Christmas is to Europe and America what the Spring Festival is to my country. Originally, the most important festival of joy and harmony and family reunion, this year has undergone many unexpected changes due to the spread of the new crown epidemic overseas.
When we greet buyers and send holiday blessings, we might as well adjust according to these changes.
United Kingdom: 3 companies form the "Christmas Bubble"
The UK’s special anti-epidemic policy during the Christmas period is to allow members from three different families to form a “Christmas bubble” from December 23rd to 27th to celebrate the holidays together in England, Scotland, Wales and North America. This is true in Ireland.
However, the British Queen and his wife have set an example to say that they will not visit relatives this year. They will spend a "quiet" Christmas at Windsor Castle for the first time in 33 years. The families of Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry are all staying in their own homes. With.
Recently, two retail giants in the UK have declared bankruptcy. Therefore, in order to save the offline physical retail industry during the Christmas shopping season, the UK also allows some stores to be open 24 hours a week from Monday to Saturday. Several brands such as Primark, Marks & Spencer have already Said that he would cherish this opportunity and sell the goods.
This is very contradictory. On the one hand, family members should not be reunited, and on the other hand, people are encouraged to go shopping? I saw the lively scene of Christmas shopping by the British on Twitter before. It was really crowded, without a mask...
Germany: The most wanted gift is a shopping card
Germany has always had a tradition of Christmas markets, but they have basically been cancelled this year. Some cities with more flexible minds have Christmas markets that can’t get off the bus. You can refer to McDonald’s Drive-thru restaurant for details.
On December 13, the German epidemic showed an exponential growth trend. Chancellor Merkel announced a mandatory lockdown order: except for essential goods supermarkets, pharmacies and banks, other shops and entertainment venues will be closed; primary and secondary schools will also be closed, and office workers will be suspended. Work or work from home. The new round of blockade measures will last from December 16 to January 10 next year.
Germany’s Christmas epidemic prevention measures are as follows: from December 23 to January 1, no more than 10 people (children under 14 years old are not counted) are allowed to gather, and people are encouraged to self-quarantine after meeting with friends and family . Unless the situation suddenly improves, restaurants and bars will still be closed during Christmas, and the hotel will still be unable to receive tourists.
The Hotel and Catering Industry Association supports non-opening operations, because if they have to clean up, decorate the store, and hire employees for a short-term opening, it is not cost-effective.
When German Chancellor Merkel met on December 9th, he persuaded the Germans to take good care of the epidemic and choked for a while, saying that this Christmas should not be the "last Christmas with grandparents." She called on Germans to reduce their social contacts during the upcoming Christmas holidays to ensure each other's safety, especially the safety of the elderly.
Guess what is the highest-selling Christmas gift for Germans this year? The answer can be said to be very German-it is a shopping card. According to a survey conducted by the German Trade Association, shopping cards are popular even in times of crisis because they are widely used. 30% of Germans want at least one shopping card under the Christmas tree.
You who want to prepare gifts for German customers, have you got it?
Italy: strict blockade, no cross- region
According to Italy's latest prevention and control measures, from December 21 to January 6 next year, the 20 regions of Italy are "interlocked". People are not allowed to travel across regions except for work, health or emergency reasons. On Christmas Day on December 25, Boxing Day on December 26, and New Year's Day next year, people are not allowed to leave the town where they live. And during the Christmas period, there is still a curfew from 10 pm to 5 am the next day.
There is a saying in Europe that the Italians are "European Chinese". This policy is a bit too cruel for Italians who attach great importance to their family. But there is no alternative, the current number of new confirmed cases and new deaths in Italy is still high.
Italy is one of the countries with the highest death rate from the new crown in the world, with 98 deaths due to the new crown per 100,000 people.
Spain: Learn Italian
As another hardest hit by the European epidemic, Spain, in bulk, each region has its own ideas on epidemic prevention measures.
Now the central and local governments have finally reached an agreement on the issue of Christmas epidemic prevention: each family will limit the number of people gathering during Christmas and New Year holidays to no more than 10 people. Except for visiting family members, from December 23, 2020 to January 6, 2021, people will not be allowed to travel to and from the major districts at will.
However, the curfew has been relaxed. On the evening of December 24 and December 31, the start of the night curfew in most Spanish areas was postponed to 1:30 in the morning. For Spaniards who are used to being high at night, this is to allow them to go home after dinner.
But looking at the recent festivals of the Madrid people, the virus should not be afraid of anything.
Recently, the Madrid people spent a small holiday on Constitution Day. The Sol square in the city center was full of people. And with the arrival of the first snow in winter, another large crowd rushed to the nearby snowy mountain for vacation. Madrid police said that during the Christmas period, shops, squares, and Christmas markets are expected to be crowded with people (viruses).
France: Only Christmas Eve is exempt from curfew
Earlier, French President Macron said that if the number of infections per day drops below 5,000, it will be possible to deregulate and open more space for commercial activities from December 15. However, the French did not do it. Currently, the number of infections per day in France still exceeds 10,000.
The French Prime Minister, the Minister of Interior and the Minister of Health and others held a joint press conference on December 10 to announce the gradual lifting of the ban before Christmas. The unblocking will learn the lessons of the last time and proceed gradually. At the same time, a 20-point curfew will be adopted to restrict everyone's nightlife.
Starting from December 15th, people no longer need to fill in a "travel certificate" when going out. With the exception of overseas provinces, the local foot-free will be changed to a curfew from the 15th. From December 15th, the curfew will be from 8pm to 6am instead of the original 9pm to 7am. The night curfew will be strictly restricted and no sports activities are allowed unless there are professional reasons. Cinemas, theaters, museums and other public cultural venues that were originally scheduled to reopen on December 15 will remain closed and are tentatively scheduled to open on January 7 next year. In addition, the curfew will no longer be exempted as originally planned on New Year’s Eve on the evening of December 31, except for the Christmas Eve curfew on December 24.
The latest polls show that some French families are already struggling. This year, 20% of parents with children will give up giving gifts. Among poor families, this proportion has risen to 36%.
Belgium: open to singles
The per capita infection cases in Belgium were once the highest in Europe, so they imposed very strict epidemic prevention restrictions in early November. Social restrictions and curfews will not be lifted during Christmas. However, considering that single dogs are too miserable during this time, during the Christmas holidays, Belgium especially relaxed the regulations for people living single, allowing them to invite two people to celebrate at home at the same time. Restaurants, bars and cafes will continue to close.
United States: Christmas is the ultimate challenge
During Thanksgiving, there was a big outbreak in the United States, so now the top US infectious disease expert Fauci is very worried. He said that in terms of the spread of the epidemic, the Christmas holiday season may be worse than Thanksgiving. Since most people choose to travel during the Christmas holiday, this will make the spread of the epidemic even more uncontrollable. Therefore, the end of December may become another peak period for the spread of the new coronavirus in the United States. It is expected that in mid-January next year, the United States will usher in its darkest hour.
This darkest moment feels like it has appeared many times, but every time it is not the darkest, there is more darkness behind. With the launch of vaccines in the United States in December, I hope it will be the "most" this time.
New York, which has always attached great importance to epidemic prevention and control, will turn the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting ceremony into a live TV broadcast this Christmas, and the site will be closed to the public.
Because I can’t go to see large public Christmas trees this year, American home Christmas trees are very popular. Some Americans who have never bought Christmas trees have placed orders this year, because they are staying at home anyway. It is better to decorate the Christmas tree. Some atmosphere.
The Christmas Tree Growers Associations in many places in the United States all stated that retailers’ inventories are consumed quickly and growers’ sales have also increased significantly. Nash, a businessman who supplies Christmas trees to New York City’s Uptown every year, lamented: “Now it’s crazy. Our sales are now nearly double the same period last year. If this momentum remains the same, this year will be our best sales in history. One year."
Canada: Christmas is hopeless
Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau said as early as the end of November, don't think about a normal Christmas this year.
At present, many provinces in Canada have introduced new strict restrictions, clearly stipulating that private and most public gatherings are not allowed during Christmas and New Year. For example, Quebec in the east, BC in the west, and Manitoba in the center are strictly prohibited from gatherings. Anyone who violates the rules will be punished.
The governor of Manitoba even implored the public not to gather during Christmas in a televised speech. He said: "I don't want to believe the threat of new crown pneumonia. That's really a fool." I’m the one who stole your Christmas to protect your safety.”
In previous years, the photo service of Santa Claus in shopping malls in Canada was very popular with children, but this year it will not work anymore. Many department stores no longer allow Santa Claus to take photos with their children. One remedy is to provide Santa Claus video services. Families in need can book one-on-one online video conversations with Santa Claus for their children.
