Since I have been living overseas for the past 4 years, I have been able to celebrate different holidays in very creative ways! In some places I have jumped right into how that culture celebrates holidays, and sometimes I have had to go out of my way to be able to celebrate holidays that are specific to the USA.
It is such a beautiful thing that when we celebrate certain holidays, especially Christmas, we know that millions of our brothers and sisters around the world are celebrating along with us. Maybe in different time zones, different cultural traditions, but unified in gathering together in joy on that day! I also love how much we can learn about each other as we share holidays! Here is a fun website that has information on how each country celebrates Christmas!
This post is just to share a bit of my experiences and adventures celebrating around the world!
New Years
In Perth, Australia where I lived for a couple years, there was a MASSIVE firework show to welcome in the new year. A big group of friends and I watched the show on the bank of Swan River.
Fourth of July
You can take the girl out of America but you can’t take America out of the girl. I’ve found ways to still celebrate the land of the free and the home of the brave even in foreign lands! This past year, my friends and I were in the Middle East but we took a road trip out to some remote farmland that bordered a large lake! It was a toasty 115 degrees F (46 C) and we had greats snacks and a much-too-small canopy for shade and, of course, country music.
Thanksgiving
I was with a team in Manila, Phillipines during Thanksgiving 2017. As far as I know, turkeys are not a common animal in the pacific islands, so we settled for some roasted chickens and had such a fun time celebrating and reflecting on what we were grateful for. Other years, celebrating in Australia always consisted of a pot luck!
Christmas
Actually I’m not sure if it ever ISN’T Christmas season in the Philippines. In October there were Christmas decorations everywhere! The church we were staying at had a massive Santa statue to welcome you in! Even the government buildings were decked out for the season!
“I’m dreaming of a white Christmas”… white sand that is. December is summer in Australia, so Santa surfs in on a surf board instead of a sleigh! After opening presents with my roommates and having a nice Christmas lunch we play board games together! The day after is considered “Boxing Day” and we always make a beach trip! As Kenny Chesney says “all I want for Christmas is a real good tan”.
So wherever you are in the world and however you are celebrating let us pray for and keep in mind our brothers and sisters all over the world!
God bless y’all. Merry Christmas and have a g’day y’all!