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Global Citizens

~ a blog for Tourists, Expats and Locals

Global Citizens

Tag Archives: christmas in the southern hemisphere

It’s Christmas eve…

24 Monday Dec 2012

Posted by katti in blog

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

christmas in the southern hemisphere, Why on earth

Its Christmas eve. If you now imagine yourself a dark day, possibly snow outside, cold, the open fire, a huge christmas tree, lights, candles, the whole family  present-including even your mother in law-, and a turkey, then you are mistaken.

Today is probably the hottest day of the year. One website says its 34°C but feels like 48°C. Lets just say its hot. The whole day there was a 80% chance of thunderstorms, but instead we had a steel-blue sky all day. Too hot for turkey, way too sunny for candles and lights, the air conditioning is on and all the windows are closed. And the family? Well they all live at the other side of the world. Its just us. And 2 kids, both with a jet lag. And my brother with his family flying over as we speak, arriving tomorrow, just in time to share Christmas day with us.

A tree doesn’t really fit here, but tell me, where do put the presents when there is no tree? Hmm. Thats a tiny little problem. We all got the Argentine ‘lets-get-our-stuff-last-minute’ germ, my kids left the house at 4pm to buy presents. Why do it in advance if you can do it the same day anyway? I spend the whole day in the kitchen, a supposedly perfect meal is to be served in a few hours.

It is hard to get into a Christmas mood here in the southern hemisphere, but once Christmas is there, there is no way around it.

Buenos Aires is already running empty, in a few days there will be hardly anyone left, except for the many tourists. The extremely loud and busy city is changing into something quite different.  You can easily cross the streets without waiting for the green light, and you get to your destination in no time. Where did all the Porteños go? It is as if they all started a summer sleep, like bears up north do in winter. But thats another topic.

First there is Christmas.

Merry Christmas everyone!!!!

It’s Christmas time…

21 Wednesday Dec 2011

Posted by katti in blog

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Tags

christmas in the southern hemisphere, christmas lights, northern hemisphere, Why on earth

What exactly does Christmas mean to you? Apart from the family get together and the (religious or not) celebrations?

When you live in the northern hemisphere, things are definitely different then here in the south. When I saw the first signs of christmas a few weeks ago my first reaction was, ‘OMG!!! They put Christmas decorations and it’s still summer!’, bit I immediately realised my mistake. Here Christmas is in mid summer. At times (well actually, very often) the difference of season still confuses me.

In Europe, the Christmas period (which in Belgium, officially starts on dec 7, the day after Sinterklaas) is the darkest period of the year. It gets dark even before 5 pm and the sun rises around 8am. Nights are long, days are short, dark and gloomy, so putting on lots of Christmas lights and candles was a great way to chase the darkness away. The decoration made the house extra cosy which made it easier to spend whole weekends inside, escaping from the weather and the darkness.

Here it is so different! The tree looks weird and out of place in the sun lit living room. No need to put on the christmas lights as you barely see them. You hardly spend time inside anyway, unless you have air conditioning…

Right now I am still wondering wether I will put the tree out and Christmas is already next week. Next week?!! But I didn’t buy any present yet! (panic oh panic) But I know I still have time though. I suppose that, just like last year, the shops will be open until late on the 24th, giving extra last-minute-reductions. Causing all the cash machines to be empty though.
Where did this well organised Belgian woman go, who had all her presents ready under the tree about 3 weeks ahead. I wonder!

So to me, being here in Argentina, Christmas is just about the celebration. The family dinner (this year we are having some extra family to join us in celebration), carefully prepared by all of us, as every member of the family has it’s speciality. And of course the presents. Tiny little, and preferably fun presents. Just for the fun of opening them.

And if I want the “real” Christmas atmosphere, I will have to fly up north. But I am not yet that desperate… Christmas in mid-summer is fine to me!

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