You're now used to celebrating Christmas in your host country. It doesn't feel "foreign" anymore, and you're eagerly looking forward to another Christmas. Filled with creativity, you understand that the best moments are often the simplest, and throwing a great party doesn't necessarily require spending your entire salary from the last three months. There are plenty of clever ideas for a festive celebration.
Multicultural dancefloor
It's well-known that music softens the soul, and Christmas is no exception. No, it won't always be Mariah Carey's famous cover. Each country has its own chart-toppers and traditional favorites. It all depends on the significance and nature of the holiday. Some countries stick to the roots of their celebrations, observing Christian Christmas and dancing to the rhythm of Christmas carols. Others have embraced a more commercial Christmas, focusing on decorations and gifts. Some may not celebrate Christmas at all but still have their popular songs. Regardless, you're likely to hear some festive tunes.
Do you secretly love to hit the dance floor? Impress your colleagues, neighbors, and friends with your favorite dance moves. Whether you're in church, on the street, at the beach, in the countryside, in the mountains, at home, or with friends, creating a multicultural dance floor doesn't require much investment. Children happily join in, and adults find themselves revisiting their childhood. It's a chance to discover a guest's incredible dance style or perfect your traditional dance skills. You've realized that any opportunity is a good opportunity to learn and have fun.
The great Christmas walk
You enjoy a stroll more than dancing and have discovered your favorite spots. Numerous towns and cities host Christmas celebrations, giving you plenty of options. You can participate in street parades and explore churches, museums, castles, and temples— the choices are abundant. You've learned how to list places that remain open during the festive season. To mark the occasion, you appreciate visiting historic monuments adorned with a thousand low-energy lights (as a well-informed ecologist, you've taken all the information).
You're ready to endure the cold or heat during Christmas—remember, this holiday isn't always about tinsel, Christmas trees, and hot chocolate—to relish outdoor celebrations. Being a music lover in your leisure time, you'll enjoy the street concerts, applaud the Christmas choirs, and join in the singing. It's a wonderful, festive experience, and the best part is it's free.
Dining out or at home
Before or after hitting the dance floor (depending on how your stomach feels), it's cooking time. Big occasions call for considerable measures, but you don't want your budget to keep pace with inflation. During Christmas, your kitchen becomes a gastronomic expedition hub, with a lively mix of aprons and ingredients in every shape and color. What better way to celebrate the occasion than with a delicious Christmas meal prepared by six or eighteen hands?
When it comes to the menu, you abide by the "simpler is better" rule. Instead of dictating a specific menu, let your assistants, who are also your guests, unleash their culinary desires. Everyone prepares, participates, mixes things up, and puts their twist on the dishes. Laughter and memorable moments are guaranteed. But formal meals can also bring as much happiness. And why not blend inspirations? You can have South African, French, or Brazilian main courses paired with Turkish, Cambodian, or Finnish desserts.
You decide to go 100% local or tweak recipes from your own country (or a mix of countries) based on what's available in your hometown. Making your mark means refusing to expand your carbon footprint any further. You're all for a culinary world tour without needing a global ingredient search. Your festive cooking style even appeals to children, turning them into enthusiastic apprentice chefs for the day.
The big Christmas quiz
This is another affordable activity that can be enjoyed with family, friends, neighbors and colleagues. You don't have to be extremely familiar with each other to have a great time together. Christmas celebrations offer an ideal opportunity to connect with new people. If you find yourself alone for the holidays, consider joining a group or hosting your own gathering. There's no need to break the bank—just a living room and some paper and pencils will do the trick.
Whether you believe you know everything about your host country or simply enjoy a good challenge, The Great Christmas Quiz allows you to test your knowledge across various categories: cooking, songs, sports, music, history, and more. If you want to add a special touch to the occasion, throw in some political questions. Just be sure the party doesn't turn into a chaotic free-for-all.
You can go for ready-made questions readily available on the Internet. However, we also suggest creating your own quiz. If you have children, involve them in the process. Form your team of creators and referees. It's a fantastic opportunity for a family get-together, creating a completely personalized game. Your guests are sure to enjoy it and remember to prepare a prize for the winner.
Offer your time
During Christmas, you're used to dedicating your time. Whether you've been involved with a welcoming association for a long time, hold membership, or use Christmas as an opportunity to support others, it's a unique way for you to celebrate and experience your life as an immigrant from a different perspective—one that emphasizes open doors and extended hands. You might want to invite lonely expatriates and locals into your home or participate in solidarity Christmas events for people in difficulty. Occasionally, you choose to go on outreach and connect with homeless people. The impact of a smile and a compassionate gesture always surprises you. Bringing people together— that's how you leave your mark during Christmas.
All-in-one theme park
It might not be the most economical or ecological activity, but you've found a way to navigate it. Whether you're going with friends or family, spending Christmas at an amusement park is an "all-in-one" experience for you. Are you interested in a parade? A quick look at the park brochure will provide details about upcoming parades. The choice is yours whether you prefer a quiet, sporty, or thrilling activity. In a theme park, everything is close at hand. However, be cautious of the potentially lengthy wait times. This year, you've decided to invest in admission tickets or an overnight stay.
There are numerous options when it comes to theme parks. The big names in the industry aren't the only ones worth considering. Don't overlook the smaller parks either; compare prices to find the best deals. Whether you're in search of a family-friendly park with lots of activities for the little ones or an adult-oriented park with plenty of Big 8s and attractions that might make you regret that hearty lunch, discovering a new theme park to visit each year can be a lot of fun.
The great conversation
How's your proficiency in Creole, Finnish, Korean, Portuguese, or Lingala? Forget about language learning apps for an evening and start a chat with the neighbor on the corner, the colleague you've invited, members of the host association, or your children's friends' parents. There's nothing like a good chat to get to know each other better. However, groups tend to form rapidly, making it challenging for shy individuals to integrate. To avoid this, consider hosting a language session where everyone can express themselves in their native language. Find out about Christmas traditions in your guests' cultures.
This kind of party is most enjoyable when kept on a more intimate scale. Based on your experience, you've found that with 3 or 4 participants, you can have a great time and share more relaxed moments. You're used to keeping an eye on the quieter, more introverted attendees, and you skillfully navigate between various personalities to ensure everyone is included. It can be challenging, especially when there's a language barrier. To simplify things, having a "basic language" that everyone understands is an intelligent approach. In your case, you've mastered the language of your host country, and your guests, whether locals or foreigners, are also fluent in the language, making communication smoother.
To cherish the memories of this evening of sharing, you've incorporated a "gift moment." The concept is straightforward: every guest brings a small gift, and all the presents are placed in a box. Each guest then selects a souvenir to take home. It's another way to celebrate Christmas and create enjoyable moments, even when you're away from home.
