I was bitten by the travel bug at the young age of three when my parents took me out of the comfort of my birthplace, Kyiv (Ukraine) and brought me to the Czech Republic. I found my home at the International School of Prague where I spent 13 years of my life traveling and discovering my…
Month: December 2019
Christmas in Vietnam: Confetti & Selfies
Christmas in Vietnam is not as new as you may think. This is because Vietnam used to be part of the French Empire. French influences can be seen all over the country. However, Christmas is the most popular in the capital city Ho Chi Minh or Saigon. Christmas Eve is more important than Christmas Day….
Christmas in China
Christmas in China has gotten big this last decade. Chinese schools, especially those that employ foreigners, enjoy Christmas holidays. All shopping malls, parks and public venues in major cities get as festive as New York City. There are also many events for both Chinese locals and foreigners to attend. I celebrated my first Christmas in…
Christmas in India: Decorated Mango Trees & ‘Christmas Baba’
Christmas in India is unique because 97.2% of the population is not Christian. They also don’t have pine trees, so they decorate banana and mango trees with fairy lights. The one who brings the gifts is Father Christmas, or ‘Christmas Baba’. The city with the most Christmas spirit is Mumbai, because of their larger Christian…
Venezuelan Christmas: Mass on Skates
If you’re been following this blog, I doubt Christmas tradition will surprise you anymore. Venezuelan Christmas isn’t complete without skates. The capital city of Venezuela, Caracas, sees thousands of participants for this festive, fast-paced mass. “Venezuelans are known for their love of fireworks and Christmas is no exception – residents awake to the sound of…
Zero-Waste Christmas 2021
Most modern holidays come with a lot of unnecessary waste. Single use plastic, paper packaging that ends up not decomposing in the landfill and presents that people don’t actually want or need. Having a zero-waste Christmas isn’t as hard as it seems. You can follow some or all of these steps to make a difference….
Mistletoe Kissing comes from Ancient Greece
Kissing under mistletoe is a fun, although sometimes awkward, tradition. Mistletoe is actually a parasitic plant that grows on trees and shrubs all over the world. It has also weaseled it’s way into our hearts and Christmas traditions. In ancient times, it was associated with fertility and considered an aphrodisiac. “The Celtic Druids are among…
Czech Christmas: Carp, Baby Jesus & Prophetic Shoe Throwing
‘Veselé Vánoce’ is how the Czechs say Merry Christmas. Prague is a popular Christmas destination because of their famous Christmas markets. At first glance, it looks like your regular Christmas festivities. But there are a few things that make Czech Christmas unique. Baby Jesus The Czech Republic is one of the most atheist countries in…
Sankta Lucia – Christmas in Sweden
St. Lucia’s Day is also known as the Feast of Saint Lucy or Sankta Lucia in Sweden. It is a Christian feast day that commemorates her sainthood. Her feast day also coincides with the shortest day of the year prior to calendar reforms. Scandinavians celebrate it. “In Scandinavia, where Saint Lucy is called Santa Lucia…
The Best 5 Binoculars For Birdwatching Overseas (Guest Post)
Do you love birding? Nothing sucks the fun out of birdwatching like a bad pair of binoculars. If you want to have the best birdwatching experience, you need the best pair of binoculars. A good pair of binoculars should offer a perfect combination of lightweight construction, adjustability, and features. Because, you will be carrying it…
Syrian Christmas: An Immortal Camel Brings the Gifts
The Santa who brings presents to American children was invented by Coca Cola in 1931. This was a full two years after they removed all traces of cocaine from their soda. Czech children, on the other hand, get presents from baby Jesus. Even though the Czech Republic is the most atheist country in the world….
Christmas Spider: Ukrainian Legend
In some cultures, Christmas is closely tied to things that are spooky. Ukraine is no different, with its tradition of a Christmas spider. Even today it is considered good luck to find a spider in your tree. If you want to enhance your luck, you can get a spider ornament that will bring you a…
The Mysterious Christmas Pickle Tradition in the USA
Christmas Pickles sound like something from Rick and Morty. But I’m not referring to the Pickle Rick episode of the show. I’m talking about the strange tradition where families hang a pickle-shaped ornament on their tree. Why a Pickle? This is where the mystery begins. The Americans point at the Germans. Supposedly Woolworth stores were…
Kentucky Christmas: Japanese Tradition since 1974
Japan is not crazy about Christmas. Or at least it didn’t used to be. Westernization is bringing new holidays to all corners of the world. Bizarrely enough, the mention of winter holidays in Japan doesn’t make them think of Santa. It makes them think of Kentucky Christmas. Kentucky Fried Christmas Chicken is popular all over…
Krampus Brings the Scary Back to Christmas: Austria
Growing up in the Czech Republic, I experienced some of the scarier sides of Christmas. Czech parents often hire actors who come dressed as Mikuláš (St. Nick) and the devil. Their job is to literally scare children into being good. It sounds silly, but when you’re five years old, a chain-bearing devil is pretty darn…
Newport Illuminated Boat Parade: Christmas in RI
The Newport Illuminated Boat Parade of 2019 took place on November 29th. The crowds were huge, the atmosphere was festive and the boats were beautiful! EDIT: Newport Illuminated Boat Parade: A kind person commented on this post and pointed out that I was confusing Newport, RI and Newport Beach in California! So I am rewriting…
Gifting & Reading Books for Christmas – Icelandic Traditions
Books are amazing because they have the unique power to take you on a wild adventure without requiring you to leave the house. They teleport you to worlds that do exist and those that don’t. Nothing is impossible in a book. People in Iceland understand the magic of reading and the holidays. So they combine…
Christmas Lanterns in the Philippines Have a Moving History
When most people think of the Philippines, they picture long stretches of white sand beaches. This is not wrong. The Philippines is one of the world’s most beautiful tropical paradises. However, they also have a long history of going all out for Christmas. Their love for the holiday doesn’t come from Coca Cola’s Santa but…
Gävle Goat, Christmas in Sweden
While Rhode Islanders decorate a termite for Christmas, other cultures have their own quirks and traditions. The town of Gävle [say: yeah-vleh] puts up a giant straw statue of a goat. Then they wait—and sometimes even bet—on whether the goat will make it to Christmas. The reason they worry about the goat is because every year…
Big Blue Bug: Rudolf the Red-Nosed… Termite – Christmas in RI
Move over Rudolf, bring in the Big Blue Bug! Because the residents of Providence favor a giant blue termite decked out in Christmas lights over the boring traditional reindeer. Rhode Island is a quirky little state when it comes to a lot of things. But who could have known that the smallest state with the…
Lobster Pot Christmas Tree: Block Island Tradition
Block Island is a popular summer destination for thousands of American as well as visitors from abroad. It is one of those places that is bustling in the summer and turns into a peaceful town during the colder months. However, it is still a fun place to visit during Christmas! Although the ferry ride to…
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