Etienne Joubert fondly remembers Christmas Eve as a child, enjoying balmy evenings with family on his aunt's porch.

Growing up in South Africa, Joubert said there were no snowy Christmases, but rather the warm, summery Decembers of the southern hemisphere.

"They're heading into summer down there while we're heading into winter," Joubert said.

The weather is one of several ways Christmas is different in South Africa.

Joubert, 19, is a student at Gainesville State College who moved to the United States 10 years ago.

"My dad's a pastor and back in 2000 he decided to come to America and spread the word of God to Americans, and we packed our bags and moved to Gainesville, Ga.," Joubert said. "It was a big, big adjustment."

He said he quickly realized how festive Christmas celebrations were in America.

"I noticed a lot of people were more into it here with decorating their whole house and decorating everything like their cars," Joubert said. "It's different. It's a bigger deal here."

In South Africa, he said, Christmas is more subdued.
"We still go carolling and have lights, but not as much," Joubert said. "Over there it's more family oriented."

In South Africa, the majority of Christmas celebrations take place on Christmas Eve.

"On Christmas Eve we'll have a big dinner with the family and then open presents," Joubert said.

Even Santa makes his big appearance the night before Christmas.

"A family member will dress as Santa and hand out the presents to all the kids on Christmas Eve," Joubert said. "We would always play the game of guessing who's under the suit. And while the kids are busy with the presents, the parents will stuff the stockings."

Now, Joubert and his family incorporate both American and South African traditions into their Christmas celebration. They still have a family dinner on Christmas Eve, but wait to check their stockings until Christmas morning.

Joubert said he also enjoys getting to experience Christmas during the winter.

"You get to sit around a fire with family and friends and drink cocoa," Joubert said. "That's what I like the best about it."

Joubert said he looks forward to spending time with some of his South African relatives who are visiting this year.

"We go over there every couple of years and they come over here," Joubert said. "You get to show them your part of the world and they get to show you the part of the world you left."