What Song In The Movie Mardi Gras Spring Break

As an atheist, how does the celebration of Christmas in the U.S. make you feel?

Happy.I’ve always loved Christmas. It’s a time of family, and gift giving. I’ve never truly looked down at it because I’m an atheist. So what I don’t nesscarily believe in the whole story behind it my pretty sure most Americans spend more time thinking about Christmas food, presents, movies, door busters, and decorations than Jesus Christ. They might have a Christmas service or watch Joel Osteen on Tv, but that’s about it.Most Christians are like that in general. They pick and choose what they want to celebrate and do from their religion. Which there is nothing wrong with that as long as their intentions are good. I’ll be honest I grew up in a Christian family. We went to church almost every Sunday. Prayed every meal. I’m not gonna tell the whole story of how I became athiest, but you’d think after becoming an atheist the whole point of Christmas would go away. But no. In the United States in 2018 it’s so focused on whoever has the most Instagramable Christmas tree or DIY presents. It’s focused on Santa not Jesus. In all honesty it’s not so much of a religious holiday. It’s an American holiday. (Yes, I know it’s celebrated all over the world) but that’s the truth. I have Indian friends who are Hindu and Buddhist friends who all celebrated it since they moved here. It’s all over America and you can’t avoid it.So yeah, Christmas makes me feel happy. It should make anyone feel happy. Every year I set up my mother’s nativity scene and I’ll listen to Christmas music (much of it about Jesus) and I’ll sing along. Christmas is not so much of a heavy Christian holiday in America. It’s an American holiday.

What are some of the most famous traditions in Australia?

One I can think of straight away is the Melbourne Cup, which is a horse race in (surprisingly enough) Melbourne known as “the race that stops a nation”.The day of the race itself is a public holiday in Melbourne, but around the country people who genuinely have no idea about the sport wear ridiculous hats and sharp suits, drink champagne and watch the race. Most offices will have a “sweep”, where you pay a few dollars to draw a horse or two at random and win a prize if your horse wins or places, and people who ordinarily wouldn’t know how to bet on a race show up at betting shops (or go online, of course) to do that.There’s Boxing Day, which is the day after Christmas (26 December) and is always a public holiday. People celebrate it in all sorts of ways, but it’s also the first day of the famous Sydney to Hobart yacht race, as well as the start of the Boxing Day Test in cricket, which is always played at the MCG in Melbourne.Then you have ANZAC Day, which is 25 April every year. This is a day commemorating the Gallipoli landing in the First World War, which was a military disaster but a key plank in building Australia’s image of itself. The day traditionally begins with dawn services at cenotaphs (of which every city and town pretty much has one) or at the beach, featuring the Last Post being played and the Ode of Remembrance being read. There’s then a parade of veterans and servicepeople through the streets - the larger ones get televised, too. The pubs customarily stay closed until midday, at which point all the people from the parades descend on them for beers and reminiscences, as well as games of “two-up”.26 January every year is Australia Day, the “national day” around these parts. It’s come in for some criticism of late, since it honours the arrival of the First Fleet into Sydney and therefore has less historical significance for other states, as well as particularly negative associations for indigenous Australians. The night before the public holiday, there’s a ceremony to announce the Australian of the Year, and the day itself typically features fireworks in most large settlements. Other than that, it’s an opportunity to have a drink and wear the flag as a cape.

What are unique experiences not to miss in Argentina?

Unique experiences? hmmmm let’s see:Football (aka soccer) match - be VERY carefull for pickpockets (Buenos Aires, Rosario or Cordoba)La Diablada Parade (Mardi Gras at Jujuy in the NW)Easter holiday pilgrimage in Salta in the NWTango show (Buenos Aires)Chamame and other folkloric danceRodeo competitionGaucho showGrillMatetraditional countryside bar popular with gauchos in its heydey (there are many off-the-beaten-track such pubs out there, a little research and driving is required)Play “truco” as a local in a pulpería or elsewhereThere is an endless bounty of beautifull landscape and cultural activities, but something unique to the world is hard to find today.