As traditions and family gatherings vary on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, people living in England and France enjoy authentic holiday experiences that are somewhat different from their American counterparts.
For South Wales resident Daniel Lewis, traditional English food is what helps him get into the holiday spirit.
“Yorkshire pudding is a family favorite every year, a famous English dish that we make both sweet and savory,” Lewis said.
Along with comfort food and sweet treats, being able to visit and invite family can open up a special place in the heart for many.
“We always have a big family affair, all of our extended family comes over to our house and we celebrate with a huge meal,” Lewis said. “We will also travel down to London and visit the markets for some gift shopping before Christmas.”
Once the big day rolls around, many different lovable aspects of the holiday can seem to twirl around the minds of children throughout the day.
For South Wales resident Ben Lewis, opening presents is not the only thing that excites him on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
“I enjoy opening presents but more importantly I love to visit the markets with my family and I enjoy skating on the ice rinks,” Lewis said. “Anything to make my mum nervous around the holidays.”
According to London resident Victoria Akins, the major difference between Christmas in America and London are the decorations that people assemble each year.
“In London or cities surrounding you can see more traditional German decorations or more solid statues,” Akins said. “While I was in New York, I saw more blow-ups and a lot of bright lights blinding me in every direction.”
Aside from bright lights and huge decorations, Akins enjoys spending time at the pub with her family, as she sees it as a way to “unwind and get ready and excited for the new holiday and new year.”
Holiday traditions can have many different meanings depending on the time and location.
For Nanterre resident Marie Leforte, visiting [Paris] the “City of Love” is a must see for her every year.
“I’ve always enjoyed visiting the cute little markets near the Eiffel Tower every year, so much traditional street food and beautiful sculptures,” Leforte said. “The Eiffel at night is incredible. Seeing all the sparkles and lights shine on a clear night is such a pretty sight.”
Along with visiting the world-famous Eiffel Tower, midnight mass has become a big tradition in Leforte’s family for years.
“After our late night meal, me and my family all go to one of the big churches nearby, either Notre Dame or the Saint-Sulpice,” Leforte said. “Midnight mass is very special to us and we feel it is important that we participate in it every year.”
Along with festive markets and visiting churches, the food sites in France during the holidays can also get people into the spirit.
“Le Reveillon is our festive meal that includes many traditional dishes like escargots and a roasted bird,” Paris resident Juleson Kingsley said. “We end with a Buche de Noel, a cake log that symbolizes the old and well-known tradition of a burning yule log.”