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The student news site of University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

Exponent

The student news site of University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

Exponent

Global holiday celebrations at UWP

With final exams approaching, students are anticipating the academic break for the holidays.

While Christmas is one of the most celebrated holidays of the year in the United States, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville has more than 120 international students from more than 24 countries who celebrate holidays and participate in other traditions.

Liz Kruse,  advisor of International Student and Scholar Services, said that the UW-Platteville campus has numerous events that are celebrated throughout the year.

Kruse said the Chinese Lunar New Year celebration takes place on Feb. 3 of every year, and the Asia Club hosts Hmong Thanksgiving in November.

Amenya Hubert, industrial technology manufacturing major, is an international student from Ghana and celebrates Christmas by doing many different activities.

“(For us) Christmas is celebrated from Dec. 20 to the first week of January,” Hubert said.  “Most people travel to visit their relatives or friends in other parts of the country.”

Hubert said that during the Christmas period, many children’s parties and employee end-of-the-year parties are celebrated in hotels, at the beaches or at school parks and community centers.

Sonja Jacobs and Annika Wolpmann, both business management majors, are international students from Germany who celebrate Christmas in a family-oriented way.

“A week before Christmas, the decorations are prepared, the Christmas tree is set up and presents are bought,” Jacobs and Wolpmann said.

“Christmas is a family celebration, and on Christmas Eve presents are under the tree and the whole family celebrates the evening,” Jacobs and Wolpmann said.

Jacobs and Wolpmann also said there is a lot of food such as duck, goose, bread dumplings, potatoes, salads and desserts.

“Most Ghanaians go to church on Dec. 31 to thank the Lord for their lives and achievements,”  Hubert said.

New Year’s Eve in Ghana and Germany are celebrated in similar ways to the United States.

“From Dec. 31 to Jan. 1, everyone is awake and nobody goes to sleep,” Hubert said. “People are full of laughter everywhere.”

Jacobs and Wolpmann said New Year’s Eve is celebrated with fireworks and raclette, which is a shredded melted cheese eaten during the celebration.

Holidays vary from one culture to another, but all countries have their own unique traditions that make the holidays an extraordinary time of the year.

For more information about upcoming international holidays and events, visit The International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) Office located in Royce Hall 105.

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Global holiday celebrations at UWP