Submitted by Dylan O’Keeffe on the 2013 fall semester program in London, England…
The lack of a major holiday before Christmas allows London to begin their holiday festivities about half way through November. As a Christmas fanatic, I was ecstatic to begin the celebration. The festivities kicked off on Regents Street, a famous street in London known for its shopping. The whole street was closed down and the holiday cheer was widespread in the area. The climax of the evening began with a countdown from ten and ended with the whole street being lit up with holiday lights hanging throughout the street. My friends and I made our way to a nearby pub and were welcomed by Londoners singing Christmas songs. The whole pub partook in the festive singing including our group.
The next weekend, we spent a night in Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland. This celebration was unlike any others I have been a part of. The way it could be best described is a Christmas carnival. Rides, games, bright festive lights, and much more provided my friends and me, one of my favorite nights of our program. The festival attracted people from all over the world allowing us to interact with many different cultures. A large tent in the center of the festival housed a band playing festive music and allowed us to escape the cold. After enjoying a few rides and wasting money on carnival games, we made our way home. The visit to Hyde Park truly put me in the Christmas spirit and made me very excited for the final weeks to come.