History Group leader Alison O’Brien gave U3A members a fascinating insight into how people around the world celebrate Christmas.
The December meeting had a special festive feel with sherry and stollen cake on offer before attendees sat down to a double bill of entertainment: a presentation by Alison on “Christmas Around the World” then a film on the “History of Christmas”.
Members came away from the Javea Players Studio much better informed about the origins of Christmas as well as some of the unusual ways inhabitants of other countries celebrate.
Many of the examples of celebrations came from Alison’s own experiences, following her travels around the world with husband John during his life working for a major oil company.
She highlighted some unusual and surprising celebrations from a number of nations including Scandinavia, Iceland, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Ireland, the Ukraine, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the Caribbean.
Did you know that in Japan, a non-Christian country, people mark the occasion by dressing up in traditional Christmas costume and queuing up at KFC to tuck into its fast food? While in Venezuela in South America people roll up at church on roller skates!
Well done Alison for opening our eyes to how Christmas is commemorated by so many nationalities around the world.
