Christmas cheer around the world

Find out how Father Christmas is greeted in Australia, Thailand, Finland, Holland, Malaysia and Singapore.

Christmas has become a multi-cultural phenomenon around the world, celebrated by many, excluding few. Here is how a few places to celebrate this festival.

Warm greetings Down Under
In Australia, Christmas happens in the middle of summer. It is amusing to see that people put up decorations depicting snowy Christmas themes. However, Santa here wears a summer suit and his sleigh is pulled by kangaroos. A traditional Xmas dinner can end up being very heavy in hot summer weather. Lighter options include seafood or cold ham, turkey and salads. One unique and excellent Aussie dessert is pavlova.

In the Arctic
The celebration of Christmas starts early in Finland, with Christmas markets, festive lights in the streets, ‘Pikka joulu’ (little Christmas) parties, and special goodies including the traditional ‘glogi’, a spicy hot mulled wine. Santa Claus is alive and well and living in Finnish Lapland, where workshops are staffed by elves, and sleds and sleighs hauled by reindeer form the local transport. Well, if you want a white Christmas, you’ll most certainly get it here, and it will be an absolutely fantastic trip

Christmas in Singapore
Orchard Road is lighted up with impressive and colourful Christmas lighting displays. All malls look like Christmas presents. Interestingly, Tanglin mall does an amazing, large blow-up Christmas display with a machine spouting “snow”. Locals and tourists love to drench themselves in it.

Fantasea, Thailand
Bangkok’s city centre is lit up with Christmas displays and decorations everywhere. There are more tourists than locals who come here, particularly for the shopping, as Bangkok is absolutely full of shopping malls. You can count fourteen malls on just one street! The local Vegas-styled show in Phuket, Fantasea, hosts a special event on Christmas eve. The ticket includes an entry into the beautifully decorated, marine-themed park as well as a fantastic buffet dinner with many international and local treats, including turkey! The Fantasea show also sees an excellent performance by dancers in very bling costumes, showcasing the history of Thailand.

Merry Xmas in Malaysia
Malaysia has its own unique style of celebrating Christmas. To add more fun and enjoyment to the festival, on offer is the Malaysia Savings Sale — popularly known as MSS — a much-anticipated shopping event. During the sale period, tourists to Malaysia enjoy privileges and promotions at the malls in and around the Klang valley.

Going Dutch
The Christmas market Fluweelengrot (Velvet Cave) in Valkenburg, southern Netherlands, comes alive from November until Christmas. The spectacular marlstone cave with its magical atmosphere is undoubtedly the most famous christmas market location in the Netherlands. A walking tour of the market will lead you through the romantically lit-up Christmas cave with an 18th century chapel, mural carvings and sculptures.