Four Ways to Embrace the Holiday Season Abroad

New country, new expat — create new holiday traditions

As you have gotten familiar with your new home for the past days, weeks, or months, you have now stepped into the holiday season. For many, the holidays are associated with family, homecomings, festive foods, traditions, faith, and more.

The holiday season can be lots of enjoyment or, for some, just a time to get through being in a new place, solo or with family. My advice is to make it an opportunity to experience new customs, traditions, festivities, foods, and more in your host country.

It does not mean you might not have moments of homesickness, loneliness, or even missing your loved ones. Take feelings of excitement or melancholy all in stride. Reflect on the reason why you are abroad and the experiences you are gaining in the process.

When you go global, the holiday season stretches over almost three months from November to February, based on which ones you celebrate. Regardless of what region of the world you live in and your personal traditions, I encourage you to partake in your local festivities during the season.

So, let me share some ideas for celebrating locally, and finding a bit of joy in your new host country.

Celebrate the Local Way

Embrace your new surroundings and explore the culture, which was one of the reasons you moved abroad. Celebrate the holidays like a local! Find ways to incorporate traditional activities happening in your host city’s streets, malls, and local venues.

Grab your favorite coffee or tea, head into the local neighborhoods to see decorations, accept invitations from your local friends to join them at home, or attend celebratory events that holiday. Remember, the holidays might not be the same as yours or fully in your traditional holiday season.

Plus, the festivities may not be in full effect and have a limited timeframe, given our current global health challenges.

While living in Singapore from 2015–2019, I learned to enjoy the Chinese/Lunar New Year, which occurs in late January or February. I enjoyed the drum rhythms of the Lion or Dragon Dance, and joined in the custom Yu Sheng (aka lo hei).

This traditional food ceremony symbolizes your plans for prosperity for the upcoming year. Partaking in the local holiday traditions will enrich your life as it has mine.

Celebrate with New Friends

One of the best ways to celebrate the holidays is by hosting your own events.

Having a small group of new friends to share festive experiences with can be joyous. If you are living as a solo expat or with your family, turn your home into a gathering place with all of your new friends. Share customs and traditions from home.

Celebrating with your new friends will be a good way to lessen the feeling of homesickness. If you are like me and enjoy cooking or baking, put those culinary skills into making your holiday favorites for your guests.

Celebrate with Loved Ones Using Technology

Our world is quite virtual these days, so celebrating the holiday in a virtual manner with family and friends is part of your new reality. As we have all learned in the past twenty-plus months, we do not have to miss the special moments at home, thanks to the latest video and messaging options.

You can livestream almost any event, and connect from almost anywhere in the world. If it is too early or late for live streaming, have family or friends record it and send you a link to watch later.

If video calls are too much for you, there is audio; join the conversation and laughter either way. There are so many options via a variety of platforms for you to catch-up with everyone at the same time, or individually.

Celebrate by Giving Back to Your Local Community

The holiday season is a great time to donate in some way to your new host country. Even amidst the current global health crisis, you may be able to find an opportunity to give back. Taking the proper precautions, you could still share your time, talent, or resources.

You can volunteer in places and spaces that fit your comfort level and match your passion. You can donate funds to a local charity to create holiday baskets or holiday meals for families in need. You can find new virtual ways to give the gift of time.

Join a virtual group that visits children in hospitals, or be a companion to an elderly person for a few hours. These are some fantastic ways to lift the spirits of others, and yours in return.

Keep an Open Mind

To be candid — your holiday will have a different vibe. It will be different, especially if it is your first holiday season abroad. Work on your mindset to accept the differences; along with that, there may also be reduced public activities and festivities due to the ongoing pandemic conditions.

You might like the cold and snow, but you are now hot and humid. It could mean a winter coat vs. a sundress. Or, it might be a difference with the foods. You can get a hot apple cider or vanilla-nutmeg eggnog, but it just doesn’t taste the same. Remember, holiday decorations might also be different in your new home.

You might want to opt to have some in-home creative fun to make your experience in your new country feel like home. Decorate your place as if you were home, and create a playlist of your favorite holiday songs. Bake those traditional holiday treats — cookies, bread, or cakes.

Invite some new colleagues or acquaintances for a holiday cocktail or dinner at your place. It is a fabulous way to show off your decorations or holiday delights. Gather your new friends, make some holiday popcorn and beverages, and stream your favorite holiday movie.

Even while you are making your living space festive, try to have realistic expectations for your holidays abroad, and you will not be disappointed. Do not put unreasonable pressure on yourself to make it just as if you were back home, or to have the perfect holiday season.

Give yourself and your family a break this year, and you will figure out what works best next year. It is worth repeating — keep an open mindset that it is going to be different.

Summing it all up…

When things don’t seem right during the season, and you feel like you are missing out, take solace in the fact that the holidays occur every year.

Remember, you are in a new country, and remind yourself that your time abroad may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. So, enjoy your new traditions! It is normal to feel homesick or overwhelmed around the holidays.

Don’t let those feelings ruin the life-changing experience that is enriching your life. The key is to take some time to enjoy and appreciate the influences (people, traditions, foods, and more) from your new place, or from the new traditions you’ve started for yourself and your family.

Updated from the original version Dec 2019

You may also be interested in this related story: How Expat Life Intersects with Maslow’s Theory -let’s talk “belonging” at this time of year.