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So, why travel at Christmas?
Most people have family living abroad – what better time to catch up with them than at Christmas? Or perhaps you’re the person far far away – you could arrange to meet your family in some random location for a family Christmas you’ll never forget.
By the same token, most of us have spent many, many Christmases at home, having the same arguments and eating the same overcooked turkey (or other, culturally appropriate meal). Give yourself a year off the treadmill and do something completely different.
If you’re wondering where to head, Europe is a good starting place. Many cities have Christmas markets (I like the ones in Vienna and Prague), and others celebrate by building nativity scenes everywhere (Malta is especially prone to this). Or just choose a location and find out when you get there how Christmas is celebrated.
Find out about Christmas in Italy – home of many a nativity grotto – at Jessica’s site or Cherrye’s blog.
You might have noticed, if you live in the Northern Hemisphere, that Christmas is usually quite cold. But it doesn’t have to be. Christmas means summer in the Southern Hemisphere, and beach barbecues and picnics are normal Christmas meals. You know you need some Vitamin D – so head to Australia and New Zealand with a suitcase full of shorts.
If at all possible, join a local family somewhere overseas. They’ll know all the Christmas traditions and will probably be more than happy to teach you all about them. One of our most memorable Christmases was Christmas 2007, spent in Wustrow, Germany, with an ex-student and her non-English-speaking family. We were adopted for a week, showered with gifts and plied with traditional German Christmas food. It was amazing.
If you can’t get in with a family, celebrate with old or new friends – get a group of expats together for a meal or travel with your best mates.
At home in the US, being Hindu and all, didnt do much of anything. When we were little, we had a tree, but gave that up when it became worn out. We went to Denny’s for a full on American bfast ( only restaurant open), we’d watch the Xmas parade on TV, and at night, go to the movies. Us and our jewish friends.
December 20th, 2008 at 6:48 pmI listened to this podcast as I was driving “home” for Christmas, to my family’s house in Pennsylvania (Mid-Atlantic US). And just as Linda was getting all gleeful about Christmas in summer, a huge chunk of ice flew off the roof of the truck ahead of me and almost cracked my windshield! Makes me long for some picnics on the beach, for sure!
My family is Slovak, and we always celebrated the more traditional part of the holiday (bizarre Slovak foods, midnight mass, etc) on Christmas Eve. But then we have another more typically-American meal (turkey and LOTS of carbs) on Christmas Day. So I guess we get the best of both worlds, although my waistline doesn’t necessarily see it that way.
Hope Santa brings you lots of goodies!
December 24th, 2008 at 5:29 amThe celebrations sounds delicious. I’m not too sure about the ice though! Drive safely, Sonia.
December 24th, 2008 at 6:57 am