Christmas is celebrated by more than 160 countries but each one has its own traditions and unique festivities. Here are five places which enjoy the most wonderful time of the year in style.
Germany
The tradition of the Christmas tree originated in Germany, so it’s no surprise that this is one of the best countries to celebrate the holiday. The main event is actually Christmas Eve where all presents are exchanged. The country is also famed for its Christmas Markets which run during the month of December with stalls selling decorations, hand crafted gifts and a selection of tasty treats and drinks. If you’re visiting, be sure to try stollen, a popular fruit bread, which is smothered with an indulgent layer of marzipan.
South Korea
South Korea’s capital city, Seoul, offers an authentic Asian Christmas with dazzling light displays and decorated trees on every street corner. With its chilly climate at this time of year, there’s even the possibility of snow. Many of the locals celebrate throughout the month of December with endless parties and events to attend. There’s also a great Christmas market in the neighborhood of Sinchon where you can find unique gifs for your friends and family.
Australia
You won’t find much snow here but you can be guaranteed an enjoyable and once in a lifetime experience. The period coincides with the school summer holidays but that doesn’t stop the Australians from getting in the festive spirit. From Christmas gift wrapping to carol singing and twinkling light displays, it’s a traditional celebration that doesn’t hold back. On the big day and Boxing Day, many people visit the beach and trade in the traditional turkey dinner for a seafood feast.
Jamaica
Christmas is a very popular celebration on this Caribbean Island where family and friends come together to laugh, exchange gifts and drink far too much rum punch. A Christmas Day Breakfast is customary which often includes salt fish, fried plantains and boiled bananas. The evening meal often features curried goat, chicken, rice and peas. Another festive staple is the Jamaican red wine and rum fruitcake which is both boozy and delicious.
Japan
This holiday isn’t celebrated in a religious sense but remains a commercial spectacle with traditions taken from the west. Nonetheless, it’s a great time of year to visit the country, especially for a romantic getaway. Christmas Eve is Japan’s answer to Valentine’s day, where couples walk hand-in-hand and enjoy an intimate meal. On Christmas Day, a recent and unique trend has become very popular. Many families eat fried chicken from KFC, having to order days in advance to secure their Christmas bucket.
We all love spending Christmas at home but it may be worth trying something unique and taking a festive holiday. Tesco could help. It’s a great chance to enjoy a new culture and likely to be an unforgettable experience.
Kylie Jenner continued to flaunt her privileged lifestyle by posting Instagram snaps of the two expensive-looking Céline luggage-mini purses she received under the Kardashian Christmas tree.
The 15-year-old reality starlet was clearly enamored, tweeting two shots of the black purse and a smaller grey-and-brown handbag from the French luxury house, which retail upwards of $3,000.
“So Mean Céline,” Kylie Jenner wrote to her 3.2 million followers.
And she wasn’t the only one – 17-year-old Kendall Jenner also received designer goods from her half-sister Khloe Kardashian, who gifted the towering teen with $1,200 “Fifi” spiked patent leather Louboutins.
Kendall Jenner once famously received a $90,000 Range Rover for her sweet 16.
Kylie Jenner continued to flaunt her privileged lifestyle by posting Instagram snaps of the two expensive-looking Céline luggage-mini purses she received under the Kardashian Christmas tree
Both Jenner girls made sure to post their season greetings to their massive fanbase on their official site.
“Merry Christmas and happy holidays! Thank you all for being such amazing, supportive fans! We hope you’re spending the day with loved ones and family! Much love from us to you! Xoxoxo.”
Kylie and Kendall Jenner, who used to be Sierra Canyon School cheerleaders, even donned matching white Alexander McQueen dresses for their Christmas Eve festivities with the family.
Kylie Jenner was feeling particularly snap-happy as she celebrated, capturing moments with brothers Brody and Rob, sisters Khloe and Kourtney, their partners Lamar Odom and Scott Disick, and nephew Mason and niece Penelope.
While most Americans are preparing to break bread and offer thanks for their bountiful blessings on Thanksgiving, some are already looking ahead to what presents will sit beneath the Christmas Tree and forgoing a traditional feast in lieu of saving a place in line for Black Friday.
The start of the Christmas shopping season will kick off on November 23, the day after Thanksgiving, and eager customers have already begun camping out at their favorite retail stores to save a place so they can rush in to nab their discounted deals.
Tony Avitar, an Ohio father-of-five, has set up shop outside a Best Buy in Cuyahoga Falls. He pitched his tent on Thursday to become the first in line for what promises to be a shopping extravaganza next week.
He has camped out for the past nine years, before the busy shopping day, and his family will join him at his tent on Thanksgiving Day for a family meal, which has become a tradition.
“When you have five kids and you have limited income what you want to be able to do is – is want to be able to provide for them and get them decent Christmas presents,” he told WJW-TV about his motivation for coming out so early.
Though most of his time is spent inside the tent, he does venture into the electronic shop to scope out the options.
“Every year, I save at least a thousand dollars. I think this year the good sales are a 40-inch Toshiba flat screen that’s normally about $500 bucks, it’s $179. Also laptops. Anyone who can’t afford a laptop, I think there’s one for $180 bucks,” he said.
Tony Avitar’s friends and family help out and take turns staying in the tent so he can shower and get food.
But even his friend, Summer Morgan, told the local news station that he might be taking his bargain hunting just a tad too far.
“I understand the concept of saving money, but going out a week ahead is a little crazy,” she said. Other shoppers chimed in to agree, also calling it crazy.
But another local resident was inspired by the thrifty dad and a day after Tony Avitar’s tent appeared, another tent joined the queue on Friday.
Eager bargain hunters camp out for Black Friday more than a week before the Christmas shopping extravaganza kicks off
The store manager, Nick Dolansky, expressed his excitement at the scene and said the campers help kick off the season.
“It’s always great to see the passionate customers every year who are camping out, making the effort. It’s a tradition in itself,” he said.
Across the country in El Cajon, California – a pair of shoppers hoping to nab some steep discounts started a line outside a Best Buy on Thursday… but their hopes were soon dashed.
The two ladies, Rhiannon Buckingham and Alicia Gomez, were kicked off the property by mall security, who told them to go home and to return on Thanksgiving.
Rhiannon Buckingham and Alicia Gomez sat in lawn chairs and had packed a full bin of food in preparation for the wait.
“They said, <<You guys can’t stay here. You guys look homeless>>,” Rhiannon Buckingham told KGTV about what she was allegedly told by the security guards.
“I mean, I may be trailer trash but I’m not homeless,” she quipped.
Despite the frosty welcome from security and the jeers from other shoppers, Buckingham insisted that she is only doing what it takes to secure a decent place in line.
“Last year, I came on Tuesday and I was 17th in line,” she said.
“They only had 15 TVs,” she added about the disappointment she experienced.
Undeterred, Rhiannon Buckingham has moved to another Best Buy location in La Mesa, where she expects to save more than $2,000 when she purchases four TVs, a BluRay player and some earphones.
She arrived on Friday and soon another eager shopper, Jason Faust, joined her in line.
“I’ve got nothing else better to do,” he told the local news.
Down in Miami, local news reporter Betty Yu tweeted yet another photo of campers outside a Best Buy.
“Can you believe these guys are already camping out for #blackfriday? Guy took vacation to do this!” she tweeted.
Black Friday, the busiest day of the shopping year since 2005, marks the start of the Christmas shopping season.
Stores typically offer heavy discounts and open their doors in the wee hours of the morning to accommodate the massive demand.
The name indicates the day when retailers start to enjoy a profit or “are in the black” as hordes of customers rush in to nab gifts for the holidays.
It has become a cause for concern though, with violence breaking out and even deaths occurring from stampedes as some customers compete with other shoppers.
In response, heavy security has been set up to monitor the opening of stores and many customers are choosing instead to shop online.
Cyber Monday now indicates the Monday after the Thanksgiving holiday when employees return to work and shop online – on the company’s time.
The paradox of the Kardashians popularity is that their wild, lavish lifestyle juxtaposed with their simple everyday family dynamic.
Kasa Kardashian tweeted a tale of no expense spared decorations and simple family moments.
Yesterday Kylie Jenner, 14, published a picture to her account which warmed the cockles in a way with a touch that big sister Kim Kardashian finds elusive.
Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian, 31, whose middle name is Christmas (Noel) was more impressed by shiny baubles than family groupings.
To those who questioned Kim Kardashian’s decision to keep that $2 million engagement ring from Kris Humphries, this will come as no surprise, of course.
Kim Kardashian posted a picture of Kris Jenner’s luxury ornament bedecked tree today, which looked very expensive and very neutral – like all the Kardashian homes.
Kris Jenner’s staircase was trimmed with black, to tie in with the monochrome theme, and was therefore eerily reminiscent of Kim Kardashian’s wedding.
Kim Kardashian posted a picture of Kris Jenner's luxury ornament bedecked tree today, which looked very expensive and very neutral
But it didn’t trouble Kim Kardashian with bad memories as she wrote: “How pretty is my mom’s Christmas tree!”
Meanwhile, Khloe Kardashian revealed that some of the family sat down and watched Jim Carrey in How The Grinch Stole Christmas.
Kim Kardashian got busier with her account later in the day, presumably after eating with her family, and tweeted festive greetings to friends.
She always talks about how she isn’t a big drinker, but it’s possible that today was an exception because she sent a message to Barbie, the Mattel doll.
Kim Kardashian wrote: “Merry Christmas Barbs @BarbieStyle! Long time no see! What did Ken get you for Christmas? Miss you doll!”
