In This IssueChristmas Traditions While Living Abroad

Some Fun Christmas Facts

Did You Know?

Next Month

Surviving the Holidays Away From Home

Christmas Traditions While Living Abroad by Beverly D. Roman, Author, Consultant, BR Anchor PublishingThere are nearly 200,000 U.S. citizens living and working in England alone, with a total of about 9 million Americans living worldwide. While some of these families can travel “home” for Christmas, there are many more whose work and/or school commitments prevent them from scheduling a trip at this time. My own family was unable to return to the United States during our first Christmas in England. Although initially disappointed, we ultimately decided to have a party and invite our neighbors and fellow expatriate colleagues to share in our traditions, while at the same time learning some of theirs. For instance, friends from the Netherlands told us the most important day for them is December 5 when St. Nicholas brings the presents. Our Italian friends told us they start Christmas season by decorating on the Day of the Immaculate Conception, December 8 and our Danish friends told us that they decorate their Christmas trees with fairy lights, a custom dating back to 1914, when the first Christmas tree was lit on the Town Hall Square in Copenhagen. And last, in some countries, Thanksgiving (or even Halloween!) signals the start of the Christmas season.

Celebrate the Old and the NewWhen trying to adjust to a new country, preserving family holiday traditions and rituals takes on a whole new meaning. Cultural celebrations are part and parcel of who we are; therefore, maintaining familiar holiday customs eases loneliness, helps families preserve continuity in their lives and helps everyone maintain strong personal bonds. Family therapist Gayle Peterson, PhD says: “Satisfying family rituals are the glue that holds a family together.” They are also wonderful ways to create or deepen friendships with colleagues and neighbors in your new location. During our first Christmas party, we showed the attending children some American Christmas cartoons—a holiday tradition for our family. The expatriate and British children were enamored by these new (to them) stories of Christmas fantasies.You can also make your party more fun for adults if you share Christmas memories, i.e. experiences, stories, traditions or even recipes. At one party we asked everyone to bring a recipe, which we put in a container and guests picked one to try. This can be a wonderful conversation starter.

Creating New TraditionsIndividuals who have not grown up with special traditions can create their own unique family customs. What is most important is that everyone has a role in the preparation. Note that responsibilities can be different over the years. This serves to create more excitement and is also good if one member is absent because then someone else can assume that person’s role. The objective is for everyone to enjoy the experience and promote family time together, thereby making it a tradition that everyone will anticipate repeating again and again.

Giving to Others Another fine family effort is to participate in charitable programs, such as taking a meal to a needy family or providing transportation for those who cannot drive. Reaching out to people less fortunate than ourselves teaches children about sharing and values. It is also most fulfilling to bring cheer to others.

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Vol 10, No. 12 • December 2017 Amy Roman, Publisher

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At a recent family gathering, our son told us how his two daughters took money out of their small bank accounts to help fund a holiday dinner for needy individuals. It was obvious as he related the story that the girls experienced a real sense of pleasure from this endeavor.Christmas is almost always synonymous with family and even though time and space may separate you, hearts can never be really separated. Holidays should certainly be remembered and observed at the appropriate times in your life–no matter where you are living. It is important to note that family values and relationships are often stressed following relocation so your concerted efforts to continue family celebrations can help maintain or restore close family bonds. The keys are to be open to the ideas and feelings of each family member and be willing to create new ways of doing things; new customs can generate traditions that will define the uniqueness of your family. Most importantly, consider what you remember most fondly from your childhood–the love and activities you enjoyed–and help your children grow up to remember the same things.

Surviving the Holidays Away From Home by Amy L. Roman, PublisherHere is an excerpt of a nice article with ideas I had never considered or read before: “If you, yourself, are moving overseas, try to pack little things that carry the spirit of the holiday for you. If you are an expatriate overseas with your family, there is much you can do to reproduce your traditional holidays, although you may need to be creative. For example, finding a turkey for Thanksgiving is difficult in Japan, but impossible in India. Although particular foods often play an important role, if those foods are not available, try to find a good substitute. You never know, this ‘hybrid’ you have created may become your new family tradition, no matter where you are.”Click here to read the entire article posted by Rowland & Associates–Cross-cultural training professionals

Amy L. Roman has a BS in Business Marketing from Penn State University, and an MA in Counseling and Psychology from Lesley University. Amy has worked in the field of publishing since 1994. Her business and counseling background, combined with her 24 relocation experiences contribute to her relocation expertise and are a perfect fit with BR Anchor Publishing’s moving books.

Beverly D. Roman has written more than thirty domestic and international relocation books for adults, teenagers, preteens and young children. Beverly has appeared on CNN, ABC and Discovery Channel as an expert in the field of relocation. Her books include advice for military families, and are used by all branches of the armed services around the world. Contact her at beverlyroman10@gmail.com.

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Next Month … About 2 to 3 out of every 1,000 children in the United States are born with a detectable level of hearing loss in one or both ears. (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)). This, of course, presents another relocation challenge for these families. Kelly Coleman of Consumer Health Labs, an organization with an objective of exploring some of the most compelling and meaningful hearing loss data, will expand on this topic in January with “Relocating the Hearing-Impaired Child.”

Did You Know?Christmas is a civil holiday and is celebrated by an increasing number of non-Christians, and is an integral part of the holiday season. According to a Statista survey carried out in 2016, the vast majority of respondents stated their intention to celebrate the holiday, with only 5 percent declaring that they would not be joining in with the festivities. Christmas is typically the largest economic stimulus for many nations around the world as sales increase dramatically in almost all retail areas. As a result of increased spending, over 768,000 employees were hired in the United States to compensate for the holiday rush.

Some Fun Christmas Factsby Beverly D. Roman, Author, Consultant, BR Anchor Publishing ❅ All the gifts in the Twelve Days of Christmas would equal 364 gifts.❅ According to the Guinness world records, the tallest Christmas tree ever cut was a

221-foot Douglas fir that was displayed in 1950 at the Northgate Shopping Center in Seattle, Washington.

❅ The Germans made the first artificial Christmas trees out of dyed goose feathers.❅ Each year more than 3 billion Christmas cards are sent in the U.S. alone.❅ Evergreens (from the Old English word aefie meaning “always” andgowan meaning

“to grow”) have been symbols of eternal life and rebirth since ancient times. The pagan use and worship of evergreen boughs and trees has evolved into the Christianized Christmas tree.

❅ Wassail is from the Old Norse ves heill, meaning “good health.”❅ In Germany, Heiligabend, or Christmas Eve, is said to be a magical time when the

pure in heart can hear animals talking.❅ The earliest known Christmas tree decorations were apples. At Christmastime,

medieval actors would use apples to decorate paradise trees (usually fir trees).

ReferencesAllen, Linda. Decking the Halls: The Folklore and Traditions of Christmas Plants. Minocqua, WI: Willow Creek Press.“Christmas Trees and More.” University of Illinois Extension.Gulevich, Tanya. Encyclopedia of Christmas. Detroit, MI: Omnigraphics, Inc.Guinness Book of World Records. New York, NY: Bantam Dell.