Around the World
via Snail Mail Pen Pals
At Christmas
by Phil Williams
(Missouri)
* Previously published in
Inky Trail News many years ago!
The holiday season is upon us so I thought you'd be interested in learning how some of my pen pals around the world celebrate one of the most celebrated holidays of the year, Christmas.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Our first visit is to the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania home of my pal Nancy Peihl with husband Mike and daughter Holly Ann. Christmas Eve we go to church for a candle light service with her family. Immediately following, we go to her sister's Marcelle's house and gather with the rest of her family. There we eat dinner, open gifts and enjoy ourselves. Then we come back home so Holly Ann can open her gifts.
On Christmas Day, her father joins us while her mother prepares a Christmas buffet. After we opened our gifts, we finish the day at her parent's home visiting with one another.
Phelham, Alabama We say good by to Nancy and her family and head South where we join my elementary teacher friend, Stephanie Ray of Phelham, Alabama, in her classroom. We find they are having a Christmas party. She provides cupcakes while the children have brought soda, candy, chips and dip. The students have a book exchange of books not over 2.00$. After major partying, playing games and eating, we say good bye to all. I sure had fun and thanks for the cup cakes. They were great!!!
Aquadilla, Puerto Rico Lets go to a small island in the Caribbean and visit my friend Raul Soto Yulfo in Aquadilla, Puerto Rico. Raul like to start early on Thanksgiving Day, a national holiday for Americans. On Thanksgiving, his birthday, Raul said, “I watch the Thanksgiving Day Macey's Parade and my mom makes a wonderful turkey.
The custom here in Puerto Rice is to put the Christmas Tree up on this day. I always put up a nine foot tree and decorate it with more than 400 lights. I put 500 lights outside on the house. I play old fashioned American Christmas songs all day long while decorating the tree and house. “This is Raul's favorite season of the year. By the way, temperatures hover around the 90 to 95 degrees F, or 35 degrees C.
Wales Crossing the Atlantic, we visit Heledd Jones of Dyfed, a small village in West Wales. Heledd said om Christmas Eve, we do out last minute shopping. We go to a pub and celebrate with my family, eight cousins and aunt. After a short night of sleep we get up and go downstairs to open our gifts. Her mum prepared a huge Christmas diner of turkey and all the trimmings. Her grandmother ad aunt arrive for dinner after which we argue about who gets to wash the dishes. I lost as usual.
We watched the Queen give her annual speech, some awful Christmas programs and turn into bed early. Her family tradition is to ,meet all their aunts ad uncles ad cousins on Boxing Day.
Rotterdam, HollandCrossing the Channel we pay my Dutch pal Leona Breevoort of Rotterdam, Holland a visit. On Christmas Eve we stay at her home while her sister, brother-in-law, and Fay, the new baby come over and celebrate. We played games and watched tv. Each person drew names and bought presents for that individual. Her niece Fay didn't have to buy and gifts but she got the most. Sounds like Fay has a great Christmas, Leona.
Marseille, France
It's down to Marseille, France and we visit Daniele and Valerie Gasquet. Daniele tells me that all of the family exchanges gifts. We have big meal which is topped officially with 13 desserts, a tradition in my region. The French pastry sure sounds yummy Daniele but oh so fattening.
Finland Lets grab out parka, mittens and don't forget long underwear as we head North to the Scandinavian country of Finland. There we visit the home of my pen pal, Anneli Turumem who lives with husband Keijo and two small children. While the bitter cold Arctic wind blows snow around their home, we find them warm and comfortable inside as they celebrate the holidays.
Annelie says “ On Christmas Eve Day, the tradition is to remember dead relatives.” Soon after breakfast, we visit the graves of Keijo's mother and father, and Annelies mother, father and sister. They put candles om the graves and decorate them with branches of spruce. On Xmas Eve, after Keijo brings home the Christmas tree, the children help decorate it. For Christmas Dinner, Anneli serves ham and rice porridge or perhaps roast and other delicacies. Sounds wonderful Anneli.
On Christmas Eve, Santa Claus comes and brings presents to the small children. Another tradition is the Christmas sauna. On Christmas Day families attend a Divine service at 7 am, after which they spend the rest of the day by themselves. On Boxing Day, we visit relatives and friends which is themselves Second holiday.
Japan It's on to Japan and we learn what my pal Yumi Kamikawabata says about Christmas. She says, “We also celebrate Christmas in Japan, but the meaning is quite different from that in Western countries.
Christmas is a commercial event rather than religious to me. Department stores have Christmas decorations and hold big bargain sales. Stores are crowded with shoppers buying Christmas presents.” “I've had enough of shopping at this time of year.” Well, Yumi, I know the feeling. We make out way out of the crowded department stores and say good bye to Yumi.
Seoul, Korea Jumping over to Seoul, Korea we catch up with my pal Han Juyoeng, She says, “My favorite day of the year is Christmas even though I am not a Christian. But I like it better, much better than even my birthday.
There's no party, no present and no Christmas tree in my house. But I know how to enjoy myself. Listening to Carols, I think about may things, especially about myself. I watch the spacial programs on TV, and listen to the radio all of which make me excited. All those things are just enough to make me feel happy and hopeful.”
Christmas U.S.A. I arrive home just in time to celebrate Christmas with my wife Linda and two sons, Todd and Brad. We celebrate Christmas because it is the birth of Christ. You read about the Christmas story found in the Bible in Luke, Chapter 2. We put up a tree and decorate the house and usually spend Christmas at the home of one of my relatives.
This year, it will be a special one because I will celebrate it with my Dutch pals, Yvonne and Bart. They will be here on December 18th for three days and I look forward to meeting them.
I hope you have enjoyed reading about a few of my pals celebrate the holidays. Happy Holidays to all of you and hope you have a nice New Year.
