor children without families and presents : this day is called " Boxing day".

The Maoris (natives of New- Zealand) also celebrate Christmas as white people do, even if a long time ago they didn't have the same belief.

To conclude, Christmas is the most celebrated feast in the world but everyone celebrates it differently.

If you wish to react to this article, write to the editor.