Christmas in Belgium a time for family

Former exchange student compares holiday traditions in U.S., Belgium

  • Belgian Marie Brasseur, an exchange student to Aurora in 1997-98, poses by a Christmas tree in the window at the Old Homestead Market and Floral during her visit here last month. She recalls with fondness the Christmas she spent here with one of her host families.
    Belgian Marie Brasseur, an exchange student to Aurora in 1997-98, poses by a Christmas tree in the window at the Old Homestead Market and Floral during her visit here last month. She recalls with fondness the Christmas she spent here with one of her host families.

    When the Northern European immigrants who settled this area in the late 1800s came to Nebraska they brought their Christmas traditions with them, so one would think the celebrations on both continents would be identical. However, that doesn’t take into account the way traditions can evolve over time and the strong influence our uniquely American culture has on such customs. As an example, con…