As it’s Christmas, DailyEdge.ie got in touch with some Irish people spending the day in different parts of the world. From Australia, to across the pond in London. Here’s how their Christmas fares up to ours at home.

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Location: North Carolina, United States of America

David Wogan is founder of PlayHurling.com, a site that connects North America to our wonderful sport.

He’s currently living in LA with his wife, having lived in Toronto for three and a half years. He’s spending Christmas this year in North Carolina with his wife’s family.

He’s well used to being far from home at this stage:

I emigrated from Ireland in 2011 after graduating from DCU. I lived in Boston for a year, then I lived in Toronto, and I moved to Los Angeles last May.

David Wogan David Wogan

I’ll be spending Christmas with my wife’s family, her parents and brother. We’re actually going to be driving next week from LA to North Carolina, which is going to be a lot of fun!

Missing Ireland

This will be his fourth Christmas abroad, with family being the main thing he misses about Christmas in Ireland.

Thank God for Skype! Every year when we’re with my wife’s family, we Skype my family on Christmas Day and my nieces and nephew show me what they got from Santy.

He says not being with your family on occasions like this is the hardest thing about emigrating.

When I first emigrated, I felt guilty for leaving my family. But, I had this urge to explore the world and I’ve become a happier person for doing so. Although I spend less time face-to-face with my family, it’s more quality time.

David Wogan David Wogan

The food just ain’t the same!

Clearly, food is a big part of missing out on an Irish Christmas. What does he miss the most?

Tins of sweets, biscuits, selection boxes, custard and pudding, Christmas cake, PROPER TEA, in Canada, you would sometimes see Barry’s in the supermarket, but in the US, it’s difficult to find, so, Barry’s if you’re reading this, you know what to get me for Christmas!

You heard the man, Barry’s.

Christmas crackers don’t seem to be a thing over here, at least not with my wife’s family. Also, Christmas cake and pudding is very uncommon.

And just imagine what you’d do if you had to miss out on the Stephen’s Day session? It’s not celebrated in the US, which David says felt ‘strange’ at first.

Thanksgiving is more of a big deal in the US which is all about the food and that’s the way my wife’s family celebrate Christmas as well, it’s a feast!

New traditions

But it’s not all nostalgia for home, as with many emigrants, new traditions have popped up in North America.

When we’re in North Carolina, my wife and I cook Christmas dinner for her family and while the turkey is in the oven, we Skype my family.

And the rare chance he gets to go home, it’s all the more special.

The two times we’ve been back in Ireland for Christmas since 2011, the build-up to Christmas has been more exciting. From flying home, to the 12 pubs of Christmas with my sister and her husband, to bringing American/Canadian presents home for the family, it’s made Christmas at home more special.

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