Those who reside in the Northern Hemisphere are used to cooler weather at Christmastime, but what about the people who live south of the equator? What’s their world of winter like? Let’s take a closer look.

First off, not only is it hot during the holidays, it is also actually the hottest time of year in the Southern Hemisphere. Plus, the days are the longest during winters there, which is totally opposite of what we experience in America. Secondly, while we decorate fir trees and traipse through the snow to chop them down, people living in places like Africa and Australia decorate palm trees and native bushes with no prospect of snow on the horizon in any foreseeable future. 

The distinct holiday decorations used in each country are born of tradition—a similarity shared by both hemispheres. For instance, the tradition of passing down handcrafted ornaments from generation to generation is common for many regions. However, in countries like China and Japan, these ornamental decorations might exist in the form of a paper lantern or swan originally crafted by a great-grandmother. In the case of the United States, the typical ornament passed down from generation to generation might be something more along the lines of a “baby’s first Christmas” glass or craft ornament.   

Regardless of region, each culture finds a way to celebrate the holidays with family, friends and love, and that’s what matters most.

Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup of sugar
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
• One 12-ounce bag of cranberries

Directions:

1. Combine the sugar, orange juice, 1/2 cup of water, the cinnamon, salt and cranberries in a medium saucepan.
2. Bring up to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 15 minutes.
3. Let cool completely before serving.

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