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Language:
English
Series:
Part 1 of Disney Parks Advent Calendar Series , Part 39 of The EPCOT Chronicles
Stats:
Published:
2022-12-01
Words:
200
Chapters:
1/1
Comments:
6
Kudos:
5
Hits:
27

Jingle Bells

Summary:

Bill and Sherrie discuss Christmas around the world on December 1st.

Notes:

(See the end of the work for notes.)

Work Text:

After finishing work, which consisted of repeating the same five minutes over and over, Sherrie checked her calendar.

It was December 1st. 

She turned to her friend. ‘Hey, Bill.’

Bill turned to Sherrie from the guy he was talking to. ‘Yeah?’ 

‘You know what today is?’ she asked, not waiting for an answer. ‘December 1st.’ 

‘Christmas,’ said Bill. ‘Man, I still need to do my shopping.’ 

Sherrie chuckled. ‘Me too,’ she said. ‘But you know what?’ 

‘What?’ asked Bill. 

‘We could always go and see the Holidays Around the World,’ Sherrie suggested, ‘the Candlelight Processional. See how they do Christmas in Norway The Julegrøt -‘

‘It’s porridge, Sherri,’ said Bill. ‘They leave porridge out for Santa in Norway.’ 

‘I just thought -‘

‘And in the UK, they call him “Father Christmas”, what’s your point?’ asked Bill. 

‘Don’t be a humbug,’ said Sherri. 

‘I’m not, I -‘ 

‘Despite not being a Christian country, they exchange presents and eat KFC in Japan,’ said Sherri.

‘Yeah, and they have Las Posadas in Mexico, where families recreate the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem,’ said Bill. ‘I’ve seen it a thousand times before.’

Sherri shrugged. ‘How about making it a thousand and one times?’ she asked.  

Notes:

Yes, in Norway, they really do leave out a porridge for Santa called the Julegrøt, it’s left with butter!
Older people in the UK do call him Father Christmas, but I’m almost 30 and have only ever known him as Santa Claus. Even my 64 year old mother has only known him as Santa, so that tradition is very much changing - it may well have done already. If you’re wondering what we leave out, it’s a mince pie, a glass of milk, and a carrot for Rudolph.
In Japan, they exchange presents on Christmas Eve and eat KFC, thanks to a successful campaign by KFC in the 70s. They are a minority Christian country (like 1% of the whole population), but do Christmas anyway. Because it’s fun, I guess.
And in Mexico, they act out the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, for 9 days, starting on the 16th December.
I love learning what other people do for the holidays - it’s interesting.