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Monday December 24, 10:47 PMExpatriate communities help to keep unique traditions aliveSINGAPORE : They may be far from home but when it comes to Christmas celebrations, some expatriate communities here still manage to hold on to their unique traditions.Our news team joins an Austrian and a Brazilian family to find out their special ways to usher in the yuletide season. Austrian Henry Laimer and his family have a special song which they sing every Christmas eve and that has not changed, even when they moved to Singapore 10 years ago. Another practice they still keep is lighting a candle on the Sunday before December 25th. What is also unique at the Laimers' house is that the Christmas tree is put up only on Christmas eve. Christine Laimer said: "We only have it from the 24th for a period of two weeks until the 6th of January. That's usually the day when everybody packs and gives it away. We believe that the Christmas Angel delivers the tree with the presents for the kids, and then we sing songs in front of the tree." This is because instead of Santa, Austrians believe in the Christmas Angel. For 5-year-old Mercedes, she gets something special - an Austrian Christmas calendar known as the Advent Calendar. It counts down to the 24th of December and each of 24 windows has a chocolate treat hidden behind. And when it comes to food, Austrians have their own preferences for Christmas. Henry said: "We don't take turkey. We like goose or some of the Austrians also want to have pork, so pork belly roasted or something like that." The Brazilians too have a different Christmas spread. The dinner table will not be complete without desserts such as the "Rabanada". This is bread dipped in milk and eggs and then fried, and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. Another must-have on the Brazilian Christmas menu is papaya soup. What's common in both cultures is that Christmas is still very much a quiet family affair. But as Brazilians are known for being fun-loving, they reserve the revelry till a few days after Christmas. Paulo Alberto da Silveira Soares, Brazilian Ambassador to Singapore, said: "It is more than 5 days later on 31st of December when they have a huge New Year's Eve in the beach. They can gather at Copacabana beach, around 2 million people, or half the population of Singapore. Can you imagine all two million dressed in white?" The different colours may reflect different strokes for different folks but most agree that Christmas is about celebrating the spirit of togetherness. - CNA/ch |
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