How to spend Christmas abroad and alone: Solo Travel

Moving abroad is a difficult process to begin with, for many reasons. But when you leave your family behind and miss all the important events it can start to make you feel homesick. Even though you may start to reminisce and tear up from all the incredible memories and emotions you felt during those times, that should not deter you from moving abroad or moving home so quickly because you’re missing out on huge family events, such as Christmas. Especially when you see everyone else with their families.

In this blog, I will discuss the topic of loneliness after and during your expat, ways to overcome your homesickness, and fun and significant activities to do during the holiday season.

1. Experience an ‘orphan Christmas’

An “orphan Christmas” typically refers to spending the holiday season, particularly Christmas, without close family members or being away from one’s usual familial support system. It could apply to individuals who are physically separated from their families, usually due to geographical distance.

For those experiencing an “orphan Christmas,” it can be a time that brings about feelings of loneliness or a sense of being disconnected from the typical festivities associated with family gatherings. However, many find ways to create new traditions, celebrate with chosen families or friends, volunteer, or engage in activities that bring joy and meaning to the holiday season despite the absence of immediate family.

You will most likely find like-minded people who are experiencing the same thing. This way, you can build connections with them and create an interactive and festive day on Christmas.

You can build these connections through Facebook groups, church communities, travel apps, and websites. There are so many ways to connect with others, especially if you are experiencing Christmas abroad and alone.

2. Visit Christmas events

Immerse yourself in different Christmas events and enjoy the holiday season.

You can check your city or town’s website or local community center for information on Christmas events. These might include tree-lighting ceremonies, parades, holiday markets, or performances.

Many cities set up Christmas markets during the holiday season. These markets often feature local crafts, food stalls, and entertainment. They are great places to soak up the festive atmosphere.

You can also take a drive or walk around your neighborhood or nearby areas known for their elaborate Christmas light displays.

Some communities or businesses offer workshops during the holiday season. These could be cookie decorating classes, wreath-making workshops, or gingerbread.

Restaurants, cafes, or shops sometimes organize special holiday events like themed dinners, charity drives, or live music nights during the Christmas season.

3. Call home

Calling home during the holiday season, when you’re away from your family or loved ones, can be a meaningful and heartwarming way to connect.

It provides comfort, support, and a sense of belonging during a time that can sometimes evoke feelings of loneliness.

Video calling is my favourite way to talk to people online. You can still talk face-to-face even though you’re in two different places.

The best thing to do is plan the perfect day and time. If you’re in different countries, for example, you will most likely have completely different time zones. This isn’t bad if you are 18 hours behind or ahead because that’s almost an entire day. But if you’re around 9 hours ahead or behind, it becomes more difficult to find the perfect time. That’s why it’s important to plan because your days and nights may clash.

This happened to me whilst I was in Vancouver and my best friend was in London. Our time zone was a lot closer but while she was asleep I was awake and vice versa. However, when I would call family back in Melbourne, we had an 18-hour difference but there were plenty of times to choose from to call each other.

Therefore, planning ahead and setting a date will work perfectly and prevent any disappointments when you spend Christmas abroad and alone.

Yeah, don’t ask…ha

4. Bring your traditions with you

If you have certain traditions or little things that you love doing during Christmas, keep doing them. When you decide to live overseas and spend Christmas abroad and alone, having those traditions may make you feel better about being alone.

This does depend on the person. Some people may feel a little too homesick and they may get upset. However, if you choose to do these things maybe over Facetime with family, it becomes a different experience entirely.

Whatever works for you, you will acknowledge and understand it, once it happens.

Or maybe you follow certain beliefs, cultures, and/or religions and you can find a community of people that have those same beliefs, that can help bring out those traditions.

5. Experience corny Christmas traditions

Try to embrace the Christmas spirit in the new place you’re celebrating it. Each country/city has its own way of celebrating Christmas. Try to embrace the new culture surrounding Christmas, so that you feel a bit more at “home” or at least have something to take a bit of the homesickness away.

Examples include tacky Christmas decorations, decorating a gingerbread house, buying an ugly Christmas sweater, having a Christmas movie marathon, going Christmas caroling, or even getting an advent calendar.

This one is not necessarily just to spend Christmas alone and abroad, it’s sometimes just great to tick things off your bucket list and see what you love to do.

My budget-friendly Christmas “Decorations”

6. Find gratefulness

Find something to appreciate every day that you are not home. Even try to love the things you may not have been grateful for back home.

Remember, practicing gratitude is a skill that can be developed over time. Making it a habit to appreciate the good things in life can lead to increased happiness and a more positive outlook.

Having a journal, writing affirmations, and trying new things can help you feel more grateful every day.

Prioritizing gratefulness also allows room for coping with your loneliness, especially when you are about to spend Christmas abroad and alone.

7. Embrace the Christmas spirit

Don’t be afraid to embrace the Christmas spirit. Decorating your house, buying a tree, enjoying music, and watching classic Christmas movies are all great ways to spark that Christmas spirit.

My absolute favourite thing to do during the holiday season is to watch Christmas movies and listen to Christmas music. Everybody has their idea of what the ‘Christmas spirit’ is. Spending Christmas alone and abroad may help you discover what that is and maybe even change the way you celebrate Christmas in the future.

Figuring out what that is comes with time and may even click when you are by yourself.

8. Research activities in your area

Depending on where you are, different places will have different activities to do.

I know in most places there will be Christmas markets, concerts, and maybe even festive light displays.

Ways you can research what to do is to look at Facebook groups, posters, and social media, check online, churches, apps, or event websites, and my personal favourite, ask locals.

Sometimes locals will point you in the direction of something more niche and memorable, not so ‘cookie cutter.’ They will have better options and may even give you tips on what not to waste your time on.

I met “Santa” at a bar. So there you go

9. Send postcards

No not digital ones online. Actual real physical ones you can post through the mail.

I don’t know about you, but there’s something different about sending a postcard through the mail. The anticipation when your family and friends receive something through the mail 1 month later is so weirdly exciting.

Choose Christmas-themed postcards or ones that reflect the holiday spirit. You can find these at local stores, and online marketplaces, or even create your own using photos or designs.

Canva is also a great tool to use to make your own postcards.

10. Plan your Christmas day and activities

Planning ahead, saves you from missing out on any events you want to attend. The Christmas season is busy, so making sure you are getting reservations and bookings sorted as soon as possible without planning too much ahead is perfect, as you still want a sense of spontaneity.

I guess it’s also great doing it on your own because you don’t have to rely on anyone. When planning alone, you have the flexibility to make changes or adjustments more easily. You can adapt to unexpected situations or last-minute alterations without needing to consult or coordinate with others.

People think celebrating special occasions on your own is sad, but in reality, you have more freedom to do what you want when you want. You may feel a sense of loneliness but you will make unforgettable memories.

11. Have a Christmas photoshoot

Having a Christmas photo shoot can be a wonderful way to capture the holiday spirit and create lasting memories.

I don’t know, it could just be me being vain. But sometimes having a fun photoshoot by yourself builds your confidence and lifts your spirits. Especially when you are spending Christmas abroad and alone.

This is also a fantastic way to show your friends and family at home how you are doing. Maybe even turn them into postcards and share the photos with your family and friends.

You can even do it with the friends you may make abroad.

12. Cry it out

Yeah…when homesickness hits you, it hits you. This is when it’s okay to rug up in bed and watch a movie, cry and maybe even call home.

To be honest, when I left Australia and moved to Canada a part of my excitement when moving was experiencing a white Christmas. I thought that if I experienced a white Christmas again, it would feel like Christmas for the first time in a long time.

If you don’t know, Australia during Christmas is summer. So we don’t experience the same traditions and events. If anything, the closest to a “cliche Christmas” we get is having a barbecue on the beach.

Due to this, I believed I was going to have this Euphoric feeling seeing now for the first time, or a huge real Christmas tree planted into the snow. But..in reality, it still doesn’t feel like Christmas. Without family, it doesn’t feel the same and I just realized I didn’t need a white Christmas to appreciate and enjoy the holiday season.

Circumstances like this will probably make you cry and feel out of place, lonely, and maybe even a little empty. But that is why it’s perfectly normal and okay to ‘cry it out.’

I also cried because the coffee is not as good as it is in Melbourne. This was my first decent coffee.

Remember, spending Christmas alone abroad can be an opportunity for personal growth, cultural exploration, and embracing new experiences. Embrace the unknown of the situation and create meaningful memories that you’ll hold dear. To me, solo travel makes room for the best stories. And it may end up being your best Christmas story yet.

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