Around the world, Christmas traditions may vary, but what doesn't change are the fond memories of childhood Christmases spent with family, eating lots of home-cooked holiday favourites, and road trips home.
Three newcomers to Canada share what holidays are like back home and how they try to bring these traditions to their new life on the East Coast.
Glenn Ringer, United Kingdom
- From: Newcastle upon Tyne
- Located: Northwest England
- Regional dialect: Geordie
- Known for: Industrial history
- Now lives: Mira, N.S.
Glenn Ringer, who is originally from the United Kingdom, moved to Cape Breton two years ago with his family after a three-year stint in Norway. His wife, Megan (Capstick) Ringer, grew up on the island and, like many Caper ex-pats before her, wanted to come home.
Christmases in the U.K. aren't much different from the ones in Cape Breton, the aircraft engineer said. Presents are opened on Christmas Day and families gather together to eat a roast turkey supper.
However, there are no stockings hung and there's a lot of food that's not part of the Canadian Christmas menu.
"Like Cape Breton pork pies," said Ringer, who worked for 15 years in the oil and gas sector and currently is employed at Protocase.
"To us, it's minced pork with minced pork belly, with a hot water pastry. I was so bloody disappointed when somebody handed me a Cape Breton pork pie. I said, 'There's no pork in it. Where's the pork?'"
The food he misses from Christmases back home in Newcastle upon Tyne, commonly referred to as Newcastle, includes sweet mince pies, Christmas cake, and Christmas pudding - a steamed dessert made with suet, dark fruit, and brandy poured over the top then lit on fire before eating.
"Christmas pudding is cake based and fruit-heavy," he said. "Sweet mince pies, oh, I love them. We eat those like they're going out of style."
During the holidays, Ringer does get to eat some of his Christmas favourites because his mother-in-law is from the U.K as well and makes them at home.
Lennie Omwenga, Kenya
- From: Eldoret
- Located: Western Kenya
- Languages: English, Swahili
- Known for: Cheese factory, international flower market
- Now lives: Wolfville, N.S.
Lennie Omwenga came to Canada in September 2017 for a postgraduate program in social work.
Before the year was out, Omwenga decided to switch gears and enrolled in the behavioural sciences program at Nova Scotia Community College and has been working as a social worker since graduating. He now lives in Wolfville.
From Eldoret, the fifth-largest and fastest-growing city in Kenya, Omwenga's Christmases involved travelling home to rural areas where family eagerly awaited.
"At the start of December, every kid is home to see (family)," he said. "I miss that a lot. It's something we did since I was a kid. You go home to Grandma, you meet your cousins, you meet your uncles, your aunts. The whole family is there for the celebrations."
Like Canada, they put up Christmas trees, usually cutting them down on Dec. 20 or 21. Gifts are exchanged and given on Christmas morning and there's lots of food to eat.
Instead of turkey, sheep and goats are served, which families slaughter themselves. The meat is roasted and served with rice, vegetables, potatoes, drinks - pop for the children and alcohol for the adults - and cake for dessert.
Omwenga says he misses the trip to Grandma's the most.
"The whole concept of going home, of every other family member coming home to see grandparents, to spend time with family," he said.
"Christmas to New Year's is a time to spend with family in Kenya. And eat lots of meat during this time is also very important."
With no family in Nova Scotia, Omwenga spends Christmas with friends. He met other Kenyans in Halifax a couple of years ago and they got together to make food from their home country to bring a bit of Africa to their Canadian Christmas.
Tahlil Akter, Bangladesh
- From: Dacca (Dhaka)
- Located: South-central Bangladesh
- Language: Bengali
- Known for: Cycle-rickshaws, art festivals
- Now lives: Halifax, N.S.
Tahil Akter is a Cape Breton University student who moved to Cape Breton in 2018 to study supply chain management. Now in his final year, he moved to Halifax in September after his wife moved from Dacca.
Although Bangladeshi's are primarily Muslim, like Akter, it's still a public holiday they celebrate with family.
"We get together with our family and we go for a long drive out of the city, we roam around and enjoy things," he said.
"Christmas is not our festival but now it's becoming a festival for everyone in Bangladesh."
Afterward, Akter said they would enjoy a meal together but nothing too fancy and nothing like what they would for Eid al-Adha, also called Eid al-Fitr.
For a month before, Muslims celebrate Ramadan by fasting during daylight hours. Eid is the festival that breaks the fast.
Families go home, said Akter, and the anticipation for Eid builds through the month, something Akter misses.
"People are so excited to go home and see their families. There are family members back in the villages, waiting for their fathers, who are working in the cities to bring presents," he said.
"There's no work, just having fun and eating until your body bursts in the belly."
During Eid, animals are slaughtered in sacrifice to Allah. Cut in thirds, one third goes to people living in poverty, one to friends and relatives, and the last the family eats.
They also have fish, rice and vegetables and special desserts, like a rice pudding made with rose water.
"The food smells so good and tastes so good. From house to house the (food) items will vary," Akter said.
"On that day, everyone can visit, no one will turn you away. Every door is open and when you come, you are given a drink and something to eat."
While living in Cape Breton, Akter has made friends with other Bangladeshis attending Cape Breton University and they got together to celebrate holidays. Akter hopes he and his wife will be able to connect with the Bangledeshi community in Halifax to celebrate Eid together after the COVID-19 pandemic measures are lifted.
