Australia
I’ve spend the holidays in several countries over the years including India, Thailand, Australia, Mexico, South Africa, England, the Netherlands, Israel, France and a few places I’m sure I’m forgetting. Celebrations obviously differ even when you’re celebrating within the same culture or religion. Jewish friends in New York buy a Hannukah bush, others don’t honor it at all. If you’ve grown up in New England or northern Europe, snow often comes with Christmas and it becomes an association for you. If you live in Australia or Africa, chances are you’ve never had a white christmas. Brazilians have a tradition of creating a nativity scene or Presepio, whose origins come from the Hebrew word “presepium” which means the bed of straw upon which Jesus first slept in Bethlehem.
