As the holiday season approaches, those of us living abroad often find ourselves reflecting on traditions, family and what “home” really means. Living in Thailand, with its warm weather and vibrant culture, I’ve found a new kind of home and community, yet this time of year brings mixed emotions. For many, the festive season stirs up nostalgia and sometimes even a sense of loss, especially when family and friends gather far away in colder climes, enjoying traditions we may remember but rarely experience firsthand.

This December, my wife and I are planning to visit the UK to spend Christmas with my family—a rare opportunity to blend the familiar sights and sounds of a British Christmas with the life we’ve built together here. My parents have actually visited Thailand for Christmas before, so they’ve seen firsthand how we celebrate in our own way here, balancing both cultures. This year, though, my wife will experience the chilly air, hear the carols, and (hopefully) enjoy a proper mince pie. In other years, we’ve spent Christmas here, creating a celebration that combines a touch of home with our surroundings. And I know many who don’t have the chance to visit family as often, if at all, so these moments can feel bittersweet, even challenging.

We’re often encouraged to keep links to our home culture alive, especially around holidays. I know families who decorate trees, host Christmas dinners and even attempt to roast a turkey in the Thai heat. Others take the opposite approach, letting go of Christmas or other traditions, immersing fully in local customs, finding freedom from expectations of “how things should be.” Each approach is as valid as the next. The decision to celebrate, adapt, or even ignore certain holidays depends on one’s personal history, circumstances and perhaps most importantly, the sense of peace they wish to feel in their adopted home.

For me, maintaining some cultural links feels like honouring my roots without overshadowing my life here. My wife and stepchildren embrace some of my traditions, just as I respect and engage with Thai festivals. Celebrating Loy Krathong, for example, with its emphasis on gratitude and renewal, has become as important to us as Christmas, a reminder of the beauty of shared cultural exchange. Living in Thailand has broadened my view of “tradition” itself, transforming it from a set of fixed rituals into a more adaptable, inclusive blend of the old and the new.

But during the festive season, living abroad can be a delicate balancing act. Even as I enjoy sharing British holiday traditions with my family here, I’m mindful of not imposing them. Many, especially those in mixed families, feel this pull between their roots and the desire to be fully present in Thailand, where customs and celebrations differ widely from what we grew up with. For some, choosing not to celebrate can be a way to honour their commitment to their new life. That choice can be freeing—it reflects the reality that “home” is ultimately defined by where we feel connected, understood and at ease, rather than by decorations or foods alone.

This year, my thoughts also go to those who cannot return home and may struggle to feel “festive” in an environment that doesn’t share their cultural calendar. As we celebrate, however we do, it’s worth acknowledging the small ways we can support each other as a community, respecting each other’s choices, whether it’s roasting chestnuts or simply enjoying the warm Thai sun.