☆2008☆

I visited New Zealand in August of last year. I spent a month in New Zealand. It was homestay program, so I have stayed in host family's house for a month. My host family was always kind to me, so I had very good time. I visited various places. For example, Sky tower and Auckland Museum. I very enjoyed the days when I spent in New Zealand.

I examined about New Year and Christmas in New Zealand. New Zealand is a country of the southern hemisphere, so New Year and Christmas in New Zealand come in summer. This is the most different point between New Zealand and Japan. Most of Japanese think that time of New Year and Christmas are very cold, but New Year and Christmas of New Zealand are not cold. The days of December and January are very long, so New Zealanders often have barbecues. New Zealanders eat special Christmas lunches or dinners at Christmas, and most New Zealanders eat Pavlova which is a traditional dessert of New Zealand. Pavlova is very sweet dessert. According to my host father, New Zealanders do not eat turkey much at Christmas. Instead, New Zealanders eat ham or roast chicken rather than turkey. He also said that most New Zealanders goes to church at Christmas.
December 26th is Boxing Day. The origin is Britain. Boxing Day means the day of present which was sent in Christmas. People put small change or a small gift in a box, and they gave it to employees, postmen, newspaper carriers, and so on. Recently, New Zealanders recognize Boxing Day as the day when most New Zealanders open present which were received the previous day. Boxing Day is not in Japan, but the day is a holiday in New Zealand.
As New Year’s Day is very hot, New Zealanders celebrate their New Year with fireworks. New Year’s Day is a public holiday in New Zealand. January 2nd is New Year’s holiday, and the day is a special day in New Zealand.
There is Maori’s New Year. The name is Matariki, which means constellations. Matariki means the start of new life and celebration of New Year for Maori. Maori wish for future prosperity to the constellations. People of Maori grandly celebrate New Year, and it is strongly succeeded to the present New Zealanders. Various events about culture of Maori are held in many places. New Zealanders celebrate Matariki. New Zealanders value New Year and Christmas very much.
New Zealanders seem to celebrate Christmas grandly, and New Year and Christmas are important events for New Zealanders.

I had very good time in New Zealand.

（441）