Dear Christmas,
I’ve always known you, and you usually look the same. But this year, you look so different. Despite some similarities, I barely recognise you!
In England, you show your face earlier and earlier each year. You can be seen in every single shop window with your twinkling lights and fancy displays. You are on people’s minds for months before you happen, and you pop into every conversation. People anticipate your arrival, and prepare in every way possible.
In Chile, you seem shyer. I have seen you around but I have to look harder to find you. Father Christmas dresses up ready for your arrival, but he seems hot and uncomfortable waiting for you. I’ve seen you in huge trees in every shopping centre, you look different against a blue sky. People are talking about you, but not as much as in England.
In England, you happen in the cold. You bring so much cosiness and happiness during a long winter, and everyone forgets the short days because of all the sparkling lights that Christmas decorations bring. They snuggle up on the sofa with an extra thick pair of socks, a fleecy blanket and a huge box of Christmas chocolates, watching Christmas films as the fire roars beside them. They wander to Christmas markets and warm themselves with the sweet and spiced warmth of mulled wine and mince pies.
In Chile, you happen in the summer. You are an extra thing to love about the warmest time of the year. People celebrate you by jumping in a pool, wearing sunglasses and pretty dresses. The most luxurious flavours of ice-cream are eaten as people wait for your arrival as cocktails and cold beers are sipped to cool down.
But Christmas, even though you look so different, I realise that inside you are the same. You are about loved ones coming together, about cooking and eating together, about taking time to rest, laugh, chat and enjoy. Christmas, you are great! ❤
What will your Christmas look like this year?
Marcella xx
Linking up with… Emma, Kelly, Rebecca and Ayla for #TravelLinkup
WhatAWonderfulWorld 
Christmas in Malaysia is also warm & humid – tropical weather – we may or may not have rain, it depends. But yeah, it’s nice to have a real winter Christmas 🙂
It’s great to experience different types of Christmas! I hope you don’t get too much rain 🙂
Im going to spend Christmas in England this year, can’t wait to experience it.
Enjoy!! Hope you have a great Christmas in England!
I still can’t get used to Christmas in the summer, it just doesn’t feel right!
For me, it doesn’t feel like Christmas, it feels like a fun summer get-to-gether. But equally, Chileans can’t imagine a Christmas in the cold!
A very different Christmas:) I can’t imagine going to the beach for Christmas:)
We are actually going on a beach trip a few days before Christmas, but it won’t feel like Christmas to me!
🙂
I can’t imagine Christmas in the middle of summer. I’m spending Christmas at home, as every year. And, as every year, I’m hoping for snow. Cause it’s even more magical then.
Hope you get some snow! Then it really is a winter wonderland 🙂
Cute post! I hope you enjoy a hot Christmas for a change – I’m sure it will be great with your family there 🙂
Indeed! It’s going to feel like one big party 🙂
I can imagine how different Christmas time in Chile must be like! I mean London is the ultimate Christmas destination for me but Chile with the hot weather… can’t really get into a festive mood without snow and the cold 😉
It’ll be a big party this year with lots of our wedding guests, and then our wedding, but I’m not sure how Christmassy it’ll feel!
What a cute way to phrase what Christmas is all about! I’d love a beach Christmas though since I’ve never had one.
Thank you 🙂 I think a beach Christmas would be fun, I’ve never had one either!
This is so beautiful! I agree, Christmas outside of Europe is SO different. Hope you still have the best of times. Have a merry one!
Thanks Isabel! It’s always fun to get to experience Christmas in a different place 🙂
Christmas certainly is different on the other side of the world.
It really is!!
Totally agree – friends and family and time with loved ones. Happy to have the fortnight around Christmas stretching out in just that way
That’s what Christmas is all about 😀
Those pictures are so beautiful! I love the Christmas vibes they spread 🙂 xx Carmen
http://www.carmitive.com
Thank you!! 🙂 Christmas is such a fun and happy time, I agree!
I hope you find more glimpses of traditional Christmas as the month goes on :))
Lovely photos!
Thanks Cynthia! Christmas just isn’t as big in Chile as in England, I think partly because it’s summer so maybe there isn’t so much of a need to use Christmas as a comfort through the cold winter months. On the other hand, Chileans party very hard for their independence day in September, where celebrations last about a week!!
After spending Christmas in Australia last year we are looking forward to a nice cold one with the parents in the uk. Lovely post marcella thanks
Amazing! Have a great one 🙂
You too…
OH I love how you wrote this, it’s beautiful! I always wondered how Christmas was in countries where it’s summer in December… Hope you have a lovely season 🙂
Thanks so much Sarah! I hope you have great holidays too 🙂
My Christmas will be warm-ish- Phoenix, Arizona to see my sister and her kids. I’ll be wearing jeans but there will be no chance of snow which does make me a little sad. Have a great Christmas season!
Ah, have a great time! I spent one Christmas in Arizona as I had family living there. It was funny as they were all complaining that it was cold, meanwhile we found it pretty warm!
Two *completely* different worlds impossible to pick a favourite!
Definitely! Both are magical in a different way 🙂
Such a beautiful description of an English Christmas! So lovely and magical 🙂
Thanks Charley! Glad you enjoyed it. I always feel like Christmas really is a magical time 🙂
Ahhh this is such a cute post 🙂 Hope you have a lovely Christmas xxx
crossinglemons.com
Thanks Sam! Hope you have a really great Christmas too!! 🙂
Ah this is lovely 🙂 We had Christmas in India a couple of years ago and it was just so strange! I do prefer the Christmases at home in London but it’s still fun to experience something different at least once. At least you have your family there to celebrate with you 🙂
Thank you Ayla! I can imagine an Indian Christmas must have been very difficult, especially as lots of the population don’t celebrate Christmas! Nothing beats a London Christmas, does it?!
This post is soo lovely! I prefer my Christmas white and cold, but hope that you’ll enjoy yours in Chile 🙂
Thank you, Barb! Hope you have a really wonderful Christmas too! 🙂
This is so great! I love the way you have compared the two. My favourite is still a hot xmas! How can you resist swimming and cold beers on xmas day? x
Thank you!! 🙂 It’s so fun to hear about everyone’s preference for a hot or cold Christmas!
This is the cutest post! I had my first warm Christmas last year in Cambodia and it felt so weird (though to be honest, it’s not like that Southern California really gets that cold either). I was surprised that the Cambodian culture do celebrate Christmas, though not to the same degree. It’s looking quite festive here this year in Taipei already. A lot of places have twinkly lights, trees, or Christmas music. I’m looking forward to seeing how they celebrate it here!
How fun! I wouldn’t expect Cambodians to celebrate Christmas either! Ohh, definitely looking forward to hear about how it is celebrated in Taipei! 🙂
The contrast between a winter and summer christmas is so different…for me Christmas is always in the sunshine.
Have a great christmas
x
Around the World in 80 Pairs of Shoes
It’s so fun to hear about everybody’s different Christmas! Hope you have a lovely one 🙂
Aw a wonderful post! Beautifully written 🙂
Aww, thank you Camila!!
This is so true! Having spent my whole life having christmas in cold england, I ventured to bali last year and although it was lovely to experience it in a new sunny environment, it couldn’t escape the feeling that it just didn’t feel like christmas!
Great post!
Thanks! I definitely agree that a hot Christmas doesn’t feel like Christmas for me, but of course there are lots of great points for a hot Christmas too!! “)