Being in a new place at Christmas can be a real shock to the system. Lots of people struggle with feelings of homesickness and nostalgia, no matter how old they may be.
Christmas is a special time to enjoy each other’s company and take part in some age-old family traditions. When you’re a child, it’s hard to imagine ever having a Christmas away from home. But eventually, the day will come when you are facing your first Christmas without your parents, siblings or family. Suddenly, you find yourself facing a Christmas without all of the festive traditions you grew up with.
Being in a new place at Christmas can be a real shock to the system. Lots of people struggle with feelings of homesickness and nostalgia, no matter how old they may be. If you are about to have your first Christmas away from home, here are some tips on how to make the day fun, festive and as happy as possible. Whether you’re with a new partner’s family or off on a solo holiday, there are plenty of ways you can make the day extra special.
1. Create a new tradition
For many of us, Christmas is day filled with unique family traditions. Whether it’s watching a special movie with loved ones, making a gingerbread house, going skating, or cooking Christmas dinner, we all have certain things we are used to doing on Christmas day. Instead of sitting around reminiscing about last Christmas and all the fun you had, this year is the perfect opportunity to make some new traditions.
If you’re with new friends or your partner’s family for the first time, find out what their special traditions are. Even if they are different to your own, now is a great time to have some fun trying something new.
Or, if you’re on holiday by yourself, think about a special thing to do in this new country. Whether it’s a swim at sunrise, a yoga session or a fancy meal out, there are plenty of things you can do to make your day special. This year, redefine what ‘festive’ means to you and try something completely new and unusual on Christmas Day.
2. Send something special home
It’s natural to miss your family on Christmas, especially if you know they’re all together doing the same things you always used to do. A great way to surprise them on the special day is to send an indulgent gift for them all to enjoy. Even if you can’t be there yourself, you can remind them how much you miss them by sending a gift basket.
Same-day delivery services, such as GiftTree, offer a vast range of Christmas gift baskets that will be delivered on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Choose some beautiful festive flowers or a delicious case of wine. They even have cheese, chocolates and cute little gifts.
With their super quick delivery times, this lovely surprise will be with your family in no time. They will absolutely love the gesture. So, remind your family how much you miss them by sending them an extra special Christmas surprise! Click here for more information: https://www.gifttree.com.
3. Try to do an old tradition in your new setting
If you’re feeling extra nostalgic on Christmas, why not try doing an old family tradition in your new location. For instance, try making one of your Mother’s or Grandmother’s old Christmas recipes. Or, you could try watching your family’s favorite Christmas movie to get you in the Christmas spirit. You could even try Skyping your family while doing one of these traditions. In this day and age, there’s no reason why you should feel isolated, no matter how large the distance is that separates you from your family.
4. Plan the day in advance
There’s nothing worse than waking up on Christmas Day with nothing planned. No one to see, nothing to do, nowhere to go – this can make your Christmas a depressing day, which you dread. Instead, plan some fun things you can do in advance. Even though it won’t the Christmas you’re accustomed to, at least you’ll have some nice things to look forward to.
Make sure you plan what you want to do first thing in the morning. Christmas morning probably carries lots of meaning for you and will remind you of many thrilling childhood Christmases. Whether you have some gifts to open on your own, or you decide to go out for a nice breakfast, be sure to have something special planned.
Another important thing to plan is your Christmas lunch or dinner. Either make yourself some old favorites, or take yourself out for a non-traditional Christmas meal. If you’re in a foreign country, it can be fun to try some local cuisine for your Christmas dinner.
5. Seek out home comforts
There’s no shame in missing home on Christmas. Even if you’re on the other side of the world, it can be nice to seek out some home comforts. Whether this means cooking yourself a feast of your favorite family dishes, finding a restaurant with some American comfort food, or even just watching a childhood movie, there are plenty of ways you indulge in some memories, no matter where you find yourself this Christmas. Try to plan a Skype session with your family on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Seeing familiar faces and places can make you feel a little closer to home when you’re feeling particularly nostalgic.
6. Don’t feel like you have to spend the day in any particular way
Christmas day away from home can feel overwhelming, especially when your accustomed to spending the day a certain way. If the pressure of making a special, tradition-filled day is getting to be too much, you can relax. Remember that Christmas is just another day. You should use this opportunity to do what you want to do.
This year, you don’t need to conform to the classical Christmas traditions – you really can do whatever makes you happy, whether that means doing something festive, or just lounging around on a beach. You certainly shouldn’t feel guilty if you don’t manage to pack a ton of Christmasy things into your day.
