What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

Since the season and I am sure we all have things we miss about Christmas that either are not available in Canada, or because of rules/regulations don't have access to, etc etc.

For me it's live Christmas Trees, I miss the smell, and going and picking one out. Live trees are not allowed in apartments and condos in BC so I haven't had one since 2002. Fake trees never been my thing and taking a tree for a box in the closest just isn't the same.

*note trees sold in BC for the most part for Christmas are farmed, not taken from the forests and being farmed they grow back and once Christmas is over used for mulch for landscaping*


Upside is there is always a chance of a snow filled Christmas now, which was never a possibility back home, and snowy Christmas is a positive for me.

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

Good idea for a thread J. :thumbsup:

The first few years after we were married we had ‘live’ Christmas trees. The dogs loved to run around under the tree, knocking the baubles and pine needles all over the floor. By Christmas Day there were hardly any pine needles left, so we gave in and have had artificial trees ever since.

I miss the UK Christmas spirit, in the shops, pubs etc and of course I miss family get togethers. When we lived in the states Thanksgiving was the big holiday, Christmas was a 1 day after thought. :(

Edit: It is more like Christmas here in Canada but still miss friends and family. We were hoping to take daughter and granddaughter to spend Christmas and NY in the UK this year. Sadly Covid put paid to that.

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

Not a lot really......

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

Christmas Pantomimes and the M&S Christmas advert.

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

Oh yes, I miss Marks and Spark’s Christmas goodies.

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

I quite miss Carol singers in the pedestrian precincts in the days leading up to Christmas.. and the odd ones that would sing outside the house. I miss going round to see my neighbour on Christmas eve and drinking mulled wine.. and seeing family over the christmas holidays (boxing day was the day we would all go to our Dad's for afternoon tea :) ) I miss chestnuts beng roasted on the street (when we were kids my Dad used to roast them on the open coal fire)... paxo stuffing and proper christmas pudding....... and I miss extra thick double cream to put on it! :D
Christmas panto's too - "oh no you don't!" "he's behind you!"

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

With a 6 hour time difference you got your presents delivered earlier in the UK other than that I think UK mince pies and Christmas puddings taste better. Yes Canada does things slightly different but all the essentials are here except a Boxing Day football match.

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

Pub on Christmas Eve.

Spending it with family.

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

You better watch out, now you have given away what time zone your in.....;) (just a joke cause of what you have had as your location for years covering such a wide span.)

I miss the light parade on San Diego Bay as well, just something about boats lit up for Christmas having a parade on the water.

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

Strangely enough Christmas shopping on dark afternoons, usually drizzling, with the smell of roast chestnuts in the air. The little ragamuffins running to collect tha goose for Mr Scrooge.

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

We somehow ended up owning a Christmas Tree Farm (we have other nursery trees too). It wasn't something we set out to do but we liked the property and the location and the trees came with. I love this time of year when the farm which is usually so quiet has happy visitors tromping the fields picking out their tree, the place really comes to life - and then they give us money.

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

There isn't anything I miss really.

We always had chicken for Christmas dinner, I much prefer turkey that we have here :nod:

OH has made Christmas pudding almost every year and Christmas cake any years since we came here, using a Cheshire Women's Institute cookbook that his mother gave me before we married when I once said that I was collecting cookbooks. They're better than any I had in the UK.

I can buy mince pies made just like the UK from Safeway/Sobeys or any bakery in Vancouver. Or I would make my own, pastry different, but much more mincemeat (Crosse & Blackwell's yet) :thumbsup:

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

Win win for you :thumbsup:

There was a tree farm not far from where I grew up, my parents would usually take us there to pick and cut our tree, then pay at the front, Santa was usually there to, and they had reindeer, it was pretty fun for a kid.

If I ever own a house, first Christmas I'd get a real tree...

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

The shops full of tat and the nonsense on TV ?

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

Christmas in the winter .

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

:wub: Out of the many things I loved about the three UK Christmases I had, that was what I loved the most. The only thing I missed from Australia was my family.

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

Not much. Family gathering I suppose.

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

I miss living in New York. The city at the holiday season is lovely. I miss the window dressings on Fifth Avenue, Rockefeller Center's ice skaters and Christmas Tree. I miss the chance of snow and the cold and family. But most of all, I miss my family and friends and the holiday meals on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Midnight Mass and enjoying the faces of those I love receiving and opening their gifts.

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

I miss NYC too. We always went into the city Christmas Eve...then usually had a late dinner the other side of the Hudson. The best views of NYC are from there.

Edit: Remember...when the rest of us are battling snow and sub zero temps during January/FebruaryMarch...you will be enjoying warm weather.

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

Ever so slightly, the free pint down the local for regulars at lunchtime on Christmas Day.

If you couldn't get there you didn't get your free pint another time. :frown:

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

don’t think I’ve every been down the pub Christmas Day...apart from the early hours of the morning after a Christmas Eve lock in. :D

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

The village where I lived growing up had a tradition of a Boxing day pram race. Also known as a pub crawl.

https://www.pramrace.com/the-route/

Oh the memories...

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

The photo gallery is great!

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

The Pub... (what's this closing at 5pm on Christmas Eve rubbish here! lol)

The works Christmas do, not sure if its a Canadian thing not to do it, or if its just something companies don't do anymore, but never had one at the two companies I have worked for here Canada

My Family. but my family is a fraction of what it used to be anyway, so it would be no different in the UK.

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

And I always thought it was Winnipeg :D

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

That would be weird to me, Christmas in summer.

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

I tried, but can you translate the bold bit into North America lingo, I just can't figure out what you mean, the bold bit.....:rofl:

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

The British work Christmas do:

An event often held by companies in which employees frequently consume more alcohol than a baby elephant. Ass grabbing, photocopying genitals, inner-office hook ups , some idiot puts a lampshade on his head, and the boss gets sloshed and fires everyone are typical events.

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

Ah Christmas party. I have only ever worked at one place that did such things, the airline, every year we had a wild, alcohol fuelled Christmas Party, but this was late 90's and early 00's, doubt they could get away with it now, especially the alcohol part. Although only those not working within 24 hours of the party were allowed to drink........although it was usually held at a hotel banquet room, so I don't think there was ever access to a photocopier but there were certainly hookups....ha ha

Never had any company in Canada do anything for employees during the holidays, in general Christmas is more subdued in Canada vs the US, not as festive in general, but Canadian employers in my experience not too fond of employee incentives or providing anything extra.

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

Why you are from San Diego...summer all year round there! ;)

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

The Keg Steak House venues put on a christmas do for their staff every year, a big booze up, much frivolity! Many restaurants in my area are packed at Christmas with 'office parties' -- they tend to be a bit more formal here I think, meals out rather than the big p*** up we were used to in the UK.. I only worked for a couple of places in the UK that had parties, one was me, my assistant, an engineer and the 2 owners sat on the floor with several bottles of spirits and packets of crisps, LOL. Going to the pub with some of your work mates (nothing official) was more the thing in my day :)

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

Don't you have to be insane to live or admit to living in Winnipeg :sneaky:

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

That's why most of us spend Christmas either in the air conditioning or in the pool/ocean :lol: It's far more common here to have a cold Christmas dinner too, although I bow to tradition some years and do the full roast thing. I'm having scouse's kids over for dinner Christmas Eve, we're having prawn and avocado cocktails then a (cold) glazed baked ham with various salads. Trifle for dessert, although I'll get a small plum pudding for the Pom to have with custard.

Christmas will be at my brother's house because he has a pool big enough to fit us all in :santa:

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

More mindset, winter in San Diego is still cooler than summer, and the local mountains can have snow making for pretty backdrop. :p

I had some trouble finding a more recent picture on the interwebs so the skyline has changed a bit, but gives an idea of what winter is like there.....:lol:

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...b43e1c5071.jpg



Los Angeles has taller mountains.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...4fe1d1662f.png

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

I spent an hour once in Winnipeg, even took a picture. I will probably never return. Spent even less time in Saskatoon, but it was 2am, was only there for 10 minutes, maybe less.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...7bcea8260e.jpg

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

The company Christmas party = works Christmas do.

Our firm always had a large Christmas party offsite with food, music, dancing and drinks. I never went. Just a bunch of co-workers and bosses acting like arses.

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

Maybe its just engineering/manufacturing companies in Canada that don't do it anymore, (they used to years ago so I hear) I have heard of office parties here being more meal based rather than a "lash-up" , but the companies I have worked for don't do anything. Last year 4-5 of us just got the train into Toronto and did our own thing.

Some of the Christmas parties we used to have in the UK were great times.....legendary! so many great laughs, we used to finish at 1pm and everyone in the company would pile down to the pub!

One company used to put on on a full high end dinner dance with a band the lot, and...... put you up in the hotel for the night!!....they were good times too! ah...Halcyon days.

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

I could see why it would be more common in Keg like workplaces, after all the booze and food is at cost and have a suitable building already, so probably pretty inexpensive overall to boost employee morale, where other companies in other industries wont have access to at cost booze and food, and seems the trend these days is to lower morale as low as possible in some workplaces. :lol:

Re: What do you miss about Christmas from homeland?
 

Lots of them rent some place else for their parties too. Normally we host around 6 - 8 Christmas parties and cabarets and some of them are for restaurants, and some of them do real good business.