Expats heading home for the festive season know that this is also the perfect time to fill their luggage with gifts for friends and family. If you're a new expat spending your first Christmas abroad and you're planning to return for the holidays, you might be wondering what you could bring back and how to do it sustainably to minimize the environmental impact. Your questions will be addressed in this article.
What should you bring for loved ones when going back home for the holidays?
As an expat, it is relatively easy to know what to bring home for your loved ones. Culinary specialties and local goods always make people happy. But is there any particular item to bring back during the festive season? If you've been living overseas for a while, don't hesitate to ask locals or other expats for ideas. It would be interesting to know the end-of-year tradition if there is any. It's also possible that December is similar to other months, like for expats from Europe or North America. Next, prioritize your personal references when choosing what to bring home for your loved ones. You can also rely on things you've already discussed–reviews greatly help.
Let's talk about regional cuisine first. See if there are any Christmas-specific culinary specialties that are prepared, like biscuits baked in Germany, panettone in Italy, or melomakarona in Greece. Most of these specialties are light enough to carry around in your luggage, so they're perfect for bringing back and sharing on Christmas Eve. Local wines, digestives, liquors and other alcoholic beverages also make great holiday presents. Be careful, though, as it's illegal to carry some foods, such as unpasteurized French soft cheese.
Let's talk about local crafts. Once more, there's a wonderful selection of items to bring back as gifts. Toys, jewelry, art pieces, home decor, textiles, etc. There are many things to suit everyone's tastes and budget. Not to mention beauty and wellness products. Different parts of the world have different ways of taking care of themselves and, therefore, produce various kinds of goods that might not be available in your home country. Each region has its own local crafts, which serve as a means of sharing the traditions of the country where you currently reside with your loved ones.
Why not gift a record or vinyl featuring traditional music or a well-known local band to music lovers? Of course, some people will find little use in the purchase of a record or vinyl due to the numerous music platforms available, but it can be meaningful and very pleasing to give this type of gift to great music lovers. Speaking of music, if a loved one is coming to visit you in the next few months, consider purchasing a concert ticket or attending a traditional music performance. The advantage is that it won't take up any space in your suitcase!
Shopping sustainably over the festive period
You have undoubtedly heard about sustainability and its effects on the environment. If this is a topic of interest for you, you should be aware that there are sustainable ways to gift your loved ones local goods during the holiday season.
One of the first pieces of advice is to ensure that what you buy is local and produced in your country or even your region, if possible. To do this, choose certified craft and brand shops, local markets, or Christmas markets, if there are any in your host country, which are often very well stocked with local crafts instead of turning to tourist shops or supermarkets (most of which are very well stocked with local products). Check the ingredients and materials used, and don't hesitate to ask about their production. In this way, you can also avoid counterfeiting and all of the issues that come with it.
Bringing back used local items from flea markets is another way to be more sustainable. Used craft items can become a unique concept that blends local customs and sustainability.
Lastly, one way of giving lasting gifts to loved ones is through non-physical gifts. This could be a ticket to a concert or a show, as mentioned above, but also an experience, a visit to a museum, or a trip to visit you in the coming year. In this way, the gift will be focused on your host country without the potential impact of certain items.
