On the Eve of distraction

And something to take your mind off last-minute Christmas Day prep and all-night garage shopping.

Just start early and even make Christmas Eve your day of celebration.

Like the Danes.

Probably the best Christmas Eve

And it’s all about the Danish hygge (our craic) at the Julefrokost.

Which is a meal my Scandi friends reliably inform me can last all day and night.

You’re talking duck and pork though which is tastier than dry old turkey.

With Glogg, hot spiced wine with raisins and almonds, the drink du jour

While Christmas Eve is when the pressies are given out.

G’Deve

And a White Christmas is all well and fine but a white-sand beach is even better.

Those lucky Australians celebrate their Christmas Eves not with rich meaty food but with seafood.

Throw another prawn on the barbie, mate.

And in another doff to stereotypes they obviously have pavlova for dessert.

Maple syrup on that

Eh? As they say in Canada land but don’t because it’s natural for them to open their pressies after Mass.

But the best fun you can have today in Canada, as can often be the case is, in Quebec.

Reveillon is their big feast, traditionally of meats butchered and prepared months ahead of winter.

And the party can go on into the early hours.

Nova Scotian lobsters and scallops have come into vogue these days too.

Chinese Christmas

Not something you might associate with China but with all that’s going on this might just be where you have the best chance of a lively Christmas.

Which is where the Son and Heir was planning to spend Yuletide but will be next year.

Chinese friends, and we spent many a happy hour with specialists Wendy Wu on webinar this year, tell us that Christmas Eve is the biggest shopping day of the year.

And that apples wrapped in cellophane are a popular gift because Christmas Eve sounds like apple in Mandarin.

Happy appley everyone!

Merrily on braai

Now South Africans do try and keep their Christmas to December 25, but in the day that’s in it I thought I’d give some love.

Our Southern Hemisphere pals do make an occasion of mass carol singing.

And we’ve been recommended Cape Town and Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, Amphitheatre in Victoria and Albert Waterfront.

As well as the ubiquitous vineyards.

Whether it’s today, tomorrow, or any given day, South Africans will celebrate it with a braai, their barbecues, a national pastime.

Throw another boerewors on tbe braai.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE