holidays

This holiday season, we gather. The lights are low, the fireplace is lit. Regional expertise is shared, and there’s laughter in the air as visions of successful global healthcare communications dance in our heads.

As we close out another great year, we invite you to get cosy with some of GLOBALHealthPR’s favourite holiday movies from around the world!

Argentina, Paradigma – Todo el Año es Navidad

Every year, we watch the classic Argentine holiday movie Todo el Año es Navidad, or Christmas is the Whole Year Round, a black and white film that premiered in 1960. In the movie, Santa Claus disguises himself among the citizens of Buenos Aires to help teach them about the marvels of Christmas. In our opinion, Todo el Año es Navidad is the best example of a traditional Argentine Christmas movie and a must-see during the holiday season!

Australia, VIVA! Communications – How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Many associate the holiday season with cold winters and snow, but here in Australia the holidays bring us warmer temperatures and we often spend time at the beach instead of huddled under blankets inside! To get in the holiday spirit, we like to watch classic cold winter movies while cooling off indoors—our favourite is the widely beloved How the Grinch Stole Christmas, which plays right into our sense of humour.

Brazil, Tino Comunicação – Love Actually

While we may not have traditional Brazilian holiday movies, we still love to start the season by watching one of our favourite films, Love Actually! We especially enjoy how love and the holiday spirit bring people together from different backgrounds.

Canada, energiPR – Elf

For us in Canada, Elf is the winner! There’s nothing funnier—or more Canadian—than Will Ferrell eating spaghetti with a boatload of maple syrup on top! We love how silly and heart-warming this holiday classic is.

Chile, Strategika – Un Cuento de Navidad

In Chile, one of the most popular films to watch during the holiday season is Un Cuento de Navidad, or as it’s more commonly known outside of Spanish-speaking countries, A Christmas Carol! This timeless classic gets us into the holiday spirit while reminding us of the importance of treasuring the lives of those around us and how we impact them.

Germany, fischerAppelt – Drei Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel

While Germany may not have a traditional German holiday film, we have a tradition of watching the Czech film Drei Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel from 1973. Based on the German fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm called Aschenputtel, or Cinderella, the movie has become so popular to watch during the holidays that newspapers and social media sites publish lists about when and where to view the film. We’ve even seen playful competitions between friends and families about who has seen the film the most recently and most often!

Hong Kong, Madison Communications – All’s Well, Ends Well

Here in Hong Kong, when it’s time to celebrate the Chinese New Year, we enjoy watching Stephen Chow’s All’s Well, Ends Well, which we consider one of the few classic movies that involves gambling, Kungfu and family—we love to watch it again and again every year with family and friends!

Nordics (Denmark, Sweden, Norway), Effector Communications – Far til fire i byen

A classic Danish holiday movie we make sure to watch with our loved ones is a film called Far til fire i byen, or Father of Four Going to Town. We especially enjoy singing a song from the movie called “Til julebal i Nisseland,” which is about the wonders and joy of celebrating Christmas!

India, MediaMedic Communications – Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham

In India, while we do not have any specific movies we watch to celebrate the holidays and festivals, we do sing songs from other popular movies that depict and describe various festivities. We particularly enjoy the title song of the film Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, a film that chronicles the lives and reunion of a family and uses song and dance to celebrate local festivals!

Italy, Connexia – Vacanze di Natale 

We celebrate with a popular Italian Christmas movie called Vacanze di Natale, or The Christmas Holidays, in Italy! This movie is special because it marked the first in a series of holiday comedies released around Christmas; it has become a tradition to watch each new film and see the different locations each takes place in!

Mexico, PRP – The Holiday

One of our traditions both in the office and in Mexico is to watch the 2006 romantic comedy The Holiday. While it may be a US-made movie, here in Mexico we love the film’s perfect mix of comedy and holiday spirit!

Poland, Alfa Communications – Listy do M.

In Poland, we enjoy what some have called the Polish Love Actually film, Listy do M., or Letters to Santa. Like the UK blockbuster, Listy do M. is a romantic comedy that follows various inter-connected stories of love and family on Christmas Eve in Warsaw. You can find us watching this fan-favourite holiday movie with our loved ones during every holiday season!

Portugal, Guess What PR – The Sound of Music

It wouldn’t be the holiday season without watching the classic film, The Sound of Music, in Portugal. To us, this movie represents the power of family and love that helps us conquer different challenges in our lives, which is what the holidays are all about!

Romania, MedicalPR – Home Alone

In Romania, most of us would agree that Home Alone is our favourite holiday movie! We love to watch this comedic film with our children, who we look forward to spending the holidays with the most!

Singapore, Spurwing – Home Alone

There may not be many Singapore-produced holiday movies, but that doesn’t stop us from getting in the spirit! Most Singaporean families watch the universally loved movie Home Alone with their children sharing the holiday joy!

Spain, Berbés – La Gran Familia

We enjoy watching La Gran Familia, or The Big Family, during the holiday season in Spain. It’s a very classic and traditional movie originally released in the 1960s that we continue to gather our families in front of the TV to watch—from the youngest to the oldest family members, everyone can enjoy this film’s depiction of a typical Spanish family during Christmastime!

South Africa, F/NE Group – How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Here in South Africa we love to watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas during the holiday season. This well-known film is a family favourite because it is a funny and quirky reminder that the holidays are about more than just gifts and trees—it is about love.

United Kingdom, Aurora – Love Actually

It simply wouldn’t be Christmas in the UK without watching the hit blockbuster Love Actually. What makes this movie so special is that it delves into different aspects of love through ten separate stories involving a wide variety of individuals in the lead up to Christmas. The stories are revealed to be interlinked as the film progresses—it’s truly a viewing necessity to get us in the holiday spirit!

United States, Spectrum Science – Miracle on 34th Street

When it comes to the holiday season, Miracle on 34th Street immediately comes to mind here in the US. This heart-warming redemption story exemplifies the power of spending the holidays with the ones you love and the belief that everything will work out the way it’s meant to. Miracle on 34th Street has been solidified as a traditional American holiday movie since its release in 1947 and continues to air on television multiple times throughout the season, so you can find us in front of the TV surrounded by our loved ones watching this classic!

 

Whether you’re celebrating at the beach or by the fireplace, we hope that you get in the spirit by watching one of our favourite holiday movies with your loved ones! Happy Holidays, from your friends at GLOBALHealthPR!

Traditionally, GLOBALHealthPR shares some of our favorite holiday traditions from our partners around the world. This year, we decided to share a holiday card…..about holiday cards. Each card below carries with it a taste of the culture from our partner agencies around the world, and greeting for a joyous and prosperous new year.

From all of us at GLOBALHealthPR, we wish you happy holidays, and a New Year filled with good health, peace, love, and joy – The GHPR Team

Argentina – Paradigma PEL

¡Feliz Navidad y próspero año nuevo! (Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!)

We hope for 2018 to be a year of leaving aside selfishness and accepting other views – and together we can achieve a better world!

 

 

 

 

 

Australia – VIVA! Communications

Season’s Greetings!

After our most successful year to date in 2017, VIVA! Communications can’t wait to kick off some more exciting projects in 2018 with a wide variety of health + wellness clients across Australia and beyond. We’re also looking forward to working even more closely with our GHPR partners around the world.

 

 

 

Brazil – Tino Comunicação

Boas Festas! Feliz Natal! (Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas!)

Another year comes with a lot of new opportunities and challenges! Let this New Year become the most successful year of our lives.  May 2018 be full of health, joy and peace! Thanks for the partnership! Happy New Year!

 

 

 

 

Canada – Energi PR

Happy Holidays!

Wishing you the best of the holiday season and a happy, healthy and prosperous new year!

 

 

 

 

 

France – MHC

Bonne Année 2018! (Happy New Year!)

Let us create a year of peace and health – the rest isn’t that important, is it?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany – fischerAppelt

Frohe Weihnachten und einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr! (Merry Christmas and slide well into the New Year! In Germany we call it sliding into the New Year and therefore include it in the greeting phrase. It basically means Happy New Year.)

A new year is also a new beginning. We hope yours is filled with good health, joy and happiness!
 

 

 

Hong Kong – Madison Communications

Happy Holidays!

May this Christmas and the present year end on a cheerful note and make way for a fresh and bright new year.  Here’s wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

 

 

 

India – MediaMedic Communications

नए साल की शुभकामनाएं ! or नूतन वर्षाच्या शुभेच्छा ! (Happy New Year!)

The beginning of every year takes you closer to your objective and dreams. We hope this New Year gets you there and your dream finally turns into reality. Listen to your inner voice and keep the faith as you walk the road to progress.

 

 

 

 

 

Mexico – PRP

Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo (Merry Christmas and happy New Year!)

Each December is a great opportunity to take a look back into the year and celebrate every achievement, as well as to set new goals to make our world a healthier, happier and better place. Let´s all work together, heart by heart to make this 2018 bright and joyful.

 

 

 

 

Poland – Alfa Communications

Wesołych Świąt i szczęśliwego Nowego Roku! (Merry Christmas and Happy New Year)

2017 was one helluva year for Alfa. Our staff kept having babies. Our other projects were also tougher than usual and the Polish political environment put added pressure on the PR market.  For 2018 we still wish for interesting times and challenging projects, but also a bit more rest – pretty please.

 

 

 

Portugal – Guess What Communications

Festas felizes para todos e que 2018 seja um ano repleto de boas notícias e muitos sucessos. E não percam a coolness!   (Merry Christmas to all and we hope that 2018 brings good news and a lot of successes. And don´t lose the coolness!)

In 2018, we’re looking forward to celebrating Guess What’s Ten Year Anniversary! And the FIFA World Cup!

 

Singapore – GHPR APAC Hub

Happy Holidays!

Fa lah lah lah lah, lah lah lah lah! May the spirit of Christmas be with you throughout the New Year! Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Wishing all of you a wonderful holiday season, lah!

 

 

 

 

Spain – Berbes Asociados

Feliz Navidad y próspero año Nuevo!  (Merry Christmas and happy New Year)

2018 sounds like a really good number. We are looking forward to seeing and feeling an exceptional year, full of joy, happiness, new ideas, good surprises, positivity, enthusiasm and of course surrounded by health and communication. We hope to be able to leave a mark on our work with all of these characteristics along with the GHPR team.

 

 

 

United Kingdom – Aurora Communications

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We look forward to a 2018 of launching new initiatives and building capabilities to deliver quantified outcomes that show the difference we make to patients’ lives.

 

 

 

 

 

United States – Spectrum

Happy Holidays!

Wishing you peace, joy, prosperity and a happy new year!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here at GLOBALHealthPR, we go to all ends of the earth to deliver recipes for successful global and regional communications programmes to our clients. With offices in more than 40 countries, we know how to find the right mix of local insights and ingredients in order to satisfy the unique tastes and needs of each programme.

In the spirit of the holiday season, we’re sharing some of the traditional recipes that are enjoyed in our local markets around this time of year, delivered by our expert agency partners. Bon Appetit!

 

Americas

Argentina – Vitel Tone

Italian (peidmontese, to be specific) in origin, Vitello Tonnato or Vitel Tone as it’s called in Argentina is a chilled summertime dish traditionally served at Christmas.  Vitel Tone is prepared at least a day in advance, when veal is braised and sliced thin then covered in a thick mayonnaise of tuna with oil and egg yolks, as well as other seasonings. The veal may then be chilled for up to five days to develop the flavour before it is served.

http://www.196flavors.com/2015/12/23/argentina-vitel-tone/

Brazil – Panettone

Panettone is a tall, spongey sweet bread stuffed with candied fruits and raisins, originating in Milan but served at Christmas and the New Year in Brazil, Argentina, Spain and many other countries. Panettone is left to rise for more than 20 hours, giving it the distinctive cupola-like shape. There are a number of colourful myths involving the invention of panettone, ranging from a priest’s love of his hat to a wedding officiated by Leonardo di Vinci.

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/panettone-italian-christmas-bread

Canada – Tourtière

A favourite in Quebec and across Canada, tourtière is a meat pie of diced pork or veal of beef. The exact filling depends on what is regionally available. On the coast, fish such as salmon may replace the meats. The slow-cooked deep dish pie may have originated in Quebec, but by the 19^th century Quebecois immigrants to the northeastern United States had brought tourtière with them. Beyond differences in meat, some regional variants include potatoes or various spices, and condiments range from ketchup and mustard to maple syrup and mango chutney.

http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2010/12/17/holiday-baking-traditions-tourtiere/

Mexico – Ponche Navideño

Ponche, a hot punch consisting of local fruits including tejotes, apples, prunes and pears as well as hibiscus, walnuts, raisins and cinnamon, is traditionally served at Christmas Eve celebrations, and the posadas, a nine day celebration leading up to Christmas. Ponche is frequently served warm, but can be chilled to taste, and can include liquor like tequila, rum or brandy for adult holiday festivities.

http://www.themijachronicles.com/2010/12/how-to-make-ponche-the-traditional-mexican-christmas-punch/

United States – Mincemeat Pie

Mincemeat pie originated in the British Isles centuries ago, as crusaders brought back with them spices and recipes for sweet meat and dried fruit pies. Over time, they became a Christmas tradition around the Anglophone world. In the U.S. they are usually eaten as full sized pies, but smaller individual pies are not uncommon. Oftentimes, modern mince pies skip the meat entirely, containing only fruit. Many families will serve the pie with Hard Sauce, so called due to the sherry mixed in with the butter and sugar, hence “hard”.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/mincemeat-pie-recipe2.html

 

Europe

Denmark – Pickled Herring

Called Inlagd Sil in Danish, pickled herring is traditional holiday fare in Denmark and across the Nordic region and often paired with akvavit, a spiced spirit. Pickled herring has been a northern European tradition since the middle ages and is used as a way to store and transport fish without it spoiling. The herring is served on rye, crispbread, sour cream or potatoes depending on the flavouring given to it during the curing and pickling process, which can include mustard, lingonberries, onion or garlic.

http://honest-food.net/2011/03/08/swedish-pickled-herring/

France – Foie Gras

Foie Gras, as defined by French law, is a duck or goose liver that has been fattened (up to 10 times its natural size) through the forced feeding of corn through a feeding tube. The techniques to force-feed the birds can be traced back all the way to 2500 BCE Egypt. Due to the lengthy and delicate production process, foie gras is considered a dish for special occasions, including Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Traditional French preparations are served cold, but the use of hot preparations has been increasing.

http://www.seriouseats.com/2012/12/the-food-lab-how-to-make-a-foie-gras-torchon.html

Germany – Roast Duck

Duck is the traditional centerpiece of a German Christmas Eve dinner. In addition to the duck, classic sides include red cabbage and potato dumplings. There are two schools of thought on the preparation of duck. Traditionalists cook it low and slow with, celery and apples in the cavity. Alternatively, some cooks simmer the duck in broth and then finish under very high heat in the oven.

http://www.thehungrymouse.com/2009/02/11/the-best-way-to-roast-a-duck-hello-crispy-skin/

Poland – Barszcz

Barszcz is a sour, bright crimson beetroot soup served during the holidays in Poland. Dumplings filled with meats, mushrooms and many other proteins and cheeses are served in the soup as well. The earliest variants of what would come to be known as Barszcz or Borscht were made with hogweed, and later versions would include poppy seeds, almonds, rye brand or barley in addition to the original hogweed and beetroot.

https://medium.com/@mwichary/polish-christmas-hot-beet-soup-with-mushroom-dumplings-663bf22639dc#.bnoic6rn2

Portugal – Bacalhau

Bacalhau is the Portuguese word for salted and dried cod. There are thousands of ways to prepare bacalhau, and yet it is ironically the only fish that is not consumed fresh in Portuguese cuisine. Bacalhau has spread across the Portuguese world, including Cape Verde, Angola, Macau and Brazil. The iconic Christmas recipe for bacalhau is boiled with garlic and served with cabbage, potatoes, carrots and eggs. A friendly note of advice: be sure to soak the bacalhau in water for at least a day before cooking, or else you are in for an extremely salty meal.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/salt-cod-onions-and-potatoes-bacalhau-a-gomes-de-sa-recipe.html

Spain – Turrón

Turrón is a remarkably simple but delicious sweet treat for the holidays. It consists of only four ingredients: honey, sugar, egg whites and nuts. Together they form a rich nougat, which is cut into bars to be served. The existence of turrón can be traced back to the 15^th century. Depending on the amount of nuts and the addition of other ingredients to the core of four, turrón can range from crisp to chewy to the bakers preference.

http://nourishedkitchen.com/turron-de-navidad/

United Kingdom – Christmas pudding

Christmas pudding, sometimes called plum pudding despite the lack of plums (plums were a pre-Victorian term for raisins), can trace its origins back to medieval England. The pudding is made of dried fruits held together by eggs with treacle, or molasses, and flavored with spices and brandy. Because of the high alcohol content, a steamed Christmas pudding can be aged for months, and is sometimes “flamed” or set alight in an electric blue pyrotechnic display to burn off the alcohol and add flavour.

http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/fruit-recipes/my-nan-s-christmas-pud-with-vin-santo/

 

Asia Pacific

Australia – Shrimp BBQ

There are few things more iconically Aussie than Shrimp (aka prawns) on the Barbie, and with Christmas coming in Australia’s summer months, it’s only fitting that an outdoor barbeque favourite is also a Christmas tradition. The classic recipe is pretty straightforward: stick the shrimp on the grill and coat with a glaze of garlic, honey, chili sauce and a citrus, though many recipes will call for a little bit of marinating. For dessert, pavlova, a meringue (named after the ballerina) with fruit and whipped cream, is a favourite.

http://www.food.com/recipe/succulent-prawns-for-the-barbie-15548

Hong Kong – Tangyuan

Tangyuan are sweet rice dumplings, that can be served either filled or unfilled and bite sized or large. Fillings include chocolate paste, fruit, peanuts or rock candy, though the most common filling is a paste made of ground black sesame mixed with sugar and lard. The name tangyuan is a homophone in Chinese for union, and as such they are served not only during the traditional Yuanxaio lantern festival and Winter Solstice, but also at family reunions and weddings.

http://www.chinasichuanfood.com/tang-yuan-recipe-black-sesame-filling/

India – Sesame Ladoo

Til Ladoos, or sesame ladoos are a popular treat served around the holiday of Makar Sankranti, celebrating the changing seasons in India and around the world. Ladoos are made from roasted and crushed peanuts, coconut and sesame stuck together with jaggery (cane sugar mixture) caramel. The mixture is then rolled into balls and served warm or at room temperature.

http://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/til-ladoo-recipe-sesame-seeds-laddu/

Singapore – Yu Sheng

Yu Sheng is a raw fish salad with shredded vegetables and condiments popular on the Chinese New Year. Salmon, mackerel and occasionally abalone are popular choices of fish, with the veggies consisting of carrots, radishes, red peppers, turnips, ginger, cabbage and more. Toppings include plum sauce, sesame oil and seeds. Once the dish is made, everyone gathers around the table with their chopsticks and tosses the salad as high as possible. Sometimes called Prosperity Toss, the name itself is a bit of a pun, with Yu Sheng (raw fish – 鱼生) being a homophone for Yu Sheng (prosperity – 余升), a play on both the tossing of the salad and the belief that eating Yu Sheng brings good health and success.

http://www.noobcook.com/yu-sheng-chinese-new-year-raw-fish-salad/

 

We hope you fill your stomachs with great food and your hearts with love and joy this holiday season. Best wishes in 2017 from the GLOBALHealthPR family.