How The World Celebrated Christmas Amid Pandemic
Amid pandemic, Christmas was celebrated in full swing around the world. While some countries lifted lockdowns, some enjoyed while the restrictions prevailed.
Amid pandemic, Christmas was celebrated in full swing around the world. While some countries lifted lockdowns, some enjoyed while the restrictions prevailed.
Here we’ve compiled how Christmas was celebrated around the world,
Italy
Italy is currently seeing the highest number of deaths since the end of March, and Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has told Italians to expect a “More sober Christmas, without Christmas Eve gatherings, hugs and kisses”.
Many Italian regions are under partial lockdown and a ban on travel between different regions from 21 December to 6 January has been announced.
On top of the regional travel bans, people were not allowed to leave their home towns on Christmas and Boxing Day. There were exceptions for work, medical reasons, or emergencies.
A curfew from 22:00 to 05:00 has been taking place, in the country.
In Vatican City, Pope Francis appealed for people to show “fraternity” faced with crises aggravated by the pandemic.
“At this moment in history, marked by the ecological crisis and grave economic and social imbalances only worsened by the coronavirus pandemic, it is all the more important for us to acknowledge one another as brothers and sisters,” Francis said in his traditional “Urbi et Orbi” message.
France
France on 15 December lifted a lockdown imposed on 28 November, but strict measures are still in place as infections are still high.
Restrictions that meant any trip outside the home had to be made for a valid reason, certificated on paper or a smartphone, have also been lifted.
Instead, there has been a nationwide curfew from 20:00 to 06:00, which lifted on Christmas Eve but won’t lift on New Year’s Eve. Theatres and cinemas remained shut as well as bars and restaurants.
The decision to keep France’s hugely popular ski resorts shut has come as a huge disappointment, with local mayors complaining of months of work wiped out. Mr. Macron said they could reopen in January “under favorable conditions”.
Germany
Germany entered a hard lockdown over the Christmas period, as the number of deaths and infections from the virus has surged in the last few weeks.
Non-essential shops and schools remained closed nationwide during the lockdown, which is set from 16th December to 10th January.
Chancellor Angela Merkel blamed Christmas shopping for a “considerable” rise in social contacts.
A maximum of five people from no more than two households were allowed to gather in a home. But this limit relaxed from 24 to 26 December, when one household was allowed to host a maximum of four close family members from other households.
Children aged under 14 were not included in this limit.
Under the national lockdown, essential shops, such as those selling food, stayed open, as did banks. Outlets selling Christmas trees also continued trading.
Most major Christmas markets in Germany were canceled. As for New Year, fireworks displays have been canceled while letting them off in the street is likely to be discouraged.
Spain
The Spanish government approved a set of rules for the period between 23 December and 6 January. Regional governments, however, have the power to toughen these common rules if they deem it necessary.
During this window, travel between regions was allowed providing people were visiting friends and family.
Social gatherings on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were limited to 10 people and the same goes for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. And unlike many European countries, this limit included children too.
Spanish families traditionally celebrate the Feast of the Three Kings with a parade on 5 January, but the government has recommended that celebrations do not take place.
UK
In England’s tier four areas, residents were allowed to celebrate Christmas with members of their own household and support bubbles. They were not allowed to travel to other tiers to see family and friends.
More parts of south-east and eastern England were placed in tier four from 00:01 GMT on Saturday 26 December. Residents were asked to stay at home and all non-essential shops were closed.
Some areas of the UK were lucky enough to celebrate a white Christmas this year, as Yorkshire and Suffolk had early snowfall this year.
South Korea
The government clamped down on private social gatherings of five or more people and closed tourist spots from Christmas Eve until at least January 3.
National parks and coastal tourist sites, where thousands travel to watch the sunrise on the new year, will close. So will churches and skiing, sledding, and skating venues. Restaurants could face fines of up to 3 million won (£2,000) if they serve groups of five or more.
The greater Seoul area, home to half of the country’s 51 million people, has been at the center of a viral resurgence in recent weeks that has overwhelmed hospitals, increased death tolls, and raised questions about how the government is handling the outbreak, after winning global praise for its response earlier in the year.
Forty-eight Covid-19 patients have died in the deadliest two days since the pandemic began.
This is how the major countries of the world celebrated Christmas.
About Us
Runway Pakistan is a complete solution provider for all your marketing communications related requirements. The ultimate hub of infotainment – Runway composes of all the key offerings – Monthly Print Magazine, Digital Magazine, Media Production, Creative Agency, PR Agency, and Marketing Consultancy that a brand needs to be seen, heard, and known!
Like and follow our Facebook page:
Runway Pakistan
