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Migrants add to Christmas melting pot

Author
Laura Heathcote,
Publish Date
Fri, 26 Dec 2014, 1:01PM

Migrants add to Christmas melting pot

Author
Laura Heathcote,
Publish Date
Fri, 26 Dec 2014, 1:01PM

While soaring migration is creating a melting pot of new cultures and traditions in New Zealand, Christmas, it seems, has been bigger than ever.

Annual migration this year hit a new record high of almost 50-thousand... and economists say it could hit 60-thousand late next year.

The gains came mainly from India, China, Australia and the UK.

Massey University religious studies expert Peter Lineham says even if they don't celebrate Christmas in their home countries, new migrants are taking it all onboard.

"When such people come to New Zealand they pretty quickly pick up the pattern...and they start to celebrate it," he says.

Lineham says Christmas has also become more secular than ever.

 

 

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