Christmas Truly Varies from Place to Place

If you've lived abroad for a while, you'll notice one thing: Christmas seems uniform, but the ways of celebrating it are vastly different.

The date is the same, the decorations are similar, but once you truly participate, you'll realize that each place's understanding of Christmas carries a strong local flavor. These subtle differences are often only noticed by those living there.

Europe: Christmas begins with "going out"

In places like Germany and Austria, Christmas doesn't begin at home, but on the streets.

At the end of November, as soon as the Christmas markets open in the squares, many people will deliberately detour after get off work to have a cup of mulled wine and buy some small souvenirs. Christmas here isn't like a family event, but more like a part of public life. Even living alone, it's easy to be enveloped in the festive atmosphere. For many Chinese working in Europe, Christmas markets are the easiest place to evoke a sense of "holiday life," but it's precisely in this bustling atmosphere that one sometimes thinks more of home.

Britain and France: Christmas Is a period of time

In Britain, Christmas spans almost the entire month of December.

Starting with the Advent Calendar, every day is spent preparing for the 25th. Small gatherings take place in the office, friends exchange gifts in advance, and the holiday is broken down into many small moments. France, on the other hand, places a greater emphasis on ritual; shop windows, lights, and family meals are all planned well in advance. Those who live here will find that Christmas isn't something to "wait until that day," but rather a gradual process of approaching.

In the United States, Christmas is a return to family.

After Thanksgiving, everything almost simultaneously switches to Christmas mode.

Christmas trees, lights, family gatherings—everything revolves around "home." For many overseas users working in the US, Christmas often means two states coexisting: on one hand, the lively family gatherings of colleagues and friends; on the other hand, the reality of not being able to return home. Because of this, many people contact their families more frequently during the Christmas season—not necessarily saying much, but making arrangements.

Japan: Christmas is more of a seasonal mood

In Japan, Christmas isn't a traditional family holiday.

It's more like a part of winter: lights, sweets, limited-edition merchandise—a light and restrained mood. Christmas Eve is important for couples, but the 25th isn't necessarily a public holiday. This Christmas, which doesn't overemphasize family reunions, makes many people living abroad feel relaxed.

Behind different customs lies the same thing:

No matter the country, Christmas makes people think of certain people more easily.

Some prepare gifts, some plan holidays, and some use this time to review their family expenses and plans for the year. For many Panda Remit users, Christmas isn't necessarily a holiday for "giving gifts," but rather a time to put care into practice.

A sum of money for living expenses, or support for holiday spending, lets family know: you're doing well away from home.

Distance can't change habits, but it can change the way we express them.

Christmas customs vary from region to region, but the connection between people is universal. Living in different countries and cultures, many expressions change, but some things remain constant—the hope that those who matter are at peace.

Panda Remit aims to play this fundamental role in cross-cultural and cross-distance life:

ensuring clear, stable, and timely money transfers;

making care unnecessary to explain repeatedly;

helping the world celebrate Christmas simultaneously;

wherever you are, you can send your heartfelt wishes in a familiar way.

Panda Remit is an online platform focused on providing safe, fast, and low-cost cross-border remittance services to users worldwide. Currently, it covers more than 40 countries/regions globally, primarily supporting remittances from the United States, Europe, Australia, Japan, Singapore, and other countries to mainland of China and other regions.

Panda Remit, making every remittance safer.