Has anyone else noticed that it is Friday the 13th?! Dun, dun, dun! Stay safe and un-jinxed everyone. This time around they are holiday themed. (Shocker, right?)
Question: Has your idea of the holiday season changed since becoming an expat?
One thing’s for certain, England does Christmas well. I think it’s the most magical time of the year to be abroad, really. It’s probably because I’ve spent most of my childhood in New Mexico. And as much as I love New Mexico, cactus never fulfilled my literary and Hollywood projections of Christmas. England (for the most part) never fails to. From fairy lights everywhere, to the scent of mulled wines and cider in every pub, to Christmas fairs all over. This year marks my 4th! Christmas in England. One in London, one in Yorkshire and one outside of Bristol. We haven’t 100% confirmed our Christmas plans yet, but that decision will be made imminently.
Question: How do you build new holiday traditions, while keeping ones that remind you of home?
Sam and I have introduced each other to the others Christmas traditions. Christmas is Sam’s birthday so he usually always went out for drinks Christmas eve so we’ve started doing that. My family always watched a film at home together and ate sandwiches (so no one had to cook anything before the big Christmas day feast) and we’ve started doing that together as well. I’ve had a really easy expat transition and it’s because Sam and I have found a way to balance what Christmas is “like” to the other. That being said, I can’t wait for Sam to experience his first New Mexican Christmas. I think he’ll really like eating tamales and seeing the luminarias.
I know Skype with my family for ages every Christmas. Usually just after we’ve eaten dinner in England and before my family has in America. But we’ve tried to start new traditions of our own. We go tree shopping together shortly after American Thanksgiving (except for this year as we were still homeless), open Advent calendars together, make Christmas egg ornaments and try to do something festive in London. (Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, etc)
