AMBROSIA Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you will land among the stars.

AMBROSIA EDITORIAL

PECULIAR FACTS YOU DON’T KNOW

ABOUT CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD
Japan:
Christmas is the most bustling time of the year for KFC in Japan with hordes of people frequenting
their restaurants. This is due to the fact that KFC is the food that bears the most striking resemblance
to turkey, which is difficult to lay one’s hands on for Japanese people. In 1947, the campaign
‘Kentucky for Christmas’ was a resounding success with its combo of chicken and wine, which was
remotely similar to their Western expatriates’ Xmas meals and restaurants have been doing a
roaring trade on Christmas since then.

Finland, Austria, Germany:

In Finland, before the advent of the knowledge about the joyful and beneficent St. Nicholas in the
1800s, Santa Claus figure used to represent evil spirits that demand gifts rather than give them.
These figures would scare children instead of being kind like St. Nicholas.
In Austria, St. Nicholas has a demon accomplice called ‘Krampus’, who would capture unruly
children that misbehave and carry them away in his sack.

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AMBROSIA Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you will land among the stars.

In Germany, along side the typical figure in red of St. Nicholas, there will be another figure in black,
Knecht Ruprecht, with filthy beard who will hold a stick in his hand to punish disobedient children.

The Netherlands:
In Dutch tradition, Santa Claus had companions called ‘Zwarte Pieten’ or ‘Black Pete’, blackface
characters with gold earrings and exaggerated lips. Black Pete will log what children have done
throughout the year to determine whether they have been ‘good’ or ‘bad’. However, this tradition has
recently sparked raging controversy. Some extremists believe that Black Pete is racism for his black
appearance. Every Christmas, many people take to the streets to protest against these sidekicks.
The Dutch police took the initiative and went so far as to ban Black Pete costume in their parties.

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AMBROSIA Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you will land among the stars.

Norway:
Norwegian people usually hide their brooms away at Christmas. This is highly understandable as it is
their belief that wicked witches will wander around on Christmas Eve to find ‘vehicles’ to travel on.
You’d better go hide your brooms by now!

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AMBROSIA Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you will land among the stars.

VOCABULARY HIGHLIGHT
1. frequent: to visit a particular place often
2. lay your hands on something: to find or get something
3. expatriate: a person who lives in another country
4. do a roaring trade: to sell something very quickly
5. beneficent: helping people and doing good acts
6. unruly: difficult to control and does not obey rules
7. log: keep a written record of something
8. go so far as to: do something that is extreme; even.

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