I have many friends around the world and I asked some of them what they thought of Christmas and, if they celebrated, who they did so. This is the third instalment so I thought I would ask some more overseas pals.
Lucy lives in Arizona. Dixie lives in New Jersey. Gracie lives in Massachusetts. Pruny’s mum, Carolina, lives in Argentina.
If you had one chance to see one place in the world at Christmas where would it be?
Lucy: Wherever I am at!
Dixie: Anywhere in the Caribbean, we spent Christmas on Bonaire one year and it was fantastic!
Gracie: Not sure — maybe Finland or the UK.
Carolina: Any place cold with snow and not hot.
You can meet one person at Christmas, who?
Lucy: My mum again.
Dixie: It would have to be my Mom who never stopped believing in Santa for her whole 82 years
Gracie: My mom. She died unexpectedly in 2003, and we weren’t able to be together the Christmas before she passed.
Carolina: Oh my favorite singer or any Twitter pal.
Best thing about Christmas?
Lucy: The decorations.
Dixie: Making people smile simply by wishing them Happy holidays
Gracie: The lights and the feeling of peace. And watching Roscoe and Gracie open presents. Roscoe loves it.
Carolina: Lights, decorations and movies.
Worst thing about it?
Lucy: Grumpy shoppers and drivers.
Dixie: Road rage and parking lot crazies.
Gracie: People. They get so angry so quickly over things that don’t matter.
Carolina: People arguing where to spend the night, what to eat and fireworks.
Sprouts or no sprouts?
Lucy: We don’t do spouts much in the US but fried with bacon they are amazing!
Dixie: I don’t eat them but they were always on the table when I was young.
Gracie: No sprouts however Gracie says yes to sprouts. Roscoe likes to shred sprouts and make a mess then walk away.
Carolina: No sprouts for Christmas here.
One gift you could give to one friend?
Lucy: I wish I could give a friend of mine the gift of forgiveness about her marriage failing, it has been 13 years and she has not moved on.
Dixie: I like to make people laugh (or at least try to) so they can forget their worries if only for an evening.
Gracie: Something handmade.
Carolina: Something special for him/her that surprises him/her but not necessarily expensive.
Something you would like to receive?
Lucy: Magic weight loss
Dixie: Hmmm, that’s really hard, more kindness in the world.
Gracie: I don’t know. I think this year I have everything I need.
Carolina: A ticket for my and my pups to travel.
Best Christmas song?
Lucy: O Holy Night sung by Nat King Cole
Dixie: Mum says Silver Bells (showing my age there)
Gracie: White Christmas
Carolina: All I want for Christmas is you.
Do you think Christmas has lost its meaning?
Lucy: I don’t think Christmas is much about religion anymore. However, I have seen it bring out generosity that lacks during the rest of the year.
Dixie: It hasn’t lost it’s meaning for me so I can’t really say how others feel about it.
Gracie: Not to me it hasn’t. But to the world in general… maybe.
Carolina: Yes, definitely.
Has it been watered down into a purely commercial thing?
Lucy: In general, yes.
Dixie: Yeah for some it is
Gracie: It has definitely gotten more commercial.
Carolina: Sure! Kids only want presents, they don’t know Christmas meaning.
Do you wear reindeer ears at Christmas, or should they stay on the reindeer?
Lucy: I have been known to wear a Santa hat
Dixie: No, but a Santa hat and lots of red, yes.
Gracie: Reindeer need their antlers.
Carolina: Nope, only for pups. (Dexter says bad luck pups.)
New Years Resolution or are they a total waste of time?
Lucy: My resolutions are to recognize when someone needs help and provide it. When we travel and I see people taking pictures of each other individually I step up to take a picture of them. It’s a tiny thing that makes people happy.
Dixie: New Year resolutions are ridiculous unless they lead to a good habit that will make the person happier.
Gracie: Reflections are useful, but resolutions. I’m so horrible at them that for me they are a waste of time.
Carolina: Not waste of time for people who want to make them possible. Personally don’t think about them.
Bring back one thing about Christmas past?
Lucy: They have been all over the place, in the military, as a police officer, with friends and family! Someone has always been kind enough to share.
Dixie: Not sure about bringing back one thing from the past, not really my thing.
Gracie: Family who have all passed away.
Carolina: A happy Christmas, when I had a bigger family and was fun.
Home Alone or A Christmas Carol?
Lucy: What a Wonderful Life
Dixie: Sorry but it has to be White Christmas with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye.
Gracie: Christmas Carol
Carolina: Christmas Carol
Would you rather have Christmas with friends or with your parents?
Lucy: My parents are passed but Lucy says with everyone, no other dogs, so she gets all the pets and tickles.
Dixie: The more the merrier, friends and family works
Gracie: I wish I could have Christmas with my family.
Carolina: Friends. Too many not very happy Christmas with family.
Do you get turkey shares?
Lucy: Always.
Dixie: Dixie here: No because they have ham at Christmas
Gracie: White meat turkey shares for Roscoe and Gracie! Arrroooo!
Carolina: Not turkey here. Each family eats different things but for sure vitello tonnato and English sandwiches.
Do you think you will have snow at Christmas? Do you like snow at Christmas?
Lucy: No, it will be 60 F. We’ve never had it.
Dixie: We don’t usually have snow for Christmas here, I always had snow when I was young. When I was young I liked it but now that I’m the one driving, I’m just as happy without it
Gracie: I hope so! It doesn’t really feel like Christmas to me if there’s no snow on the ground.
Carolina: We expect 36 °C for that day. I would love snow.
Cluedo or Scrabble? Who wins?
Lucy: We don’t usually play games.
Dixie: We don’t play board games at Christmas. There might be a card game or two going on depending on the crowd, but it all fun so who cares who wins.
Gracie: Scrabble. Don’t know what Cluedo is. I would probably win at Scrabble.
Carolina: Scrabble, my mum wins.
Trivial Pursuit or Monopoly? Who wins?
Lucy: We don’t usually play games.
Dixie: See above.
Gracie: Trivial Pursuit. Mark might win, but I would put up a good fight.
Carolina: Monopoly, I win.
Fairy or a star on top of the Christmas Tree?
Lucy: Neither
Dixie: Always a Star
Gracie: We have a star on currently, but I would like to find a nice angel.
Carolina: Always a star here.
Dexter 