Christmas is just over two weeks away. New Zealand is a busy place at this time of year. School is nearly finished for the year. Most senior high school students have already finished their NCEA exams. Other high school students finish today or tomorrow, primary schools finish next Thursday or Friday. Then students have the long summer holidays before returning to school in the first week of February. In the last few weeks of school, there are picnics, sports days, concerts, socials, prize giving and so on.
Adults also have their end of year celebrations. There are office parties. Most clubs – sports clubs, Bridge or Chess clubs, walking groups, Art clubs – have a Christmas lunch or dinner. Friends get together for parties before Christmas.
At this time of year, adults usually send Christmas cards to old friends, giving them news of their families. People also shop for Christmas presents and when it gets close to Christmas day, they shop for special food for Christmas. This is a very busy time.
The week before Christmas is a good time to buy a Christmas tree. Usually, you can buy a big branch from a pine tree. The children enjoy decorating the tree.
The local council puts up decorations in the street too. There are coloured lights, stars, and angels, and many cities have a tall tree in the centre of the city decorated with lights.
It is true that Christmas is meant to be a Christian religious festival. Some people enjoy carol singing and go to church. However, most people simply enjoy Christmas as a time of year when friends and families get together.
Questions
Do you celebrate Christmas in your country? If so, what are your traditions? If not, what celebrations do you have?