Returning to their roots is a must for many expatriates in the end-of-year festive season as they look forward to seeing their loved ones again and eating the staple food of the season. Some expats who are returning home for the occasion shared their feelings with us.
The holiday season in the home country is vital for many
Christmas is a very important period in many countries, while in others, December is a normal month like any other, as is the case in Asia or in Middle East countries. Since there is no special event in these countries, the best thing one can do is to travel home. But that's not the end of the story. Even when the host country has its own December traditions, many expatriates still prefer to return and celebrate with their loved ones and all the relevant traditions.
Regardless of their home or host country, many prefer to take a long-haul flight with several transits rather than spend the holidays away from home. Most of them are keen on eating traditional dishes, bringing gifts, reminiscing about the ending year, sharing good resolutions, and the transition to the new year as they used to do back home.
However, many of them can't go back every year, and here, we're not even mentioning the 2 years of the Covid pandemic that prevented expats from traveling. Instead, we are talking about logistics, planning, and even agreeing with the spouse or partner from a different country. All this makes it a real celebration for expats returning home for the holidays.
These expats are traveling home
Camille currently lives in France, but her partner is Italian, and they have lived in Italy for several years. "Meeting your family and friends after all this time is an intense and joyful moment. It's the time when you eat a lot, even more than when you return home at another time of year. There are the traditions, your favorite food (in France, you can't miss the 'foie gras', bread, oysters, snails), and all the things that make you happy during the end-of-year holidays. There is the catching up on the holiday seasons in your home country that you have missed. For many, it's also about bringing your partner to your home country and your family and making them discover your Christmas and New Year's Eve traditions. The first time is always special. It's quite similar when we return to Italy with my partner to celebrate with his family".
Magdalena is a Pole and cannot think of any other way to spend the holidays than in her home country. "For me, spending Christmas and the New Year without my family isn't an option, so I always go back to Poland. My family can't come here because my grandparents are old and it would be difficult for them to come to France. So I try to spend the entire holiday season in Poland from Christmas until a few days before the New Year. I usually celebrate Christmas with my parents and New Year with my Pole friends in the mountains, where we rent a chalet and go skiing and hiking. My French boyfriend often joins me in Poland on December 27. It's rather simple, but we have to plan it as early as possible (at least 3 months in advance); otherwise, ticket prices for the Christmas period rise very quickly."
Devon is American and has been an expat for 2 years. He talks to us about his mindset when he returns home for Christmas, something he would never miss for anything in the world: "My favorite part is when my family picks me up at the airport and when I arrive home and see the changes made and all the festive decorations. I can already feel the excitement a few weeks before the trip home, as well as the added stress of missing my flight. When I'm home for the holidays, I usually bring special gifts for my loved ones, depending on what I know about their taste, such as local foodstuff and handcrafted items like glass paintings and leather."
Emma has lived between France and Italy for a few years and has never been away from home for end-of-year celebrations. "In my family, the end-of-year holidays are an important family time to spend together as a family. So, it was obvious that I would be going back every year. All this needs proper planning because it is also the period when flight tickets are the most expensive, but for Christmas, we are ready to pay the price because otherwise, we would end up doing nothing alone in a city without our family. For me, it's a unique moment to spend time in my hometown, to walk the streets that remind me of yesteryears, to see friends who are also home for the holidays, and to spend time with family."
Vanesa, from Argentina, has lived in Italy and currently lives in Spain. "The first thing is to think about buying the plane ticket in advance because it can be very expensive to go back to Argentina during the holiday season. But being with my parents during this period is priceless; spending this time of the year with family and friends that we haven't seen for a long time is just incredible; people are on vacation, and we are in summer! So, the atmosphere is very relaxed and festive. I like to bring traditional objects and gifts to my relatives in Argentina. But the weirdest thing is switching from winter to summer in a single day.
Planning your flight back home for the holidays
Returning home during the holidays requires planning, especially if you're a new expat. Depending on your home and host country, things might be more complicated than if you were living in a neighboring country. Between the often-expensive plane tickets at this time of year, the stopovers, and the vacation days that you have been granted, it is sometimes difficult to find your way around. The best advice we can give to an expat is to plan the trip and the entire stay well in advance. Once you're home, plan who to see and when, and where you are going to spend the holidays. This will help you optimize your time and avoid the stress of forgetting someone or not being able to see a loved one, go to a place you've wanted to see or do a particular activity.
Finally, consider bringing back some traditional local products, including some local foodstuff, to give a taste of your host country to your loved ones. This can add a little extra to your traditional meal. However, make sure to inquire about customs restrictions regarding this!
Coming home at Christmas and New Year's is always a special time that many expats look forward to every year.
The Expat.com Team wishes you happy holidays with your loved ones!
