Mick Maguire, 48 years old, hometown — Glasgow, Scotland, business development manager at Fircroft Kazakhstan
Christmas is a holiday of goodness and light, family unity. Therefore, everyone tries to celebrate in the circle of relatives and friends.
The traditional Christmas dish is turkey, goose with apples. We ordered a turkey from Uralsk, but we had problems with delivery, so our main dish was salmon. Also, mulled wine, ginger cookies and Christmas crackers are cooked. This year I ordered all of it from the UK, without it a holiday is not a holiday for us, it is our mandatory tradition.
At Christmas is a pleasure to give gifts, forget old grudges. I went with family to the shopping centre Bayzar near the house to buy all the necessary gifts.
We did not have any problems with New Year decorations because New Year's toys in Kazakhstan do not differ from ours. Before Christmas all, the big and small shops sell different things related to the holidays. All the Christmas decorations I bought in small shops and in the shopping centre.
My family and I decorated the Christmas tree and house, and we had a great Christmas.
Andrey Vick, 26 years old, hometown — Prague, motorcycle traveller
I came to Astana for a few days to visit my uncle because he was not able to come home for Christmas.
Christmas is a family holiday for us when all the relatives gathered in the house. On this day we apologize for the grievances and trying to make around warm and joyful.
The most important moment of the holiday — gifts. This is an important tradition in our family that makes feel like a child again and enjoy every little thing. The size and cost of the gift do not matter. The main thing is the sincerity of the person.
I presented to my uncle a CD of his favourite band Pink Floyd, and in return received a denim jacket.
To feel the Christmas spirit, we decorated the Christmas tree and the house with garlands and toys. We ordered a Christmas tree online and bought toys in the supermarket Galmart. Uncle bought gifts to the colleagues in the Khan Shatyr shopping centre.
We do not like cooking, so we decided to spend Christmas night in O'Hara Irish Pub. We talked heart to heart, remembered family evenings. At home, we called to the relatives and congratulated them on the holiday.
In Kazakhstan, the holiday held from December 31 to January 1. For us, it is the time of Christmas holidays, and the main event — Christmas — December 25. However, I felt the holiday spirit and had a great Christmas.
Graham Calder, 59 years old, hometown — Aberdeen, Scotland, CEO of Business connections Kazakhstan
At Christmas, I try to return home to Scotland, as I did this year. But when I spent Christmas in Atyrau, it was more like a usual working day. In Kazakhstan, it is not considered a big holiday and everyone works on this day.
That Christmas I went to the O'neill's Irish Bar and spent the holiday there. For me, it was a pleasant end of the day and a time of relaxation. At home, I called my family and congratulated them, because Christmas is a family holiday.
I also decorated the Christmas tree and the house with garlands. Decorations are selling on every corner, so I purchased everything I needed in small shops.
