Christmas around the world.

Sorry to say I don't have much inspiration today, but I do want to wish you all a happy Christmas. So I will start by doing that in several different languages. On this website you can even hear how some are pronounced. As a third culture kid I grew up multilingual and I still enjoy hearing different languages being spoken around me.

• Prettige kerstdagen en een gelukkig nieuw jaar (that's in Dutch)
• Merry Christmas and a happy new year
• Noflike Krystdagen en folle lok en seine (Frisian, the language spoken in the North of the Netherlands. It's the language my grandparents spoke). It's my "father tongue".
• Joyeaux Noël et bonne année (French, the language I learned at school)
• Feliz Natal! Feliz Ano Novo! (Portuguese, the language my parents learned when they had passed the age of 50 years and were preparing to work in Angola).
• Hyvää joulua ja onnellista uutta vuotta (Finnish, just because the words look nice).
• Glædelig jul og godt nytår (Danish, it sounds nice) .

 Here is some interesting information about Christmas around the world: 

1. Did you know that the expats in Africa are most likely to make a call home at Christmas?
2. Want to read more about what Christmas looks like for third culture kids? Read Libby Stephens' post called: Christmas TCK style.
3. Did you know that: Christmas Day is just an ordinary day for most Chinese people. Sarah Crack is a teacher in Tianjin, China tells about it on the Telegraph website.
4. Want to know how Christmas is celebrated here in the Netherlands? Read about it on The Expatica website. 
5. For Dutch kids Sinterklaas is associated with getting presents. Read all about Sinterklaas on a previous blog post of mine.  
6. Do you want to see a fresh telling of the first Christmas (done by children)? Go over to the Third Culture Kids & company website. Enjoy.

Well as a third culture kid we celebrated Christmas many times in Malawi and Zimbabwe. My memories of those times are a mixture of English carol singing, church, pot luck meals (yummy! trifles and more), new made friends, swimming, eating, making music and of course a Christmas tree. Even though there was never snow!

• What are your Christmas memories? If you can say happy Christmas in an additional language please add it in the comments. Thanks.

Twitter update: week 49. All about third culture kids

 Having a Baby Abroad - Global Differences Series: QATAR http://is.gd/59kGNC

New book coming up: Third culture kids & Global effects on Business Sustainability.
http://bit.ly/shRSDE

How Third Culture Kid’s Natural Cross Cultural Vision Can Power International Business Expansion http://bit.ly/vDTWhB 

Christmas traditions that just didn't happen. http://awe.sm/5bPbS

Immigration and Language: http://owl.li/7TLgV 

Debora talks more about moving back to Switzerland as a TCK. Adjustments. Difficulties. http://bit.ly/tnPGCV

Many #expat children are 'third culture kids' find out what this means and the challenges expat parents can face  http://bit.ly/u2injw

A recovering third culture kid tells of fond memories of a "Displaced Christmas" in #Japan #Brussels #Philippines http://bit.ly/vtPMwG

#TCK Writer Pico Iyer describes himself as "a global village on 2 legs" Check out this interview: ow.ly/7NKC0

So true and funny too! Read this: Top 10 Third Culture Kid Quirks http://bit.ly/uK26CA

Gijs woont nu in #Spanje: een interview met een third culture kid http://bit.ly/uUAvQa bij Wereldkids.

Want to read more? Here's my Twitter update week 43 all about kids growing up in other cultures.
Here you can find Great third culture kid information on the web.

Please add your links if you have an interesting blog or know of a good blog or website. Thanks!