Huanying Santa! A Very Merry Beijing Christmas
0 Comments
Phil Pearson, whose family is from both Japan and the UK explains that like many British families, Christmas is the only time of year when his family goes to church to sing carols.
"In Mexico, Christmas is a really important celebration for family, all my family gathers together, we go to church around ten pm and then we go home and we have all have dinner together," says Luis Euan Itza, a China Representative for Amatar DMC Mexico Travel Service.
One commonality all the families seem to share on Christmas is the inevitable tendency to overindulge with the food.
However, tradition dictates what kind of food to indulge in more than the family's country of residence.
In the United States, the diverse heritage assures that there is not one set Christmas meal. Some families eat roast beef while others prepare Cornish hens or a baked ham.
Mr. David Pimentel's Christmas dinner in America is influenced by his Portuguese father, who prefers seafood and rice paella on Christmas, while local Kro's Nest employee Kara Elise Brouillette's family from Louisiana only serves Cajun food.
Roasted turkey with potatoes is a family tradition that curiously transcends borders and according to many, is a hearty Christmas favorite reaching all the way to Peru and Mexico, the UK, Germany and France, and up to Canada.
However, each country adds its own unique twist to the standard oven basted and baked bird.
The Germans add red cabbage, the Peruvians add apple sauce and the Mexicans add in some spicy chilies and "nopales," a kind of prickly pear cactus.
Still, many French families prelude their turkey or guinea foul by complimenting it with a side of “foie grois,” made from duck or goose liver and sipped with a glass of fizzy champagne.
In Mexico, Mr. Euan Itza says the turkey must be complimented with "romeritos."
"Romeritos are little dumplings stuffed with vegetables and some kind of meat," he explains "they are special because we just make them for Christmas."
Nonetheless, despite all the delectable edibles, foreigners do admit that no family gathering is perfect, and many say that petty disputes or annoyances are inevitable this time of year.
Many say discrepancies arise over board games or cooking responsibilities and the general stress of everyone striving to create the perfect day.
In addition, every family has its own Christmas oddities that can seem comical to other families.
Cindy Pi from Long Island explains that in her family, a professional film crew follows them around the house throughout the day. The video is then made into what Cindy describes as "a really badly edited techno music video" delivered a week after the festivities.
For Olivier Jacques, his family has one crazy winter activity that's a bit out of the ordinary.
"We have one specific tradition, all the guests that are at the party take off their socks and their shoes, and they are asked to go run around the house, barefoot," he cringes "but in Quebec, there's a lot of snow and it's quite cold outside, and if it's a bad year it means close to one meter of snow, it's no fun."
Christmas time can evoke nostalgia and a twinge of sadness for many who feel far from home; so, many foreigners try to recreate the traditions of both their families and their cultures.
The typical Beijing Christmas party includes an excess of food and drinks along with perhaps the added suspense of a "Secret Santa" gift exchange. Names are drawn anonymously in advance and gifts purchased for the unsuspecting recipients.
Many foreigners opt for hosting a meal at home in a "pot luck" fashion in which everyone contributes one dish or brings something to drink.
Naturally, because of cultural diversity in Beijing, it's not unlikely to see the Christmas meal include items like potato salad, nachos, fried rice and curry. Surprisingly, this is all washed down with beer, sake, tequila or perhaps Chilean wine.
Peruvian native Gabriel Villalobos points out that in order to embrace the Christmas spirit, he must have a sweet and fruity Peruvian cake dipped in chocolate sauce, or as they say, "paneton con chocolate," but he will settle for Italian panetone from Carrefour.
Some expats believe that no amount of recreating or substitutes will ever suffice, despite their valiantly festive efforts.
Others like Mr. Pimentel view it as a new experience in China.
"This is going to be my first Christmas away from home, so I'm actually kind of excited about trying to recreate the whole thing, and I figure as long as you have good friends and all the things that make Christmas, you can really have a fun time," he says hopefully.
Eugene Panchenko is also welcoming the change from his standard Christmas at home.
"This year is very special for me, because I spend it in China, in Beijing, so it's going to be really different. I'm going to meet all my friends from different countries and have a really good night out with them."
Regardless of individual cultures or tradition, many expats emphasize that Christmas in China isn't about wreaths or Santa and it's not about what they eat and or where. Simply put, it's about being with the people they care about.
Comments