PackThePJs' Guide to Christmas Around the World: P

Merry Christmas! Nadolig Llawen! Joyeux Noël! Frohliche Weihnachten! Feliz Navidad!

Ever wondered how other countries celebrate Christmas? In collaboration with travel bloggers around the world, PackThePJs has compiled this A – Z to give a taste of festivities across the globe. Today we are focusing on P – R: Provence in France, Quebec City in Canada, and Rockingham in Western Australia.

P: Provence, France

Although summer is the most popular season, Christmas time is my favourite time to be in Provence. It’s when the Provençal traditions really shine through and the people of Provence come together to celebrate the long-held customs of the region. The Christmas festivities start on December 4^th, St Barbe’s Day, when wheat germ is planted in saucers to predict the coming year’s crop.

What follows is a season of wonderful Christmas markets and displays throughout Provence, each with something unique to offer. In Marseille, you can find the oldest Christmas figurine market, selling santons – small hand painted terracotta nativity scenes – that are unique to Provence.

In the centre of Aix-en-Provence you’ll find a large traditional market selling locally made crafts and delicacies. Many villages throughout the region host their own Christmas markets and festivals also, offering local craftspeople the opportunity to display their wares.

But perhaps the most looked-forward-to festivity is that of les treize desserts (the thirteen desserts). This festive feast is traditionally eaten after midnight mass and represents Jesus and the 12 apostles. The offerings vary but contain dried and candied fruits, pastries, and local specialities such as the Calisson d’Aix.

Thanks to Le Long Weekend

Q: Quebec City, Canada

In Quebec City, Christmas is celebrated with a European influence. Quebec has deep roots that tie historically to religion. Therefore, typically the Quebecois attend Midnight Mass. There’s also a traditional Christmas meal for people in Quebec called “ragoût aux pattes de cochons” which – if you know French – is made from pig’s feet!

Quebec (and Canada, for that matter) is known for its maple syrup. In Quebec City, you’ll enjoy a sweet and unique treat! The syrup is heated up and then poured onto a bed of clean snow. As the syrup hardens, it cools into a sugary toffee that you roll up onto a wooden stick and eat on the go! Think of it as a maple syrup lollipop. In Quebec City, there’s ice skating at place D’Youville, ice sledding, and general wanderlust in the Old Town.

P - R

You can walk the European-aged stone streets like Petit-Champlain and enjoy the shop fronts all decorated in lights and snow. Of course, you can’t forget the Christmas Markets – a Francophone take of the German tradition!

Thanks to Penguin and Pia

R: Rockingham, Western Australia

As Christmas in Australia is in Summer our celebrations are focused around family, being outside and enjoying the weather. Here in Rockingham, Western Australia, we never seem to get a sleep in as the kids are awake once the sun is up at 5am; first up is opening presents, then we all head to the beach for breakfast at the beach, ‘Legge McMuffins” (my husband’s speciality, an English muffin with egg, bacon and cheese cooked on the BBQ), followed by a swim.

We then head home to chill for a few hours until lunch. Unlike the Northern Hemisphere, most Aussies do not do much cooking on the day. Our meal revolves around salads, cold meat (normally ham and chicken) and seafood enjoyed outside, followed by deserts of pavlova (a meringue type cake covered in cream and fruit), and trifle (cake, fruit, jelly, custard and cream).