5 Ways to Embrace Holiday Traditions While Traveling Abroad

Holidays for me have always been about tradition, but I decided this year that I wanted to experience the holidays abroad, so my family and I are spending a few months in Monte Verde, Costa Rica. I thought it would be magical to be in the mountains for Christmas and celebrate the holidays Tico-style. But I’ll admit I was a little sad when I realized that we would would be skipping nearly all of our former traditions this year because a small strand of lights here is over $10 USD, which meant one strand was our only splurge, and because we accidentally left our “Elf on a Shelf” back home. But traveling fine-tunes my improvising skills, so we have created some new traditions this year.

1. Making nature ornaments.

There are very few Christmas ornaments in the markets here, and the ones that are available are about 5-6 times the price of the ones in the states. This year, we opted to make our own ornaments out of things we found on our nature walks. The kids picked flowers, found interesting leaves and fruits that had fallen along the road, and pressed beans and rice into no-bake ornaments we whipped up. We also strung a huge bag of Fruit Loops into garland, and drew pictures of mountains to hang up around the house. These are all special because so much of the flora here is unique, and we can keep our ornaments as memories of our first Christmas abroad. What types of ornaments or holiday decor can you create that is special to your current location? 

2. Wrapping adventure coupons.

It’ funny, but I noticed recently that I have never seen a kid here playing outside with toys. I have only seen them playing with things they have made, playing tag, running, or climbing trees. It makes sense now that I know there very few toys available to buy in Monte Verde. The few I have seen in the grocery store are so incredibly over-priced that no one really buys them. This year, for Christmas, I opted out of buying junky plastic toys for the kids, and I am wrapping adventure coupons that they can redeem for a fun trip to the Arenal Volcano, where we will stay for 2 days and search for lava rocks! Shhh, it’s a surprise! I also found a cute little bookstore, where I’ll get a couple of books for them to enjoy on future bus and plane rides. What gifts do you give your children when you are away from home for the holidays?

3. Reading stories about Christmas celebrations all over the world.

My 5 year old doesn’t understand why none of the homes here are adorned with Christmas lights and why there are hardly any trees in the windows. She asks why things are so different here than back in Austin. The best way I have found to explain this is by finding stories about how other cultures celebrate different holidays or by showing her YouTube videos on celebrations in other countries. This gets her excited to try new traditions and embrace celebrating holidays the way local people do, instead of feeling like she is missing out on something from back home.What is a unique tradition you have introduced to your family, inspired by your travels? 

4. Preparing traditional local dishes.

I’m not a huge fan of cooking (though I am a pro at chopping up a bunch of random ingredients and throwing them in a pot), but I do like the challenge of learning to prepare traditional (or typical) local dishes. We went to a Christmas party with Ticos over the weekend, and they prepared Costa Rican tamales, rice, and veggies, which was very different from any holiday meal I ever had back in the states. Now I’m teaching myself how to prepare them so I can serve them to my family on Christmas Day this year. Besides, it is impossible to find a ham or turkey up here! What “local” dishes have you prepared that stand out from your own traditions? 

5. Giving back.

Not because it’s Christmas but because it’s the best way to say “thank you”. When we are miles away from home and routine, the community that we are a part of becomes extended family. They embrace us, welcome us, invite us into their homes and lives, introduce us to new traditions, and show us new perspectives. While traveling, we may not have a lot of extra money, but we do have time, and people value that much more anyway. Look into volunteer opportunities during your stay abroad this season. The kids and I are looking forward to spending time at a local school in Monte Verde this next semester. How do you show appreciation to a community while you are traveling?