At Shocklogic, our team is our greatest source of pride. Represented by more than 20 different nationalities across several continents, we are a truly international company with a global perspective. And yet, we are more than just a team — we are a family. Every person forms an essential piece of the Shocklogic puzzle, and it is our diversity that makes us who we are.

In a year where very little has gone according to plan, many of us will be more grateful than ever for the comfort of traditions this holiday season. With such a diverse team, we always enjoy hearing about each other’s Christmas celebrations, and this year, we thought we’d share some of those conversations with you. Here is what some of our team members had to say about their unique holiday traditions.

Maggie Bruk, our Marketing and Design Manager, is originally from Perth, Western Australia, but both of her parents are from Poland, so she identifies strongly with both countries.

“On December 24th, my family celebrates Polish ‘Wigilia’ (this means a feast with no meat). For us, this means soup (mushroom or beetroot), fish (carp is the favourite), and pierogi. Christmas Day in Australia is often spent at the beach with a barbie (BBQ). The weather is usually too hot to be roasting food in the oven all day! Wigilia usually starts with the sharing of opłatek (a thin wafer) that we break with our loved ones around the table, and share good wishes one-on-one. This is a super special tradition that I hold close to my heart!”

Alexia Garcia is one of our Client Support Associates and comes from Caracas, Venezuela.

“Christmas is such a happy time here in Venezuela. It’s a time of year when you can feel the joy in the streets. One tradition that we do at this time of year is the ‘lucky grapes’, which is where you eat twelve grapes, one for each chime at midnight from December 31 (New Year’s Eve) to January 1, because it supposedly brings good luck for the new year. It can be done with tangerines, too! Another tradition is to hear ‘gaitas’ (Venezuelan Christmas songs). These songs are traditional and quite lively, so they are fun and nostalgic at the same time.”

Lorena Fasui, our Marketing Coordinator, is from Calimanesti, Romania, a small mountain resort located in Southern Transylvania. 

“Romania is a country full of traditions, especially during this month. For example, in addition to Christmas, we celebrate Saint Nicholas on the 6th of December, which is a celebration similar to Christmas, where in the morning, children find sweets or presents in their shoes or stockings. On the morning of December 25th, children dress up in traditional Romanian clothing and go caroling in the streets. In my region, we have a special tradition where someone dresses up as a goat, with a multicoloured mask and costume, and goes around the town with the carol singers. The goat is known as ‘Capra’, and it jumps, dances, and sings, and gets lots of attention.”

Avvan Nanabhai is one of our Finance Associates and comes from Gujarat, India.

“I have always celebrated Christmas. It’s a good and happy celebration because we get to see our families. You can see decorations and lights everywhere, and it gives you a feeling that everyone is enjoying this time. At this time of year, we always provide food and clothes to the needy. It is giving rather than receiving that makes this holiday so special in India. For that reason, we gather all the things in good shape, and we donate them.”

Angie Harms is our Copywriter/Proofreader. She’s originally from Iowa, in the United States, but has been living in Glasgow, Scotland for over 8 years.

“Christmas in the U.S. and Scotland are very similar. In both countries, people decorate Christmas trees, exchange gifts, and get together with family for a big meal. Christmas in Iowa is beautiful and snowy. In Glasgow, it usually just rains! In the U.S., one of the biggest traditions is that children are taken to ‘visit Santa Claus’ at their local shopping centres. They sit on his knee and tell him what they want for Christmas and get their picture taken. In the UK, a popular tradition is ‘Christmas crackers’, which are table decorations that contain a small gift and make a popping sound when you pull them open.”

From everyone at Shocklogic, we wish you a happy, healthy holiday season, and a bright and safe 2021.

Written by Angie Harms, Copywriter/Proofreader