Holidays Around the World: China

In China, the most important holiday celebrated is the Lunar New Year on the 12th month each year. They celebrate with lots of good food, good music, and of course, fireworks! The Chinese Lion Dance brings good luck, fortune, and happiness to everyone because lions are a symbol of courage and protection.

I loved watching the Chinese Lion Dance! It was cool how two performers were in this giant costume, dancing so fluidly together! Their movements are actually based on martial arts moves. Now THAT'S cool!

At the Joy of Tea kiosk (one of my favorite places to stop, tbh), you could get a Kaikouxiao, which is a Happy Face Fried Cake. Basically, its a fried sesame egg cake that is traditional to Beijing cuisine.

DFB's picture looks tasty enough!

You could also find some closionne holiday ornaments, beaded evening clutches, and traditional Chinese jewelry at the House of Good Fortune store.

And then you have this cute lion mask as the stamp for China. They really take this symbol seriously! The lion is supposed to help drive away the bad, evil spirits and give them strength and blessings for the new year.

The next one will be Norway, so stay tuned!

Holidays Around the World: Germany

I really love the architecture of the buildings in the Germany pavilion, honestly. It's one of my favorite places to hang out because it's so beautiful!

These little guys are on the way from Germany to Italy!

Here we are, just hanging out in Germany like we love to do!

I thought the holiday entertainment was wonderful in Germany! We got to meet Helga and hear about some of Germany's Christmas traditions, such as the Christmas tree and the Nutcracker. Did you know that Germany produced the very first Christmas tree? I didn't!

Germany had some tasty treats at a little kiosk called Prost!. They had stollen (holiday fruit cake), gluhwein (holiday spiced wine... I should have tried this!), some other specialty drinks and treats, and a German artisanal cheese plate. Ean and I got one of their specialty cookies! It was like a giant pecan chocolate chip cookie drizzled in delicious caramel. So tasty!!!

Some of the other specialty eats and sips were caramel s'mores, a Black Forest Cake (alcoholic) drink, caramel kiss drink, and beers and wines. I wish Ean loved caramel more!

You could find some special holiday ornaments and decor at Die Weihnachts Ecke and Christkindlmarkt, and special Werther's holiday treats at Karamell-Kuche. Ean and I bought a cute ornament as the ornament to commemorate this trip!

Germany's cute stamp is a nutcracker, since that originated in Germany as well!

Next up, we have China!

Holidays Around the World: Italy

The Christmas decorations at the Italy pavilion were just beautiful!

I also somehow missed the holiday entertainment in Italy. I guess cause we spent so much time there before we started checking out all the holiday entertainment, I didn't even think about going back later on.

I did, however, get to see this awesome street performer and these cool flag twirling guys before we had lunch at Via Napoli with my parents!

That little girl was SO adorable!!

The holiday entertainment was about a "kind-hearted witch" called La Befana. She's basically Italy's version of Santa Claus! In Italy, Christmas is a very warm and intimate time with family. They say:

"You celebrate Easter with whomever you please,

but Christmas only with your own."

I like that :)

At the Gelato Kiosk, you could purchase special Prosecco sparking wine (YUM!) and Panettone (Italian Christmas bread). I like Prosecco, so I probably should have gotten me a taste! Not so sure about the bread, lol.

Another photo from the good 'ol Disney Food Blog!

Italy had two special holiday merchandise locations. They had things in both the La Bottega Italiana and II Bel Cristallo, featuring fine fragrances, beautiful jewelry, and leather accessories. We got our stamp in one of the shops, and the guy working there wrote "Buon Natale," which is of course Merry Christmas in Italian. I loved that little personal touch!!

Aaaaand next stop! Germany!

Holidays Around the World: The American Adventure

There was a lot going on in the American Adventure pavilion, and I mean A LOT!

First of all, the ever so popular Candlelight Processional happens there. We didn't see it, but my parents did. Meredith Vieira was there, and I know my mom was excited because she's a Today Show fan. I'd love to see it someday. I've heard it's phenomenal!

You can also see Santa and Mrs. Claus, the Voices of Liberty, a storytelling about Hanukkah, and a storytelling about Kwanzaa!

We didn't wait in like to see the  Clauses cause it was always super long. Who doesn't love getting to see Santa?! :)

We did watch both the Hanukkah and Kwanzaa storytellers! I loved the Kwanzaa one. It sounds like a really fun thing to celebrate! And it begins on the 26th of December, so what better way to cure the post-Christmas blues than with another celebration?! You've gotta read both of their little scrolls. I love how diverse the holiday season is in America!

The American Adventure pavilion had a cute little pop-up holiday bakery called Sugar and Spice. Of course I had to get the eggnog, because who doesn't love eggnog? It was SO GOOD. We debated on what we should get, because Ean actually don't love eggnog (he's weird, I know). But I won in the end, lol.

Other great things you could get there were peppermint bark, gingerbread cookies, chocolate chunk cookies, holiday tree sugar cookies, hot chocolate, "Cocoa Candy Cane" (hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps), "Buffalo Nog" (eggnog with Buffalo Trace bourbon whiskey), and a selection of wine.

There was also a really cute gingerbread display of the U.S. Capitol Building inside the American Adventure building.

They also had some really cute merchandise at Heritage Manor Gifts and Santa's Village (right outside of where Santa and Mrs. Claus were at).

And why is my stamp upside down! Lol!! Oh well!

Next stop on our journey will be Italy!

Holidays Around the World: Japan

So, here it is the end of July and I realize I haven't finished sharing with you my Holidays Around the World adventure! How silly of me. Life gets crazy busy sometimes, and that's okay! This will just give us all something to look forward to in a few months! Who doesn't love Disney at Christmastime?!

I realized a little too late that I never stopped to hear about Japan's Christmas traditions. They had a person out telling the story of the Daruma doll and about the customs of the Japanese New Year! The Daruma doll is very important to the new year, as it is a good luck charm! It is a doll with no pupils. It is tradition to make a wish and then paint it's left eye, and if your wish comes true at the end of the year, you paint the right eye!

It sounds cool, yet terrifying all at the same time. LOL!

I'm sad I didn't get any pictures. But I did get this great shot of the cool drum ladies!

And here are some great words to live by! As the Japanese say, "Nana Korobi, ya oki," which means, "Knocked down seven times, get up eight."

Japan had a few specialty food and beverage options at Kabuki Cafe. You could get the grilled Kurobuta pork sausage with pineapple and onions and a delicious Hitachino ginger beer. Kurobuta pork is apparently a highly prized pork from Japan. So all you pork lovers out there- this needs to go on your must-try list!

Gotta use a Disney Food Blog pic since I didn't get my own. Gotta love them!

The holiday merchandise could be found at the Mitsukoshi Department Store. You could get all your favorite Anime merch, Totoro plush, Ghibli merch, kimonos, and even try a sake tasting!

And here is the super cute stamp from Japan. It looks like a little dragon! Aww!

Next stop is The American Adventure! Wee!

Holidays Around the World: Morocco

I don't think the Morocco pavilion gets enough love. We never spend a lot of time there! It's just one of those countries we just sort of pass through without stopping to enjoy it in all its beauty.

We did stay and enjoy the entire holiday show! They call their holidays and festivals throughout the year the "spice of life." Many of the people that live in Morocco are Muslims who share Islamic traditions, but no matter where you are in Morocco, you'll see the Moroccan people celebrating in ways that truly reflect the diversity of its people.

Though we heard about many different celebrations, I really enjoyed hearing about Ramadan. It is one of the holiest celebrations not only in Morocco, but also worldwide. It is 30 days of fasting, prayer, and refection, ending with a great feast! I think this is something we can all celebrate no matter what our race, religion, or background is!

Ean and I had a tough time finding the place to get the stamp in Morocco. We could not for the life of us find the Gifts of Morocco! It wasn't on the map! After going in and out of every little shop in the area and having no clue what each place was even called, we eventually gave up and went to get a stamp in Tangerine Cafe. I walk in there and go up to the counter and they sent me to a little dessert stand in the corner that featured their special holiday Chocolate Honey Baklava. Talk about an adventure just to find a stamp!

We did later find Gifts of Morocco! It wasn't in the main Moroccan shopping area! Who knew…

And here is the cute stamp I almost gave up on trying to find! I was getting very impatient with this one. Lol!

Next stop is Japan, so stay tuned!!

Holidays Around the World: France

In France, Christmas decorations of every kind fill all the shops, baraques (booths), and boulevards. The children all eagerly await le Pere Noel (Father Christmas) on Christmas Eve. They set out shoes around the house in the hopes that he will fill them with all sorts of goodies. After Midnight Mass, everyone enjoys a feast called le reveillon and a delicious chocolate Yule log shaped dessert called Buche de Noel.

At the France pavilion, you can enjoy Pere Noel as he shares the joy of the Christmas season through a letter from a child. So sweet!!

You can get a Buche de Noel au Chocolat at the Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie. You can also enjoy a Gloace a la cannel et noix de Pecan caramelizes (cinnamon ice cream and caramelized pecans) at the L'Artisan des Glaces! As delicious as these both sound, we unfortunately didn't get to try either :(
But here is a picture of the cinnamon ice cream from Disney Food Blog for your viewing pleasure!

The Plume et Palette and La Signature stores both featured special holiday fragrances.

And look at this cute stamp with the Eiffel Tower on the ornament!! I love it!

Next stop is Morocco! Be sure and check back soon!