6 Tips for Celebrating Your First Holidays Abroad
Ahh, the holidays! No matter what time of year, your first holiday as an expat marks a milestone in your international life. It’s a chance to learn about local culture, share your own traditions, and create lasting connections. But it’s not always easy.
Balancing your customs with those of your new country can be both rewarding and challenging. Holidays are intensely personal events for everyone involved. Expats often miss home traditions and holiday gatherings as they carry deep cultural and emotional significance. Adjusting to a new country’s way of celebrating can add to the complexity of adapting to a new culture.
But it’s undeniable: embracing new ways of celebrating can be a powerful way to connect with your new country’s culture and add a touch of “home.” Whether you’re attending a local holiday for the first time or re-creating a beloved home tradition, a culturally sensitive approach helps make your celebration more meaningful.
We’ve gathered our top six tips to enjoy holiday celebrations abroad in a practical and respectful way. Let’s talk about how to create new memories while honoring both your roots and your new country.
1. Find a Local Guide
One of the best ways to feel comfortable celebrating a new (to you) holiday abroad is to connect with someone who’s native to the country. Having a friend, colleague, or neighbor who knows local customs can be invaluable—and can make new holidays immediately feel familiar.
A “local guide” can offer insights into the meaning behind traditions, explain local etiquette, and let you know about cultural practices. They can help you understand parts of the holiday or expectations you otherwise might not know. These include things like the flow of events at a holiday gathering, or how to express gratitude in a way that feels natural in the culture.
It’s also a great way to show your enthusiasm for your new country’s culture! People often love sharing their customs and it’s a great way to bond with people in the community. It can take courage to knock on a neighbor’s door or approach a colleague—but it could lead to lasting friendship.
2. Do Your Homework
Taking the time to understand the cultural background of a holiday can make the experience much richer. Research the holiday’s history, meaning, and rituals or symbols associated with it. Having this context can help you feel more connected to the celebration—and avoid any accidental misunderstandings.
An interesting example of a potential mishap is fireworks. In some cultures, fireworks mark only religious celebrations, while in others, they’re used for general festivity. A little research ahead of time can prevent mix-ups and make sure that your excitement and respect for tradition come through clearly.
When starting your research, there are a couple of questions to consider asking:
What values or beliefs does this holiday represent?
Are there particular activities, foods, or music associated with the celebration?
Is the holiday more family-centered, or is it celebrated publicly with the community?
The goal is always to engage meaningfully and show your genuine interest in learning. Preparation is the key to success and a little background knowledge can make all the difference.
3. Dress for the Occasion
In many places, how you dress for a holiday can carry special meaning. For some religious holidays, there may be guidelines on modesty or other considerations. If you’re unsure, it’s completely okay to ask someone you trust, or do a quick online search to learn about appropriate attire. Even if there’s no strict dress code, dressing with respect for the tradition can help you feel more connected to the occasion.
Some considerations include color, materials, style, and where the clothes are made. An excellent way to make sure you’re outfitted appropriately is to go with a friend, colleague, or neighbor to a local shop. You’ll not only hear various points of view regarding proper dress, but you’ll get to know your new home a little better, too.
4. Be Thoughtful with Gifts
Gift-giving customs vary widely across cultures. In some countries, small, thoughtful gifts are ideal, while in others, an extravagant gift might be more typical. If you’re invited to a gathering, ask if bringing something is customary. If it is, consider the cultural or religious background of the person to whom you’re gifting, as certain items could have specific connotations.
Common examples of “controversial gifts” include alcohol, food, or types of flowers.
In some cultures, giving a donation to a charity that’s meaningful to the recipient is more appreciated than a material gift. In others, money in specially-designed envelopes is given directly to the host. Regardless, a little bit of consideration goes a long way and can make your gesture even more meaningful.
5. Clarify Food Preferences or Restrictions
Food is often central to holiday celebrations and every culture has its own dietary customs. If you’re bringing a dish or helping with the meal, check first about local dietary needs and religious food restrictions. These can include kosher, halal, or vegetarian.
Even within these categories, specific foods may be welcomed or avoided on certain days. Showing awareness of these details and interest in them demonstrates thoughtfulness and helps everyone feel comfortable during the celebration.
When in doubt, ask the host. They’ll let you know what dishes can be enjoyed by everyone (vegetarian options with culturally-appropriate preparation are often safe bets, dietary restrictions aside). Find out ingredient restrictions and be mindful of choices that are never appropriate for the culture. Pork and beef are two of the most widely avoided foods.
6. Keep an Open Mind
When participating in an unfamiliar celebration, it’s helpful to come to it with curiosity rather than comparison. Watch how others interact, listen to the stories they share, and just try to absorb the experience.
You might notice different ways of connecting, or a different pace than you’re used to. Keeping an open mind lets you immerse yourself in the moment and embrace it without preconceived ideas. It can also lead to unexpected friendships or insights into your own cultural values.
This approach is also helpful when you’re in a position where your favorite holiday isn’t observed. It can be one of the most challenging parts of the expat life. The key to handling this, and so many other expat challenges, is kindness. Be a little extra kind to yourself and acknowledge your feelings. Remind yourself that homesickness is a natural part of international living and use your open mind to appreciate the new customs even while missing the old.
One of the biggest TKC superpowers is our ability to adapt to other cultures and embrace their traditions. You can also embrace your flexibility to make your own holidays special in a different way, evolving with you. Celebrating with a new schedule, different people, and local elements can become a cherished tradition!
Navigating a Change? EKC is Here to Help!
Expat Kids Club isn’t just for people who live abroad – it’s for anyone who identifies as a current or former expat and needs support, anywhere in the world. We also offer video consults and appointments so our clients can build a stable, trusting relationship with their therapist, no matter where life takes them.
We specialize in helping people navigate new experiences and situations from the universal to the unique. Our mission is to help kids, teens, and families build resiliency, discover their identities and values, and form healthy coping strategies to manage the tough moments.
EKC recognizes the importance of treating the family as a unit, bringing everyone together. We work with an individual approach and a systemic mindset to determine the best through any challenge.
Schedule a call today to speak with one of our therapists and see how we can help your family thrive.