- Title: Celebrities send holiday greetings to fans
- Date: 20th December 2016
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (RECENT - DECEMBER 15, 2016) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR, WILL SMITH, SAYING: "Christmas greetings - yes. Merry Christmas. Happy holidays. You know 2017 is coming up. 2016 was an interesting, potentially difficult year, so let's just get it together, let's get some love going for 2017." (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS, NAOMIE HARRIS, SAYING: "I want to wish absolutely everyone a very Merry Christmas. I hope you celebrate it with your family and your loved ones and you eat loads and also remember those less fortunate as well." (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS, HELEN MIRREN, SAYING: "Well very Merry Christmas, happy Christmas. Be full, be happy and hopefully be peaceful and let's all work towards peace in the new year because, honestly, it's time." LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (RECENT - DECEMBER 14, 2016) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR, CHRIS PRATT, AND ACTRESS, ANNA FARIS, SAYING: Chris Pratt: "Happy holidays." Anna Faris: "Happy holidays." Chris Pratt: "From the set of 'Passengers', happy Hanukkah, merry Christmas, joyous Kwanzaa, happy New Year, and go drink and eat your face off. That's what we're going to do." LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (RECENT - DECEMBER 7, 2016) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR, T.J. MILLER, WITH WIFE KATE GORNEY, SAYING: T.J. Miller: "From my Christmas top and ornament wife Kate and I, I bid you happy holidays." Kate Gorney: "And a very merry New Year." T.J. Miller: "It will be a New Year." (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS, JENNIFER ANISTON, SAYING: "Hello audience. Merry Christmas, happy New Year, happy Kwanzaa. Enjoy." (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR, MATT WALSH, SAYING: "Merry Christmas, everybody, happy holidays, be safe. I love you all."
- Embargoed: 4th January 2017 11:24
- Keywords: festive greetings Christmas holidays Jennifer Aniston Will Smith Helen Mirren Chris Pratt
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM / LOS ANGELES, CALIFORINIA, UNITED STATES / NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES / BEIJING, CHINA
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM / LOS ANGELES, CALIFORINIA, UNITED STATES / NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES / BEIJING, CHINA
- Country: Various
- Topics: Celebrities,Arts/Culture/Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA0015DFGIFH
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: As 2016 draws to a close, celebrities from across the world, including Helen Mirren, Matt Damon and Will Smith have been sending fans their holiday greetings, and talking about what the festive period means for them.
"2016 was an interesting, potentially difficult year, so let's just get it together, let's get some love going for 2017," said Will Smith in London.
"Be full, be happy and hopefully be peaceful and let's all work towards peace in the new year because, honestly, it's time," Mirren added.
In New York, Katie Holmes and Nick Kroll were among the actors and actresses to send their best wishes.
Singers including Rita Ora and Labrinth also gave their best wishes, while Canadian country star Shania Twain described her favourite kind of Christmas.
"Well we really like to be in the snow in winter. I come from a very cold part of Canada, so there's always snow. I like traditional Christmases, with you know, evergreen Christmas tree and snow, hot chocolate and a nice fire - just being with family. So I go for a pretty quiet low-key traditional Christmas environment."
Meanwhile actress Priyanka Chopra said she was planning for "gluttony".
"Gluttony, lots of Christmas cake, that's all I plan," she said, adding: "And a beautiful Christmas tree, which I've done already."
Actor Gael Garcia Bernal had this word of advice for those who might not be feeling the festive spirit:
"For anyone that doesn't enjoy Christmas, give it a change, you know? And just smile, congratulations," he said.
Actor Liam Neeson explained the importance of Christmas in his household.
"We celebrate Christmas, myself and my two sons very, very traditionally. Lots of food, maybe too much food, a few gifts and a few prayers too with thanks, certainly with thanks. Very traditionally, it's a very important time of the year," he said.
But don't expect any Christmas cheer from rock star Marilyn Manson, who told Reuters at the 2016 Fashion Awards in London that he "hates Christmas."
"I don't usually celebrate Christmas, but some of my friends celebrate Hanukkah which seems like a more conventional, better holiday because you get more gifts, I think. I've spent every Christmas without a Christmas tree since...since some while. I'm like Charlie Brown's Christmas - the sad tree, the Grinch," he said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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